Eden's Gate

Chapter 26 - Welcome To The Family, Cheeseburger

The wooden cabin sat in the middle of the forest, the road leading into a small car park out front. I slowly emerged from the tree line, my scope raised, allowing me to get a closer look at the cabin. Several Peggies were patrolling the grounds, four of which were guarding hostages.

Must be Eli's people. I lowered my scope and reached for my radio as it crackled to life, I turned the volume down, so the Peggies wouldn't notice me.

"Dep? It's Eli... I got eyes on ya – rigged this whole mountain with cameras." Eli spoke, I looked around the trees, spotting three small red blinking lights high in the trees. "The Centre's up ahead and crawlin' with Peggies. Be careful."

"Rodger that, Eli," I replied, turning my radio off before pulling my compound bow and aiming at one of the Peggies, guarding a hostage in the car park. I pulled the string back and steadied my aim with a breath before letting loose an arrow into the back of the Peggies head, causing him to crumble to the ground silently. I looked around, before running forwards, hiding behind a truck, looking for any other Peggies. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I hurried over to the hostage, cutting his binds with my knife, helping him to his feet.

"It's ok, I'm with Eli. He sent me to come and rescue you and your friends." I reassured the hostage, he nodded before taking off into the woods, heading back to the Whitetail base. I pulled the arrow out of the Peggies head, wiping it clean before taking aim at the Peggie on the stairs, letting loose another arrow silently. I scurried up the stairs, firing another arrow at a Peggie to the left of me whilst his back was turned. Another Peggie rounded the corner of the information centre, I fired another arrow at him before he could register my presence. Taking cover behind the stone fences, I aimed my bow at another Peggie stood a few meters away before sending an arrow flying at him. I snuck inside the information centre, hiding behind an arcade game as I spotted two Peggies ahead of me, guarding another hostage. Taking aim at one of them, I fired before turning my aim on to the other, killing them both quickly. I ran forward, cutting the hostage free. Once he was free, I leapt through an open window, taking cover behind the building's corner, watching a Peggie walk down another set of stairs, heading for the information centre. Taking aim, I fired at him, causing him to tumble down the stairs and collapse on the floor. I ran up the stairs, checking around for any Peggies in my sight. Spotting another hostage to my left, I cut his restraints free and crept to the main building's door. Sneaking inside, I spotted the final hostage being guarded by a single Peggie. I aimed the bow and fired at the last Peggie, sending him crashing onto the floor. I ran over to the hostage, cutting her free from her restraints. I turned my radio back on as Eli's voice crackled to life.

"Fuck... Dep, they took two of our people up to Devil's Drop. Jacob's on the warpath trying to find the Wolf's Den – if the Peggies find us we don't stand a chance, and if our guys don't give up the location, they'll be tossed off that cliff. Haul ass, Dep – Devil's Drop is to the south of you." Eli told me. I ran out of the building, down the stairs and headed south, towards the Devil's Drop. My heart pounding in my ears as I ran as fast as I could. As I ran, my mind wandered. I only heard the crunching of my feet on the leaves and twigs as I ran. I missed the sound of four other sets of feet running with me. My heart felt heavy and my chest began to tighten as I worried about Boomer and Peaches.

I hope they're ok. I ran across a wooden bridge, before running up the dirt path, towards the Devil's Drop. My radio crackled to life once again.

"Devil's Drop is just inside the tunnel. Careful now... Roadblock up ahead." Eli informed me. I looked further up the trail, spotting lights beside a tunnel in the mountain face. I aimed my bow at the cave entrance, watching as two Peggies walked out. Firing at both in quick succession, they both crumbled to the ground. I ran forwards, taking a breath as I collected any ammunition or resources I could from them, before hiding under the lorry beside me. I watched as another set of feet began walking towards my hiding spot. Taking out my pistol, I attached my silencer to the nozzle and took aim. Once the footsteps got close enough, I fired at them, sending them crashing to the floor, where I fired once again, killing him. Rolling out of my hiding place, I holstered my pistol and readied my bow. I spotted another two Peggies further in the tunnel, quickly releasing two arrows from my bow, heading straight for them. Once they fell, I ran in, ducking behind cover and firing my arrows at each Peggie I came across. I ran through an opening to my left and hid behind a crate as I spotted the two hostages being guarded by two Peggies. Both of which were standing close to the edge of the platform. I charged forwards, kicking one of the Peggies off the edge of the platform before pivoting on the ball of my foot, roundhouse kicking the other in the face. He crashed to the ground, in a daze. Before he could move, I grabbed him by his shirt and threw him off the ledge. I stood on the edge, my heart pounding and my breathing heavy as I watched them plummet down the Devil's Drop. I stood there for what seemed like hours before I walked over to the two hostages, cutting them free before pulling them up.