"What is happening to them?" James asks, watching as this gruesome scene unfolds before his eyes.
They all start backing away from the bodies as they start coughing up a black substance, suddenly after, the men go silent. Arthur stops for a moment, observing the bodies that seemingly look lifeless. "What…just happened?" He mutters, lifting his head and looking at the man. "What did you do to them?"
"Watch and find out," The man replies, cackling as the pale disfigured bodies begin to move again. Drawn out moans follow as the men slowly start getting up, theirs eyes sunken and void of vitality.
"Why do they look like that?" Arthur asks silently, stepping further back and pushing the two women behind him, shielding them. "I don't know what he did to them, but I have a very bad feeling about this."
[It's necromancy, he turned them into undead.]
"So you're telling me they're zombies? Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse," He says, sighing as he turns to look at James, barely able to stand straight. "What do we do now? They've locked on to us."
"I don't know, I'm trying to think," He replies, as he desperately thinks of a way out. "There's a big chance this won't work, but it'll definitely buy us a little time if it does. Stand behind me!"
Although curious about James's plan, Arthur asks no questions and immediately jumps back. The zombies charge at them, snarling as saliva drools from their mouths. James goes down on one knee and slams his palm on the ground, freezing it as it trails towards the charging zombies, encasing their feet in ice and instantly immobilizing them.
A cold breeze engulfs the area as he exhales, leaving icy clouds with each breath. "It's not gonna hold for long, let's go!" He yells, getting up as he points in the direction they'll run to.
"Did you think I'd just let you escape?" The man says, pointing his finger and sending the rest of his men at them. "Bring the ice user to me, having him as an undead soldier will prove useful."
They start running as the men chase them down and the zombies start breaking free of the ice restraints.
"Don't let go of my hand," Jane says, holding Sophia's hand as they run. Seconds after, Sophia starts panting heavily as run, exhaustion finally sets in after walking for so long and not sleeping properly for days.
She trips over a crack on the pavement, falling to the ground and bruising her knees and palms. She screams in pain, struggling to get back up as her knees tremble.
Arthur stops, grabbing her hand and trying to pick her up as he looks back to the enemies closing in on them. "Shit, they're catching up."
Arthur desperately rushes to lift her, but realizes it's futile as they've already reached them. He puts her down and steps in front of her, drawing his sword and pointing it at the approaching enemy, his eyes full of resolve as he waits. James also draws his sword and stands beside him.
Just as they were about to clash, a commanding voice orders from behind. "FIRE! It's the scourge." Gunshots begin to rain in rapid succession, barraging them with bullets.
James turns to the familiar voice, setting his eyes on the buff figure with dark skin and a gray mustache, sticking out his head from a military vehicle and commanding a squad of soldiers, before he speaks. "General!"
The commanding officer of the Saddledome, General John Hart, has come to their rescue. He and his soldiers march forward, gunning down the zombies and the rest of the scourge men as they advance. The men turn and start running as they are outmatched, they rush towards their leader's location, however the man is nowhere to be found.
"The boss is gone!" One of the men yells, his voice full of fear as they start breaking up and running in different directions. The soldiers split up and chase down the men, catching every single one of them and shooting those who resist.
The soldiers cuff and drag the ones they've restrained back to General Hart, before one of them speaks. "That's the last of them, Sir. However, their leader Adam Solace was nowhere to be found, Sir."
"So the bastard got away again, huh." He says, stroking his mustache with his thumb and index finger. "We'll get him next time, but for now take these ones back to the base and find out what they know about his possible whereabouts."
"Sir, yes, Sir," The soldiers respond, saluting and leading the captives back to the camp. "What about the civilians, Sir?" Another soldier asks.
"I'll see to them myself, so stand by. The rest of you start heading to base," He commands, turning his head to look at them. The rest of the soldiers start heading back to the vehicle as he turns to Arthur and his group. "Is anyone hurt?" He asks, screening all of them with his eyes. He notices the blood dripping from James's back and the bruises on Sophia's knees as he moves closer and stands in front of them, before speaking. "Sargent, we've got injured, apply first aid and escort them to the camp so they can get proper treatment."
"Yes, Sir," He replies, rushing to the vehicle to get a first aid kit. He comes back and starts treating James's wounds. General Hart turns and starts walking back to the vehicle, but Arthur hurries and goes in front of him, before he speaks. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me kid, it's our duty," He responds, placing a hand on Arthur's head.
Jane gets up and walks to James as they speak, she knees beside him before she asks the soldier treating him. "May I?"
Not fully grasping what her aim is, he moves. She places both her palms on his back, closing her eyes as a green glow starts emanating from her hand and onto his back. The soldier's eyes widen in shock as the wound slowly starts closing up.
General Hart overhears the loud gasp of the soldier and turns to the miraculous sight. "Well would you look at that," He comments, his brows slightly raising. "And here I thought I'd seen everything."
[END]
To be continued…