More giant needle holes were punched through, and then came the blade of a saw, crossing between each of the holes. After another few seconds of silence, a small section of stone was eased out, revealing a glaring light. More blocks were pulled away, carefully at first, but then quicker.

“I think these guys are in a hurry,” Abby said backing up.

The rocks began to be pulled out faster and faster, the last few almost manically. The rest of the wall began to collapse.

Jack swept an arm in front of Cate. “Get back.”

The rest of the wall collapsed.

*   *   *

Sonya began to scrabble against the last few rocks, and would have continued to drag them out, even as they fell, except she was grabbed and pulled away. As soon as the collapse finished, she shrugged free, and lunged forward into the swirling rock dust.

“Valery, are you there?” She spoke in rapid-fire Russian. “Valery, Valery…” She strained to hear.

“English only.” A male figure stepped forward. “It’s Jack Monroe, Cate Granger and Abigail Burke.”

The dust began to clear. She changed to English. “Valery… where is Valery Mironov?”

“Sonya?” Cate coughed and waved away dust. “Sonya Borashev, is that you?”

“Yes… are there, any more survivors?” Sonya shone her powerful light at their faces, and then along the ledge. “Who else is with you?”

“Only us three, ” Cate said. “I’m afraid Valery, was… taken.”

“Taken?” She felt a coil of nausea writhe in her gut. “And where is the crew of the submersible? Dmitry… where is the one named Dmitry?”

“Gone or dead. He was the one who took Valery.” Cate came closer. “He also killed Yegor. I’m sorry.”

“Taken by a killer.” Sonya leant forward onto the broken stone, gripping it hard. She couldn’t stop her hands from vibrating as she gripped the stone ever tighter. Like boiling water under pressure, the scream that erupted from deep within her, smashed around the chamber. She stood, with her head back, and fists balled, and screamed a Russian death curse.

In another second it was over, and she lowered her head. Her team behind her remained in respectful silence, and the three survivors also stood mute. Yusoff has won… for now, she thought.

Sonya stood straighter, and dimmed her light. “Sorry.” She wiped her mouth. “Cate Granger, I’m glad you made it. We have a chopper waiting to take you all to a hospital.”

She reached in a hand and Cate stepped forward to take it. Sonya was momentarily shocked by the woman’s appearance. The attractive, strong-looking woman she had met just a few months ago now looked ten years older. Her hands were bloody, as were her lips where they had cracked and split. But it was her eyes that betrayed the horrors she must have had endured – they were sunken, dark and haunted.

Sonya turned. “Water, quickly.”