Final Dawn: Season 3 (The Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Series) by Mike Kraus

it, Sergei jammed his thumb down on the detonator’s button, causing the red light to turn green. In the same instant, the temperature of the maintenance passage increased dramatically and a thunderous sound and shock wave rocketed through the air, nearly toppling Sergei and Andrey off of their feet.
     
    Concrete and steel exploded outward, showering the water below with pieces of all sizes. The creature chasing after Sergei and Andrey was annihilated in an instant as the maintenance passage began to collapse around the damaged area, blocking off any idea of retreat back the way they came. The deafening noise was audible from miles away, attracting multiple groups of creatures who descended upon the newly formed hole in the canal wall like vultures. Not pausing or slowing down, Sergei and Andrey continued running, putting as much distance between themselves and the creatures behind them as they could.
     
    With the aid of the well-timed distraction, Sergei and Andrey were unmolested by creatures for the remainder of their run, a fact they appreciated wholeheartedly when they fell against a gate at the end of the passage, exhausted. A lock on the gate was quickly broken and they moved forward cautiously, struggling to control their labored breathing as they exited the maintenance passage and returned to the surface.
     
    A second control room that was a mirror image of the first one—though this one had no bridge nearby—was in front of them, and below it stretched a ladder all the way down to the water’s surface. Access to the ladder was available only through the control room, which meant climbing a tall staircase before opening a trapdoor and descending down the ladder. There were no creatures in the immediate area as Sergei and Andrey climbed up the ladder, taking the stairs three at a time. Sergei glanced at his watch, cursing silently. One minute. Shit! Thumbing the radio transmitter, Sergei spoke quietly into it, hoping any creatures that might be nearby wouldn’t hear them.
     
    “Arkhangelsk! We’re here! Where the hell are you?”
     
    As if on cue, a great dark shape rose from the waters of the lock directly below the control room as the submarine slowly rose to the surface. Pieces of the bridge still clung to her hull and the starboard hatch was still open and jammed full of debris. As the deck cleared the surface, the port hatch began to open, revealing two men who stood at the top of the stairwell, looking up at the control room. Sergei and Andrey fumbled with the trapdoor over the ladder for a few seconds before throwing it open with a clang and beginning their descent. With the sub fully inside the lock, the automatic equalization process began and the water began draining from around the Arkhangelsk. After a few tense, nervous moments of descending Andrey and Sergei jumped from the lower rungs of the ladder, landing and rolling to a stop on the sub’s deck. The two crewmen waiting for them helped them to their feet and the four quickly disappeared inside the sub, the hatch closing immediately after them.
     
    Once safely back inside the ship, the two men fell to the floor, throwing their bags and weapons to the side as they gasped for air, eagerly accepting canteens of water held out for them by someone who stepped out from the shadows. “Excellent work.” Commander Krylov stood before them, smiling as they took the canteens from his hands and began drinking noisily from them. “Our guests didn’t think you would make it. I’m very glad to see you proved them wrong.”
     
    Without another word, Krylov turned back down the hall, leaving the four men standing alone to stare at one another. After a few moments, when Sergei and Andrey had caught their breath, the elder cousin looked at the two men who had helped them into the sub. “What about the last bridge?” The man smiled and held out his hand, helping Sergei to his feet while his comrade did the same for Andrey.
     
    “Come up and we’ll