Arc 2 - Chapter 46: Water Pump Facility

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 3:58AM)

“For the last team, I’ll be leading a group toward the water pump facility. I and the others will create a hyper-lethal water bomb to counter the monster, before she reaches the facility.”

Jack, Hope, Fred, and the blonde-haired soldier Johnny nod in agreement. Opening their ears, they let Luke’s declaration ring.

Jack raised his hand toward the top of his hair, and began to comb it with his fingers. Tracing the scalp with his nails, as his hair was well-kept, he turned his attention toward Hope.

“Are you sure we could trust that Johnny soldier? He doesn’t seem that trustworthy. I mean, why would a soldier want to go toward the water pump facility?”

“Maybe it’s for a good cause. We need all the help we can get.”

“I know, but still.”

The more he combed his hair, the more dandruff had gotten into his nails. With a sigh, he turned his attention back toward Johnny, and saw that he was all alone. Sitting with his hands cupped together, his right foot repeatedly tapped the pavement.

Placing his left hand into his pocket, he pushed his feet forward, walking right where Johnny was sitting.

‘I guess talking to him wouldn’t hurt.’

And Hope walked in back of him. Her hands clasped together, she had them lowered onto her crotch. Stopping right in front of Johnny, Jack towered over him with his shadow.

Tilting his head upward, a bead of sweat stalled on his temple.

“Uh, do you need something?”

“So you want to roll with us? Can I ask you why?”

“... That’s classified.”

As they both talked, Hope took a few steps back, and turned her head toward where Gwen was.

Seeing both Gwen and Luke still on top of that truck, Hope fiddled with her fingers as she looked down. Letting out a fake smile, as her lips quivered twitchingly, her cheekbones radiated an amount of annoyance.

Because in a way … she was jealous.

‘What can I do for myself other than just like Luke…’

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:05AM)

“This is the place Jack!”

“Are you sure? Every building looks the same to me?”

“Just trust me! This is the place!”

A brown van stopped right next to a building.

Looking to be crafted in metal steel, the building had two tall chimneys, right on the center of the roof. With barely any glass windows to be seen, it made it look like a prison.

And in front of the entrance, was a giant door that allowed cold air to exit out.

“Don’t tell me we’re not the first ones here…”

“Get your weapons ready.”

Luke and Jack both got out of the van, and swung their doors shut. While Luke walked toward the back door, Jack had his eyes scouring the windows. In fact, Jack noticed something from the yellow-tintness, making him stand still.

‘What the…’

Reaching the back door, Luke pushed in the numbers for the lock, and heard a loud click from the mechanism. And upon unveiling the doors, the three adults that sulked in the back soon got all out.

Fred and Hope looked like they were half-asleep, while Hope had a somewhat bright smile maintaining her face.

“So what’s the plan?”

“All of us are entering inside the facility.” Said Luke.

“That’s it? I thought it was going to be a lot harder…” Said Johnny.

“Well, there’s a reason why I just wanted special forces.”

As they talked, Jack had his eyes pinned at one of the windows from afar. Squinting through the yellow tintedness, it pushed Luke to turn his head toward Jack’s direction. Walking up to him, he tapped his shoulder two times, which startled him from his trance.

“Hey, is there something wrong?”

“No … I thought I saw something…”

“Oh.”

Fred, Johnny, and Hope placed themselves in the back of them. Their boots thumping the concrete below, they all readied themselves, as they wiggled their fingers over their waists. Their holsters stationed, Luke cleared his throat and nodded once more.

“We’re going in.”

“Wait!”

They heard a teenage girl's voice. Turning to the direction of the voice, Jack took a step further to squint his eyes through the darkness. Raising both of his hands to his eyes, he made hand holes, and acted like he used binoculars.

“Is that a cat-human?”

“A cat-human? Wait…”

“Johnny!”

Luke, Fred, Jack, and Hope turned their eyes to Johnny. Tilting his head down, he shook his hands the more he heard her call out his voice. Furrowing his brow, Luke scratched his right cheek with one of his hands.

“Do you know her?”

“She’s my … uh …”

“Johnny!”

Just as she was about to stop, she didn’t, because she had pushed the soles of her heels to fly forward. Leaping through the air, she extended her arms out, and focused her entire being on the blonde-haired young man.

And upon hugging him, he crashed onto the floor, anime style.

Feeling his back be pressed onto the sidewalk, he steamed air from his lips. Unable to wrap his arms around her back, he squeezed his eyes as pain soared throughout his body.

“Ah! Hey!”

“What are you doing!?”

“I should be one saying the same thing! Why didn’t you stay behind like I told you to!?”

“I want to come with you!”

She had both her palms stationed onto his wrists, as her butt was on top of his crotch. Her eyes narrowed, she made a puffed up pout as her tanned face began to redden. Johnny, who was bottom, found himself being pressed upon by her abnormal strength.

“That’s not up for you to decide…”

Continuing to scratch his chin, Luke analyzed the contents of the girl’s characteristics.

She had cat-ears, a common trait for cat-humans. Having medium-lengthed hair, along with freckles, she had a cute button nose and small cheekbones. Lastly, the girl wore a thin brown jacket, as well as khakis, a common uniform given by a certain group…

“Uh … What’s your name?”

“Oh my name?”

Getting up from Johnny, she patted her knees, as a collection of dust and dirt indebted her khakis. Clasping her hands together, she gave them a little bow, and shu her eyes for a second.

“My name is Elizabeth, Elizabeth Sanchez. And yes, I’m a cat-human.”

“Hmm…”

Despite having the same body features, her ears and nose were the ones to stand out. Sensing that Jack was staring at hers, she kept her eyes closed, and her back still hunched.

Johnny stared at the red-haired man, and had his hands placed onto his waist. Folding his arms, Jack let out a sigh, and shrugged with his shoulders pushing upward.

“Don’t worry, we don’t discriminate. If we have a shark-human in our group, then we have no trouble working with a cat-human.”

Both of her eyes began to sparkle to life, and pushed her irises to glitter like stars. Her back straightened, she nodded up and down repeatedly.

“T-Thank you!”

Elizabeth clapped her hands twice, before raising her lips to form a half-witted smile. Letting go of his stare on Jack, Johnny pushed out a little smile.

“Thank you guys for being nice to her, but I think it’s too dangerous. For her anyway.”

“If it’s alright with you, could we at least know what her abilities are? If she’s nothing more than a soldier, then we could deliver her back.”

Luke took a few steps forward, and stood right in front of her with a timid smile. Clearing his throat, he clasped his hands together, yet avoided eye contact. The rest of everybody sat back and watched, while Johnny and Hope stared at them intently.

“Do you uhm … know how to fight?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m a lot better fighter than Johnny. As a matter of fact, I’m stronger than him.”

“Is there anything else that you have?”

“I also have a blessing.”

““““Huh?!””””

Their jaws dropped as they took many steps back. Startling the concrete, the only one who didn’t gawk his mouth open was Johnny. As a bead of sweat rolled down from his cheek, he began to scratch his cheek with one of his hands.

Pinning his eyes onto mostly Luke, he gave off a light chuckle.

“Guess she’s got you all under her spell.”

“Well, it depends on the type of blessing at hand. If it’s a weak one, then we’ll decide whether—”

“I can create weather. Well, clouds so to speak. I can make lightning clouds, rain clouds, I can even make healing clouds for allies in case of need.”

An offensive slash support type of blessing.

Having the ability to create clouds, and enact weather phenomena, it made Jack nod frantically. Turning his attention to Johnny, who raised his right hand up to his forehead, he pressed it onto it as he swayed his head.

“Come on man, let’s bring her!”

Everyone turned their eyes on Johnny, especially Elizabeth who looked at her with kitten eyes. With so much peer pressure dawning, he lowered his hand from his forehead, and pushed it into his pocket.

Luke slightly chuckled, and scratched the back of his head.

“I mean, it’s up to you Johnny—”

“I guess … I could allow it. Just promise me you guys will keep her safe, alright?”

Raising up his right hand, he stuck out his thumb and gave him a thumbs up. Having a warm smile upon his face, it made Johnny of all people be star-struck upon his warmthness.

“Promise.”

Turning their eyes toward the giant door, it was awaiting them like a crazy butler greeting their guests. Feeling their backs shrill out a shiver, it was like ice cubs ran down their backs.

Luke moved his hands to his waist, his fingers caressing the helm of his uzis. His forehead coated with sweat, an influx of warm air pushed inward and out from his lungs. But with a swift nod, he walked.

“Let’s go.”

Being the leader, Luke led everybody to follow his lead. Hearing his boots thump the concrete, he was as well as the first to reach the building.

Inside of the building captained in darkness, they felt the air pinch their lungs. Along with many railings, and many wooden boxes and crates littering the floor, they soon found a large staircase that led toward the upper floors of the building.

Huddled together, the darkness soon began to blind their vision. All of them having their hands on their weapons, Luke gulped, as he turned his head toward Jack.

“Jack, get me a flash—”

—The door slammed shut.—