The Mutation Wave

Chapter 25: Of Fire and Ice

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.