43. Withdrawal
For weeks, 3rd Corps hunters held the bridge before Coral District without progress. Scout units periodically attempted searches but couldn't penetrate deeply, uncertain when infected might pour out again. The midday sun heated gun barrels. The endless wait continued as hunters left sandbagged posts seeking shade to pass time chatting.
"Monkey Shock women are very aggressive. Walking down the street, if they see a man they like, they deliberately drop their bag or wallet. Then when you approach asking 'did you drop something?' they act flustered and delighted. That's Monkey Shock's hunting rule."
A hunter with a cigarette behind his ear drank hot coffee continuing.
"I went to Monkey Shock last year. A woman left her shopping bag. So I thought 'I got a bite' and picked it up. 'Penny' was written on the bag. So I gently put my hand on her waist and said 'I have your Penny.' But she was startled and slapped my face. I asked 'why?' Know what she said? She thought my face was a trash can. Hahaha."
Listening hunters laughed stupidly along. The next shift waved from afar.
"Hey, save your chatter for your wife at home."
"You have to send us home to chat with wives or pat our butts, right?"
"Ah, don't worry about that. It'll happen soon."
"What? Bringing your wife?"
The relief hunter said.
"Southern support hunters withdraw tomorrow. Shuttles came to the square."
"What? Withdraw? Why suddenly?"
"Who knows. Go pack."
"Withdrawal..."
Coral District remained untouched, but somehow armored units excepted, southern hunters received withdrawal orders. The sudden news felt unsettling, but most were pleased to go home. About a year since first deployed to 3rd Corps.
"How much did you save?"
"Let's see... about 150,000."
"Wow. Why'd you save so much? This bastard's loaded."
"Unlike some people, I don't live sloppily."
O'Brien turned his neck making an arrogant expression. Hunters received points as rewards from headquarters for completing operations. Payment conditions varied per battle—not just recording enemy kills but evaluating from operation design to assists, awarding points from multiple angles.
"Barely surviving to return."
"That's why life's a tightrope walk. If we'd crossed that bridge, we'd be madmen now."
"Tightrope walk... should we stop by the casino with this good fortune?"
"Life fortune and wealth fortune are completely different. Just looking at palm lines, the life line connects from between thumb and index finger to the wrist, while the fortune line..."
"Yes yes. Really grateful today's the last of that damn explanation."
When the headbanded man made a sick expression, the hunter adjusted his black sunglasses looking embarrassed.
A man in black clothes held a book titled 『cardo』 and stood before a stone tomb. That tomb was where madmen and dead bodies were cremated together and buried. Stone tombs piled throughout the shelter like sculptures. The man brought his face close to the book muttering something, then placed a white flower on the tomb.
"Returning to Houston?"
Armored unit commander Nick said watching April pack. April glanced at Nick once and nodded silently.
"Shame we can't finish together."
Nick said.
"Were you hoping we'd become zombie food together?"
April said.
"Haha, of course not. Feels like sending you off without properly repaying you."
Nick scratched his head smiling awkwardly.
"Don't worry. The higher-ups will compensate anyway."
April answered as if it meant little. Nick smiled bitterly having nothing more to say. As April left the barracks, 10 large fighters drew white smoke lines across the red sunset sky flying toward Coral District.
"They said air force was coming—really came fast."
Nick beside her said. April stared blankly at the departing fighters. Soon they'd drop massive explosives from the sky bombing Coral District. The many madmen inside would turn to ash. Including living people, of course.
Next day, hunters busily loaded shuttles with luggage. Some hauled entire boxes on carts—stolen junk from civilian homes. On one side, headquarters-issued weapons were returned. Those who tried sneaking supplied weapons away had them confiscated by militia members guarding shuttles who found them like ghosts.
"1st Platoon everyone, I'm so glad to return alive with you. This operation too succeeded thanks to my excellent leadership and command combined with your passion and followership. Everyone worked hard. Always remember me, Palmer, and don't forget to leave praise stars on the placebo!"
Palmer greeted platoon members one by one with a slick expression requesting handshakes.
"Ah?"
April searched her pockets as if forgetting something.
"What? Left your honey jar?"
O'Brien with a duffel bag on his shoulder asked.
"I'll go back quick."
"Hurry back. Don't stay behind becoming lost."
April frowned at O'Brien and walked to the barracks.
Searching her quarters, April found the hairpin the girl had given her. The hairpin was simply shaped, shining black—she wondered why the girl gave it. April put the hairpin in her left chest pocket and left the barracks.
As she walked toward the shuttle, sounds came from the civilian shelter. She unconsciously walked toward the sound. At the shelter, militia-looking men walked around with guns—looking closer, civilians were bound being dragged somewhere.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
April approached the militia. Startled by the sudden hunter appearance, the flustered militia looked at each other with troubled expressions as if caught doing something bad. April approached the bound civilians. They knew her face. People's eyes looked pitiful like cattle dragged to slaughter.
"What are you doing!"
April asked again. Then a man appearing to be a militia officer appeared from behind.
"Who are you?"
"A hunter."
"What business?"
"Where are you taking these people?"
"That's not your concern."
The officer glared at April with authoritative eyes.
"No, I need to make it my concern."
Though surrounded by militia, she wasn't intimidated at all. The officer glared at her silently for a while, then sensing she wouldn't easily break, spoke again.
"Transferring to another shelter. It's dangerous here."
"Bound like that?"
She pointed at handcuffs on people's wrists. People trembled like rabbits in cages watching her.
"If you keep this up, it's problematic. Obstructing official duties."
"Think what you want. I'm not backing down either."
"Look, miss. What can you do alone? Bored? Should I entertain you?"
The officer smirked raising his lips, bringing his head close to April.
April smirked knowingly nodding as if understanding, pretended to turn back, then drove her right fist straight into the officer's face.
Thwack!
The officer flew backward from April's punch. Soldiers startled adjusted loose guns aiming at April. The officer fell on the ground then scrambled up embarrassed—nosebleed flowing, wiping with fingers frowning.
"Crazy bitch! Want to die."
The officer drew his waist pistol aiming at April's head. April reflexively drew revolvers in both hands aiming at the officer's head.
"You're dead today. Hunter. I'll let you enjoy yourself before burying you."
"Block your nose first. Ridiculous."
"Defiant to the end. Think you can handle all these people alone?"
Numerous soldiers aimed guns at her. However fast she was, facing many soldiers seemed burdensome.
"That's what we should say."
A familiar woman's voice came from behind. There stood a tan-haired woman in dark red protective gear watching them. May. Behind her stood four or five tall men in black protective gear with golden lion patterns. Not only that, men May brought surrounded militia from all directions aiming guns.
Soldiers sat crouched in a corner, weapons confiscated and bound. Men in black protective gear surrounded them. On one side, civilians' handcuffs were being removed.
"April. Will you keep acting dangerously alone? Father would be sad to know."
"If you're so worried, tell him to come himself."
April looked at May irritatingly and approached the officer.
"Where are the others?"
"Classified."
"Want another beating?"
She grabbed and twisted the man's nose. The man screamed.
"Nose... Coral District! A16 zone landfill!!"
"What are you planning?"
"I don't know. Just following orders from above."
When she released his nose, the man groaned in pain.
April looked around then hopped onto a motorcycle the militia arrived on.
"April! What are you doing?"
"If you've got nothing to do, help me."
"You little!"
April started the engine and roared straight toward Coral District.
Inside the porter being dragged to the landfill, people trembled with fear. Handcuffs on wrists felt cold. They wanted to ask where they were going but couldn't speak, frightened of the soldiers.
When the porter reached its destination, the door opened.
"Get out!"
When soldiers pointed gun barrels at them, people obediently followed. At the end of people's long procession was a landfill with garbage piled like hills. Past two garbage hills appeared a large clearing—there, cage prisons the size of container boxes surrounded the clearing at 5-story height. Inside cages, people who arrived first weakly watched those being dragged in. Sobbing sounds came from somewhere.
"Get up!"
Soldiers moved newcomers to the empty top-floor cage. As people entered the room, 'clang'—the cage door coldly shut. Soon soldiers locked the door.
"What will you do with us?"
People inside shouted at soldiers, but ignoring them, they descended to the clearing.
Shortly after, a helicopter descended from the sky making loud wind sounds. The door opened revealing a familiar man's face inside. Dmitri. He received situation reports from militia officers then hurriedly grabbed the microphone.
"Ah ah, can you hear me well? Haha. Respected citizens. Executive Secretary Dmitri here. So glad to see each other again in our fitting positions. Now I can finally speak freely to you all."
A smile welling from his heart made Dmitri's cheeks twitch.
"What will you do with us! Release us immediately!"
"We'll officially protest to the city! This is illegal!"
"Release us! We're not the virus!"
From all directions, people protested shouting at Dmitri.
"Hehehe... still not knowing your position... really you're... no different from livestock!!!"
His servile appearance disappeared, transforming into a brutal power holder's countenance.
"Though once your beggar-like protests and riots put Golden Tower in great crisis, that ends today. Soon your foundations will become ash by the air force's indiscriminate bombardment, and Murmansk will have only Golden Tower shining like gold!! What a glorious day!! Hahaha!!"
Dmitri couldn't contain bursting laughter, laughing unrestrainedly. People frowned at that eerie laughter shouting for Dmitri to shut up.
"Another joyful thing! You too will soon transform and die like those filthy madmen!!"
When Dmitri gestured, soldiers raised a lever on the machine control panel beside a large tank. Power entered the tank, the interior began boiling, and white steam started spewing out. The central hose connected to the tank separated into several branches extending to each cage with sprinklers at the ends.
"Respected citizens! Then farewell on your last journey to the afterlife. Let's never meet again, even in the next life!!! Hahaha!!! Ah! Let me give one last tip for you, our respected citizens... even going to the afterlife, please don't mess with those in high positions. Uhahahahaha!!!"
Dmitri threw the microphone on the ground laughing for a while, then headed to his helicopter.
People shouted cursing Dmitri. Some wailed in tears overwhelmed by injustice and anger. Some screamed to be saved. People shouted to soldiers they weren't the virus. Desperately shook the locked door pleading with soldiers to open it. Soldiers were numb. Some hugged family crying and praying. People inside cages were already like madmen.
"Open the valve!"
When Dmitri radioed, the moment a soldier was about to touch the pipe valve.
Bang!
A loud gunshot rang from the clearing. The soldier reaching for the valve collapsed limply. Everyone was startled. Dmitri turned his head toward where the gunshot came from.
From afar, dozens of motorcycles raised dust storms rushing forward. Hot smoke from the lead woman's gun barrel blew in the wind.
"Wha... what's that?"
Dmitri shouted startled. Militia didn't know what to do at the sudden appearance of motorcycles.
"Hunters!!!"
People shouted. They remembered the faces of hunters who'd protected them for months. People shouted until their throats burst for hunters who came to save them.
[Bang!]
Another gunshot—a soldier beside Dmitri fell.
"Hey, what are you doing! Shoot! Shoot!"
When Dmitri screamed, soldiers inside belatedly began shooting at hunters. Combat began between soldiers and hunters. Hundreds of bullets poured from both directions. Under indiscriminate incoming bullets, soldiers desperately dodged, hiding behind cover shooting without looking ahead. But bullets missed hunters' quick motorcycle movements. Hunters calmly returned fire.
"Aagh"
"Aargh"
Under raining gunfire, soldiers fell helplessly. Heavy machine gun bursts came from the militia side. Soldiers from behind brought heavy bazookas aiming at hunters. The cannon fired creating gray smoke clouds—missiles exploded among the hunter group. A huge explosion threw nearby hunters from motorcycles. Other soldiers brought bazookas shooting. Everywhere massive flame explosions erupted blowing up motorcycles.
"Hey~ kids shouldn't play with such toys!"
Supremer descended from the sky on a jetboard throwing bombs at soldiers with bazookas. Soldiers flew out with a huge explosion.
Dmitri hid among soldiers making a dazed expression. Flustered the plan wasn't going well, but he seemed to ponder how to escape this battlefield. His helicopter had long been destroyed and soldiers' numbers were dwindling. He soon regained composure and requested air force support into his radio.
Hunters reaching the clearing got off motorcycles taking down soldiers one by one.
"Save the people first! Hurry!"
April shouted. Hunters ran to cages breaking locks. When doors opened, people rushed out screaming indiscriminately.
"Descend carefully. You'll get hurt."
O'Brien guided people frantically rushing down stairs.
"April. Dmitri requested air force support. Fighters will come soon."
Elysia told April. April informed hunters fighters were coming. Hunters moved people toward porters. People hastily boarded porters. More people than expected, some still hadn't escaped cages. Some collided and fell rushing to go first. Hunters lifted fallen people.
Soon most people boarded porters. Hunters quickly started engines and raised their motorcycles. Some loaded people on motorcycles.
"Go now! Hurry!"
Engine sounds started from multiple porters. Heavy wheels began turning as hunters hurriedly left the clearing. Then distant fighters appeared flying with roars. Fighters passed porters dropping bombs on the clearing.
[Boom!]
With massive explosions, flames rose burning the landfill. People and hunters watched the burning landfill. Another bomb fell causing a huge explosion. After the commotion, people stared blankly at the burning landfill, drained. Some hugged each other in relief at surviving.
Golden Tower's dawn was quiet. The previous night's noisy splendor vanished like smoke. Along Sorrow River only strolling people remained. A jogging man with earphones, a woman powerwalking a fluffy dog on a leash, elderly cursed by dawn losing their naps. Cool wind blowing between riverbanks fluttered the long coat's hem.
The hunter waited 30 minutes for Ralph at the meeting place. But somehow Ralph didn't appear. He thought Ralph might be hiding somewhere watching, hesitating in his resolve. But as time passed, he realized that thought was just worry. Considering giving up on Ralph, remembering Ralph's determined face in the meat shop alley days ago, the hunter put hands in pockets and turned.
He barely learned Ralph's address from where he worked. It was a shabby neighborhood contrasting Golden Tower's tourist district. Mainly where people working as Golden Tower staff or poor people lived. At the neighborhood entrance, children played kicking a ball. As his pale-faced self passed, people sitting before buildings watched warily.
After several trials, he arrived at the building with Ralph's lodging. The low brick building had no elevator. His place was the top floor—corridor structure allowing views of outside scenery, which was nice. The midday sun shone brightly, a pleasant breeze blowing.
The hunter reached the last room at corridor's end. He rang the bell but as expected, no response. Grasping the handle and turning, the door opened very easily. He opened the steel door carefully entering.
Wind blew from all directions—windows open. Lights were off but sunlight from outside was bright enough inside wasn't too dark. The hunter sniffed. That familiar yet unpleasant smell often encountered—the smell of blood. The hunter drew his silver revolver from his pocket, crossed the living room heading straight to the room. The room door was slightly open—when he pushed it wide open, inside lay Ralph he'd been seeking, a cold corpse.
Wind blew through the open window fluttering white curtains. Ralph hadn't been dead long—sticky blood slowly spread across the floor. Ralph's eyes were rolled back, mouth gaping as if jaw dislocated—an agonized expression as if having had a seizure. The shirt's upper part was disheveled—on the gaunt chest, red wounds as if scratched. Looking carefully, wounds seemed to draw letters. As the satellite scanned the wounds, a green hologram displayed 'NEMESIS' with the interpretation 'divine retribution' below.
The hunter felt futility as if played in someone's scripted scenario. He stared blankly at curtains fluttering in the wind.