The Mutation Wave

Chapter 44: Diversion

William watched his friend's chest heave up and down for an unnecessarily long time. Blood was flowing through Victor's veins, which was in all sense, a good enough indicator that he was still alive. Things had not exactly gone according to his plan, but at least it had worked for all intents and purposes. He called his soul back to the present and put a finger to his ear.

"Masako, come in."

There was no reply. William's heart increased its pace slightly as he opened his mouth to repeat himself, but a crackle in his ear flooded him with relief just in time.

"We're all in position. No movement yet, though."

"The plan worked. Victor is fine, but I think Zacharias might be showing up on your side any time soon. Be on your guard and prepare to activate those mini converters the moment he shows his face."

"Got it, but if I don't hear from you in time, I'm coming over to help you. Stay safe."

A soft groan sounded from behind just as William cut the communications channel. Victor had regained consciousness surprisingly quickly, muttering in a foreign language.

"Hey, you alright?" William rushed to help him up as Victor continued babbling.

"H-hey dude! I can't understand you!"

Victor stopped apologising in French immediately.

"I'm so sorry I did all of that," he switched back to the global language. "I saw and heard everything, but I wasn't able to control my body at all."

"It's alright, buddy." William put his hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now; that's all that matters. Are you well enough to move?"

"I'm well enough to put an end to this." Victor's eyes hardened as he got back to his feet.

"Hold that thought." William gestured to a dark corner. Screeches began to fill the air and the sound of footsteps intensified like a rush hour crowd approaching a subway on a Friday evening. "Remember that night we came here and destroyed half of this town's population? I think the rest are here for revenge. Oh dear, and it seems we've been spotted too."

"Are the zombies coming only from one direction?"

"Yes, it seems so. Why?"

"I've got an idea." Victor pointed at the abandoned train sitting inconspicuously on the other side. "How many people do you think can fit in a train?"

William caught on and grinned in response. The two men immediately ran toward the train as the zombies came into view, sprinting after them close behind. William leaned back and slid across the train floor on his knees, avoiding a few of them bursting in through the windows. He whipped out his plasma cutter and started separating limb from limb in a single slice. Victor, on the other hand, preferred using his fists to fling them away from his path.

"Just like old times, eh?" he said, casually slapping a zombie aside with enough force to knock out a gorilla.

"This is nothing... like the old times..." William panted, leaping over a zombie trying to grab his ankles. "The only things you were punching... were holes in signed documents."

Victor laughed heartily in response before increasing his pace towards the end of the train. The doors flew off their hinges as the two enhanced men exited the train, still pursued by their fellow mutates.

"Ready when you are." Victor turned around and raised his hand.

"Thought you'd never ask." William opened the bottles by his waist as his eyes lit up.

"Be swept by the tide!" he roared, pouring out a tidal wave from the impossibly small bottle openings. The mass of water swirled, herding all the stray zombies and pushing them back into the train. Victor stepped forward and slowly clenched his fist.