Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 40 - Tunnel Vision

All of a sudden, we felt the ground shift and the walls shake.

“Everyone move your ass or we are going to be buried in here,” Matheus yelled over the sound of the cave falling.

We followed Matheus, running quickly but quietly. Concrete was falling behind us as we ran. We turned another corner and ended up in a smaller tube. As before we ended up at a dead end. Matheus put his thumb up to the rock near the left side of the wall. A small hole appeared. He put his eye up to the scanner that was revealed from the hole. The wall slid upwards and we took off running again. Matheus put his eye on the scanner on the inside of the wall and the wall slid back down. He locked and ran to the front of the tunnel as another explosion sounded behind us.

“Well, I guess they went down the wrong tunnel,” Matheus joked as he laughed.

We shook our heads at him, following him again as he ran.

I looked around at everything my mate had built. The tunnel we were in was dug deep into the earth. It was a hard steel tunnel, which was very impressively built. The tunnel was cool even with the steel. I guessed it was because we were so far underground. All the electronics to keep the tunnel closed or opened was very impressive.

My mate thought of everything.

We continued running until we got to another wall. There was steel bars covering the fake rock this time. Matheus took out his keys, fitting the key into the rock and opening the bars. As everyone ran to the bars, he stopped everyone. “Go hot. We will be coming out of the next wall into the forest. I don’t know if he has any guys out here.”

“Weapons up. Take out any of Barbosa’s men you can, but do it quietly,” Madrid ordered as he checked his weapon.

Matheus opened the wall behind the bars. He put his thumb up to the scanner, wiping it clean when the wall opened. I knew he didn’t want his thumb print anywhere Barbosa and his men would find it.

As soon as the wall slid open and we ran through the tunnel as the tunnel behind us collapsed. There was dust, steel and fumes coming from behind us. The dust and fumes started coming towards us as we spread out.

“Eagle and Selina, up in the trees for a few minutes, we need to check on Manuel,” Madrid ordered, coughing hard and wiping his eyes. “Damn it!” He paused and coughed again. “Matheus, did you collapse the tunnel or did they?”

Matheus had a huge smile on his face. “I set up the canisters of gas to open when I opened that wall.” H pointed at the open wall behind us. “It was supposed to give us a little more time. I also collapsed all the tunnels so Barbosa and his men would be trapped. But, I’m pretty sure Barbosa wasn’t in them. He likes to send his disposable men in first.”

Madrid shook his head at Matheus. I watched as Madrid scoped at the surrounding area, slowly looking for tangos. I knew he hadn't seen any yet because we didn't see anyone yet from our perch in the trees.

“He’s okay, but we need to be careful with him. I can’t give him too much morphine because of his blood pressure. We need to get him out of here and to the surgeons as soon as possible,” Claw stressed, taking Manuel’s blood pressure again. He nodded his head, saying they were ready.

“Selina and Eagle, do you see anything surrounding us?” Madrid questioned as he looked up in the trees.

“Negative,” Eagle spoke quietly.

“Negative,” I said softly.

“Come on down and lets get going,” Madrid told Eagle and me. He watched for me since he couldn't see me. I knew he was wondering where I was but I was clever. I jumped down from a tree. landing quietly and almost on top of Madrid, making him jump.

“Damn, girl, I couldn’t find you in any of the trees. Antonio taught you well.”

I nodded. I knew he was looking for me, but what he didn’t realize was that I jumped from the tree I was in to the one beside him. I learned to be quiet and to carry clothes with me. I jumped the trees in my jaguar form and put more clothes on when I got to the coverage of the leaves. It was something that was ingrained into my mind. Antonio told me if I could jump in jaguar form then it would be easier to hide. And, you could sneak up on your enemy.

“Lead on, Matheus,” Madrid ordered as he followed Matheus.

We followed Matheus as he zig-zagged around trees. It was slow moving but we were moving. The men were switching out with carrying Manuel. We came to a small pond someone dug and crossed it, making our scent less noticeable.

I felt as if we were being followed. I don’t know how I knew but I did. “Manuel and Madrid, we’re being followed. I’m going to split off. Do you want anyone to come with?” I explained quietly, not looking around. I didn’t want our tail to know we knew.

“I’ll go. Both of us our good with blades,” Claw stated.

“Please keep Selina in your sight if you can,” Matheus pleaded.

I rolled my eyes. “I'm fine, Matheus. I’m good with my blade and with stealth,” I informed him, smiling gently.

“Go,” Madrid ordered quietly.

Claw and I split off, going into the trees. I got up into the foliage and stripped. I placed my clothes in a small bag, wearing it around my neck. I jumped trees until I was behind one of the monsters men. I couldn’t see anyone else but I waited and watched. I was glad I did when two more of the monsters men came out from behind the trees.

“I’m behind the last two, Selina. Get the other one, okay?” Claw informed me as he set up behind the men, almost touching them. Barbosa had idiots for his security force. Not only were they dumb but they were loud when they moved. Antonio must have skipped on their training a little.

Claw jumped out of the tree quietly, covering the stragglers mouth and putting a blade through his heart. He dragged the idiot behind one of the bigger trees, covering him with the dead leaves and plants.

Claw climbed another tree, walking on the animal highway. He set himself up behind the other idiot and jumped down quietly behind him. But, the man made a noise, alerting my guy. I watched the man partly turned around. I jumped out of the tree beside Auturo. He was the scum of the earth. And, I knew if he had a chance to rape me he would.

“Hi, Auturo, remember me?”

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you. Barbosa is worried sick about you. He thought-”

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