FALLEN | The Devil of Caracas

Chapter 14 | Till Death Do Us Part

Lexi and Anatoly watch helplessly through the window. The lack of gunfire is almost more deafening than the alternative.

"I can't do this," says Lexi. "I'm going to go help."

"Lexi, wait for them," orders Anatoly. "If you go in there without warning, our boys might shoot you, too."

Lexi looks at him and then reaches up to switch on her mic.

"Sit-rep," she demands, using the military lingo for 'situation report.'

No one speaks.

"Sam, what's going on?" she says.

"We're still here," says Dietrich, speaking quietly.

---

Dietrich doesn't know what else to say. He suddenly feels a sting of guilt when he hears Lexi over the radio.

A guard from the master bedroom yells something to the mercenaries, in Spanish.

"I don't know what you're saying, so how about you go screw yourself!" replies Dietrich.

"English?" says the voice, somewhat surprised. "Drop your weapons and give up!" he demands, through his thick accent.

Dietrich is suddenly enraged. "Fuck you!"

Lexi's voice echoes over the headset again. "What's going on?"

"We just need to wait it out, yeah?" calls back the voice, from the master bedroom. "We have more guns on the way. Police will be here soon."

"D! Talk to me," demands Lexi.

Dietrich says nothing. He stares into the dark hallway. His mind replays the chaos over and over. His ears ring from the violent gunfire. His chest stings and each breath hurts. Fear strikes him. His feet feel heavy. He can't move. He can't think. Finally, he glances down at Jason, who mouths the words, "We've gotta get out of here."

---

"Screw this shit," says Lexi.

She pulls back the slide of her MP5 to ensure the chamber is loaded with a round. Then, slapping it shut she says, "I'm going."

Lexi turns and moves quickly out the door, rushing down the stairs. Anatoly stays focused on his scope with both eyes open, observing the battlefield.

---

Sweat soaks Dietrich's body. In a daze, he examines the room for anything that will help, fighting to refocus his mind. The perfectly made bed and lack of personal items indicate the room is most likely a guest bedroom. There is no desirable fighting position in sight. 

Police sirens begin to wail in the background. They're faint at first, but slowly grow louder. 

He looks to the window. If he were to step in front of it, he could see Anatoly's firing position. 

---

Lexi drops down on the other side of the brick wall and breaks into a sprint.

She then slows to a jog and finally a brisk walk as she enters the home, through the obliterated sliding door. She raises her gun, swinging it from side to side, scanning the house, as she charges forward.

Lexi makes her way toward the front entryway, side stepping the dead guard. She then turns and scans the large staircase running along her left. Her feet swiftly cary her up the stairs. Her hands grip her weapon tightly.

Approaching the top of the staircase, she's greeted with a burst of gunfire. Bullets fly past her head, smashing into the wall. She rushes forward. Her finger crams down the trigger of her MP5, spitting out fiery chaos. Finally, she ducks into a vacant room, on the left. Throwing her back against the wall, Lexi drops the spent magazine from her weapon. The aroma of burnt gunpowder hits her nostrils. Her hand quickly snatches a fresh magazine from her vest and slaps it into her gun. She racks the slide. Without hesitating, Lexi abruptly spins into the hallway. Crouching low, she focuses her fire and charges forward.