Page 49 of Zero Visibility

“I can’t tell, but definitely more than one.”

“We have to get everyone out of here before we’re all dead.”

Jen frantically scanned the cabin for an escape route. “The back door is the only way out and they’ll be watching for us.”

Jen’s phone shrilled above the noise. Ben. “We’re being attacked.” Her voice was drowned out by the noise above.

“They’re focused on the cabin. We’re going to try and draw fire away from you. Is everyone okay so far?”

Jen glanced around at the huddled mass. “I think so.”

“Good. Can you get everyone out of there?”

“We’re going to try.”

“Do it quickly, Jen. Who knows what they’ll try next.”

Jen ended the call and told the group the plan. “As soon as Ben’s team draws fire away from us, we make a run for the back of the house. Get to the woods and don’t stop.”

Over the onslaught of bullets, more shots coming from the ground sounded.

“That’s our cue. Let’s go.” Everyone ran for the back door. Jen and Sidney went inside the bunk room.

The man they’d taken prisoner was cuffed to one of the bunks. “You can’t leave me here. I’ll die.”

Sidney went over and cut his zip ties. “Let’s go. If you try anything, you’ll be dead for certain.”

The man headed out in front of them. They reached the door. He bolted out into the night and away from the rest of the group. One of the choppers pinpointed him in their spotlight and opened fire. Multiple shots riddled his body. He dropped to the ground.

Jen and Sidney raced for the woods. Ben and several others met up with them. One of the two choppers spotted the group leaving the cabin and zeroed in on them.

Ben pointed at the chopper. “Aim for the light. I’ll try and take out the engine.”

The chopper was almost on top of them. Jen aimed for the blinding light and fired. Sidney did the same. The chopper tried to retreat, but it was too late. They’d knocked the light out and taken out the engine. The pilot swerved sideways and headed down the mountain. It barely cleared the cabin before it crashed to the ground in a fireball of an explosion.

“Jen, you and Sidney keep everyone moving. I’m going to help the others.” Ben started off toward the back of the shed.

“Ben, no. Don’t.” She called after him. The noise of battle drowned out the sound of her voice. Jen started after him, but Sidney caught her arm. “He’ll be okay. And we have a job to do.” Sidney let her go and jogged toward the woods. With a final glance at her husband, Jen followed her.

“What do we do?” Everett asked while clutching his wife close. “They’ll kill us all.” Everyone was terrified and looking for guidance.

Jen quieted the group down. “We keep going. Hurry. Don’t look behind you. Just keep going.” With Sidney watching behind them, Jen led the group deeper into the woods. Once she felt they were safely out of sight, she stopped. A second chopper’s light panned the thick woods searching for them.

It was only a matter of time before Legion had men on the ground. When that happened, they wouldn’t have enough manpower to fight them off for long.

The chopper banked right and retreated. It hovered near the cabin.

“They’re searching for a place to land.” Jen said once Sidney caught up with her. “We have to keep going.”

“There’s a sheer drop off back here. If we stay on this course, we’ll be trapped.”

Jen struggled to come up with another way off the mountain. “If we can circle around the side of the cabin and reach the Suburban, all this noise will hide the sound of the engine. We’ll have a chance.” But Jen wasn’t about to leave Ben and the rest of the team behind.

Sidney nodded even though it was a long shot. “Let’s do it.” Jen’s heart threatened to explode from her chest. She eased around the side of the cabin while keeping in the trees. The chopper was now on the ground.

“There it is,” Jen whispered to Sidney. “Get everyone inside and head down the mountain to the plane.”

“I’m coming with you,” Sidney told her and checked the magazine on her handgun.

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