Free Apocalypse Soldier by William Massa

attuned to the heartbeat of the night. The darkness throbbed and pulsed with movement and sounds. A sidewinder lisped in the blackness, and further off a pack of coyotes argued.  
    Predators hunting for prey. Talon had joined their ranks.
    He was decked out in blacksuit and camouflage paint armed with his silenced Glock and Ka-bar. Extra magazines and grenades circled his waist while his Ka-Bar remained securely strapped around his leg.  
    Ahead, a series of corrugated metal and sandblasted wood structures stood outlined in spectral green. Barbed wire enclosed the property. Vigilant guards patrolled the buildings, with the highest concentration of firepower near the horse stables.  
    This is where the party is going down , Talon thought.  
    He was about to go up against a team of professionals. Odds were high that the dead man in Nicole’s apartment wasn’t the sole operator who’d joined this cult.
    After leaving Nicole’s place, he’d used Google maps to locate farms around the outskirts of Sierra Nogal. It wasn’t like a crew of heavily armed men could all check in at a local Holiday Inn. A farm was isolated and could shelter a militia without drawing too much attention. It would make for a perfect forward operating base.  
    His online search had produced quick results, identifying five farms in the area. One he’d ruled out immediately because of its size. Taking over a big farm would be too risky. Bigger operations tended to come with a large work staff and a fair amount of interaction with the outside world, which this group was most likely trying to avoid. They would’ve chosen a smaller, more remote ranch owned by people that wouldn’t be missed.  
    The other three properties met these criteria, and Talon had checked them out one by one. The first place had turned out to be a bust. As he’d pulled up to the property, the middle-aged owners were just returning from the nearby riding trails. The second farm turned out to be a disappointment too. Even though it was way past midnight, he kept going. He didn’t know how long Nicole would have. According to Casca, killing one of the cultists had made Nicole more vulnerable to repossession. Time was of the essence. They’d have to get to her before the cult completed the ritual that would allow the seven demons to take hold of her.  
    Fortunately, his luck had finally improved with the next destination. He spotted the fleet of pick-up trucks, motorcycles, and Hummers from a distance, guided his Jeep off the road and parked it in a gulley hidden by thick patches of shrubs and trees. He’d slipped out of the vehicle and advanced toward the horse farm, his dark clothing allowing him to blend in with the nocturnal desert landscape.
    And that’s how he found himself on this ridge studying his new enemy. The more he learned about the capabilities of this soldier cult, the more questions rushed through his mind. He now understood what they were after—but where had this band of soldiers turned Satanists come from? Did the men all belong to the same unit? And who was their leader, this monstrous figure Cabrera had described?
    The answers would have to wait for now as his thoughts shifted to the task ahead. He’d been watching the place for close to an hour now, doing recon and figuring out a plan of attack. Talon knew he was outnumbered. The element of surprise might be on his side, but their superior numbers would turn the tide of the battle in their favor. Marching in like Rambo would not work. He was up against a team of armed, most likely well-trained professionals.  
    The idea was to strike fast, to slip into the barn and extract Nicole before they knew they were under attack. Stealth and misdirection would be required. The cult could be dealt with later when the odds were slightly more in his favor. Even though it was almost 5am, the farm was alive with lights and movements. Soldiers kept coming and going in the barn. It was obvious that the cult was