The Mutation Wave

Chapter 16: Regrets

"William, you don't have to do this. Please. Please just stay here."

"I'm sorry, darling. There's only space for one of us; you'll be safe with them."

"But I don't want to be safe without you! I'd rather not board the ship if I can't be with-"

"No!" William growled and turned back to his wife. "It's..." He hung his head and squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm sorry, Amber. It's too dangerous. I can't... I can't guarantee your safety. And I can't afford to lose you..."

Tears streamed down his face as his wife hugged him tightly. He tried to pull away, but Amber held on fast. "No, I'm not letting go. Till death do us part, remember?" Amber's face glistened with tears as she buried her head in his chest.

A loud horn blared, indicating the last ten minutes before the cruise leaves the sector as movement increased around them. People rushed towards the large ship in hopes of finding their final salvation, splitting around the couple like water flowing around a rock. Amber shook her head in defiance, her red hair bobbing slightly as William forcibly pulled her hands away.

"I'll be back for you, I promise. You're a better engineer than me; the government will definitely take care of you," he said, trying his best to placate her.

"But how about you?!"

"I was granted this power for a reason, babe. I can take care of myself." William clenched his fists, looking away at the looming ship with a freshly painted 'SECTOR 16' on its side. "I have to find a way to reverse this apocalypse. It's the only way we can finally be safe together."

"I love you," Amber whispered in his ear as she took him in a final embrace. "Don't you ever forget that. And no matter what happens, no matter what you do, that will never change. I'll always be supporting you."

"I'll fix this world for us, I promise."

"I know you will. Promise me you'll stay safe."

William's eyes glistened as Ambers' lips brushed against his; softly, delicately, like butterfly wings, just long enough that he could inhale her breath for the last time. He did not protest; they both knew that he would never leave if they had lingered for even a second longer.

"I promise."

~ ~ ~

"Hey, you're finally awake. We just crossed the border."

William stirred. "What border...?" he mumbled sleepily, curling himself up even more.

"Sector 162, sleepy head. We're just entered Sector 163."

A small rumble shook him awake. A salty tang of seawater lingered in the air as William stepped out of the car. He rubbed his eyes like a baby; the few days of constant activity had seriously messed up his sleep cycle. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky as the group walked towards a deserted town in the distance.

"I don't like this, Victor," William whispered, slowing down his pace to soften his footsteps.

"Neither do I. But nothing ventured, nothing gained." Victor lifted his crossbow and pulled the trigger. The arrow flew silently through the air and embedded itself in its target. The stray zombie shuffling slowly outside the town gates crumpled to the ground with an arrow between its eyes.

"Nice shot." Marianne smirked. "Wait, did you use your powers to hit your target?"

"No, what do you take me for?" Victor frowned, looking clearly offended. "Besides, I can't. An arrow is too small for me to manipulate. I can only move non-organic solid objects that are of a minimum weight, remember?"