Flashf0rward

Chapter 42: Reinforcements

Wren

"Wren! Wren! Are you there?!" Jude's voice slowly woke me from unconsciousness, and I looked around to see where I was, then everything came rushing back to me. The truck, running from the hypermorphs, and now it was on its roof, and I was trapped. As I tried to move, I felt the side of my head throb, and when I placed my hand up to it, it came away bloody.

Trying to shake off the pain, I heard a screeching to my immediate right which made me jump. Several hypermorphs had crowded around my truck and were scratching at the windows and doors, trying to get in to eat the tasty treat that had played right into their hands. Knowing I was running out of time and options, I needed to act fast.

Answering the radio, I spoke to Jude. "I'm here, I'm alright. How many are on me?" Jude spoke back with a grave tone. "You don't want to know. You need to get out of there now. Matthias is about to send in his second wave, and we need you out there." That was more than enough motivation to get me moving.

Feeling my stomach clench, I looked up at the roof above me, which was technically the floor, and I raised my hand upwards, seeing my arm beginning to glow green, and I closed my eyes, turning my head away. Blasting a huge hole in the car with my plasma, I heard screeching as I no doubt had sent some hypermorphs flying, while hopefully burning through some others.

Heading up towards the hole, I kept blasting and shooting at any hypermorphs that tried to get close. When my gun ran out of ammo, I used my hands, shooting anything that moved. Then, I felt a set of razor-sharp claws rake across my back, shredding my jacket and making me cry out in pain as I fell off the side of the Hummer onto my back.

Judging by the pain, they hadn't pierced my skin, but it still hurt. Panting, I saw all of them rushing towards me, my teeth gritting in defiance as they roared at me. Clenching my fists, my whole body began to be covered in green flame. "Come on..." I whispered, then watched as they charged at me, raising my hands, ready to pour everything into my last blast.

Then, the wind picked up behind me, rising to near-tornado levels of power. Raising my hands to block my eyes from the stinging wind, I saw the hypermorphs go flying across the field, far away from anyone. Someone landed next to me, and I could recognize them instantly. Smiling a little tiredly, I spoke. "And what exactly took you so long?" Connor turned towards me. "Traffic."

Hearing more hypermorphs and seeing some of Matthias's surviving men rushing towards us, I instinctively pressed my back against Connor's, each taking a side. "Where's Ivy?" I asked him as I blasted a hypermorph's head off. Connor responded after he blew a horseback rider off of his mount. "She's on her way with the others! She's safe, don't worry."

My heart calmed down a little after hearing that, then I radioed Jude. "Jude! Matthias is sending in more of his troops to take down the hypermorphs. When I give the signal, make it rain." Jude spoke back. "Wren, are you sure-" I shouted as I cut a hypermorph in half with a beam of plasma. "Just do it!"

Looking at Connor, I motioned to the truck. "When I tell you, get to cover!" Connor nodded, blowing a group of hypermorphs towards the horseback riders, letting them feast on each other. Rushing to the truck, I shouted on the radio. "All units, prepare for rain!" Hoping everyone would get under cover fast, I shouted to Jude. "NOW!"

Connor took that as the signal, and rushed towards the Hummer, getting under cover alongside me. There was a moment of silence, then several small items began to dart in front of the moon, almost blocking it out. Looking upwards, I smiled a little as I saw the plan was working. Several hundred arrows were flying towards the battlefield, having been launched over and over again from the bows that had been built by Sparrow back at Sanctuary.

The pointed sticks that doubled as arrows began to rain across the battlefield, striking as many hypermorphs and horsemen as they could hit. Those who knew they were coming tried to get to cover as fast as they could. Some did, others were too late. I could see a blur of motion streaking across the field, and I knew that Sparrow was trying to get most of them out of the way. I hoped it had worked.

We had taken out a good amount with the rain of arrows, but with that, almost all of our hand had been shown. And there was still more on the way. As if to echo my thoughts, a group of horsemen crested the hill that lead to Matthias's camp, with a very familiar figure leading the group and wielding a shotgun. Gritting my teeth, I was somewhat glad he'd finally arrived. Now I could finish the job.

Turning on my radio, I spoke to everyone who was still up. "Regroup at the gates, now!" Many of those who were still alive rushed off the battlefield and stood in front of Sanctuary. Motioning for Connor to come with me, we met everyone back in front of the gates. Seeing Sparrow there first, I spoke to her. "How many do we have left?" Sparrow shook her head. "Not many. At least 20 metas left, and just over half of our infantry."

I was about to say something when a voice came rolling over the battlefield. "Don't you see it, Wren? The futility of all this?" Turning towards the hill, I saw Matthias was speaking to all of us. "Your forces are dwindling, and you cannot comprehend our power. You may have slowed down these demons for now, but you will soon fall to them as you must." Looking across the valley, I could see the hypermorphs were busy feeding, but would return to the offensive any second.

Looking back at Matthias, I shouted. "You should know by now, Matthias. Whether you're metahuman or human, you still have that stubbornness to stay alive. And that's what we intend on doing." Matthias shook his head in what appeared to be pity. "Then, you dig your own grave." Motioning to his men, the horseback riders began to charge.

Seeing everyone around me tense up, I raised my hand. "Not yet!" I shouted, then looked at Connor. "Are they ready?" Connor nodded. "Just give the word." I spoke into my radio. "Sis...go get 'em." Suddenly, the side of the forest that faced the valley exploded as several horseback riders, along with what looked like branches, charged out towards Matthias and his men.

Some of them were knocked off their mounts, others were pulled off and back into the forest. Returning fire, Matthias and his men clearly weren't expecting them to attack. Turning to everyone else, I shouted. "CHARGE!" Everyone shouted as we rushed towards the group of men that might spell our victory, or doom.