“How are they, doctor?”

“Not to worry, boy. The one with the head wound will be fine; we have the equipment to treat her. The other girl suffers the same condition as Mary, but not as serious.”

“So that means she’ll wake in about two days then?”

“Sooner.”

William smiled in relief. “Thanks, doctor.”

The old lady chuckled warmly. “Please Walter, call me granny like the rest of us. I rather like being called like that.”

“See you around, granny.”

Urgent footsteps replaced Granny’s slower pace as Victor briskly entered.

“You owe me several explanations-”

“That’s my line,” William snapped, interrupting Victor as he glared at him. “Where the hell did you send Masako to? What is going on?”

Victor raised a placating hand. “First of all, lose that attitude. And secondly, I only sent her to retrieve a key. I didn’t know the Red Clover was targeting that group of cannibals. I even gave her a distress signal device so that we can extract her if she’s in trouble. What happened in the asylum anyway?”

William glared at him for a moment before opening his mouth. “I’m not even sure, to be honest.” He shook his head. “One moment we were talking normally, and suddenly she was just screaming and running around as though I wasn’t there. So I went off on my own to retrieve the transmitter first and then climbed the stairs all the way up to catch up with her. And then I saw this weird creature; it looked like a snake with… tentacles? I think Marianne was somehow under its influence.”

“Why weren’t you affected?”

William shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe because I wasn’t as frightened as her? Anyway, I killed it since it really wasn’t that threatening without its hypnotic effect-”

“Are you sure you don’t know? Or is it just because you have a similar ability?” Victor interrupted him sharply.

“Huh? What’re you talking about-”

Victor took a step forward towards William, imposing his taller frame onto William’s slightly smaller build. “A lot of things have happened ever since you came. And frankly speaking, I only let you in because you’re an old partner. But there are just too many questions unanswered about you.”

William’s eyes narrowed in anger. So you never trusted me in the first place…

“Be careful what you say next. I could end your life with a thought.” He leaned in, his voice dropped menacingly in both volume and pitch.

“Is that what happened to Marianne? She pissed you off and you lost control?”

“That does not even remotely make sense- Wait a minute. You don’t have any idea what my ability is, do you?”

The two men stared at each other.

.

.

.

.

Splash!

Victor flinched as a ball of water slapped his face, dispersing all the tension in the air.

“Ow, what the-” He could scarcely finish his exclamation before he was pelted by another ball of water. Victor stumbled backwards as small puddles of water crashed into him relentlessly.

“Ah stop, stop!” Victor raised a hand in surrender. “I… didn’t know… you control water…” He panted, shivering slightly.

“You never asked me.”

“I thought-”

“That I can control zombies?” William folded his arms. “If I could, I wouldn’t be running away from them in the first place, would I? And Marianne, it’s not what it looks like.” He turned back to look at her, who had been watching them silently at the doorway.

“How’d you- Right… There’s water in me too. It’s alright, I’m not judging.” Marianne averted her eyes from the drenched man whose shirt was clinging tightly to his body.

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“Didn’t you just recover? Should you even be walking around?” William asked.

“I’m fine,” she replied curtly, waving a dismissing hand. “I even just had a really fun sparring session with some of the guards. But Victor, at least William answered your question. Happy now?”

“Not really.” Victor leaned against a wall with his arms crossed. “Now I really have no idea who attacked my settlement.”

“Maybe you should just tell us what is going on…” a weak voice interrupted them.

“Masako!” Marianne gasped, rushing over to her. “How’re you feeling?”

Masako sat up slowly, supporting her body against the bed frame. “Nggh… feels like I was in a white room for days. A humming sound…”

“Give it a while, your brain just needs to reboot.” Marianne smiled warmly, petting Masako's head.

Victor walked towards the bed. “Masako, I need you to tell me exactly what happened-”

“Geez, leave her alone. Can’t you see she just woke up?” Marianne glared at Victor.

“This is urgent,” Victor said firmly. “I need answers before Red Clover wakes up. This settlement is done for if she’s the one who can control the zombies. Don’t forget, we’re technically zombies too.”

“Control… zombies? I don’t think so.” Masako mumbled. “She tried using me to turn a zombie back into a human.”

“How?” William raised an eyebrow.

“The Red Clover attached some electric nodes and a transmitter to both a zombie and me. She ran some electricity through both of us, but it didn’t seem to work.”

William’s eyes narrowed, recalling the similar experiment he tried to perform back in Sector 161.

“Also, the Red Clover isn’t one of us,” Masako continued. “The suit she’s wearing only artificially alters her bio electric field to be like the zombies. There was a man completely covered with armour who appeared out of nowhere and broke her helmet. After he did so, the electric field around her head immediately changed back to that of a normal human.”

“Let’s take off her suit just to be sure,” William said innocently.

The girls glared at him.

“Terrible choice of words, William.” Marianne stood up. “And besides, she’s probably wearing that armour for a reason. She might have been bitten and the suit is preventing her from turning.”

“A man?” Victor asked, ignoring Marianne. “Can you describe-”

“Victor?” Alexei’s voice sounded from outside the room. “Mr Firdaus is here again.”

“Ugh, not that guy again,” Victor muttered under his breath. “Tell him I’ll meet him in the usual pla- No, escort him here.”

“Will do,” Alexei said as the sound of brisk footsteps announced his departure.

The trio shot Victor a quizzical look as he signalled for them to move closer to Masako. He drew the medical bay curtains to cover up Masako’s bed and put a finger to his lips. “Don’t make a sound.”

----------------------------------------

“You really should stop coming and going like you own this place, Firdaus.”

“Why not? Your people didn’t dare to stop me. There’s no law against trespassing anymore, is there?”

Victor silently clenched his jaw as he deliberately leaned back on his chair, maintaining eye contact with the man seated opposite him. The man remained still, his narrow eyes blinking slowly as a small smile lay on his lips.

“So, have you given my proposal any thought?” Firdaus asked.

“Straight to the point, eh?” Victor said. “Yes I have. And as per my previous responses, I stand my ground. My settlement will not be merging with yours, but we will not stand in your way. Go ahead with your ‘conquest’; we are more than capable of defending ourselves. Neutrality is a policy-”

“For foolish cowards.” Firdaus interrupted him. “Thrice have I extended my hand of friendship to you, and three times have you swatted it away. Let no man say I did not try.” The chair creaked as he stood up to leave. “You have closed the gates to paradise on your people. I pray they have mercy on you.”

“Paradise? A place where the growing population gets less and less food each day while your lower class literally work themselves to death? A place where new members fight to the death for a chance to join the elite soldier ranks? And still celebrate it?” Victor stood up, his voice trembling. “You call that paradise?”

Firdaus’ lips thinned with mild annoyance. “Do you know what a President is for? To be the scapegoat for when things go wrong. A good president makes sure that never happens. My people are safe, both physically and mentally. They will never get themselves in trouble. I have only done what was required to safeguard my future, so spare me your self righteousness. We both know the things you have done for yours.”

“At least I don’t brainwash everyone who joins me. You’re a goddamn cult leader.”

“You call that brainwashing; I call it reprogramming their flawed human nature.” Anger flashed across Firdaus’ face as he turned to face Victor. “My people will never make the mistakes of those responsible for killing our world. Your people will rise up and turn against you because you are complacent. The government toppled over humanity’s unquenchable thirst for advancement. Your fate will not be any different.”

“You’re wasting your breath. Nothing you say is going to change my mind,” Victor said quietly.

“Then so be it.” Firdaus turned on his heel and swiftly left the room.

Victor stared blankly at the room door, before the sound of sliding curtains jolted him back to his senses. He turned back as William and Marianne slowly walked out.

“That was intense. Who’s that?” William commented absent-mindedly.

“His name is Firdaus. He is a master swordsman and the leader of a much bigger settlement in Sector 163. He’s been trying to get me to join him, but he’s a horrible dictator who just goes around absorbing smaller groups of people by force. No way in hell will we be safe with him,” Victor said solemnly. “But never mind that. So Masako, do you recognise his voice?”

“Yes.” Masako looked at him with a serious look in her eyes. “It was him who attacked the Red Clover.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me everything.”