Chereads / Swords and Claws / Chapter 4 - Work

Chapter 4 - Work

The two agents then follow the procedures of handling a B-type mutation based on their own weapons, as trained by the agency.

Step one, Adalia charges her sword, holding it firmly while keeping her arms relaxed.

Step two, swiftly approaches the target and plants her feet when the target is just out of arms reach.

Step three, she aims at the target for a good edge alignment and releases the trigger, launching her blade at the target.

Step four, she keeps holding the weapon tightly, her arms relaxed, and follows the trajectory of her blade to prevent injury.

Step five, should the first slash miss, spin and/or flip according to the blade trajectory for a second slash.

Step six, regardless whether the second slash hit or miss, put the blade back into the scabbard, and retry if the target isn't executed.

She doesn't have to repeat as the deed is done.

"Is anybody injured?" She shouts.

As for Catrina. She has to activate her hammer and hit her target within the next three seconds before it deactivates.

The hammer will expend some nitroglycerin to enhance the damage caused, killing the target in a single blow.

It is a simple and powerful weapon. With the effective rate of 1.31 kills per hit. A fact that is supported by the strict criteria for using the weapon. One of them being the agent must have at least one year of on-field experience and one hundred kills, and the other one being the agent must be an A-type mutation.

The pair regroups, back-to-back.

"You seeing anything, Addy?"

"No. You're getting anything?" Catrina's ears twitch as she hears something from...

"UP THERE!!!" someone shouts.

A large werewolf drops down from the coaster track. The agents are just barely fast enough to escape the ambush.

"Looks like there's one more," Catrina says.

It has mutated almost beyond any human resemblance. It is large. Larger than the previous two. Arms and torso muscular and elongated beyond the threshold of the clothing. Mouth almost a snout and the teeth are canine.

"That's a C-type alright. Now's your redemption arc," Adalia says, charging her katana while rushing in. "Don't mess this up!"

"Don't worry, I'm locked and loaded," Catrina follows.

The werewolf snarls and slashes.

Adalia ducks under the claws and cuts its legs.

Without legs, it falls down onto its hands.

Catrina goes in for an upwards swipe.

The werewolf is stunned.

She immediately follows up with a downward strike.

BOOM

The execution is successful.

The agents take a breath and brush off their sweat.

"Is that all?" Adalia asks.

There are the voices of the crowd, footsteps, and music from the tents and rides. "No, I'm not hearing anything. So, how's that for redemption?" Catrina says, resting her hammer on her shoulder.

"Beautifully done!" Someone says. He's clapping as he walks to the agents.

A white suit and a black tie. Inside of which is an aged wrinkly man who definitely takes care of his luxurious white moustache. His left thumb is made of black titanium and his right arm is black and robotic, with which he carries an umbrella.

"Colonel, sir!" Both agents stand proper and salute.

"Agents. You have shown great performance. You disposed of the threats swiftly and flawlessly. Showing power and integrity. What are your names?"

"Helsing Agent, lieutenant Adalia Volkova, sir!"

"Helsing Agent, lieutenant Catrina Sinclair, sir!"

The colonel turns around and faces the crowd. "You see? This is the power of the silver agency. Within these walls, you are under our protection. When somebody turns, we shall dispose of them immediately. If you notice someone you know is showing symptoms of mutations, or even yourself, please contact us and we will help."

"That's bullshit!" Shouts a man. He steps out of the crowd, presenting himself, finger pointing at the colonel. Instead of wearing suits or dress shirts with tie and trousers, like everybody else, he's wearing a dress made of different pieces of cloth patched together.

"Don't listen to him!" He continues. "They are the ones turning us into beasts. They're doing it so they can kill anyone who would go against them! Why do you think we're all wearing the same clothing? It's because they're using them to turn people into werewolves! They're all killers!"

People are already going back about their day, though some stay to see where this is going. A few are whispering to one another.

"Throw away your suits, make your own clothes! Tell your neighbors to do it too and nobody will turn!"

The colonel crosses his arms. He knows security is on its way. Catrina watches while rubbing her grin, holding back a huge laughter. Adalia feels so much second-hand embarrassment she had to look away.

That's when she noticed it. A ring. A shiny ring of wood and stone sits beside the beast's corpse. Adalia squats down and picks it up.

It's very beautiful. The center part is wooden with intricate carvings, framed with black stone which reflects the sunlight, though a little bloody. There is no brand or name carved on the inside. The wind whistles in her ears. A faint chime in the distance. There's something about this ring, she just can't stop observing it. Her eyes locked onto it. She can almost hear a whisper calling her name.

Adalia

Adalia...

"Adalia..."

"Adalia!" Catrina kicks her foot.

"Huh yeah?" Adalia looks up at her.

"Let's go, we're dismissed."

The man tries to heat the colonel into a debate, but he's not falling for it. A young man and a young woman run in from the crowd and holds the man.

"Dad, please stop. You're making a scene," says the young woman.

"Sir, I'm very sorry. We'll take him away," says the young man.

"No! I am not going away. They killed your mother! He killed your mother! Everyone should know that the silver agency are all killers!"

The colonel nods at the young man and stands still, almost like a statue.

Catrina looks over Adalia's head. "What chu got there?"

"Oh! Uhh, just a ring I found."

"Ooh lemme see! Damn, that's pretty. So, I guess we'll pay a visit to lost and found on our way out."

Adalia stands up, brushes herself off, and pockets the ring. "You know what? I think I'll keep it."

"Well look at you being a rebel. Guess I'm a bad influence."

"Oh, you're terrible."

They laugh their way to the bus stop. Security arrives just in time to take away the blabbering man.