No Turning Back

Chapter Fourty-Nine: Until We Meet Again...

Richtofen continued leading the frontlines as he relished being at the helm and commandeering the group towards our goal. Primis kept me close by as he fired round after round from the barrel of his MP5K. The waves of shambling bodies erupted towards us like a turbulent sea as the undead continued in their droves. I felt my heart sink with despair as I gripped my famas gun. The flurries of bullets seemed to just be swallowed up by the hordes as nothing seemed to impede their onward march. Primis' body stiffened with apprehension at yet another empty magazine was dropped from his gun.

Undeterred by the ineffectiveness of the bullets; Nikolai disregarded Primis' woes and recklessly continued unleashing his FNFAL into the hordes. Takeo, however, made every bullet count as he carefully calculated each shot with his dwindling ammunition supplies. My famas was beginning to feel worryingly light as I tried to hold on to as many bullets as I could. I stood simply stood there - flanked by the safey of my comrades on all sides - praying for a power up. But instead, I heard the fire trap behind me power up with a rush of electricity as the lever reverted to the upright position.

Primis heard it too as he quickly indicated to Takeo and Nikolai who instinctively turned to cover him as he ran towards it. There were clusters of undead amassing behind us and the fire trap would keep them at bay - allowing us to focus on the hordes ahead. I readied my famas as we all watched the good doctor valiantly navigate the treacherous path.

He weaved himself through the trembling bodies, gnashing teeth and outstretched hands - all vying for a taste of his flesh. Once he was finally within reach, his hand crashed down on the lever as he pulled it to start. He then jumped back as the flames erupted from the ground - consuming the undead in the bright cleansing fire.

Our collective attention was now back on the hordes ahead as they streamed towards us in ever greater numbers. Richtofen, by now, had also severely depleted his ammunition supply as he happily opted to using his knife. The way he moved with such speed and grace was mesmerising. His quick swipes and sharp thrusts; he danced the dance of death as the bodies dropped to the floor one by one. Primis was now back beside me; eyeing Richtofen with a look of disgust before finally turning away.

He then launched himself into a crowd of undead as he fired the remaining rounds of his gun. Every headshot was precise and mathematical. Each bullet trajectory was instantaneously calculated and acted upon. Both men were so different yet so similar. The traits they shared had bound them as merely shades of the same man.

To my left, I quickly spotted some undead soldiers piling through the barricade. I readied my famas and fired just as one had scrambled over the barricade. As the body crumpled to the floor; a blue light emerged from the aether. Both heads immediately snapped around as Richtofen and Primis eyed the light. Upon closer inspection, I realised it was the death machine power up which temporarily granted a large silver gatling gun with infinite ammo.

Richtofen grinned as Primis glared back at him with a raised brow. The two men then sprinted for the power up as they weaved through the mass of bodies littering the ground. I watched in awe as they moved with such inhuman speed. Primis, being the closest, was the first to get there. He smiled triumphantly before smugly reaching out his arm to grab the power up. But before his fingers could graze against the blue light; he was suddenly knocked off his feet.

Richtofen had charged his way towards Primis before thrusting him out of the way with a heavy shove. He grabbed the power up with a sly grin before the gatling gun materialised in his hands. His shoulders slumped as he adjusted to the weight of the gun before I watched the barrels begin to turn. A deafening spray of bullets then suddenly shot out of the gun - decimating the hordes.