The Wastelands

"We have to leave!"

"We have to get this door open. Mr. Deakin said…."

"Ha, that bastard left us to die, so why should I listen to him?" Silence "Forget the door. We need to leave! All the cages are open. You know what that means"

"Yes, I know, the zombies are coming, but if we get the door open, we can get the systems back up….."

"I'm not taking any chances. I'm leaving. Do whatever the hell you want."

"Wait, fuċk…" The sound of running feet echoed.

A dark shadow loomed toward them as they ran away, unaware.

"Phan no, let them go," a woman's voice whispered.

The Phantom stopped and retreated.

Andres breathed a sigh in relief. "You listen to me. That's good. That's good." She cautiously crept to get a better look in the corridor. "So where too, now?"

The Phantom hovered down the corridor and stopped.

Andres looked confused, "But they were working on that door over there?" But the Phantom didn't budge. "Okay, let's do it your way."

She gently crept through the opening, but something suddenly slammed into her. Andres put her arm up just as teeth tried to eat her face. 'Damn, another Zombie.'

Andres's other hand grasped her gun and shot it in the head. The Zombie fell on top of her in dead weight. "Damn," she cursed as she struggled to wiggle herself free. That was when she spotted two more on the other side of the room.

The Phantom moved toward them. "No, don't! I'll handle it. You still have that kid. Remember?" Andres aimed and took down one than another. Giving her enough time to slide free.

Looking around, it looked like a science experiment gone wrong, with lots of tables with straps and bloodstains everywhere. Plus, the most impressive was the Ripples contained like lightning in a bottle in the middle of the room. "That explains the Vine Zombies. Kind of?" Andres shook her head, she was a little curious, but she shouldn't dwell on the matter. Her mission comes first…. Always.

Andres' foot caught on something. Looking down, there was a body, but this body was different from the Zombies. For one, the body looked like a chew toy, "This body is fresh. It's not going to get up, right? Like one of those awful Zombie movies?" She looked up at the Phantom, but when the Phantom didn't do anything, it just kept flooding. "I take that as a no. So what are we doing here?"

The Phantom moved in deeper into the lab, and Andres followed. Her sharp eyes were alert to any dangers until she found herself staring at the occupied bed. "I no, Rachel, what have they done."

Rachel was strapped in one of those beds, hooked up to the Rippled monstrosity. Vine markings on every inch of her body. Andres reached out…

"Don't touch her!" A voice suddenly cried out.

Andres stilled. "Stella?" She called out.

There was silence. Then a whirling sound resounded before a wall opened up. Showing not only Stella but also an old woman and man slumped over in the corner. "Miss. Andres what… how."

"The Headmistress sent me to retrieve you and Miss. Lui." Andres stated simply. Ignoring the tied-up man, there was something about that old woman. She could be someone to watch out for.

In any case, that old woman was another complication. Andres glanced at the Phantom with the boy. And she had more than enough of those.

Stella's lips trembled, "But Rachel is…."

"Alive."

That got the old woman's attention. "No, that can't be. She should be dead."

"I know what alive looks like.." Andres's voice was cold. "And I've seen those creatures up close and personal. She is not that… at least not yet."

Stella got up quickly and moved toward the door, but the woman stepped. "No, you are needed here. Let me check."

"Dr. Ramerez I…" Stella started, but the woman gave the child a stern look before walking toward the door.

Andres's eyes narrowed, watching Dr. Remerez come in and move toward Rachel. Her hand stayed on her gun. When she got close, Andres didn't move right away. "I need to get a better look." As Andres reluctantly moved aside, her eyes watched intently as the old woman leaned in closer. "She stabilizing. How is that possible?" She mumbled.

'It looks like I don't need to put Rachel out of her misery.' Good. Andres sighed in relief.

"Are you a medical doctor?" Andres asked.

Distracted, Dr. Ramerez answered, "Of sorts, why do you ask."

Andres gestured to the Phandom. "We picked up something on the way."

As the Phantom came closer, the old woman jumped back, startled. "What is that?"

Stella's voice broke through. "Shadow's Phantom. Where is he?"

Andres nodded. "He will be here… momentarily." 'Hopefully. Although the mission comes first. Besides, Shadow can take care of himself.'

"A Lumeye ability? interesting," The old woman surmised, then her eyes focused lower and landed on the child. "Cole! Give him to me." The Phantom didn't move until Andres nodded. Then, the Phantom placed the boy gently into the old woman's arms. "How are you alive?"

'If you can call that living.' "Are they well enough to travel?"

The old woman shook her head. "I don't know. I need more time."

With how much the base was compromised. Andres didn't think they haven't enough time. She was about to say as much when….

Stella gave out a startled scream. Andres grabbed her gun and pointed… at the man who was now up and conscience holding Stella hostage.

He simply ordered. "Get away from that machine."

The old woman snorted. "Didn't think he'll have it in him."

His eyes were wild. "It worked. It finally worked. I need to tell Elliot."

"No use, That glass's bulletproof."

"Good to know, but it kind of makes things easier." Andres simply smiled, "That's why I have him." Then, she gave the Phantom a signal… and soon after, all Andes could hear was his screaming.

***

Ruined City

Terran stood in the middle of the Park, watching as way too many Zombies popped up over the hill. "They're coming. Get ready." He talked into walkie.

"Got it, already in position," The Captain responded. "Are you sure you okay out there? I could come and help."

Terran turned his head to look at the bunker, where Captain Terrance and Tyson were on the roof with rifles at the ready. "No, Captain, Spike is more than enough." Then hesitantly. "You might get in the way, and I don't want to harm anyone." Spike was different. He was going to guard the door where Tessa was hiding. Plus, his mobility was way higher. So Terran doesn't have to worry about him getting in the way.

"Copy."

"Just make sure to keep anything alive from entering the park." Terran doesn't know what he'll do if he accidentally kills anyone alive… friend or enemy.

"Little brother, I've spotted drones in the air. Make sure that no one spots your face," Heather's voice popped up. "You have been convicted, so your's especially might still be in their systems."

"Convicted?" Tyson's voice asked.

"Mine as well," Captain Terrance winced. "I was in the military. Good point, Miss. Green. Make sure everyone masked your face as much as possible, and Miss. Green…"

"Sir?"

"If you can get away with it, take those suckers down? I don't like being the subject of a peek," Captain Terrance ordered.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Be careful, everyone. I don't want to take your bodies home?" the Captain advised.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Little brother, good luck," Heather's voice was still cold.

"You too," he whispered. He smeared his face with mud and drew up his hoodie.

With one hand on his bo staff, he placed the other gentry onto the ground, the earth rolled against his touch. Terran felt feet stepping into the Park. "They're here."

"All Zombies, so go all out,"

Lifting his hand, the earth slammed into the Zombie masses. Terran yanked, roots came up from the ground and grabbing hold of a couple and buried them in the soil. Many others fell into a couple of sinkholes, but more and more kept coming.

"Too many," Terran whispered.

"Incoming!"

Rifle shots rang out. Terran didn't even flinch as a bullet hit rock instead of his face. Terran looked up to find that humans stayed on the hill, and they didn't have just rifles either. "Do you see them?"

"No worries, we got this," Heather was the one who answered. "Just worry about your own business."

Terran smiled. It was nice to have a reliable sister for once.

***

Heather watched as Katy took a Zombie down before aiming for a human who tried to hit her from behind. She was kind of impressed. Katy knew how to move, and if she got in tight spots, Daniel was there with his crossbow. As soon as the guards turned toward Katy, Heather took a shot, distracting them while Katy scrambled away.

She ducked as rifle shots rained down on her position. "Moving to point B."

"Roger," Katy responded from another stolen walkie.

Their plan was a straightforward hit-and-run plan. Unfortunately, Heather's group doesn't have enough firepower to do anything else. But, while the Captian and Tyson shooting from the front, it seemed to be working. Although with most of the Zombies stampeding down into the Park like they were hunting something, it kind of helped.

It was supposed to be a low-risk plan, but even so, Heather wished that her other self could take over and wipe them out.

"Oh crap!" Suddenly one of the armed cars' guns moved to fire, just as a drone came flying by. Heather grabbed the drone with her telekinesis and slammed into the car, which exploded on impact. Heather had to duck as the building shook. "Is everyone okay?"

Coughing, Daniel answered. "A little dinged up, but we're both fine.

"Warn us next time," Katy's voice broke through.

"No time," Heather's tone was as monotone as ever, but a small part of her didn't see either of them die.

Then Heather turned around with her sniper rifle out, just as Conner tried to sneak up from behind her. He managed to kick the sniper rifle away. Heather attempted to push the boy away using telekinesis. Still, it only made him fall back a couple of feet before pulling a gun and pointing at her head.

Conner chuckled pulled out a necklace around his neck. "That Sonia bitch made me this charm before disappearing, useful, isn't it.

Heather glared, "Not really."?" She tried to yank the damn thing from his neck, but it didn't even budge.

"Ah, ah, ah, don't try that again. Won't work," Conner seemed to be enjoying himself. He stepped forward. "What are you going to do, little Lumeye."

That was a good question. Heather wasn't the best at hand-to-hand combat. She could hold her own, but against a trained ȧssassin, Heather didn't like her chances. So all she could do was…

Heather threw a shoe at Conner just as she used her telekinesis to slam against the floor and the wall behind. Then all Heather had to do was fall.

***

Mysterious Location

Lilia ġrȯȧnėd out as her head exploded with pain. Not only that but there was also that weird smell that was plugging up her nose. Making her head spin even more.

She felt a presence coming closer, just she managed to open her eyes.