Mutagen

Day 129 - 10:45 AM - Audubon High School, Audubon, Camden County, New Jersey, United States of America

The dramatic part of the reunion between Felicia and her father was cut short because of Ernst and Arnold's antics.

It was a good thing, however, as a reunion was better with laughter than tears.

"Can we enter?"

Mark turned to Captain Morrison to ask.

"Of course, there's no problem."

The Captain immediately granted access. However...

"Wait a minute, Captain."

One of the soldiers behind Captain Morrison, who was covering his nose with a handkerchief, spoke. 

"What is it, Smith?

"It's quite faint, but there is a smell of infected from their car. There's even two of them. They might have helped us, but we can't let the infected enter our settlement."

The soldiers were surprised, hearing that. However, they would not suspect this person, Second Lieutenant Jericho Smith. He was a mutator with a wolf-like sense of smell. Although he was not able to distinguish different smells thoroughly, there was one thing that he was very capable of. It was detecting the odor from the bodies of the infected.

Because of this ability, they were able to find out infected attacks in their settlement in advance and keep the place safe before a horde surrounded it.

"Sir Mark, is this true?"

Captain Morrison asked.

Hearing that, Mark shrugged. Compared to these soldiers, the security of the settlement in his country was rather lax. Back then, Janette and Trixie were able to enter Bay City without problems. Here, however, the [Queen Type] and the [Empress Spider] were immediately found out.

Mark then turned inside the vehicle and spoke.

"Go out."

As Mark said those words, a woman went out of the vehicle. Felicia immediately dragged her father out of the way as if she was also quite afraid. The woman was not any less than Felicia in appearance though it looked a bit unnatural.

Before anyone could feel envious of Mark, having beautiful girls in his vehicle, they noticed the huge spider that was latched unto the woman's head.

"Sir, it's positive. That woman is infected, and that spider on the back of her head. Those two are what I have been smelling from their vehicle."

Second Lieutenant Smith spoke in confirmation although his voice was a bit confused. His words immediately led the soldiers to point their guns at her.

Fortunately, these soldiers seemed to be properly disciplined. They did not shoot immediately and was waiting for orders from Captain Morrison first.

Still, they had some questions regarding this infected.

The infected woman was obviously not restrained in any way. And yet, she was not behaving aggressively. And rather, there was a look of confusion in her face, seeing too many guns pointed at her.

That was right, a look of confusion. The infected were never witnessed to show any kind of emotion aside from anger and hunger. Yet, this infected woman was clearly showing something that she should not be able to.

Mark looked at the soldiers. He did not look troubled at all. If any of them shot the [Queen Type], he could immediately take her away. And the look of utter confusion on the faces of these informed soldiers was quite funny to look at.

"Want any of that?"

Mark suddenly spoke to the infected woman and pointed at the dead bodies of the outlaws still left on the ground.

The soldiers began to think that Mark was crazy, talking to an infected. But then, to their shock...

The infected woman shook her head.

"Smith, are you really sure that she's infected?"

Captain Morrison asked for confirmation.

"I'm a hundred percent sure, Captain. That woman smelled like an infected that turned for months already. She's not someone bitten just recently."

There, another mutator soldier at the side of Captain Morrison chimed in.

"Captain. Is it possible that she mutated her intelligence?"

Hearing that, the Captain could nod. There was no other explanation they could think of. This was the very first time they encountered an infected that could understand human language.

"Can we enter now?"

Mark asked.

"This..." Captain Morrison hesitated. "She will not cause trouble, would she?"

"Oh, don't worry," Mark replied. "She prefers rabbit stew over human flesh. And if I wanted to do anything bad in this place, I don't need her help. I can kill everyone here alone."

What Mark said was both assuring and threatening. Yet, the soldiers could not say anything to refute him.

"Alright, let's give an exception this time."

Captain Morrison sighed. There was nothing they could do here. It was already good that Mark did not openly attack them. They rather not provoke something that they would not be able to handle.

After that commotion, the cleanup outside the school started. The non-combatants were also called outside to help cleaning. They needed to clean the bodies and the blood as soon as possible. It was to prevent too many infected from getting attracted to the smell of the blood.

Fortunately, they had no problems with the water that they needed to wash away the blood. Just a block away west of the school, the Haddon Lake was located. There were evolved fishes in the water, but as long as they did not fall off into the lake, it was alright to get water.

While all the cleaning happened, Mark and his group entered the school.

The school was composed of several two to three-floor buildings connected to each other. There were a wide gymnasium and other necessary facilities. Just the building area was more than enough to allow all the people here to live comfortably. At the back of the building, however, there was a football field, a track and field oval, a baseball field, and a soccer field along with more than two more sports facilities.

All in all, the school had a very wide area for activities. The military also did not hold back on reinforcing the fences around the school. All this area was available for the survivors to access aside from areas where only the military and specific personnel were allowed.

Mark and his group left the vehicle at the parking area behind the school, past the football field.

Once everyone went out, they looked around due to the new scenery they saw. On the other hand, the survivors were also the same, curious about the newcomers.

Many people around greeted Felicia's father. Seeing Felicia clinging to her father, everyone was curious and asked who she was. Hearing that Felicia was his daughter that was missing for years, the people were surprised. Nevertheless, they congratulated the old man for reuniting with his missing daughter despite the state of the world now. Looking at this, it seemed that this old man had some popularity in this settlement.

It was not surprising. The old man was in no doubt old, already in his fifties, and might even be approaching his sixties. Nevertheless, despite the wrinkles on his forehead and white hair, he had the body of a veteran soldier.

According to Felicia, her father was in the army before and retired when he was past forty. It was an early retirement. However, it could not be helped since he suffered a permanent injury on his shoulder after being hit by shrapnel from a grenade explosion in the last battle he participated in. It was no wonder that some of the soldiers here treated Felicia's father with respect, including Captain Morrison, who was just eight years younger than Felicia's father.

Walking inside the school, however, felt quite tedious.

Since Mei stepped out of the vehicle, more eyes were glued to their group. Even Arnold and the rest could not help but feel uncomfortable.

Unexpectedly, some lascivious stares were coming from the soldiers.

"Looks like not every soldier here was as disciplined as I thought."

Mark said as he returned those unwanted stares with his killing intent while shielding Mei from them.

The Mutators among the soldiers immediately felt that killing intent. There was no doubt that if this was not addressed immediately, some of their soldiers would end up dying.

"Sir Mark, I apologize for this. I'll make sure to discipline them later."

Captain Morrison said and turned towards those soldiers.

"Go back to work and don't cause a mess here!"

Hearing their angry superior, the soldiers immediately scurried away.

Mark's killing intent vanished when the unscrupulous soldiers left. If this Captain of theirs did not make a move, their heads might have gone flying already.

"They were young soldiers. Please don't mind them."

Captain Morrison followed up as he led Mark's group into the school building.

"Dad, where's mom? Are Roan and Elise here too?"

Felicia asked her father.

Hearing the question, Felicia's father sighed with a smile.

"We survived, fortunately. Your brother is in the scavenging group this time. Elise and your mom are here. But your mom... sigh..."

"Did something happen to mom?"

Felicia asked worriedly.

"It's better to see it."

Since their primary goal here was Felicia's family, thus, they all went to go see them first.

Soon, they arrived in a large room on the third floor. It seemed to be an office before the outbreak, but now, it was turned into a ward for non-serious injuries.

In one of the beds, an old woman was sitting on her bed, while talking to a girl in her early twenties. The old woman really looked like Felicia, albeit older. There seemed to be no visible injuries on her, but when their eyes landed on the blanket covering her lower body, they immediately found the issue.

Her left leg, from her knee below, was missing.

Since there were people that entered the room, everyone inside the room had their attention at the door. It was the same for the old woman, and she immediately saw her husband.

"Dear, you returned! Are you... al..."

It seemed that she was really worried since her husband participated in the battle earlier. She was about to ask if he was alright, but she did not manage to finish her words as her eyes fell on the woman clinging to her husband.

Of course, there was no jealousy or anger. The old woman was purely shocked when she saw the woman who was already teary after seeing her.

There was no need to ask anything. Tears flowed from the old woman's eyes.

Letting go of her father's arm, Felicia approached the old woman.

"Mom."

"Licia, my daughter. Come here."

With that cue, Felicia and her mother shared a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you back then."

Felicia said as her tears drenched her mother's clothes.

"No," Felicia's mother shook her head. "Thank you for staying alive and meeting us now."

Felicia had been forgiven long ago. Her parents only wanted to see her alive once more.

At the side, the younger woman stared at what was happening, wide-eyed. She was shocked by the sudden event, happening before her.

"Y-you..."

The woman stuttered.

"Elise, aren't you going to greet your sister?"

Their father spoke, making Elise realize what was happening.

"Felicia?"

Elise stood up. She looked strange as her body was shivering.

"Well, it's not good."

Mark murmured, making everyone around him feel confused.

"Elise."

Felicia let go of her mother and faced her younger sister.

PAK!

A very crisp slap echoed inside the room as Elise's palm left a red mark on Felicia's face.

Everyone was stunned at the sudden development. They now understood why Mark said those words.

Seeing her long lost sister, Elise was overflowing with emotions. It was all anger, though.

Elise was also teary-eyed, though her eyes were flaming with hate as she looked at Felicia, who was stunned after receiving her younger sister's slap.

Then, as if Elise snapped from her emotions, her eyes suddenly turned to normal. She looked at her palm that turned red because of how strong her slap was.

Realizing what she had done, she wanted to flee. She looked at the door, it was blocked by what seemed to be her sister's companions.

Without any choice, she ran towards the window facing the sports field. She was fast moved as if she was a cat. Opening the window, she jumped outside. The room was on the third floor, but she landed fine on the school grounds. From there, she ran away from everyone's sight.