Chapter 182 The Minefield
Clarence’s POV
Night had settled heavy around the compound.
The air outside looked calm through the tall office windows. No movement. No shadows shifting between the trees. No bullets flying through skulls like the last two days.
Just nothing but quiet.
Lydia sat curled against me on the couch in my office, one of my arms wrapped tightly around her waist while the other rested along the back of the couch. Her head rested comfortably against my chest.
She sighed. “We’re going stir crazy in here.”
I smirked down at her dark hair.
“You think you are?” I muttered.
My men had been trapped inside this compound for days now. Every time someone stepped outside they ended up with a bullet between the eyes. Whoever was out there had patience. But eventually even hunters get bored. And tonight, Tonight felt different.
I leaned forward slightly and mindlinked Gregory and Stephan. "Office. Now."
Seconds later the door opened and both men stepped inside.
Gregory, looked as calm as ever. Stephan, looked annoyed.
“They still out there?” Stephan asked.
I shrugged slightly. "I don’t know.”
Gregory crossed his arms. "You want to test it.”
“Exactly.” I nodded. I stood slowly, Lydia sliding off my lap and standing beside me. I turned toward the warriors standing guard near the wall.
“You.” I said as I pointed at a smaller warrior, he hadn't been with us long.
One stepped forward immediately. "Yes King.”
“You’re going to test three exits.”
The boy nodded quickly. But maybe too quickly because once I explained to him the three places he would be checking he turned slightly pale.
Gregory smirked. “Relax. If someone shoots you we’ll send flowers.”
A few of the warriors chuckled.
The man sighed dramatically. "Wonderful. Thanks for you generosity.” He mumbled under his breath.
Ten minutes later we were all watching the monitor feeds. First the main entrance. The doors opened slowly. The warrior stepped outside cautiously. Nothing happened. He looked around. No gunshot. No bullet.
He stretched his arms above his head dramatically. “Still alive.” I breathed out in relief.
Stephan raised an eyebrow. "Well that’s disappointing.” He sighed dramatically.
Second camera. Back entrance.
The warrior stepped out cautiously. He sniffed the air. Then rolled his shoulders.
“God that feels good.” He said as he inhaled a big breath of fresh air.
Gregory chuckled. “Look at him like a dog finally let off a leash.”
Still no gunshot. Still nothing.
Third feed. Hidden exit. The stone wall slid open. The warrior once again stepped out into the night. He inhaled deeply. “Fresh air. Damn this is wonderful.” Then turned and walked back inside. Door closed. Silence filled the room.
I leaned back slowly. “Well. What do you think. He checked all three exits. All three came up clear.” I said as a smile finally creeped into my face.
Stephan smirked. "Looks like whoever was out there finally gave up.”
Gregory nodded. "They couldn’t watch forever.”
Lydia slid back into my lap, arms wrapping around my neck. “I told you,” she said softly.
“You worry too much.” She place a soft kiss on my cheek.
I grinned. “Maybe. But baby, that's how I keep you safe." I said as I leaned over and kissed her nose. She smile and giggled.
Then I stood again. "I want thirty warriors. You each will have different tasks." I said as I looked around the room.
Thirty warriors immediately straightened.
“Three teams.” They all listened closely.
“Ten men each.”
Gregory leaned against the desk watching.
“Team one goes into town. Supply run.” Stephan nodded. “We’re low on medical supplies and ammo.”
“Exactly.” I pointed to the next group.
“You’re the second team. You have a similar mission. Your on a supply run as well. Food, fuel, and whatever else we need."
He nodded as he smiled big and wide. My guys just can't wait to get outside these walls.
Then I turned to the third group. “And you lucky bastards are going to let your wolves out.”
Half of them grinned instantly.
Gregory laughed. “Finally.”
I continued. “You’ll rotate that team through the night so everyone gets a run.”
One of the warriors clapped his hands. "About damn time. My wolf was restless as hell.”
Stephan rolled his eyes. "Try not to get lost.”
Minutes later all three exits were moving.
Main entrance. Ten warriors stepped out first. They moved across the front yard casually. Laughing. Stretching. One cracked his neck.
“Thought I’d die inside that damn building.”
Another stretched his back.
“I forgot what outside looked like.”
They kept walking.
Then suddenly. CLICK. One of them froze. “What was.” He started to say but was unable to finish.
BOOM
The ground exploded beneath him. Dirt and fire blasted ten feet into the air. Two warriors were thrown violently across the yard. One landed screaming. Another didn’t move at all. Smoke poured across the grass.
The survivors stared in horror.
“What the hell was that?!” One of them screamed.
Then. One of them took another step.
FLASH. Bright white lights burst from the ground around them. Blinding. Strobing.
One warrior screamed. “I can’t see!”
Another stumbled backward.
BOOM
Second explosion. Two more bodies flew through the air. Blood sprayed across the dirt.
“SHIT!”
“RUN!” They were all screaming and running back towards the entrance doors.
At the back entrance. Ten more warriors had just stepped into the yard. One was laughing.
“I’m shifting the second I hit the treeline”
BOOM
The earth erupted under his feet. His body launched backward into three others.
Smoke bombs erupted around them instantly. Gray clouds swallowed the entire yard.
“What the fuck?!”
“I can’t see anything!” They started screaming.
Lights burst through the smoke like lightning flashes. Red. White. Blue.
One warrior panicked. “This is a trap!”
Another stepped forward blindly, and when he did.
BOOM
Half his body disappeared.
The others screamed. “Oh FUCK!”
The hidden exit came up on them. The third team had barely cleared the doorway. One man shifted partially, claws digging into the dirt. “Finally”
BOOM
The blast launched him straight into the stone wall. Two others dropped instantly.
Lights ignited in the grass around them. Flashing violently. Smoke exploded across the ground.
One warrior dropped to his knees shaking. “What the hell is happening?!”
Another yelled, “RUN BACK!” He turned.
BOOM
The explosion lifted him completely off the ground. His body landed twenty feet away.
The survivors stumbled over each other trying to escape the minefield. Some crawled. Some screamed. One pissed himself outright. “I don’t want to die!” He screamed as he was crying uncontrollably.
Inside my office the camera feeds lit up with chaos. Explosions. Flashing lights. Smoke clouds swallowing my yard. Bodies scattered everywhere.
Gregory leaned closer to the screen slowly. “well.”
Stephan blinked. “Shit.”
Another explosion shook the feed.
Lydia gasped softly in my lap. “Clarence”
My jaw tightened slowly.
Gregory scratched his beard thoughtfully.
“in hindsight.” Stephan nodded. “Probably should’ve suspected something.”
Another explosion thundered across the yard. One of my warriors screamed through the camera mic.
“IT’S A MINEFIELD!”
Gregory sighed. “Yep.”
Stephan rubbed his temples. “Well”
Another blast lit up the night.
“That explains the quiet.”