Henrick is sat down against a tree, hand steepled as he contemplates Alex's question. "Are we doomed...huh." he murmurs, looking out towards the kid's park where Elly is playing with Veronica.
He watches as they move towards the water to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty, smiling to himself when he sees her exclaiming at it.
"She looks happy." A voice knocks the soldier out of his thoughts. He turns and sees Selene with her arms crossed, standing next to him, a blank expression on her face.
The electricity user sighs as he turns back to watch Elly marvelling at the Statue's size. "I have a feeling she's acting. All so we wouldn't worry about her."
Selene doesn't comment on his observation at first, intent on watching for a while. Her blank face slowly turns into a frown as she notes the carefully curated reactions of the teleporter.
"Poor kid." she says, garnering a nod from Henrick. "I worry about her, but she's strong...We'll all get through this." his words, though hopeful, unfortunately ring hollow.
The magic user's frown turns into a sad smile as she places a hand on Henrick's arm. "You're trying too. That's what matters." says Selene as she turns away and heads back to her own tree.
A few minutes pass in peace, the world almost seemingly normal, save for the colour of the sky and clouds.
Alex and David use their abilities in small ways as a form of training. Having decided that a reprieve is only that if used properly.
Alex, instead of unleashing torrents of flame, lights up multiple tiny balls of fire that float around him.
David, as suggested by Henrick, contains his concussive blasts within his hand. "If you can do this, then your attacks will be a lot more dangerous." says the soldier, watching them both.
"HENRICK!!"
A screams makes him snap into focus as he turns towards the water in the distance. What he sees makes his blood run cold.
A humanoid with gills, webbed fingers, and a slimy coat on its skin, has its hand pierced right through Veronica's stomach.
Elly screams as Veronica shields her from from the creatures claws. She desperately keeps the creature in place, screaming in pain but refusing to allow it to move.
The water user chokes as blood pours out of her mouth, purple energy rapidly spreading from the gaping wound.
Her eyes lock onto Henrick's, a desperate look in them. Henrick roars, "get away from her!!", and bursts forward with preternatural speed. Leo trails behind him, a snarl on his face.
Within seconds, they make it to the water's edge, and Henrick slams into the creature bodily. It gets flung off violently, its arm popping out of Veronica's stomach with a wet squelch.
The soldier catches her before she can fall, and Leo immediately gets to work. He licks her tear streaked face as fast as he can, his body language screaming desperation.
Henrick sighs in relief as the stomach wound starts closing in a burst of green energy. Veronica gasps as her stomach fully closes, greedily sucking in air.
Leo gives her a few more licks just to be sure, then turns to the downed creature. The angry boy snarls as he leaps on top of the monster, teeth tearing into its neck with righteous fury.
The corrupted is torn apart, piece by piece, and Henrick is reminded that the angry boy is like him. Leo saves its head for last and rips it off its torso.
He kneels down as Leo pants in exertion, more emotional than physical, and pets his head. "Ok. I'll let you help more in fights, boy." Leo perks up at the words and gives the soldier a nice big lick on the face.
Henrick then picks Veronica up, who is still gasping for air but has stabilised, bringing her and Elly back to the group.
Selene prepares her bolts as she looks out towards the water, while Alex shakily lets out a breath. "Ok, stay away from the water. Got it." The rest of the group grimace.
Is nowhere safe?
Father David rushes towards the approaching Henrick, a worried look on his face. "How is she?" The soldier places her down and checks her pulse.
"Unconscious, her pulse and breathing seems strong though. She's okay, thanks to this good boy." he says, patting Leo's body in gratitude.
David nods and prepares a makeshift bed for her, while Selene takes out some food and water for when Veronica wakes up. In the meantime, the soldier places her down and checks on Elly.
"Are you alright?" he asks, checking for any injuries. Finding only a few scratches and bumps, he exhales in relief as he waits for her answer.
"I'm okay. Just...scared. I was climbing the railing when Veronica picked me up and threw me...then the monster attacked her."
Henrick looks at Veronica's unconscious form in thanks and turns back to Elly. "You're safe, and she's healed. That's what's important. Get something to eat and drink."
Elly nods and scampers off to find David, who holds the majority of the food and drink. The electricity user turns to address the group, a resigned look on his face.
"We can't stay here for long. The sooner we get to that camp, the better." Henrick says, already putting his bag on. "We'll wait for Veronica to wake up, then we'll go."
Alex walks up next to Tony, a contemplative look on his face. "Is it safe to call those things Fishmen?" Tony simply shrugs and says "you have the freedom to call it whatever."
The soldier overhears and looks towards the distant Statue of Liberty, sighing to himself. "Freedom...looks like we lost it."
30 minutes later.
Veronica wakes up with a groan, she hisses in pain as she presses a hand to her stomach, feeling the raw skin there.
Henrick is stood nearby, watching the water line for any sign of danger. "Hey, you're finally awake." Veronica chuckles at that, but winces as she grabs at her belly again.
"Was that a Skyrim reference?" she asks, and the soldier blinks for a second as he then chuckles himself. "Heh, no, but it should have been. How are you feeling?"
Veronica slowly gets up with Henrick's help. "Like I got hit by one of your electric bolts." Henrick smiles at her humour but it quickly turns into a sad one as he recalls her wound.
She traces the jagged edges of the scar tissue and groans once more. "What happened?" Henrick takes a seat next to her and exhales sharply. "We got to you in time. Leo healed you."
The electricity user frowns and places a hand on the hydrokinetic's arm.
"We'll have to find the time to train you. I can't have you putting your body on the line again." Veronica gets quiet at his words and looks him in the eye. "Because I make water?"
Henrick ruffles her hair and laughs. "Haha, no. It's because you protected Elly. That makes you important to me."
The water user blushes and almost turns into a cherry tomato at the admission and physical contact. Her only response being a nod and a smile.
The soldier smiles back and orders everyone to pack up. Swiftly, they all start moving towards the exit of the park, when Alex sees something.
"Guys...Guys!!! Run, there's more of those things by the water!!!" the pyrokinetic's shout wakes the group up, all of them chancing a glance at the water line.
A veritable horde of slimy skinned Fishmen crawl out of the water and burst through the railing, a bloodlusted look in their eyes.
Henrick leads the way towards the exit of the park, but quickly stops when he sees a lumbering horde of corrupted led by a few Goliaths.
"Fuck. To the science museum!! Now!!" he shouts as the corrupted horde takes notice of them. They all run as fast as they can, but there's no outrunning an assassin.
The soldier pulls Veronica away as a bladed appendage suddenly appears and chops down to where she used to be. Henrick then grabs Elly and gives her to Veronica.
"Elly, shift to the entrance of that museum over there! Go!!" his words prompts the little girl to hold on tight to the water user and, in a moment, later appears at the distant museum.
Henrick doesn't waste words as he flings out bolt after electric bolt at seemingly empty spaces. The faint forms of the assassins show as electricity roams over their electrocuted bodies.
The group, having gotten used to it, then strike at where they see a faint silhouette in the electricity.
Father David contains his concussive blasts within his fist and smashes down, causing the assassin to explode into meaty chunks.
"Yeah!! Let's go, David!" shouts Tony as he does a double handed smash, crumpling the assassin closest to him.
Alex throws out fireball after fireball and curses under his breath as he sees that they're pincered by the corrupted and the Fishmen.
Henrick charges his body with electricity, body tensed for a bitter fight. He bursts towards a Goliath and punches its leg, snapping the limb and causing the giant to topple.
With a stomp of his foot, he leaps into the air as another behemoth slams its fists at where he used to be.
A roar breaks out from Henrick chest as he slams an electric spear through the beast's eye, killing it, but he's unable to react as the last Goliath throws its bulbous hand onto its kins face.
Henrick only has time to let out a single word as he watches the fist hurtling towards him at lethal speed.
"Fuck."
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END