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“Follow me.”
“That’s impressive,” I managed as I dove into the opening after him.
We reached a set of stone steps, and he went down first. I followed, and the soldier clambered after me.
“I hope you know your way out,” the soldier said.
“Me too,” Ugo muttered as he surveyed three possible directions to go.
“Which way?” I tried to catch my breath, feeling the effects of the smoke in my lungs. We were all coughing constantly.
“This way.” He headed to the right, and we didn’t question it. Ugo kept talking to himself. “Your instinct is to take the middle path. It’s the easiest decision.” He wheezed, and I could tell he was trying to keep his head on straight. “But after spending the night down here, I remember it’s a dead end. The left tunnel branches off to others, and that’s an entirely new mess you’re in. I made a map once. I wish I still had it.”
“Wait.” I stopped short to listen, and the soldier bumped into my back with a thud.
“We have to keep moving.” Ugo tugged on my arm.
“Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?” He grew impatient.
“That.” I rushed in front of him, following the sound of voices.
My feet pounded on the uneven stones, and I tripped a few times. The lights flickered, and I was horrified at the thought that we might all be plunged into darkness soon.
“What the hell?” I raced toward what looked like a cell. A few men were locked inside.
“Please,” a man came running up to the steel bars and stuck his hand out, “I did what was asked. Please let me out!” More voices and banging came from farther down. What was this place?
I raced around, trying to find something to break the locks with. I spotted a pipe and hit the lock with all my might, but it didn’t have any effect.
Ugo and the soldier came running up.
“There’s no time for this.” The soldier looked back the way we came. “We have to leave.”
“Then leave,” I yelled at him as I slammed the lock again. This time it seemed to give a little. I wasn’t stupid. I bet Elio had men stashed places, too, but this wasn’t Elio’s doing, so I couldn’t leave them.
Ugo grabbed the pipe from me and gave it a sharp crack, and it broke away.
“I don’t care what you do, but I can’t take a chance that these men might die here.”
He cursed and ran his hand over his tattooed neck. He grabbed the pipe and went to the next cell and knocked off the lock with one swipe and released an older man from inside. I wondered how long these men had been locked down here.
“That’s it,” Ugo called out, taking the lead. I urged the two younger men to follow him while the soldier followed with the older one. I brought up the rear.
“Here it is!” Ugo called as he pushed the massive door open that led to the sweet outdoors.
“Go!” Ugo called to the survivors. “Leave before anyone spots you.”
They didn’t waste any time running down the road well away from the police, fire trucks, and the massive crowd that had formed.
I dropped to my knees and sucked back the fresh air and was soon dizzy.
“Easy,” Ugo coached, “slow breaths.”
I sat up and looked at the chaos around us. Ugo dropped down next to me and let out a relieved sigh.
“I didn’t think I was going to find you,” he huffed. “Thank God Berto did.” He pointed with his chin.
