"We have to leave!"

"Then 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 open the door,  we can get the systems back up….."

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

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

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

"Phan no, let them go," a woman whispered.

The Phantom stopped and retreated.

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

The Phantom hovered down the corridor and stopped.

Andres looked confused. "But they were trying to open the door over there?" 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 more than another. Finally, she managed to slide free safely.

It looked like a science experiment gone wrong, with many tables with straps and bloodstains everywhere. But 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 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. 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 it just kept flooding when the Phantom didn't do anything. "I take that as a no. So what are we doing here?"

The Phantom moved deeper into the lab, and Andres followed. Her sharp eyes were alert to dangers until she stared at the occupied bed. "Oh 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 Stella, an old woman, and a man slumped 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 quickly moved toward the door, but the woman stepped. "No, you are needed here. Let me check."

"Dr. Ramerez I…" Stella started, but the woman looked sternly at the child 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 closer. "She stabilizing. How is that possible?" She mumbled.

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 Phantom. "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, Shadow can take care of himself.

"A Lumeye ability? Interesting," the older 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 gently placed the boy 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."

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

Stella gave out a startled scream. Andres grabbed her gun and pointed it at the man who was slumped in the corner, now holding Stella hostage.

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

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

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

Andres's finger tightened on the trigger.

"No use. That glass's bulletproof."

"That's good to know." Andres simply smiled, "That's why I have him." Then, she gave the Phantom a signal… and soon after,  all Andes could hear was the man's screams.

***

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 said into his walkie.

"I got it; I'm already in position," The Captain responded. "Are you sure you're okay out there? I could come and help."

Terran turned his head to look at the bunker, where Captain Bard and Wallace were on the roof with rifles ready. "No, Captain, Spike is more than enough." The park was the best place for Terran to use his abilities to its fullest, but…. "You might get in the way, and I don't want to harm anyone." Spike was different. His job was to guard the door where Tessa and Sil was hiding. Terran didn't have to worry about him getting in the way; Spike was too quick.

"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 no one spots your face," Heather's voice popped up. You've been convicted, so yours may still be in the system."

"Convicted?" Wallace's voice asked.

"Mine as well," Captain Bard winced. "I was in the military. Good point, Miss. Collins. Make sure everyone covers their face as much as possible, and Miss. Collins…”

"Sir?"

"If you can get away with it, take those suckers down?" Captain Bard 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, even smearing it in his hair.

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

"All Zombies, so go all out,"

Lifting his hand, the earth slammed into the Zombie masses. Terran yanked, roots came up from the ground, grabbed a couple's hold, and buried them in the soil. Many others fell into a few 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 the rock instead of his face. Terran looked up to find that humans stayed on the hill and didn't just have rifles either. "Do you see them?"

"No worries; we got this," Heather 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 Wallace were shooting from the front, it seemed to be working. Although most of the Zombies stampeding down into the park like they were hunting something, it helped.

It was supposed to be a low-risk plan, but 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, and a drone flew by. Heather grabbed the drone with her telekinesis and slammed it into the vehicle, which exploded on impact. Heather had to duck as the building shook from the explosion. "Are you two still alive?"

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

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

"No time," Heather said, her tone as monotone as ever, but she breathed a sigh of relief.

That was when Heather heard a noise from behind.

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 it at her head.

 Conner chuckled and 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 budge.

"Ah, ah, ah, don't try that again. It 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. But unfortunately, Heather wasn't the best at hand-to-hand combat. She could hold her own, but against a trained assassin, Heather didn't like her chances. So all she could do was…

Heather threw the only thing she had, her walkie at Conner's gun, making him shoot wild, just as she used her telekinesis to slam against the floor.

After that, all Heather had to do was fall.

***

Mysterious Location

Lilia groaned as her head exploded with pain. Not only that but there was also that weird smell that was plugging up her nose and making her head spin even more.

She felt a presence coming closer, and she just opened her eyes.

"Awake already?" Sonia looked down at Lilia with a grin. Her eyes flashed brightly.