Page 3 of VIM Redux 10

“Can you get him out of there alive and in one piece?” Shay asked.

Bane shrugged. “As long as you don’t mind a little blood spilled on the operation itself.”

“As long as it’s their blood and not yours or Drew’s, I don’t care. They think they can do whatever the hell they want.”

Bane smirked. “I’m gonna have some fun teaching them that they can’t.”

“You need some help on this mission?” James asked.

Bane stared at him then gave him a short nod. He already knew James did well alongside him. He never hesitated and he did not seem to mind a little blood either. He looked back at Shay and added, “I need to grab a few things for our trip before we go.” Then he looked at James and grinned. “Get ready to rock and roll Jamesy. We’re gonna teach these boys not to mess with us.” Then he strolled out of the room.

James looked over at Shay and shook his head. “He thinks this is some sort of a game and that’s the scary part.” James packed what he needed from where he’d been stationed all day.

Bane came back in with a go-to bag in his hand and said, “Come on baby brother, let’s go get Drew.”

Pappy and Shay paused at the baby brother part, but they said not a thing.

James paused to check that he had his own weapon then carrying his pack, he followed Bane out to the back door.

During the trip west, James looked over at Bane to ask, “Remember the very first mission we had together?”

Bane gave him a slow nod. “You mean when I found out what a sissy you were?” he teased.

“Hey how was I supposed to know I was working with the actual boogeyman?”

They both remembered that day....

Heading around to that same bathroom window he came in at before, James noted that it was now locked. “Fuck...” he gritted.

“What?” Bane asked.

“The janitor or security must have caught it open.”

“So? There are the tunnels,” Bane offered.

“Yeah, inside but—”

“Don’t you read the whole story, James?”

He looked over at Bane “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“There’s an old entrance. Didn’t you see that on the blueprints?”

“Yeah, but that is probably compromised by asphalt or some shit since it was built. It’s been what, a hundred years?”

“We shall see,” Bane replied and turned into the darkness.

James hesitated as the man simply disappeared into the pitch. How in the hell did he do that? I can’t see a damn thing.

“Are you coming?” Bane whispered from the dark.

“Just a second, let my eyes adjust. I swear you are a God damned cat or something.” He paused as he could have sworn he heard a chuckle. Bane chuckling? Nah, has to be my imagination.

“Come on, man,” again, Bane called for him.

James stepped further into the black and he could see a little bit but not much. Finally, he could make out Bane’s outline. “Is that you?” he asked.

“No, it’s the god damned boogie man,” Bane replied in a low voice.