Kai knew he had to get away from these crowds at some point. Daksha can keep his cover under his influence only for so long. His attempt in doing so might attract other monsters by exposing his presence.
"Let's go." Sunny said, strolling his captain.
The many injured and exhausted individuals among the refugees were ragging their feet. Only the soldiers and few other men were capable of helping others while keeping the pace.
Unfortunately, the civilian numbers dwindled less than half when they left for the bunker. It was too far and many soldiers have already died because of the blood loss and exhaustion. Since the pace wasn't slowed down, those who couldn't keep up were left behind.
Kai did not like how that turned out. but the choice was either that, or risk total annihilation in that base. No doubt Bucky regretted it the most while he chose.
Now, all that is behind them.
Right now, they need to move forward and make sure their deaths and sacrifices are not in vain, or at least reinforce that idea in people's mind so they feel less guilty while moving on.
The moment he saw the exit on the subway he made sure to honor the truce he made.
"I'm nothing if not a man of his words." Crimson said. he had his men remove all the detonating devices on the people while having their arms against each other. "As promised, we leave you, now."
his words barely made a twitch in Bucky's stare. "Okay."
above the stairs and cancelled elevators of this subway station, they all looked at the same sign.
[Exit]
time stopped for a brief moment as they all breathed a sigh of relief before everyone would start rushing towards it.
A long moment passed in silence. Time was ticking out. Then Bucky nodded.
Crimson saw them all one last time, a second more for Bucky and the unnamed man who broke their fight — Kai, and ordered his team. The attackers moved first, sprinting up the stairs, toward the surface, where sunlight awaited them.
"The moment you step outside," Crimson said without turning, "we're enemies again."
his figure vanished along with his voice and into the bright sunlight.
And away they disappeared into the dystopian world they came from.
***
Bucky, his team, refugee and lastly Kai stepped into the ruined city of New York a second time. They were not surprised to see what happened to the hustled metropolis they once knew. It was a mess of human destruction in unrealistic proportions.
The sidewalks were empty and eerie with a ghastly presence of monsters' shadow. The digital screens and glasses look ancient. Everything was wrecked with forgotten and destroyed cars everywhere on the road. The high-rise buildings were either in debris or smeared with blood and goop of monsters. In every definition, it was hellscape up here.
"Let's go."
No more words were necessary. From then it turned into a typical rescue operation, only they were saving themselves. Two men went ahead, they ran to scout the road for dangers.
"Alright, everyone listen," Bucky said aloud so the civilians behind him can hear. "we're going to follow their lead. We should be far enough to the base, but we'll keep moving to be safe. The soldiers will help you as much as possible, but if you can't keep up, make no mistake, you will be left behind."
His message to them was clear. Even if there are people that need his help, if they drag him down, they will leave them behind.
Not much longer after they started walking, Kai slowed to the back of the group. He looked at the subway exit they walked away from.
The wind was strong, his hair trickled against the air. It was unnatural. Kai had a keen sense for these kinds of things.
'Shit. We're out of time.'
It's in times like this that he wished he was not on the seat, that Zeff should be let suffer out here.
"Hey!!! Get Down!!!!"
Kai immediately fell onto his knees and took cover on the ground.
The earth quaked under a massive shock. A huge explosion erupted underground.
The fire has finally reached the explosives.
Those standing were yanked out of land and into the air for a moment and everybody fell into the ground. The buildings rumbled, the cars were pushed off a meter and every dust and cement in the area turned chaotic. The earthquake continued.
"Everyone! Take cover!"
Bucky screamed at the edge of his lungs. Some ran and went below the cars, some entered the buildings and below the seats of bust stops. The debris was falling all over.
The people scattered in chaos.
After that point, no one cared. They ran everywhere they felt safer — Some took their family, some wanted to save who they could, and some ran for their lives.
But yells and screams were unheard, for they were all silenced in the erupting sound of explosion. The deafening explosion made every one unheard.
When the silence returned, Kai lifted up his head, shuffling white soil on his hair.
In front was Daksha and a large barrier that saved everyone here, both weakened at the impact and the invisible barrier slowly crumbling down.
'It could've been so much worse. I should be glad we made it out at all in time.'
But there's no time for celebration. Daksha was visible now. Kai stood up, half-hearted and unsteady. Now that everyone is spent and done, he needs to get away with him as soon as possible before anyone realises.
Behind him, Bucky and other soldiers were squirming on the ground, thankfully no one appeared dead, some of them were looking in his direction.
'right. Daksha is also exhausted. His disguise might be out.'
But it doesn't matter. Even if they realise who he is, no one is crazy enough to chase him in this state.
Daksha fell, both his body and energy wrecked from inside out. Blood was coming from his eyes and ears. The fox shrank into the size of a dog.
"It's okay, buddy," Kai says, falling closer and picking his helpless pet. "We're still alive," he smiled. "It's gonna take a lot more than this to kill us, eh?"
His voice echoes. Many gazes were surprised at the sight. In the distance, Bucky saw Kai walking away, staggering and injured. He realises the criminal still lives.
"Argh… b*tch."
He caused all this, but he gets to walk away. He won. The truth poured poison into his heart. His eyes scowled with hatred. Then and there, he swore to remember this, and give back the pain tenfold before he kills that bast*rd.
Valer saw everything as well, she erected a small barrier of her own to protect William and his family. Nina and Sara were unconscious. She was still a mystery to William, the range of her powers were still unknown. Yet, he was grateful for her help.
Valer was intrigued by Kai. He walked away like he had somewhere to go, carrying a monster in his arms.
'Where are you going?'
Gradually, no sooner than strength returned for them to stand up, Kai disappears into the most of soot and dust.
"Get up, mister William. We're moving as well. You can carry your wife, I will take care of Nina."
William held back his surprise.
"Aren't we going with the soldiers?"
Valer scoffed. "Look at them, they're barely protecting themselves. I got you this far. Trust me. And besides, some people have already left."
One after another, the capable men formed their own groups and families and left the soldiers while some remained.
"lieutenent, some of our guns are missing. And the refugees have left us."
Bucky was infuriated beyond measure — both at the betrayal and his own incompetence to do nothing. So much has been lost.
"Keep moving. We need to regroup with the researchers before moving into another base."
No one stopped. They all left in different directions, different paths. But a time will come where all the path converges once more and the fight for survival continues.
===