Shaundi ran as her child clung to her side. She was forced to stop by an overturned car. Its exterior was blackened by something.

“Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!” a voice hollered out. It was closer than it was before.

[Fwooooosh]

Despite the setting sun, a new light source made itself known. Bright, hot, and angry. The flame stretched high into the sky.

Shaundi gasped as she felt her little Candice grip choke at her neck. She didn’t make a peep though, just as mommy had asked.

Her tough, precious, little angel.

“Hello there, Kitten!” a head popped over the car and Shaundi screamed as she bolted forward. Candice nearly chocked her as the young girl sobbed as quietly as she could.

The streets quickly filled with people. All with similar clothes. A black robe with a white cross painted over the front. With the flames in the street, it almost glowed.

“No need to run, Kitten!” the crazed man said. His eyes were wide and a passion burned in them. A fanatical flame of purging demons from the world of god.

“Please let her go…” Shaundi sobbed out. “She is just a girl! Three years old!”

Candice said nothing. Her eyes clenched shut as she did her best to stick to mom. To never let go.

“A sullied human bitch, begging for the devil’s child,” the man crowed as he stood on top of the car. “What is your judgment, Reverend?”

A man stepped forth. His cowl was pulled back, revealing a clean-shaven face.

“God demands that we act in his name,” the man said slowly. Said clearly. “Let no sinner stain this blessed earth.”

The men and women lowered their guns at the pair.

“It's okay baby. Just listen to mommy’s voice,” Shaundi clenched her eyes closed and stroked her girl’s hair. “I am right here.”

[Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!] [Bang!]

Shaundi’s ears rung as a high-pitched whine drilled into her head. Wait… she opened her eyes.

She was not dead!

[Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk]

From beyond the flames they stepped out. Larger than a man, but smaller than a moving truck. Dull red eyes gleamed from their metal bodies.

There were dozens of them as they moved forward.

Shaundi then noticed what her mind was telling her. The Purifiers were strewn across the streets. Knitting needles jutted from their bodies by the dozens. No one was spared.

A metal man walked towards her. If these could kill the purifiers with such ease, what hope did she have?

[Crunch]

Shaundi’s eyes immediately jumped to the source of the sound. A small pole was stuck into the pavement. It glowed a soft white before a flag and arrow appeared.

She recognised that flag. Val Verde. The so-called metahuman military country.

From the rumors she heard, Val Verde welcomed all metahumans. The caveat was that you had to sign up for military service.

She had avoided that service and headed to Utopia. Where it was right outside of the US and beside a major city.

She was regretting it now. Thomas was dead. Candice was nearly killed by those purifiers.

[Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk]

Shaundi stared up as a metal man walked up and kneeled before her. Her eyes zeroed in on the red cross over its forehead.

[Are you alright miss?] the robot man asked. [Do you require immediate medical attention?]

Shauni shook her head and the metal man offered a hand. She took it and found that it was as stable as bedrock. With it,black-armored she stood on wobbly legs.

[Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk] [Thunk]

The others moved on, leaving only four if you included the medic robot.

Others also appeared. Compared to the massive robot men, they moved silently.

Shaundi’s eyes widened as she spied dozens of soldiers she had only seen on the news. The Raccoon City incident of last year in Venezuela. While those soldiers were either green or white, these ones were a slate gray.

The same colors as the robot man currently helping her stand upright.

[We have a dazed civilian and child. Escort required.] the robot man said through his speaker.

The lead human soldier nodded and stepped up beside them.

“Understood. We have warthogs inbound. Please continue with your squad.”

The robot handed her hand over to the humans then turned and left. The four then stomped off into the darkness. Without fear of the Purifiers and their guns.

“You are safe now miss,” the man said as he mimicked the robot’s supportive stance. A steady hand to help her stand.

Shaundi nodded and noted that Candice was staring at the gray armored man with wide eyes.

Seeing the child, the man grabbed his helmet and with a mechanical hiss, took it off. Flowing brown locks. A sharp face and even sharper brown eyes.

“I am captain Isabelle of the 3rd Company,” Isabelle said with a smile and Candice shyly waved. “We are here to protect everyone, and… push away the bad people.”

Shaundi gave a half-hearted smile at that phrase. Push away. She stared at the dead around her. This was some push.

Worse off, she hoped that they would push harder.

[Skreeeeech]

The breaks showed that a military jeep had stopped beside them. Shaundi had also seen these. Worthogs… or something piggy. Right?

“All aboard the express to the central towers. There you will be safe as can be,” Isabelle said as she put her helmet back on.

Shaundi nodded and two soldiers used their hands to make a ramp that she stepped on and into the side seat. Another scary-looking soldier gave her a nod before the car zoomed off.

Her frantic search for a seatbelt ended as quickly as it started. Nothing on either side. The ride was bumpy but smoothed out as they reached an unbroken stretch of road.

Her heart settled as the central tower grew larger. The stream of soldiers rolling out via trucks also increased.

[Shchoooom]

“Oooh!” Candice said as jets flew overhead.

Shaundi laughed. Then laughed, and laughed some more. Candice looked at her and giggled as mommy finally relaxed.

Shaundi gave Candice a mighty hug as she realized that they had made it. They were safe!

————

Chapter 67: The Utopian Front