Dirge Danorum

Chapter 4

"We don't have a lot of time. It's getting dark out there. We may have hostiles on their way here, so we're going to extract any survivors from this building, and then move out right away," Velvet said.

Ever pointed at the two doors. "Two routes. We split into pairs and take both."

"What are we up against?"

"Traps. Not sophisticated, but cunning. Sadistic. There could also be live infected, and active resistance."

"What kind of resistance?"

"No telling. The only time I've ever seen one of these sites myself, it was nothing but rubble. My information is all secondhand. We have an advantage going in – we'll be equipped, and we know what we're up against. Traditionally, contestants are disoriented and unarmed. Even so, this is still a literal death trap, so take care." Ever folded his arms. "We'll be on camera. Don't let anything they may or may not say over the system rattle you. They don't want to kill us too quickly; they need us to give them a show." He gestured at the bodies. "This doesn't change anything. The man in there," he said, pointing, "Will try to salvage this. We're just willing participants instead of prisoners. He wants to make money with you, but he doesn't want you to come out alive. Keep that in mind."

"Is this the guy behind this thing?"

"He's one of them."

"He has to go," I stated flatly.

"He's already dead, he just doesn't know it," Velvet said.

"The living need our attention now," Ever cut in. "I suggest we scavenge what we can, then breach without delay. He does have communication, and he's probably called for help. We have to get in and out. Quickly," he added.

There wasn't much to scavenge. The technicians had no real weapons. Their handguns were brand new, but they'd been brought as token protection, not to really fight with. Maybe we'd take them with us to sell if we made it out of here alive, but they wouldn't do us any good where we were going.

None of the dead men were carrying any ID to speak of. There were several coolers full of food. It looked like they hadn't intended to be here long – and that made sense. They probably had other people prepare the building, and only then did these IT types come in and wire it for video and such.

I found the dart rifle that had been used to capture us. A powerful weapon in its own way, but I didn't see any darts for it, and once again, we had no need of it. There wasn't anything useful. Ever had been hoping for some kind of hardcopy layout, or a guide to the traps – but that all must've been in the computers, many of which had been destroyed in the brief shootout.

All of our gear was there, and I loaded up Lunch Box and holstered it at my hip. My right hip. I could remember when I couldn't do much of anything with my right hand. Now I was using it for everything.

I watched Grigor check his Tokarev. He had the right idea. His rifle wouldn't help him in there. Velvet worked her MPL's charging handle a couple of times, then tapped a long magazine on a table before inserting it.

This routine was no longer unfamiliar. Going to war with a building instead of an enemy – that part was new.

"You don't look so good."

I turned to Ever. He didn't either. There was some blood spatter on his white camo, and a stained bandage around his arm. His skin was pale, and his face was drawn. He was calm and poised, but his road to this place hadn't been any less eventful than mine.

He had on black gloves, but he was absently rubbing his left ring finger.

Everyone has a story. I didn't need to know his, and he certainly wasn't getting mine.

"When was the last time you slept?" he asked. I just smiled and flexed my hand.

"Why white?"

His eyes were flat. "What do I have to hide?"

"What's the matter? Never seen an Asian in the Ukraine before?"

"Actually, I have. You don't have to follow her."

"I don't have to listen to this, either."

"That's it, that's all the time we have." Velvet stepped over a body, halting in front of the doors. "Pairs." She turned and pointed one finger at me. "You and him. Me and Grigor. You take yellow. We're on black."

"Hell no. I'm going to protect you."

"Grigor is our meal ticket. I'm not letting him out of my sight. You're going with Ever, that's final. You're the only one that can handle him if he's not sincere. You don't have to do this, but if you're going to do it, you're doing it my way. You work for me, not with me."

I knew her well enough by now that I wasn't going to waste time arguing. Her reasoning was sound, even if it did make me angry. Ever could turn on Velvet or Grigor, but he couldn't turn on me. Not if he wanted to live. "I'll keep that in mind," I said.

"Do that." It sounded good, but she held my gaze for a few beats too long, and looked away too sharply. This was a nightmare.

I looked down. One of the technicians' revolvers was in my hand, crushed into a twisted paperweight. I dropped it, forcing my fingers to relax. No one had noticed.

Ever reached back and adjusted the holster in the small of his back, then stepped forward and pulled open the yellow door, giving me a questioning look.

"Be my guest,' I said. He stepped through, and I followed him. It was a heavy door, and it slammed shut, leaving us in complete darkness. We heard the dull slam of the black door. Velvet and Grigor were probably in a room just like this.

I reached for my flashlight, but Ever stopped me. "Don't bother."

The lights flickered on, and the broadcast system crackled to life. "All right, ladies and gentlemen. And all of you watching at home. This month's show has suffered some setbacks, but we're still on track. The game has changed, but it's still on. I'll be handling your commentary today, and you can call me Stan." He went on to lay out some wagering guidelines, talking about wire transfers, winnings, and escrow accounts.

This month's show, he'd said. They did this to people on a monthly basis?

"Two teams, both locked in. Those doors don't open, folks."

The room was small and cramped. The yellow door was firmly locked behind us. It wasn't unexpected. There were manacles on the walls; we were probably meant to be chained up in here, but that plan had died along with all the technicians.

The next door was sturdy metal, but it had a handle. Ever warily tried it. Locked. I couldn't see the camera, but there had to be one.

"Taking the high road, we have the Goddess and the Old Timer. And below, White Knight and Black Knight." I looked down at my black armor. At least I wasn't the Yellow Knight. Then I'd really have had to kill that guy. "They're in for the long haul, well equipped, well prepared, and with a completely different set of objectives than your usual – yet I think the desire for survival is a constant. What these two teams didn't know before they opened the doors, is that only one team can leave. And for the other team, we have a variety of pre-owned coffins."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Ever murmured, though I hadn't reacted visibly to the statement. I'd expected something like this. There were still unknown quantities here. I wasn't worried. Yet.

"Initial wagers are in. The odds are calculated. Lay in, dear viewers – because we're about to start the show."

There was a snap, and a hum. The lights flickered, then stabilized. The building rumbled, and there was a lot of loud clanking in the walls.

I heard a bolt rasp out of place in the door. It was unlocked. Ever put his hand on the knob.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Room One," Stan announced.