“I finally found you.”
Vivian’s eyes flew open. A hand was covering her mouth and a cold metal pressed against her throat, silencing any attempt to scream. Her fear-stricken eyes darted around for anyone that could help, but her room was empty. They slowly shifted back, meeting her father’s eyes. He put a finger to his lips, smiling sinisterly. “Come quietly, girl. We’re going home now.”
No… Not again… I thought he was locked up… A sinking feeling clutched her stomach as she was forced to her feet by Mr Cha. I don’t want to go back. Someone help me…
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Victor walked briskly up the stairs to the rooftop, his coat billowing slightly in the sea breeze. The rooftop guards were giving orders urgently while a few observed into the distance with their binoculars. The settlement leader walked to the ledge, squinting at some objects rapidly getting bigger on the horizon.
“Leader, there are dozens of helicopters headed our way as well as an army of tanks. They’re approaching at a rather high speed; should we sound the alarm?” a guard asked nervously. Victor did not blame him. After all, they had only been the new guards for about a month with zero experience outside of training drills.
He grabbed a pair of binoculars and took a closer look. Bloody hell. If this was an invitation from the government to join their newly constructed sanctuary, it sure was a very unfriendly one. And there was only one other group in this whole region powerful enough to get their hands on so much military equipment.
“Yes. Activate the rest of the guards and standby all the anti aircraft weapons we have,” Victor ordered. “Get the wall guards down from their posts before those tanks start firing at our wall. Bring them here as reinforcements and evacuate the residents into the basement.” The guards nodded in response and began barking orders into their radio.
Firdaus, you crazy son of a bitch. You’re throwing away human lives just because I refused to join you? I need to get William and the others to help, but where are th-
“INCOMING!” someone yelled as the guards ducked for cover. A missile flew straight for the rooftop, but Victor stood his ground. His eyes glinted and the projectile fizzled out, stopping harmlessly in the air.
“If it’s a war you want, then I’ll give you one.”
The missile turned around and flew back at the helicopter that fired it. It struck its target, exploding into a huge fireball. The guards looked in awe at their leader standing with his hand still outstretched.
“This is most likely a distraction, but I’m the only one here who can stop an aerial attack,” Victor said, focusing his mind on the rest of the helicopters rapidly approaching the settlement. “Find the rest of the enhanced and tell them to defend this place from the inside.” A deafening bang shook the ground just as he finished his sentence.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
What now?
Victor looked to the source of the sound furiously. The tanks had begun their assault, determined to break down their defences. The settlement wall, now twice its previous height, stood tall due to its added steel reinforcements.
Victor shifted his focus to the closest tank, knowing his metal barrier would not hold forever against such a heavy artillery barrage. He closed his eyes, feeling his mental grip touch every metal on the battlefield, but a tank suddenly blew up before he could do anything. He opened his eyes incredulously.
“We got this, leader! Take down the helicopters!” the chief guard said, firing another rocket at the incoming tanks. Victor smiled proudly and began to hover upwards. Helicopters crashed into each other while others were dragged straight to the ground. A few dozen missiles charged angrily towards Victor in retaliation, but they were simply sent back with a wave of his hand.
So far so good.
A few solid objects approaching from behind the settlement barely caught Victor’s attention. He turned around; a small number of speed boats had pulled up alongside the shore just outside of his range. Armed men were getting off the boat, entering the settlement with minimal resistance. Victor stretched a hand, reaching for their weapons but he could barely touch those tiny pieces of metal, let alone move them.
He growled in frustration, turning his attention back to the never ending wave of steel birds in front of him. There was nothing else he could do about it now, except to trust in his friends.
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“Everybody get in!” the messenger shouted, ushering the panicked people into the underground carpark. A few of them gasped as the ground shook once more with the impact of tank shells against the wall. William and Masako followed the crowd, but the messenger stopped them.
“The leader has orders for you to defend this place on the ground level,” he commanded.
“And how do we do that?” Masako exclaimed. “We barely know what’s going on.”
“I- I don’t know!” The messenger shook his head frantically. “But you guys have special abilities, right? Please help us! We’ll surely be slaughtered if you don’t.”
William looked back, sensing a foreign crowd of water bodies moving towards them. He glanced at Masako, who wore the same disturbed expression; she sensed it too.
Intruders. They’ll be here before everyone manages to evacuate safely.
“We’re really, really missing Marianne right now,” Masako muttered. “She’s the only one who actually knows how to fight. Where is she anyw-”
“Fifth floor. Running probably. Her heartbeat is too fast.”
“What?! Do you memorise the heart rate of everyone you meet?”
“Nope. Just her’s.” William took a deep breath and began walking away from the crowd.
“W-what’re you doing?” Masako followed him.
“Playing the superhero.”
“Are you sure about this? What if they have guns?” she asked worriedly. William smirked as water started pooling around his body.
“Then they’re predetermined to die today.”