Free Web NovelChapter 218: Chapter 218 - Fort Schuyler
Headlights cut through the dark as a car pushed out of the tunnel, and the people waiting turned at once, voices rising as relief broke through the tension.
Iyisha held her breath, her eyes locked on the vehicle as it rolled closer and came to a stop.
The door opened.
Malcolm stepped out.
Iyisha moved before she could think. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding on tight as he steadied her with one hand at her back.
"Bro—"
Lance stepped in and pulled him into a quick hug. Malcolm gave him a short pat on the head before pulling back.
They moved toward Arnulf, who stood ahead, scanning the area.
"No undead," Arnulf muttered, looking around.
Iyisha nodded. "Looks like they cleared this part."
Arnulf looked toward the distance. "They funneled most of them to Long Island. This side should be lighter."
"We don’t know where the lab is, but..." He turned to the road ahead, cars pushed aside to make a path. "We follow that."
The group nodded.
"Arnulf," one of them called. "We should rest. Some are hurt."
Arnulf let out a breath and shook his head. "We can’t stop."
"But—" the man said, worry clear in his face.
Malcolm stepped beside him. "They might have already warned the lab."
Arnulf nodded once. "We can’t give them more time. Keep them stable." He looked at the line of cars. "We move now."
The group broke apart, people heading back to their cars as engines started one by one, the line forming again as they prepared to push forward.
Malcolm opened the passenger door for Iyisha.
They got back into their cars as engines rumbled to life around them. The convoy moved out and followed the cleared road, the line steady as they pushed forward. A few undead wandered at the edges, scattered and slow, nothing that slowed them down.
After several minutes, the cars began to slow as they approached Harding Avenue.
"Stop."
"What’s happening?" Aljun said.
"Let’s find out," Lance said.
Doors opened as they stepped out and joined Arnulf and the others.
"I think I know where the laboratory is," Arnulf said.
"Maritime College," Iyisha muttered.
Arnulf nodded. "They likely took over the fort." He looked at each of them. "We go with Plan A. Kintar drives the truck into the gate and forces it open."
His gaze hardened. "Open fire on any guard. This is an armed facility. Shoot or you lose your life."
The words settled over them. No one moved. No one spoke. Some tightened their grip on their weapons. Others looked down, steadying their breath.
Iyisha looked at Malcolm. He stood still, eyes forward, already set.
"Team one creates the opening," Arnulf continued. "Team two holds the line. Teams three and four search for our people."
He let the plan sit for a second.
"Stick to it," he added. "Don’t break formation."
They nodded, one after another.
"Good luck," Arnulf said. "Tomorrow, we head home."
A few of them smiled. Others didn’t.
They broke and moved back to their cars. Engines turned over again, one after another, the convoy forming as they pulled out and drove on.
The building came into view soon after, standing alone ahead of them, quiet, with no fences along the sides, just the structure rising in the open.
"Are you sure it’s here?" Aljun muttered, leaning forward as he looked out.
Marybeth glanced at him. "Are you dumb? They’ll make it look normal." She tilted her head toward the building. "There are guards in there. We’re walking into a fight."
Iyisha looked at her.
Marybeth had no reason to be here. No one asked her to come. She chose to stay with them, to step into this with them.
"Are you sure you still want to come?" Iyisha said.
Marybeth sighed. "Yeah. I’m coming." She looked toward the front. "Someone has to watch Lance. Malcolm already has his hands full with you."
Iyisha smiled faintly at the mirror. "Thank you."
Lance Briggs grinned. "Well, aren’t you flirty."
Marybeth smacked the back of his head.
"Can I get down here?" Aljun asked.
She hit him too.
Iyisha smiled and looked ahead.
The cars slowed to a stop as the fort came into view.
Fort Schuyler was a wide concrete structure set back from the road, with high bare walls and a reinforced metal gate. It looked like no one was inside. Too peaceful looking.
People stepped out from the lead vehicles, taking positions with their guns up and eyes locked on the gate.
Inside the car, Malcolm revved the engine.
Iyisha grabbed the edge of her seat, her body bracing as the sound closed in fast.
A truck roared past them.
Boom.
The truck slammed into the gate.
Metal burst inward. The gate flew open as the truck forced its way through.
"Go!"
Cars surged forward.
They rushed inside as gunfire broke loose, shots ringing across the yard. Iyisha’s heart pounded as the noise filled everything, shouts cutting through the air while bullets hit metal and concrete around them.
Breathing hard, she dropped low between the cars and used them as cover.
She looked up and saw shooters at the windows and behind the trees, muzzle flashes cutting through the movement as people ran past her toward the entrance.
She braced her hand on the hood and fired. The shot hit the concrete edge, and the shooter ducked back.
"Shit," she muttered, pulling back as bullets struck around her, sharp hits against the car forcing her lower.
Iyisha shifted position and looked again. People were already rushing inside the building, some stumbling, others dragging the injured as gunfire continued from above and the sides.
Iyisha leaned out and fired. The man at the window jerked and fell out of sight.
A shot snapped past her ear.
Iyisha dropped and pressed into cover as a sharp sting hit the side of her head and a high ringing filled her ears. She gasped and touched her ear, pulling her hand back to see blood on her fingers.
"Shit," she breathed. "That was too close."
"You okay?" Marybeth asked, her voice tight.
"Yeah," Iyisha said.
Lance Briggs pressed a handkerchief against her ear.
"We can’t get inside if teams three and four don’t make it upstairs," Iyisha muttered, her eyes on the bodies ahead, three TAL members lying still near the entrance.
Marybeth nodded.
"Thank you," Iyisha said, pushing Lance’s hand away.
Lance shook his head. "Be careful. My brother’s gonna kill us if something happens to you."
Iyisha gave him a small smile. "He’s not here." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
She dropped lower and peeked under the car. She saw Malcolm’s boots, Aljun’s beside him, and two more on the other side, all holding position.
"Malcolm," she called. "What’s the plan?"
"I can’t take out the shooter," Malcolm said. "Third floor. Five windows from the right."
Iyisha shifted and found the window.
She crawled to the back of the car and set her position, raising her gun as she lined it up.
Iyisha steadied her breath, held it—
She fired.
The crack rang out and the smell of gunpowder hit her nose as the figure at the window snapped back and disappeared.
"Nice shot," Malcolm said. "On three."
She blinked, pleased with herself.
Gunfire echoed from inside the building.
"Move!" Malcolm shouted.
They broke from cover and ran toward the entrance.
