Page 72 of Haunted

Keaton

While the storm around us had ended, another was brewing. Six steel blades cut into the night sky like a knife through hot butter. I had no idea how Duncan got his hands on a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, nor did I question why there were four, heavily armed, Army Rangers escorting us to our destination. The more the merrier, in my opinion. As long as I got to Henley, the boys in green could do whatever the fuck they wanted.

“Five minutes out,” the pilot called over the headset we were all wearing.

I’m coming, baby. Stay strong for me.

“How’re you holding up?”

“I’m not the one in the clutches of a killer, Duncan.”

“Let me rephrase. Where’s your head? Do I need to worry about you going solo or are you prepared to follow the plan?”

He was right to question my intentions, but it still pissed me off. The chopper would set down about a mile south of where the cabin was located. We’d then hikethe remaining distance under the cover of darkness to lessen the chance of our approach being detected.

“Henley’s and Jade’s lives are on the line. I won’t do anything to increase the risk to them. You have my word.” I looked him in the eye, letting him see the truth in my words, even as my heart screamed at me to burn the world to the ground; destroying anything that stood in my way. But there were too many unknowns, too many variables to take stupid chances. I had faith in my team. They’d give up their lives to protect the girls and each other. I knew it to the depths of my soul, just as I’d do for them.

“I’ve got Koen on the sniper rifle and you’re not to leave my side. Are we clear?”

“Translucent.”

“Christ,” he rolled his eyes. “What the hell did I do in my past life to be stuck babysitting you two lovesick idiots.”

In the past couple of hours, we've witnessed a distinct change in Koen. Normally, he was a pretty chill guy, but ever since we watched the video, there was an edge to him I’d never witnessed before. I knew he had feelings for Jade, though I don’t think he realized how strong they were until he saw she was in danger.

When the pilot announced thirty seconds until touchdown, we secured our Kevlar vests in place, then double-checked our rifles and sidearms. We had enough ammunition between us to take down a small army. Considering we had no idea what Camden had in store for us out in those woods, we’d prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“We’ve got this, Keaton.” Lanie pounded her fist against my shoulder.

The second the wheels touched the ground, eight of us in total, were out the door, with the pilot staying behind to secure the craft. The cabin was situated due east of thesmall river we’d use to guide our way in. Duncan took command, forging a path through the rough terrain with our night-vision goggles in place. Our heads were on a constant swivel, searching for any booby traps Camden may have set to slow us down. Right now, we had the advantage, since he had no idea we were here, but one misstep could ruin our carefully constructed plan.

We weren’t a hundred yards into the dense forest when one of the soldiers stopped abruptly, holding his fist high in the air. We froze on the spot as he pointed low to the left where a razor-thin wire—known as a trip wire—was stretched between two tree trunks. The other two followed it around to the back of one of the trees, with one of them calling out over the communication units in our ears, “C4. Enough to level a house. I need forty-five seconds to disarm.”

“Copy that, Echo Two,” Duncan acknowledged.

I probably should have paid better attention when he’d introduced us to the Echo team before we boarded the Black Hawk. They were part of an elite group of soldiers whose commander owed Duncan a favor; it was all I needed to know.

We were more than halfway to our destination when the river came into view. The low, constant roar of the rapidly moving water would serve to mask any sounds we could possibly make as we traversed across the rocky landscape.

“I don’t like this,” Duncan whispered beside me minutes later as we crawled on our bellies to the edge of the trees. They opened up to a small clearing where the cabin sat directly in the middle. “It was too easy.”

I agreed wholeheartedly. Besides the one trip wire, we hadn’t encountered any other lines of defense. Camdenwasn’t stupid by any means, and because of the way the cabin was situated, there was no cover to hide our approach. Meaning we needed to stay sharp.

“I’m in the eagle’s nest,” Koen’s voice sounded in our ears, letting us know he’d found somewhere high up—probably a tree—to take aim.

“Echo One is in position.”

“Echo’s Two and Three are good to go.”

“Noah and I are to the east,” Lanie reported. “Curtains are drawn so we can’t see any movement inside.”

“Eyes on the prize, kid.” Duncan pulled up to a knee with his rifle poised at the ready. I did the same. “Move in.”

Side by side, Duncan and I advanced; our footsteps in perfect sync with each other.

Fifty yards.

Forty.

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