Free DusktoDust_Final3 by adrian felder Page B

in the middle of the tunnel, half hunched over. A submachine gun lay on the floor just out of his reach. Alana sat against the tunnel wall with her hands bound. The other three PKs were further down the tunnel, maybe ten meters past the leader.
    David nodded toward the submachine gun. “ Don ’ t even think about it. ” The team leader hesitated and then backed away and put his hands up. “ Good, kick it over here. ” The man did. “ Okay, you three, your turn. ”
    The three PKs looked at each other, clearly not interested in surrendering their weapons. David tightened his grip around the hostage ’ s neck. He felt the man ’ s legs start to weaken as the blood choke took effect. “ I ’ m not playing games here. You, you ’ re in charge right? Tell your dumb henchmen to drop their weapons or they are going to be collecting dumbass ’ s brain matter off of the ground. ”
    The direct threat clearly infuriated the man. His already intense gaze focused on David. He felt as if the man ’ s eyes were boring a hole in his skull. After a tense ten seconds, the man spoke. “ Do it. ” The words left his mouth as though he were pledging allegiance to the devil.
    The orders were followed. Three weapons were tossed into the pit that David had fallen into a mere hour before. David was satisfied. “ Alright, now that we ’ ve all learned to get along, I ’ ll tell you what ’ s going to happen. We- meaning she and I- are going to go that way. ” He nodded down the tunnel. “ I really could give a shit as to what you all do, but you will not follow us. You understand me, Peak? ”
    The leader laughed. “ It ’ s a nice plan. But it ’ s not going to happen. ” His South African accent was clearly evident.
    David pushed the muzzle of his pistol harder into his hostage ’ s temple. “ We ’ ll see. Mrs. Dominguez, let ’ s go. ” David ’ s commitment to the cover story threw her off for a second, but then she stood up and walked over to him.
    “ You really have a plan?, ” she whispered as quietly as she could in his ear.
    David nodded. He didn ’ t take his eyes off of his adversaries. “ My multitool is in my back pocket. ” She retrieved it and cut her hands free. “ Now go, I ’ ll catch up. ” With obvious reservations, she took off down the tunnel.
    “ That was dumb, ” the leader said.
    David smiled. “ I ’ ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. ” He started walking backwards down the tunnel with his hostage. Once he felt like he was at a comfortable distance he made his move. Releasing his grip around the man ’ s neck, he brought his leg up and gave a firm kick into the small of his back, sending the man sprawling across the floor. At the same time, David reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a second make-shift flash bang. He pulled the pin and tossed it toward the PKs. They dove for cover , but it was too late. David was already making his exit.
    “ Adios, amigos. ” He allowed himself one cocky comment before rounding the corner. Three seconds later he heard the muffled explosion of the flash bang.
    “ What was that? ” Alana asked as he caught up to her.
    David didn ’ t break stride. “ Just a parting gift. But I ’ ve got a strong feeling it ’ s not going to stop them. ” He grabbed her arm and they started running.
    Alana looked at him disappointed. “ So that ’ s it? That ’ s your whole plan, D? Stun and run? I should have shot my way out while I had the chance. ”
    “ Calm down. I ’ ve still got one present left for those assholes. ” They rounded another bend. “ Slow down. We ’ re almost there. ” He slowed down to a fast walk. He scanned the ground in the dim light for what he was looking for. When he found it he stopped. “ Careful. ” With that he quickly stepped over the trip wire. Alana followed suit. “ Okay. Let ’ s go. ” With that they took off again down the tunnel.
     
    Once again, Letsego was blinded and disoriented. It wasn ’ t