NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 25- THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER

           The enemy was suddenly everywhere. Shadowy figures emerging from the dark corners, firing indiscriminately. Diane's breath came in short bursts as she reloaded, popping up from cover to take down another attacker. Russo beside her, was calm yet lethal, his precision unmatched as he barked orders through his mouthpiece so the others could hear.

"Mark! Flank left! Take them from behind!" Russo shouted over the chaos, his voice cutting through the firefight. "Alvarin, on me! We push forward!"

                       The team moved like a well-oiled machine, picking off enemies one by one as they advanced toward the lower levels but as they reached the door to the underground bunk, Russo's gut twisted. They were met with an empty space.

"N-no sign of the Neuroveil." Diane muttered as they looked around. Her blood level seemed to drop low. They had been tricked!
"Fuck it! This isn't right." Russo growled, upset. "Something's off." He said.
"We were played!" Diane said. She took off her gas mask in frustration. "They knew we were listening, goddamn it! Is this it? We loose ten able bodied men to a fucking lie?"
"The last thing we need now is an argument."
"Don't you see? It's over! They're going to have us sprayed." Her voice cracked, tears hiding behind them.
"Don't tell me l brought a cry baby on the team." Russo frowned.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you but this is my whole life!" She yelled. "Screw this! I can't get sprayed. I stand a lot to lose here. My whole fucking life!" Loosing it, she threw her mask against the wall. Russo watched the object crash into the wall but something odd happened. A brick on the wall it hit pressed inside. That wasn't right. They both exchanged stunned glasses as they realized it but before they could make a run for it, the metal door  to the bunk slammed shut.

"Fuck!" Russo cussed as he tried to get it open.
"What's happening?"
"You've triggered something."
"No...." Her eyes were wide in fear.

                    Just then, the ground beneath them shook with a defeating explosion.

"Mark! Ryan! Lewis! Do any of you read me?!" Russo barked into the radio but there seemed to be no connection whatsoever. "Fuck it!"
He locked eyes with Diane.
"We're screwed!"

                    Dust and debris rained from the ceiling as the floor buckled beneath them like a mini earthquake. He could see she was scared. She was fidgeting so much, he feared she would get pass out before they even died. He wouldn't blame her. He wasn't feeling so brave at that point. In the face of death, no man was, no Soldier was.

               Especially when you weren't sure if it would be a quick one or an excruciatingly painful death. Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath the two of them.

They were plummeted into darkness landing hard into the depths of the underground bunker. Diane groaned, clutching to her side where she had hit the ground. Russo got to his feet, immediately scanning the area. His flashlight on his gasmask was still on.

"You alright?" He asked, his voice tight with concern. He offered her his hand.
"I'm...fine." She said, taking his hand and getting to her feet. Though, her voice trembled, slightly. The air down here was thick and suffocating.
"Where the hell are we?" She asked, looking around.
      
                      They were in an old, forgotten part of the warehouse, a bunker long abandoned. The walls were cracked, the floor damp and the oxygen levels, dangerously low. Diane could feel her breaths coming quicker now, shallow and erratic.

"We need to find a way out." Russo muttered, realizing she was fainting without her mask.

             The gas mask also had a stabilizing breather for situations such as this and without hers, she was exposed. He tried to find a way around but before he could take a step, the attackers emerged from the shadows, their guns raised. 

                   Russo shoved Diane behind him, firing off a series of shots that dropped the first wave of attackers. His bullets crashing right into each man's head, shattering their brains out in an instant causing a splash of blood everywhere.

"I'll be back. Stay here. I have to find us a way out." He told her. Diane could only nod in response. If those men could come in, that meant there was another way in which meant, a way out for them.

                 Russo left Diane on her own and took to his heels, looking for a possible way out. Just as he turned to a corner, he spotted something odd. Three massive tanks labeled "Neuroveil" tucked into the far wall of the bunker

"Found it!" He muttered underneath his breath. All thanks to the Sergeant's ability to let out her frustration if not, they might have never been able to figure out where the gas was hidden. But there was no time to celebrate. He had to secure the area and call for backup. Russo grabbed his radio and yelled into it.
"This is the General. We've found the Neuroveil in a tunnel in the underground bunker. I need backup NOW!"

              He got no response so he wasn't sure if they could read him or not. Right now he could only wait and hope. He rushed over to where he had left Diane. Her condition had gotten worse. He looked down. Diane was crouching down, the oxygen level here was too low and her panic level had risen. He crouched down in front of her, holding her shoulders and forcing her eyes on his.

"Look at me GODDDAMN IT....!"
"I... God! I can't breathe....," she gasped, clutching her throat as her vision started to blur.

                   Russo's heart slammed in his chest, fear gnawing at him for the first time in years. He holstered his weapon and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms.

"Diane...." He shook her and she realized it was the first time she had heard him say her first name rather than addressing her formally. "Look at me!" He ordered, his voice fierce but steady. "You need to breathe."
"I...c-can't....b-b-"
"Shit!" He panicked for a second. He wasn't about to lose her. "Focus on me! Focus on me, goddamn it!" He yelled. Her wide, terrified eyes locked on to his. Russo cupped her face with one hand. "In....and out. Do it with me. You're stronger than this."
Diane struggled to follow his instructions but Russo wouldn't let her fall apart. He needed something to stir up her Will to live with.
"Are you in so much of a hurry to go the way your father did?! HUH?!" Yet another yell. "You're not dying on me, Diane." He growled, holding her tighter. "You're okay. I've got you and I won't let go."