Carrion (The Bren Watts Diaries #1)

Chapter 59

I ran through the woods, never minding the snap of undergrowth and twigs beneath my feet. They had heard the gunshots and perhaps the scuffle too, and Payne would be on high alert back in the camp. I needed to take him out—kill him if I had to.

I jumped over a boulder, could smell the smoke from the campfire wafting through the breeze, and recognized the trail I had once followed. It took me a minute to find where I left my gear, turning back twice, and found it beneath the bushes. I quickly put them back on.

I left some of the weapons scattered around the perimeter. If I had to fall back, I knew where they were if I got cornered by the other three soldiers. I had to take precautions, and it was better to be well prepared.

Payne had Aria, Margot, Felipe, and Alfie tied up and kneeling by the fire. He faced the woods, checking on his radio for Peter and Haskell to respond. It looked like he had been trying for a long time with no success. I snuck closer to the camp, taking position behind the bus. I looked over the corner when Payne turned his back and realized that the prone body near the bus was Gabe; He was still unconscious, lying on his back, eyes shut.

Shit.

It was Gabe who brought the soldiers into camp. What else did he babble? Peter was surprised to find me here, so I reckoned he didn't tell them much aside from a bountiful of food and supplies, and maybe...ah. Steve wasn't allowed inside the walls. Either Tessa or Gabe made a deal in exchange for their grandfather to be let in, showing them how useful they could be. Was that why Steve never returned to the humvee?

I looked over the corner again.

Gabe's chest slowly rose and fell. At least he was still alive, and I had so many questions for him later. For now, I had to deal with Payne.

Between him and me were the bus and a large open ground at the campsite. I had no cover once he saw me, and there was no room for a surprise attack. I could try hiding behind the tents, but they're not exactly solid. The humvee was on the opposite side of the campground. I could step off to the outer perimeter and circle around from there, but I would end up with the same situation: Exposed terrain and nowhere to hide. He only needed two seconds to raise his rifle and pull the trigger.

I couldn't get a clean shot from where I was hiding. Payne stood in the middle of open space, but if I popped out and aimed now, he would see me right away. What if I missed and hit the others? I couldn't accept one as collateral damage, and I am not a monster to sacrifice any of them either. Of course, Payne would return fire, suppressing me behind cover, forcing me to fall back, which would leave me open for his other team to sweep in and finished me off.

Then, I thought, if I allowed him to believe I was retreating, maybe I could lead him into the woods. There in the thicket, I could knock him out, let him live to see another day, but I doubted he'd fall for the bait.

I crouched and peered below the bus. I could crawl underneath, but I realized that the campground was on an incline, the bus sitting so low I could only see up to his ankles and not enough space to move around if I got trapped. I could try shooting his ankle, bring him down enough to get a clean shot for his head or chest, which meant I would have to use my rifle. But at thirty yards on a low vantage point and limited peripheral vision, never mind shooting him in poor light with a moving target, I have to be a god to get a clean shot.

The only way was up.

I climbed up the bus slowly, and even with all the gear I had with me, I got lucky I made it up without making a lot of noise. Payne was too busy trying to hail his team over the radio in a fit of panic. I thought to myself: Good. Let him freak out, his mind wandering off, his guard brought down. It'll make things a lot easier.