Done

I did not move from my spot as I attacked any of the creatures trying to get to Yale.

Cameron and Leonel were to my left, Lucille and Hudson to my right and Mia and Maya above us, taking out as many creatures as they could before they reached us.

When Jack said that there were hundreds scattered, I didn't think he really meant hundreds. I thought, freezing as many as I could while I attacked the others.

Breaking my ice into tiny fragments, I released them on the creatures, taking out the first line immediately. But there was no time to relax, the next line was already on their way to me.

Sucking in a breath, I released a wave of cold ice, freezing them on their spot as I used the sword to cut them down.

This is taking more out of me than I thought it would but I told her I would protect her. There is absolutely no way I am falling now.

When the next line made their way to me, I created another icy ground, sticking them in place. But my body, for some reason, refused to move.

No matter how hard I tried to raise my hands again, they wouldn't.

Damn it. I hissed, watching the creatures break free and start charging at me. Come on, move.

"Zion!" Lucille shouted, suddenly appearing in front of me and took care of them in one swift hit. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," I said, finally getting control back in my body. "Sorry."

"Hey, don't ever apologise for needing help." She said, smiling kindly at me as her body faded slightly.

"Thanks." I turned to Lucille standing to my left.

Lucille can make clones of herself and anything she touches. Though making more than three exhausts her to no end as her subconscious also divides up with each of the clones.

Hurt one clone and you hurt her, that is just how it works.

"Last wave!" Mia shouted from the top. Even her voice sounds exhausted but she did not say another word.

Shaking my head, I tried to concentrate on the creatures in front of me, eyes widening.

This is too many. There has to at least be four hundred in this last wave alone. Why are there so many??

I stared at the creatures rushing at is and then at the others, Lucille needed to lean on Hudson to try and keep herself upright. Leonel and Cameron were leaning on each other, breathing heavily.

If it was just a hundred more, we would have been fine. But … four hundred?

I stared up at the helicopter, annoyance burning through me. They knew how many there were. They knew. And they sent only four groups??

How do they find ways to annoy me all the time?

"There is no way we are going to be able to take them all," Mia shouted, struggling to keep herself upright.

"Ha!" Leonel shouted, laughing as blood dripped down his nose. "I knew the reward was crazy. This was a suicide mission after all."

"Is this really how we end?" Lucille asked, trembling as she stared at the hoard.

"Zion." Yale stood beside me, her face laced with sweat but she still put on a brave face. "Use me."

"No."

"We are not going to make it if you don't!" She shouted, shaking me, at least she was trying to.

"I am not using you. Not when you are in this situation." I said, walking to the very front.

"Zion?" Hudson asked as I passed them.

"What do you think you're doing??" Cameron shouted but I just stood at the front, ignoring every one of them.

I can't use my entire strength, that will raise suspicions. But I could do something else without causing too many heads to turn.

Rubbing my hands in front of me, I blew at my palms as the clouds started to darker and snow fell from the sky like flower petals. It isn't heavy snowfall, just a bit.

They know I can do this. Change the weather to make light snowfall.

But that isn't all they know I can do. I had been training to do this when we were in that place, I never could though.

I don't know if I can now too but we are running out of options. Let's just do this.

With the hundreds of snowflakes that were falling, I balled my hands into fists, turning every one of them into ice sickles and, with not proper calculations, I let them loose on the creatures.

We heard hundreds of screams and screeches as a cloud of snow obstructed our vision.

Silence filled the entire place, I don't think I even breathed as the cloud disappeared and the creatures lay there, not one of them moving.

"Zion!" Lucille shouted, cheering.

"Good job!" Cameron shouted as well.

I could hear some other voices but my body couldn't register them, nor could I feel a thing.

I certainly didn't feel cold but my body behaved like it was stuck inside an ice block as my vision blurred.

Something warm ran down my face and I tasted iron. But … why? Where did this come from?

Huh? The ground suddenly looks closer? I think I'm going to fall on it. Damn, this is going to hurt.

______________________

"Zion!" Yale shouted, watching the boy freeze and then wobble. She tried to reach him but he already started falling.

Hudson caught him just before his face could make contact with the ground. Yale reached them at that moment, holding the freezing, unconscious boy in her arms.

"Stupid! You're so stupid!" She shouted, holding him tight. "Why do I have to have such a stupid partner?!"

Laying the boy on the ground, Yale began to check his pulse and his temperature, not feeling very well herself.

Why is he so cold? Or is it because I am not feeling very well?

Lucille smiled softly and walked to them, "Can I check on him for you?"

"Please," Yale said, hands trembling. "I don't think I completely understand what I am doing right now."

"Let me." Lucille carefully felt Zion's pulse and temperature as Yale backed off, breathing still heavy.

"How are you feeling?" Leonel asked, standing beside her. "You don't look well at all."

"I don't think I am the one you should be concerned about." She said, putting on a straight face.

"Let me see," Hudson said, looking at the watch in his hands. "The effects will wear off in thirty minutes. You should be fine then, Yale."

"He's fine, Yale," Lucille said, smiling at the worried girl. "He will wake up in a bit."

"Thanks." She said, eyes blankly looking at the boy on the ground.

Bending down, she sat on the ground, placing his head on her lap while she started playing with his hair.

"Zion is stronger than I thought he would be," Maya remarked, looking at the creatures fading away.

"Yeah." Mia agreed with everyone.

"He was practising that every day, saying 'just in case'. I don't understand how stupid he can get sometimes." Yale said, looking better than before.

"Zion has always been one to think through everything and then some." Cameron chuckled. "If a zombie apocalypse happened, you all know the only one that will be prepared."

Everyone looked at Zion at the exact same time, the same thought in their minds.

"Should we signal that we are done or-?" Maya asked, holding the flare in her hands.

"Wait a minute. Let Zion wake up first." Lucille said, as they saw the boy start to stir before opening his eyes.

"Huh?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth as he made eye contact with Yale. "What happened?"

"You were being an idiot. As usual." Yale scolded, sounding better as well. "How are you feeling? Cold anywhere?"

"I'm fine." He said, getting out of her lap and standing up, only to start wobbling immediately. "Ok, just a little bit shaky maybe."

Chuckling, Lucille signalled Maya to release the flare, which she did.

The helicopter came down and lowered a ladder for Jack to climb down.

"Good job, kids. You all did me very proud." He said, beaming. "Some of you have improved and others have found new skills. Wonderful."

"Just give us our pay," Leonel said, sneering at the man. "Those two are in a hurry to get back."

"What about you all? Will you be staying here?" He asked, holding his hands out as the streets cleared, almost like nothing happened just moments before.

"We are going back," Maya said, pointing to herself and Mia.

"Us too," Lucille said, making eye contact with Hudson, smiling at the boy. "We have things to take care of."

"Let's all just go back then," Leonel said, stretching. "I need a bath and sleep. I'm so tired."

"Then, hop on up. I will be distributing your rewards in the copter." Jack said as everyone started boarding the vehicle. Yale and Zion were the last to get on, again.