In The Company Of Monsters

Victory, Again

Victor nodded for Jack to head into the office first, then he pushed Lily in front of him, the knife still on her neck. He shoved her forward into the office, as Blair followed behind. Mitch struggled to catch up as the group moved into the other room.

“Where?” asked Victor.

Jack pointed towards the metal grate he’d seen before. “Behind the desk. The grate in the floor, next to the bookcase,” he told Victor.

Victor pulled Lily with him, crossing the room to the desk.

Blair stood back in the doorway, unsure what to make of this new turn.

Mitch caught up, moving slowly and deliberately, but his legs seemed in better shape already.

Victor glanced down at the grate. There's a large padlock securing it. “Key,” he said to Lily.

“I’ve got it,” said Mitch. He opened the top drawer in his desk and pulled out a small keyring. He found the right key and held it out towards Victor.

He caught it and had Lily unlock the grate. It snapped open and she swung the grate up. Still holding Lily, Victor peered down into the maintenance space. It looked as expected.

The room went still, waiting for Victor to make a final call.

He pulled the knife away from Lily’s neck. He flipped the blade in his hand and drove it down into her desk.

“Fine,” he said, giving her a shove towards Jack, who stepped forward, catching her.

Victor pulled the revolver out and looked back at Blair. “Time to go, babe.”

Then he jumped down the opening and started down the shaft.

Blair paused. She glanced toward Mitch and handed him the package of remaining shots.

“Take care of yourself,” she said.

“Don’t have to go, you know,” he replied.

Blair gave him a watery smile. Then she followed after Victor. She stood looking down into the dark maintenance shaft, hearing Victor shuffling forward ahead. Should she go forward with him? Into that unknown? Not many options.

She crouched to drop down. 

But a hand on her shoulder stopped her. The grip was firm, insistent. She looked back and saw Lily shaking her head slowly.

In the dark shaft, Victor marched forward, cock of the walk, leaving the open grating behind him. He smiled, savoring the twist of fate. The space was just like the blond had said. He stepped around boxes and tools left in place. Up ahead, he could make out the right turn she mentioned. After that, he’d find the second grate, and his way out of this shit day.

“Victory, again,” he crowed.

The tunnel was getting darker as he left the office behind. He reached out, feeling the walls. Then he turned the corner and looked down.

There was no grate. It was a dead end.

Stunned, he looked back.

CLANG! The office grate behind him slammed closed. A lock was slipped in it and snapped shut.

A cold panic swept through Victor’s veins. He ran back the way he came, stumbling over a half full paint can. He turned the corner and raced back to the office grate. He stood under the grate looking up through the bars.

Jack had just locked him in and was standing back up. He took Lily in his arms, holding her.

Victor  couldn’t see the Marine, but he knew he must be there. Then he saw her. “Blair?”