Marianne slid down the ladder leading to the basement, landing loudly onto the gravel floor. The middle aged man hobbled along the train tracks as Marianne followed close behind. There was an unnatural yet seemingly accustomed limp to his footsteps, indicating that it was not because of a recent injury, but an outcome of a permanent impairment.

“There.” He pointed to an empty train sitting in the darkness. “That’s our ticket out of here.”

Marianne’s eyes narrowed in recognition. That’s the train I fell into that night.

“How about those monsters just now?” she asked, climbing into a carriage.

“They’re mutated animals that Firdaus experimented on. He used the transmitters to give them the ability to paralyse their frightened victims by projecting illusions via soundwaves. I don’t know how they suddenly got loose, but don’t worry about them. They dry up quickly in sunlight.” The man fiddled with the train controls. The engine came to life with a jerk and the train started moving off with a slight shudder. Marianne eyed the man warily as he walked out of the control room into her carriage.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Hey I just saved your life, girl. Shouldn’t I at least get a thanks?” he said, sitting himself down gingerly opposite her.

“Thanks,” Marianne mumbled. “Who are you and how do you know so much?”

“My name is Zacharias. I’ve been the head scientist in Firdaus’ settlement for months, so I know all the paths in and out of that place. I’ve been studying you for a while, Ms Cha.”

Marianne winced internally at her surname, but kept her composure. “Yeah, that does not at all sound creepy,” she replied sarcastically.

“In my defence, you and your enhanced friends have been causing quite the trouble for Firdaus,” Zacharias said. “He would have had me keeping tabs on you guys in due time anyway.”

He suddenly took out a camera and flashed it at Marianne. She flinched, covering her eyes with her hands.

“Hey! What was that for?” Marianne said indignantly.

“Yellow…” Zacharias muttered to himself. “This is a special camera that shows how evolved you are by evaluating your bio electric field.”

Marianne stared at him blankly. “Wh…what?”

“Look here.”

Marianne peered at the camera screen. A bright yellow glow surrounded her unflattering pose in the picture.

“This camera displays your bio-electric field in simple colours; grey, green, yellow, red, and blue. The most evolved humans are usually around red to blue, whereas normal humans like me are grey. Some have said that this electric field and ‘auras’ as popularised by psychics are one and the same. You also have a special ability, yes? How much control you have over it depends on how evolved you are.”

“W-what colour… was my sister’s?” Marianne blurted.

“Sister? Ah, you must be Marianne. Vivian’s aura was red. Blood red.”

“Of course…” Marianne mumbled, trying to hide the slight resentment in her voice. “Why did you save me then? I’m useless, so surely it couldn’t have been Firdaus’ instructions?”

“Ah, I was getting sick of his constant threats. He would’ve had you killed soon; I had to do something. And hey, you’re not useless at all. Look at me, I’m a fifty year old cripple who can’t even run if my life depended on it. Chin up, young lady. You’re a survivor,” Zacharias said.

“We’re slowing down,” Marianne observed. She walked out onto the train tracks after the train came to a gradual halt.

“M-Marianne?” a familiar voice greeted her.

She broke into a wide smile, running towards the group of people standing near the train tracks. “Masako, William! Oh I thought I’d never see you again! What are you guys doing here?”

“I could ask you the very same thing! We thought you had died!” Masako said happily, wiping tears from her eyes.

“This certainly saved us a lot of time…” Yuxia muttered, folding her arms.

“Yeah… We’ve only reached this place like five minutes ago,” William said.

“A-are you my sister?” Vivian popped her head out shyly from behind William.

Marianne looked towards Vivian, approaching her slowly. Vivian flinched slightly as Marianne reached a hand out to her, placing it on her face.

“V-Vivian… sister…” Marianne squeezed her eyes shut, letting pearls of tears flow down her face. “Y-You’re really alive. And you’re all grown up now… I can hardly believe this… I- I…”

She pulled her sister into a hug, her body trembling as she cried uncontrollably. Memories of their childhood swelled within her, bursting into a hurricane of emotions. She wanted to never let go of her again.

“I’m sorry…” Vivian whispered. “But I don’t remember who you are.”

“What do you mean?” Marianne asked as her sister broke from her grip and went back to William.

“That bastard Firdaus brainwashed her until she lost her memories,” William said bitterly. “She calls him master and recalls nothing else.”

Marianne clenched her fists as heat bubbled through her veins.

“Don’t. Move.” a voice hissed from behind her, interrupting her emotions. She froze as she felt a metallic object press against her head.

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“Shit, he was on the train with us all this while?” Zacharias muttered.

“Now, if I may have my daughter back.” Mr Cha cocked his pistol, motioning to Vivian. He wrapped a hand around Marianne’s neck, using her body to cover his own. Vivian trembled and shook her head, hiding behind William again.

“What for?” William growled. “If you really are her father, why are you threatening her life?”

“That’s none of your business, lad. Hand Vivian over or I’ll blow Marianne’s brains out.”

What are you doing, Marianne? Fight back, damnit! William glanced at Marianne, but an unfamiliar fear was written in her eyes.

“Leave a single scratch on her and you’ll suffer a much worse fate,” William hissed as a blue glow flickered in his irises.

Mr Cha yanked Marianne by her hair, pulling her closer to him. “Your boyfriend’s not very smart, is he?!” he bellowed. “You think I’m joking? I’ll kill her and then I’ll kill all of you! I swear I’ll fu-”

The pistol clanged loudly on the floor as Mr Cha abruptly dropped to the ground unconscious. William released his mental grip on the man’s blood in shock. What? But I didn’t-

He shook his head; this was not the time to think about what happened. William rushed to Marianne’s side, but Marianne shook her head and pointed at Masako. He turned back and covered his mouth in shock.

“Ngghh… I’m fine. Just… just need to…. rest a while,” Masako said with one knee on the ground. An orange glow slowly faded away from her eyes as blood dripped from her nose.

“I temporarily stopped the electrical signals from firing in his brain.” She smiled weakly. “He… He can’t hurt you now.”

Shocked gasps went around as Masako collapsed to the floor.

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

“Why is it that everytime you come back here, you bring me someone unconscious? You youngsters need to learn to take better care of yourselves.” The old lady fussed around the medical machines, expertly pressing buttons and ignoring the cacophony of lights blinking in rapid succession. Fluids flowed through small transparent tubes into the veins of the girl breathing slowly on the bed.

“Sorry, Granny.” William’s eyes furrowed with worry. “Masako will be alright, won’t she?”

Granny sighed and shook her head in disappointment. “Yes she will, but she’s having a fever right now. I don’t fully understand your kind’s anatomy, but it’d be best if you don’t overuse those special abilities of yours.”

“How about the other man?”

“He’ll be unconscious for a while too, though I don’t see any obvious head injury. Once again, you kids baffle me with your medical cases…” Granny muttered. “He’s tied to his bed somewhere secure now.”

She sighed. “The doctor’s code forbids me from turning a blind eye to anyone who needs saving, but I still don’t approve of bringing dangerous people back here. It’s best that someone keep a proper eye on that man.”

Brett burst into the medical room. “How is Masako? Is she alright?!” he asked loudly, running to Masako’s bed.

“Keep your voice down, young man,” Granny said firmly, ushering him to slow down. “You’re disturbing my patients.”

“O-oh sorry,” Brett dropped his voice with an apologetic grin. He knelt down by her bedside, observing her with a worried look on his face.

“You sure are concerned about her…” William smirked, folding his arms.

“Th-that’s only because she saved my sister and my life!” Brett sputtered.

“Is that so…”

A roar of footsteps sounded as Victor walked into the room, accompanied by a large group of young teenage girls. Granny almost fainted.

“That’s quite enough people in here! Shoo, shoo! Go talk somewhere else! That includes you, Victor,” she exclaimed, quite literally pushing everyone out. The door closed behind them, leaving the three men surrounded by wide eyed children.

“Leader, leader, where’s Marianne? You said she came back.” One of them tugged at Victor’s shirt.

“Yes, yes… She did,” he said, giving his best smile but still clearly looking out of place. “Why don’t you ask this nice man who came back with her?”

Son of a… William’s eyes widened as the girls turned their attention to him immediately. They surrounded him before he could retreat.

“I know you. You helped save us too! Thank you!”

“Oh erm…You’re welcome?” William stuttered, taken aback by the surge of gratitude from so many people. “But I don’t know where she went-”

“I hear somebody’s looking for their big sister!”

Oh thank god.

The girls ran towards Marianne, who welcomed them with open arms and a big smile. Brett followed them as well to personally thank Marianne for saving Ceci. William heaved a sigh of relief, walking toward Victor who looked equally content. They were never good with children.

“Long time no see,” William said awkwardly.

“It hasn’t been that long, but it seems you had quite the adventure,” Victor replied. “Do you know how worried I was when you sent a bunch of girls for me to take in without appearing yourself? Brett even told me that you had to invade a bandit’s lair that was on high alert to save Marianne. I had half a mind to go there with a support team immediately.”

“Well, it turned out alright, didn’t it?” Willian laughed, putting a hand on his head sheepishly. “Also, you were worried about me? Gee, since when were you such a softie?”

Victor folded his arms as his face reverted back to its usual scowling expression. “It’s normal to be concerned for a friend, especially one who has a track record of being reckless. And besides, our defences have been sizing up pretty well now that we’re preparing for another attack anytime. It would’ve been a nice opportunity to test our new strategies.”

William smiled internally. There was something different yet familiar about his old friend; as though he had shed all the baggage he was carrying. Cliche as it may seem, a mellow warm glow seemed to radiate from Victor. It had been a while since William had seen this side of him.

“Mr. Dietrich, nice to meet you,” a voice from behind interrupted their reunion. Zacharias had appeared silently from the opposite side of the corridor and was walking towards them.

“Your health security team was really thorough with their body checks.” He shook his head. “Is there really a need to check my whole body for zombie bites? I wouldn’t last so long if I had been bitten more than ten seconds ago.”

“Just standard procedure. Bites aren’t the only things we’re cautious about.” Victor shook the outstretched hand hesitantly but kept his facial expression neutral. “Thank you for saving Marianne. Your reputation precedes you, Doctor Zacharias.”

“Then I hope you don’t think me a spy. I assure you, my loyalty lies with those who have my best interests in heart.”

“Whether or not I do has yet to be seen. But as I tell every newcomer, they must offer something to the settlement,” Victor said. “And I have already decided what yours will be.”

Zacharias’ grin slipped off his face quickly. “What is it?”

“Information.”