Having gone their separate ways, Gumball tackles one side of the army while Miss Simian takes the other. Let us now look at what Miss Simian is experiencing on her side of the conflict.
Chapter #12 ~ The Distraction
Ms. Simian hastened through another faction of the vicinity, vigorously moving her arms and legs. She instantly traversed the scattered debris, nimbly jumping to conceal herself in the shadows and evading detection. The primate adroitly maneuvered amidst the shadows, vigilantly scanning her surroundings. Lucy scanned her surroundings, turning her head left and right eagerly. She set off to find a new hiding spot, this time in the shadows of a nearby house. A scrub caught her gaze. Instantly, she dove onto the ground and took hold of it. Spreading out her arms and legs, she quickly scuttled into the bush. Tucking her body into a tight ball, she reached into her bag for her binoculars.
Placing the gadget on her eyes, she adjusted its settings. There was no sign of any infested beings within the neighborhood blocks. She ran her finger along her chin as she squinted. As she turned, however, multiple cars were visible in the distance. Focusing her binoculars, she noticed that the vehicles she had seen before were now much closer than before. The primate saw an exhibition of standard and military cars in the peripheral streets. Many were erroneously damaged; some had burnt wreckage, missing pieces, shattered wheels, were on fire, torn apart, lacked car doors, or were defaced with the infamous slime.
Ms. Simian adjusted the angle of her head, holding her binoculars again. As she gazed to the left, she moved her eyes along the horizon and noticed more vehicles almost unaffected by too much damage or excess slime. The vehicles were desolate, with scratches and missing seats; the hoods were in disrepair, and some even flipped over. Others had gaping holes, broken windows, and blood stains drying on the pavement. A feeling of butterflies in her stomach began to stir within the primate, causing her to let out a soft sigh as she cradled her abdomen.
As she reflected on the likelihood that soldiers may have been stationed in this part of the town to safeguard the people before the invasion of the creatures, she quietly shook her head and lifted it back up. Lucy continued her vigil.
She exclaimed in her mind, 'Yes! I found one!' and her eyes widened in surprise. Her eyebrows rose, and her eyes squinted as she strained to get a better look. Suddenly, the primate moved her to the left, giving her a clearer view of the vehicle. The humvee was close by the wreckage of the other vehicles and almost within sight of the city blocks. Lucy sighed in distress as the opportunity to get away was close but also vulnerable and exposed. She soon scratched his chin, with her eyes shifting upwards.
As Ms. Simian peered through her binoculars, she noticed the bush starting to tremble. Suddenly, an influx of infected phantoms and ghouls, with a sinister figure overseeing them, invaded the deserted area, obliterating more homes and zooming through the sky. As she watched in disbelief, many ghosts zoomed through the air at lightning speed; Halloween creatures dashed through the streets. Azrael flew and abruptly stopped, turning its head back and forth. Right behind the infested beings, the entity loomed with its claws outstretched. Its jaws emitted a faint growl, and it glided to the ground below and started destroying homes. Many chairs, cars, bricks, other home furnishings, and possessions dwindled to minuscule fragments as the creatures plundered each house. She was in a state of shock as she gazed at the strange being from the far reaches of the area.
As Lucy twisted her head back to the car ahead, she was overwhelmed by the realization of the monsters ahead. A sense of dread washed over her, and she envisioned herself walking up to the vehicle, only to be noticed by the creatures. The ape imagined them attacking her, stripping her of her armor and weapons, and infecting her. When the scene in her mind disappeared as quickly as it had come, she gulped and tightened her hands anxiously. She breathed in the air around her and breathed out.
'The aberration and its forces are heading in my direction. I can't risk getting caught, especially with more infected people in the urban areas. My timespan here is limited, and Watterson's covering the distraction. Luckily, I've brought my sound suppressors. My sniper rifle has one too, and the case has tools, which should be enough to fix the humvee. I must maneuver in the shadows, making less noise whenever possible and quickly slipping into quieter spots to fire. It won't do me any good to stay in this bush, so I will keep going.' As she exited the bush and scampered to her next hiding place, Ms. Simian fumbled for her tactical vest. She quickly opened its pouches before drawing out two silencers. The ape proceeded to affix her gun and shotgun. After fastening the silencers to weapons and closing her pouch, the ape stealthily stayed in the dark as the infected creatures passed nearby.
Her heart raced as she heard them coming closer, knowing that any wrong movement would give away her position. But she remained still and silent, waiting for the infected to pass. She watched the beings further twisting their heads left and right and going inside the empty houses, destroying the environment and pulling car doors.
A quiet yet faint sigh plodded from the ape's mouth as she watched in disappointment as the infested beings wreaked havoc on the neighborhood. They twisted their heads left and right, muttering strange words as they marched through the streets. It was disturbing to see them go inside the empty houses, seemingly snatching away all the remaining items within. The environment is further degraded by the beings as if they're creating a mess purposefully. Even the cars weren't spared from destruction, as their doors' were pulled open, and any valuable cargo sputtered with slime. All she could do was stand silently and watch it happen, filled with mixed feelings of disappointment, disgust, and sorrow for the town she once called home.
She grits her teeth, her brows furrowed downwards, and her gaze fixed upon the car before her. The woman shook her head and sealed her lips shut. Lucy balled her fists. Soon, she emerged from the hiding spot but crouched and slowly walked by the infected beings. Ms. Simian quickly surveyed the area, taking note of the destruction and mayhem that surrounded her. Every step she took, she was conscious of making sure noise didn't reign or any attention drawn toward her. Drops of sweat rolled down her face as she panted heavily, her eyes darting around. As she tip-toed slowly and strolled across the sidewalk, she looked up, seeing the multitudes of ghosts floating on the horizon. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time.
All around her were sex-deprived and sickened people, lost in their lecherousness. Moaning and panting increase, and others join in. With every move, she was conscious of her location and proceeded cautiously. She jumped from each shadow, placing her back on the walls and spreading her arms and fingers. Moreover, she watched for anything that might threaten her journey. After removing herself from the spots, Lucy proceeds forward carefully, avoiding the broken glass that still remains from the windows and floor.
The primate observed the floating ghosts that haunted the sky and glared downward. As she went further, she noticed a few aimlessly levitating, looking for the unsuspecting ape. She knew she needed to be extra careful to hide from their view, so she ducked into a nearby bush for cover. She carefully picked apart its branches, ensuring Lucy wouldn't make too much noise as she tried to stay hidden. From then, she moved forward in stealth, sparing none of her strides as the bush covered her presence. Occasionally Azreal and many others looked upon her, but she would crouch down and stay still until it had gone away, only then continuing her journey.
Ms. Simian saw a group of savages across the street, with the city district on the other side. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look and noticed the three-clawed fingernail, white Ghostface, and hair lady amongst the crowd. Panic began to set in as she glimpsed the group exploring further in the intersections. Realizing the imminent danger, she quickly hid herself. She proceeded to scratch her head, thinking of a plan. Soon, she lifted her index finger, pointing towards the windows nearby. Taking out her handgun, she placed it firmly in her grip and used her goggles to get a better view. Seeing glass shards close to her, she lifted the gun and shot sharply. Loud noises started ringing out. The group heard it and began to advance forward, prompting Ms. Simian to receive further safety. She watched as the group went elsewhere and let out a sigh of relief.
With one swift action, she began to slink around the city streets again. However, she quickly halted and dropped to the pavement to familiarize herself with her vicinity. She observed the destruction the city had suffered firsthand. And it was far worse up close. Elmore's destruction was painfully evident as she stared, watching it deteriorate second by second. Once filled with life and vitality, Elmore City thrashed by a devastating force caused by the unknown deity she was hiding from. The virus it brought with it spread quickly, extinguishing all the cheerfulness and energy it had formerly boasted. She pivoted her eyes toward the neighborhood and glared viciously at the monster in the distance. The ape watched as the being ripped the houses from their foundations, slamming them with its claws, twisting its head left and right as it left behind. She gulped and looked upon the darts below. Lucy scratched her chin as sweat fell from her head. The primate knew the fight against the creature would be challenging and aware of what was at stake for Carrie and Vladus.
And deliberating the escape between her and her student might unfold. Strength rose up in her chest, and she was determined to keep going. Taking a deep breath, she began crossing the street. Swiftly and silently as possible, Mrs. Simian pressed her body against the shadows as vehicles passed in the distance. She instantly moved her body and right. The ape cautiously made her way through the street, looking around warily at the remains of the once-grand buildings consumed by the ruthless monsters before her. She looked to the sky and saw the infectious slime dripping from the windows of the highest floors, like the tears of an abandoned child. The sun shone through the windows, reflecting off the shiny, slimy residue and the broken pieces of glass that had already shattered to the ground. She caught glimpses of the mucky claws attached to the broken shards, some reaching out to her as if desperate for help.
The ape's pupils shrunk as she witnessed things falling from the windows of the buildings, dodging each one that had already fallen to the ground. Even within the chaotic scene of destruction and terror, the primate remained calm. Troubled and scared, the apes crossed the street and hurriedly found another spot to hide from the falling objects. Every step forward was like walking in a minefield, and a careful one to not trip over the materials that had already left the buildings and landed on the ground. Bits of glass littered the floor, shards of what was once a window, adding to the chaos and danger surrounding her. Debris was everywhere, from the shattered glass shards to the destroyed furniture, providing the apes with an unsettling detail of the havoc.
Everywhere the elder looked, the ape saw signs of destruction and the stench of the monsters that had caused it. She took a deep breath and slowly inched her way forward, twisting her eyes to the cars nearby. As she advanced to the abandoned cars, Lucy's heart rate began to slow but did not fully come to a rest. She carefully inspected the vehicles, turning her head this way and that. Up close, the damage she initially noticed was even more pronounced. Upon seeing the slime spots, ripped doors, fluid stains, and broken radios in two pieces. She felt butterflies in her stomach, and a sickening grunt came out of her mouth.
'Sickos...' Twisting her head to take in more of the humvees present, she noticed an empty jeep that grabbed her attention. She quickly rushed towards it. Mrs. Simian abruptly emerged from the shrubbery, extending her arm towards the door. Unfolding her baton, she opened the entrance and peered inside, coming face to face with the inner workings. Lucy lifted her weapon and swung it left and right. No infested being in sight.
The interior's identical to the Humvees she had seen earlier with the cops and military. It had a wide seat, a large dashboard, and a digital console. Its two LCD screens on either side of the dashboard offered additional controls. The back featured several compartments for storage purposes. Surprisingly spacious, the cloth seats were comfortable and ergonomic. Turning the wheel was easy, though it could be a bit heavy. A GPS was another bonus, allowing her to navigate without trouble. All considered, she was satisfied with the car's interior. It was a definite improvement from the humvees she had seen earlier.
As the ape entered the once majestic vehicle, she noticed something off. The interiors of the backseat and clothes were scattered around, hinting that soldiers had been in the area beforehand. All around the car, she noticed several bullet holes and slimy prism stuff sticking out of the backseat, likely left behind by the vile creatures that prowled the area. Her attention is drawn to the radio, only identifiable by its splintered pieces, with wires stretched out from both sides - a sight she had grown all too familiar with. As nausea overwhelmed her, standing tall away with its frightening marks and disgusting slime.
'They've been in here...' Lucy thought as she put the baton back on her vacuum, took out her blade, and jabbed it at the backseat cover. She ripped it apart and removed it as if it was cutting a giant piece of paper. Lucy exited the vehicle and opened the door. She grabbed the covering and pulled it, walking backward. A loud rip's heard. She throws the surface elsewhere. She even threw away the clothing next to it. The slime attached slowly slithered, and the ape closed the door. She went inside and bent downward, seeing the disconnected wires from the destroyed radio. She sighed and lain the case downward, taking out repair tools. The ape began collecting the missing pieces, arranging the wires from top to bottom. A flicker emerged as she carefully rearranged the parts and stabilized the wiring.
Back inside the neighborhood, the infectious monster rampaged through the vicinity. It growled, huffing and puffing its way through the homes as it destroyed them, one by one. It seemed to be able to teleport, as it appeared inside a home one moment and then suddenly outside the next. It utilized its telekinetic abilities to tear apart the houses and let out an eerie hiss as it looked inside. The monster rolled its eyes as it moved on to the next home. The chaos it created was unbearable, filling the neighborhood with terror and despair.
Suddenly, something caught its eye. It looked downward, narrowed its eyes, and slowly crept toward the streets below. On the ground nearby its minions lies a collection of glass shards. And it picks up one piece with two clawed fingers, revealing a shot hole and cracks surrounding it. A miniature humming is heard from its maw as it twists its head. It spotted an empty spot in the bushes and advanced to it.
Dirt particles are left behind. Two hand prints lain on the empty space. With a question lingering in its mind, it turns its head and eyes to the left, revealing a trail of dirt leading elsewhere. As Azrael searched further, he looked at the ground with a questioning trance. He tilted his head, intrigued by what his master was doing. He quickly flew to the being with a determined look in his eyes. Putting his hands into his hood, he tried to find what his master's looking for.
"Did you find something, master? The ghost asked as the creature lifted its head to the being and nodded its head. The phantom saw the left-behind trail, so they followed it, twisting his head around as if searching for something. As he kept walking, they noticed the pathway was heading toward the street, so Azrael looked up to the sky, attempting to trace the path it was taking up ahead. His eyes followed the trail as it grew lenient and more defined. Before he knew it, the track had led him to the city district. He twisted his head to the being and grinned as he showed it.
"Huh. It appears we found our evidence." The phantom responded as the beast crossed its arms. The monster smirked, and it illuminated his eyes. A massive flash flew within his pupils, and the glimmer expanded, leading to the infested inhabitants inside the buildings and intersections. The infested beings haled copulating. For a moment, as an image of the elder ape flew within their minds.
"Prohibere..." (Stop...) The monster whispered, communicating with the possessed creatures' mentalities. The enigmatic sound slipped like a mist through the air. Silent yet powerful. No one could understand the cryptic language, but all could feel its effects. It spoke to the enchanted creatures in the deepest parts of their minds, opening the door to a new form of communication. The whispered message was not a suggestion or a plea. It was a command that couldn't get ignored. The sound of the monster's whisper permeated within their very souls, manipulating their emotions, thoughts, and instincts.
"Desine amare nunc. Circuire civitatem, quaere simiam." (Stop loving now. Go around the city, look for the monkey.)
Once the words heard, the infested ceased breeding and regrouped in different areas of the city. Some came out of the buildings with many broken-down entrances, while others emerged from the intersections of the city block. In an instant, the angel Azrael raced within the city district, and the monster twisted its head, spreading its gladness to the inhabitants of the neighborhood section. Instantly, the rest of the searches advanced to the municipality.
As time passed, Mrs. Simian eventually patched up the radio and the rest of the wiring of the innards. With a sense of satisfaction, she wiped her forehead and placed the tools back inside the case, ready to be used. She then slowly stood up, and with an immense smile, she plugged the radio into the power outlet, anticipating the first sound would come from the newly revitalized unit.
"Alright, there we go." The ape said and pressed a button. Instantly, she became taken aback when the loud, sizzling sound came from the radio as soon as she arranged it.
'Shit!' Unsure of what was happening, she gulped, her heart racing as she quickly lowered the sound. With a cautious glance to her left and right, she started lessening the sound. Even her radio was trembling, so she turned it off for now.
Suddenly, Gumball came to mind. Lucy recalled herself telling him to distract the savages while she retrieved the car. Many thoughts came into her mind as the opportunity of escaping lay on her hands. On one end, it would be easier to leave her student behind, and the thought of this brings joy as she grins and opens her mouth. Suddenly, the sickening grin slowly disappeared as she clamped her lips shut. But, on the other end, Lucy remembers the curse and magic cast by the monster upon Gumball, and a wave of hesitation sweeps through her head. She realizes that activating the vehicle will draw unnecessary attention to her. To worsen the deal, the ape lifted her head and saw the infested beings in the city district, further away than imagined. She twisted her head in disbelief as she saw them coming from buildings in her direct line of sight. The infested beings looked like they were in varying states of decay, barely resembling humanoid.
The sight of them was horrific, and her skin began to crawl at the thought of them being so close. She had to get away. Distance herself from the infested area as quickly as possible. But she knew her plans had changed. She exited the vehicle and rushed inside the city's intersections, hiding in the shadows. Within the city district, the ape saw the multitudes of infested beings vamoosing the buildings ahead of her and witnessed the monster and the undead flying over the buildings.
'Despite being glad I found an available vehicle, I must approach this wisely. Even simply turning on the humvee and contacting the sanctuary now will draw attention, and that monster won't hesitate to revoke it. Or worse, go inside it, and infect more people. Not to mention, the creature has contacted the inhabitants to search for me. To make matters worse, the only way to elude this horror is to use another distraction, leaving me in a precarious yet necessary position. I can't risk putting myself in danger by driving the humvee with them around. I have to ensure my safety by finding suitable diversions before planning to secure the moron and bring him to the sanctuary to uncover his condition further.' Ms. Simian said in her thoughts as she pulled out her binoculars. She peered closer through her gadget and noticed that the wall's utilized as an emergency system within the destroyed bank. All the components were connected, from the horn to the panic button, sensor, detector, and siren. Through her gadget, she saw the ingenious setup and realized that the city had taken measures to protect its citizens should any problem arise. She concluded that the system provided the bank security, comfort, and safety.
'A security system...a destroyed bank out in the open...these will have to do.' The ape said as she rushed into the shadowy sections of the town, her heart racing as she passed by the infested beings searching everywhere in the city. She ducked into the shadows, keeping out of sight and defying the towering buildings as best she could. She stopped at a hiding spot, catching her breath and getting ready.
As she hid, Lucy noticed something. She reached for her binoculars and placed them on her eyes. The ape used the gadget to look closer, and Lucy shifted her gaze upwards. Her pupils shrank at what she saw before she set into her sight. Upward the roof of the building was a group of soldiers camouflaged by the shadows. They had teleported to the rooftop without making a noise, and with their advanced technology, the soldiers had gotten away with it unnoticed. Some of them stood lookout with googles similar to Lucy's own, and others were busy manipulating the buttons of their drones. The faint glow of the controls was only visible to those who sought carefully, for they did not want to get uncovered.
The primate had to be quick; she hurriedly ran away from her previous spot, feeling thousands of eyes upon her back. The intense feeling of anxiousness and fear created a burning sensation within her body as she practically flew towards the sky rises building. Although the weight of her chest slowly disappeared, the horrible shrieks and groans of the infested bystanders seemed to follow her every step.
The warm sun touches her back as she climbs the stairs to the top of the building, the dreadful feeling of fear slowly turning into a sense of euphoria and admiration as she stands in awe of her new environment. She spotted the abandoned Chanax. Inc building that seemed to go down to the basement, which may keep her safe from her pursuers. She quickly reached the hidden steps and started her journey downward into the unknown.
The primate traversed the dark basement for what seemed to be hours until she found the perfect hideout. She quickly tucked herself in a corner and concealed herself from the sight of the infested ghouls hunting her. Once cuddling in a corner, with the infinite darkness trying to hug her, the primate finally let go of her fear and anxieties and let her body rest for what would be for the day. As she crawled away, Lucy got a better look at the bank from a distance and then pulled out a sniper rifle, pointing it at the security system.
Lucy adjusted the scope of her rifle with one eye closed, the other intent on its target. She took a deep breath and held it with anticipation. Her finger tightened on the trigger. The ape watched as the bullet flew to its destination with incredible speed and a loud 'click.' The metal button activated. Lucy released the breath she had held with a sigh of relief. The pressure was off, and all's left now was to wait and see what consequences the bullet had set in motion, for better or worse. The alarm system advanced further, and the siren started to go off.
The sound emitted were deafening, and Ms. Simian started to tremble. All the infested beings went to the bank and started to attack it, climbing up and down the walls aimlessly. Ms. Simian, from her hiding spot, saw it all and was terrified. She could hear the loud noises and loud thuds from nearby walls and doors as the infested began to tear it down and enter it. The siren grew louder with each passing second. Ms. Simian, from her hiding spot, watched it all, her heart pounding in her chest with fear and disbelief.
The shock of the ravages tearing apart the banks filled the air with multitudes of hissing and moaning, shaking the windows and cracking the plaster. Glass shattered, debris flew across the bank's lobby, and customers screamed before quickly gathering their belongings and running towards the exit. Azrael and the monster floated downward, hovering above the beings with undead following close behind.
Jewelry, gold, diamonds, and money are scattered across the floor, glimmering and glistening in the sunlight. The ape paused. Eyes wide in awe as the elder watched multitudes of dollars discarded like toys on the floor. But quickly, she shook off her daze and rushed forward, and burst out of her hiding spot and further away from the chaos, trying to preserve her life. Unfortunately, the sound of her steps and feet walking didn't go unnoticed. The creature heard it and quickly showed its displeasure by destroying the security control system and equipment around it with a single motion of its hand. The pieces of technology crashed on the ground, clattering like a harmless symphony, alerting surrounding undead and ghouls of the presence of an intruder. The undead turned their heads, searching for the source of the noise, while the creature glared with murderous intent.
Ms. Simian ran as fast as she could, feeling the hot breath in her throat, sweat dripping from her brow, and her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, her radio started to make a noise, and she looked down. She leaped onto the military vehicle and quickly pressed the ignition switch, starting the engine with an assertive roar. Without wasting another moment, she immediately slammed her foot on the gas pedal, and the vehicle flew away like a jet. The thruster's smoke blew away, leaving a trace of Ms. Simian's fast drive in the atmosphere. She was speeding away as fast as she could, struggling to finish this task before her time was up. With the wind in her hair and a determined look, she pushed herself and the jeep to their limits to reach her destination.
As Ms. Simian drove further away from the city district, she couldn't help but feel a hint of nostalgia as the view of the bustling city streets faded. She noticed the bustling street lights and the horizon filled with skyscrapers becoming smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. Soon, the view of the city substituted by suburbia. Ms. Simian reached for her radio and turned it on, but her eyes returned to the street ahead as she began to enter back into the neighborhood sections of the town.
She sighed as she looked around her, taking in the streets of destroyed houses, looking out for obstacles. A shady intersection caught her eye, and she drove toward it. The teacher parked the car inside the hiding and shut it off shortly. She exited the vehicle, instantly climbed onto a nearby house, jumped onto a roof, and twisted her head left and right. She cocked the sniper rifle and used the scope to search across the vicinity. Suddenly, the house shook shortly, and the ape saw multiple blasts ensuing on the other side of the environs. She placed her rifle downward and saw the event with her own eyes. His eyebrows rose to the sky, and his jaw dropped as she witnessed the results.
Earlier...
Gumball had found himself in an incredibly tight spot. The townspeople have their eyes fixed on the cat, encircling him, their bodies teeming with pests. Their motives are clear after what the phantom, fairy, and cloud did earlier. He could feel them staring him down, sending him hateful glares as if to condemn him for stepping into the area in the first place. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and narrowed his eyes in defiance. Despite his narrowed gaze, he could still make out their snarling grins and the glint of malicious pleasure in their eyes, making him even more uneasy. Gumball gulped as the ravages walked towards him, their eyes fixed on him with a predatory glint, like a predator gazing upon its prospective meal. The blue cat noticed the increasing moisture of each host's jaws alongside the infamous slime as they drew nearer, prompting fear inside his glutton.
He was already in the wrong spot at the wrong time and feeling increasingly concerned by the second. He wanted out of there as soon as possible but knew he'd have to take action to make it happen. He found himself assessing every creature, looking for some form of weakness or opening so he could make his escape. He had to move fast because he could tell they were ready to attack. He steeled himself mentally and made his move.
The intimidating presence of the students and many other infested beings reached after Gumball penetrated the atmosphere. The feline leaped towards the left and spread out his claws. In the face of danger, Gumball's eyes glistened with fight. Refusing to be taken down, he firmly planted his feet and lunged forward, ready to battle. Shots of galvanic energy flew at Gumball, but he repelled them away and dived deep into the crowd.
Time appears to slow down as Gumball intercepted and avoided their shots. His fellow college students were right behind him now and catching up, closer and closer to Gumball with every passing second. Tobias, Banana Joe, Anton, Idaho, Julius, Scythe, Mowdown, the Mercenaries, Darwin, Hot Dog Guy, and even the cops throw their fists and feet toward him. Moving with agility, Gumball blocked each attack forward, ducking and jumping over as he slashed each skin of his opponents. Some attackers got a few hits on the cat and received punches and kicks across his body. He grunted at each blow, and he hissed viciously.
However, the cat was not to be distracted by their size and strength, as its strategic but swift counterattack proved to be devastating. Its claws dug deep into the tough flesh of its opponents, leaving behind bleeding marks as proof of its prowess. Darwin swopped in and cast the baton onto his stepbrother. The leader of the mercenaries grabbed Gumball by the neck and slammed him on the ground, advancing to punch him in the face repeatedly. During the punching, teeth became missing, and blood spewed from his mouth. Gumball quickly grabbed his knife and lunged towards the commander's hand when he reached for his belt. The dog howled in pain, and the cat pushed him away, shattering the visor even more with his feet.
Gumball was in shock as he saw the cracks rapidly spreading across the street, and he could do nothing but run away as fast as he could. He had never seen anything like this before, and he was bewildered. He didn't get far before suddenly felt multiple claws grabbing his tail and arms, trying to pull him down. In desperation, he quickly unleashed a grenade from his belt and threw it towards the clawed hands.
It created an explosion that loosened their grip on him. Gumball was able to escape and run away, just in time to see Vladus, the old phantom, flying towards him to try and strike him with his claws. Gumball had only seconds to react, and the feline jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the senile creature. He could only watch in shock as the force of the punches left alarming cracks in the ground. He was still confused about what had just happened, but he knew he had to keep running in order to survive.
To worsen the deal, all the women that Gumball had attacked moments before reached out for him, their hands trembling with lust and anger. The cant dodged further, and Gumball jabbed his knees and elbows, pushing them away. Others tried to ride onto him, and the cat punched their faces instantly. Overcrowded, Gumball reached for another grenade and shoved it on the ground. It exploded, and they got blasted away from the combustion. He huffed and puffed as more infested beings joined and did the same as the rest recovered from his attacks.
Gumball was in a real jam. Unfortunately, the ghost and fairy from the previous chase had recovered, and the cloud girl was now trailing just behind them. As Gumball watched with increasing dread, he could feel a cold sweat emerging on his forehead as he heard the wind picking up and wing flapping nearby. And then he hears the voices.
"Make sure he doesn't escape us this time, guys! I'm calling dips on the feline!" Carrie screamed as she stretched out her arms and immediately levitated, only to be brushed aside by the dragon beside her.
"And I advise you to see the underneath his pants, as I felt something peculiar! And for the last time, Caroline! He's mine!" Penelope let out a tremendous roar as she surged forward past the mysterious figure. Suddenly, Masami rushed ahead of the dragon, and steam burst out of Penny's nose as her eyes narrowed.
"Oh, please." The cloud girl expressed as She flew past both of them, her arms crossed behind her, and dashed over to the group. Unbeknownst to the three, the recently electrocuted group had regained their composure and hurriedly headed next to them.
Gumball's heart raced as the flying trio closed in; he glanced down and rubbed his chin as something came to mind. In an instant, Nicole pounced on him, emitting an intimidating growl from behind. She dragged him to the ground, and her right arm went for his trousers, causing Daisy, Anais, Richard, and Darwin to leap into action and restrain his arms and legs. Gumball was overcome with dread as he watched Darwin extend his baton at him and Carrie, Penny, and Masami hover over him. Nicole sniffed him intensely, touring off the lower section of his suit as his lungs bent in and out.
'Okay, Okay. I'm trapped, and my family's restraining me. I got to think of an idea now. What did I think of earlier? Let's see...' Gumball thought further as he looked around in panic but could only shift his eyes left and right. He closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"The girls were right. Four grenades, a radio, and a knife." Nicole lifted the belt and inspected its contents. After taking a whiff, she coughed and stuck her tongue out, nodding in agreement with the girls. "And she had something to do with this," Nicole declared before throwing it away, leading to the mercenaries' feet. He looked downward and smiled, reached for it, and picked it up, strapping it on his armor. Gumball looked over, seeing the cane having it, but narrowed his eyes. He turned back to Nicole, who was pulling down his pants with a sinister smile.
'Oh, man! Mom's giving me bedroom eyes, and I'm glared at by almost the entire town. I need to think fast!' Gumball continued until a flash occurred in his mind. Multitudes of glimmers of the past, as he saw himself in his kid years, having many abilities over time. Suddenly, one memory of him saw himself committing a shockwave attack on Carmen in the cafeteria. The flash disappeared. He kept his face intact, and he opened his eyes.
'That one...' Gumball spoke in his mind, glaring daggers at the motherly feline.
Seeing the instant eye movements, Darwin looked downward at his stepbrother's vision, and Anais and Daisy joined him.
"What's wrong? Losing your mind inside?" Darwin asked as Anais spread out a sickening grin.
"You had this coming after the stunts you pulled." The bunny said as she tilted her head, and the doll giggled.
"Nowhere to go and nothing to defend yourself, sweetie! Now, you're about to join our family time and-" Nicole enunciated before getting cut off by Carrie, who was hovering nearby the motherly feline. The wind blew over Nicole's outfit, and the Rainbow Factory twisted her head, glaring at the phantom. When Richard, Darwin, Anais, and Daisy did the same thing, Gumball's face lit up as if it were the Fourth of July. A suddenly gigantic smile broke out across his face as his eyebrows furrowed downwards in response to the cat's body shaking.
"Stand aside, Watterson! I'm about to ride on Gumball!" Carrie exclaimed as she reached for the feline until Nicole grabbed her face, shoving her away. Penny and Masami landed on the ground next to her, and pieces of the ground flew over as they landed. They each gritted their teeth and clenched their fists.
"No, I am!" Penelope screamed as she changed back to her fairy form.
"You mind if I come next, guys?" Masami asked as Nicole's eyes narrowed as she hissed in anger at the sight of more college students rushing by.
'Okay, they're looking away as I'm doing charades. Now's my chance! Though, I have to be careful.' Gumball stated thoughtfully as a circle appeared around both irises. A glimmer came from his eyes, gradually increasing in intensity.
"Either of you should've thought that when we got him. Now, stand back while I- " The mother cat responded before a massive shockwave burst from Gumball's head. The shockwave spread like wildfire, engulfing the infested beings, debris, and anything besides the already broken houses. Screams occur. Its powerful force, unleashed by a blast of energy in a millisecond, spread from the epicenter in all directions, building up in intensity before dissipating. It rocked the foundations of all the infested it came across, overflowing them mercilessly as it continued its relentless march, leaving the area around Gumball nearly cleared. The magnitude of the destruction it caused was unimaginable, leveling many fallen into entire sections of the neighborhood, roads, and intersections, leaving behind the wreckage. The people and animals of the area were left in rubble as the shockwave spread out and dissipated, leaving the vicinities landscape altered and unrecognizable.
'Nice!' Afterward, Gumball caught his breath and rose from the ground, grasping his neck as he stood. He was relieved as he slowly got back on his feet, holding his neck painfully as he slowly rose. He slowly shook his head, letting out a deep sigh as he looked left and right to see where the chief bodyguard had landed. Once he pulled up his pants, the scene quickly became apparent. He saw the chief lying face down in the dirt. He rushed over to the guard and grabbed his belt. He unstrapped it and raveled it back into his pants.
Upon turning, the cat spotted an unoccupied path ahead of him and sped toward it. He picked up his limbs and scampered into the street without delay. As Gumball stepped into the trail, he heard loud groans and ran further. He quickly collected his thoughts as he did after hearing a few pieces of rubble moving. Gumball huffed and puffed as he ran further, to the point he pouched on the fleet and rushed like a cheetah. The infected emerged from the debris, their minds still reeling from the shock and destruction they had faced. As they looked around, they saw the feline nowhere to be seen. Recovering from their injuries, they slowly began to work on cleaning the dirt and debris from their bodies. Once they felt secure again, they began to hiss aggressively. Many twisted their heads left and right, while others burst out of the mangled rubble.
Nicole hissed as she leaped out of the rubble, and many pieces fell across her path. Her eyes burst into flames as vicious growls burst out of her jaws and pounced on the ground.
"THAT REPULSIVE CHILD! WHERE DID HE GO?!" The furious motherly feline exclaimed as she sniffed. She twisted her head left and right and immediately spotted her husband's head peeking out of the crumbling home.
"I don't know, hon. But I know for a fact, I even didn't see that coming." Richard responded after he emerged from the wreckage, Darwin, Daisy, and Anais following quickly after the crash. The goldfish then exploded the rubble to bits with his baton and cleaned his limbs. He grunted.
"No wonder his eyes are frantic! He's come up with a sneak attack!" Darwin responded once he clenched his fists tightly. Nearby the fish was Anais laying down her hand, and Daisy climbed up to her back.
"He unexpectedly sent a shockwave in our way, taking us by surprise as we weren't paying attention. I have to give him some credit, though. That was a pretty, bold move." The bunny responded as she shrugged her arms.
"However, we got a lost kitty to find!" Daisy screamed as the bunny looked at she strapped herself onto her right shoulder. Suddenly, near the Watterson Family, the leader of the mercenaries and his cronies blasted electrical discharges near the rubble, scrapping off any debris, items, and furniture of the broken houses. As they moved through the ruins, any remains fell off their armor. They even checked gadgets and looked over the energy usage after putting the tools back on.
"So the young feline has pulled his own trump card. I must admit. That's impressive. Any of you alright?" The commander asked the family as he walked towards them, and the cronies followed in pursuit.
"We're fine. But right now, we need to regroup and proceed to finding Gumball!" Nicole said as she narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists.
"And after seeing the belt, I suggest to be mindful of other possible issues. Gumball's attack won't be the end of it." Darwin spoke to the armored men.
"Indeed we must, and perhaps recharged our gadgets just in case," The leader responded after seeing the power use lowering.
Before they say anything further, they notice some people entangled in the rubble. Several humans, citizens, and college students were trapped after falling and struggled to break free. The leader narrowed his eyes, cleared his throat to his cronies, and pointed his baton forward. He fired off energy bursts to remove the debris while his peers did the same. All piles of rubble instantly crumbled to pieces, giving space to the infested that had trouble breaking free. They spread out and picked several from the ground.
After they watched the men clean the barriers, Darwin, Anais, and Daisy rushed over to their fellow college students while Nicole and Richard did the same to their neighbors. Darwin blasted several remaining rubble, giving the armored men a chance to finish freeing them. Anais and Daisy grabbed many hands and pulled the students out of the debris. They pulled out each college student instantly and loosened their restraints to let them recover.
"You guys okay?" Anais asked as her stepbrother stood next to her.
"Well, despite the fact we got blasted away from your brother, I'm doing fine. I don't know about the rest, however." Jamie responded after removing the filth from her body and her hair. The cow turned around and saw more classmates walking out of the debris.
"We all got caught up in the mess, Jamie. Darwin, I think we needed your help in stopping him from doing that since none of us are able to do so." Rachel responded once she removed her headband. She shook her hair, letting the rubble fall off before putting it back on.
"I'll keep that in mind, Rachel." Darwin responded as he nodded.
"Man! Talking about an explosive experience!" Banana Joe screamed as he shook his body, and the droplets of the debris fell off. Nearby him was Ocho, William, and many others recovering from the wreckage that surrounded them.
"Same here! Judging what I witnessed, I must step up my game. And not allow that to happen to me again." Ocho responded as he narrowed his eyes, and Willaim nodded.
"I guess we shouldn't underestimate the guy given using that gadget he had earlier. And fighting back without it." Alan said while pulling his girlfriend out of the remains.
"You don't say, Keane? You alright, Carmen?" The banana responded before Carmen spread her arms as she developed butterflies in her stomach. She held her stomach and placed her other hand on her forehead.
"Not too much. That blast Gumball pulled has given me flashbacks. I imagine he'll use it again once we approach him." The cactus spoked to the fruit before turning to see more classmates recovering. As the trio witnessed this, Darwin, Anais, and Daisy witnessed Carrie, Vladus, Penny, and Masami soaring through the air before descending and touching down to the earth below.
"You guys still standing?" Carrie asked.
"We're getting there. Once we regroup, we can start looking for our brother.' Anais responded.
"That's good because I want us to spread this neighborhood out. I haven't even got my chance yet!" The phantom conveyed with a smile and clenched her fits before the fairy and cloud girl growled instantly.
"Your chance? Not until I reached Gumball first." Penelope declared, her pupils turning red and her eyes narrowing as she spread her wings.
"And I'll finish what I started with the cute koneko once I search for him," Masami expressed as she placed her hands on her and hovered in the air. The fairy glares at her as her fist becomes a blade.
"And I can provide extra air support for you, sweetheart." Vladus responded, placing his hand on Carrie's shoulder.
In an instant, a loud blast came from the neighboring houses, and a clay train emerged from the wreckage of the combustion. It shook the ground, a train whistle ringing in its wake. A gigantic scowl appeared on the frontier of the trains, and Clayton's eyebrows shifted downward.
"Hey, guys! Who wants to ride the Payback Express? Because I got a score to settle with the feline." The play-doh requested as pieces of his clay went downward and made seats.
"We'll take the ride!" Tobias screamed as he grabbed a broken-off stop sign and climbed over. Behind him lies Rachel, Anton, Idaho, Molly, Sarah, Julius, his fellow delinquents, and some humans getting on.
"Okay, Play-Doh! We're on!" the bomb guy shouted as Clayton started moving his wheels and twisted himself to the road ahead.
Soon, Carrie, Penny, Vladus, the Wattersons, college students, mercenaries, and many others scattered across the street. Many stood in turmoil as those capable of flight leaped from the ground, launching themselves into the air with a powerful thrust. Sweat dripped from their heads as they watched and awaited the safety of their people. The sound of wings flapping filled the air, and the wind picked up. All eyes shifted left and right, searching for the feline. Amongst the street, others lifted their legs and arms, scampering across the route.
Carrie pants as she flew across the sky, teleporting left and right. She put her palm on her forehead and squinted her gaze. Nearby her were Penelope, Masami, William, Alan, Ocho, Vladus, and Clayton as they spread across the sky. Each flyer flowed from different directions. The phantom moved her bane, laying her hand upon her forehead as if holding a pair of binoculars had been placed there. As she looked further, the ghost spotted something moving from a distance. She stood in the air, mesmerized.
'Wait.' At first, she swore she saw a familiar figure running across the street not too far away, advancing elsewhere. As she drew closer, Caroline spotted Gumball in a different section of the area. As her eyes darted around, she gasped when she noticed the fairy and cloud girl hovering a few feet away. Her curiosity grew exponentially, and her heart echoed a feeling of nostalgia. With an eager smile forming on her lips, she quickly ran across the street, and before she knew it, she had successfully teleported herself elsewhere.
Penelope heard a loud sound, like a crack of lightning. Startled, she twisted her head around to where the sound had come from, yet she saw no sign of Caroline. Aghast, Penelope's eyebrows raised, and she began to look around rapidly, searching for her companion. Suddenly, it hit her, and warmth filled her chest. She knew the sound was teleportation, the same power she and Caroline used to get to and from the compound.
Without a second thought, Penelope transformed into her bird-like form, just as she had done earlier. The sensation of her arms, legs, and body morphing to accommodate was familiar. Feeling the wind whip against her feathers, Penelope realized Caroline must have used the teleportation to go somewhere else. But to where?
'Where did she go? Did she find Gumball?' Penny's words echoed in her mind, although her gaze trained downwards. While she swirled around in the air, the shape-shifter saw Gumball from a distance in a different corner of the town. Her exuberant gasp alerted him to her presence, and the thought of Carrie crept into her mind. Instantly, her smile disappeared, replacing it with a menacing growl. 'Oh, no, you don't, Carrie.'
"Guys, follow me! I know where Gumball is!" Penelope screamed as she rushed to the location where the feline was, and Masami and the rest followed her once she flew downward. The wind picked up as she glided forward. The fairy's eyes focused on the cat before her, and she narrowed her eyes.
As the flyers flew further, the townspeople followed them one by one, leaving the rubble of the mangled city behind them. It was like a wave of determination swept over the town, pushing them forward with the fervor none experience before.
Gumball was now distant from the army. He was running as if his life depended on it; every step he took could to avoid the dreaded affliction. His bare feet powered him forward as his lungs heaved for air. He leaped over fallen trees and dashed past wrecked cars, determined to stay one step ahead of the infected. Gumball knew the sneak attack wouldn't last long, and they were in pursuit - their deep, guttural groans and roars indicating they were close. He could feel their presence nearby, waiting for just the right moment to make their move.
His ears shook drastically. He continued to scurry away from the infected, past the horizon and into the shadows. Gumball, now winded, could feel his pulse calming down as his perspiration trickled. He loosened a heavy sigh and took out his walkie-talkie, pushing the buttons to activate it, all while hearing the static noise. It arose from the small device. He then brought it closer to his ear.
"Hello?! Ms. Simian?! Do you read me?! How's the car searching?" Gumball exclaimed, only to receive nothing at the other end. His ears flopped downward, and he narrowed his eyes. The cat tapped his thumb on his cheek and pressed a button. No response, and he sighed.
'I was questioning why there was a delay, but then I remembered the monstrous and lifeless creatures heading in our direction. It must be the reason why Ms. Simian's hesitant to respond.' Gumball thought before his ears started moving. Hearing something nearby, the cat wasted no time but lunged elsewhere, only for a strange force to grab him and pull him away from the ground. He used the shockwave attack, loosening his restraints. He looked upward and saw Carrie glaring at him with a gigantic grin.
"Nice trick you pulled back there, Gumball. But I won't let you escape until I have my shot." The phantom spoke seductively. Her lips got licked, and her hands revealed sharp claws, letting a prism-colored mist arose on her hands.
"Even if I'm one of you, I refused to give in!" Gumball screamed as he narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists.
The chapter ends with the feline getting a upper hand of the infected. The next branch of the story will come around soon.