Chapter 71: Mutant Horde Part Four

Seeing how talkative Ai was being, Eiji decided to push it and ask: "May I ask how you lost your left eye?" 

"This? Ah well, my own stupidity. Mai almost lost her life because I forgot about the last stand program in the first type machina. In order to save her, I tried to protect her but I didn't dodge fast enough. It's fine though, I am working on a cybernetic eye. Hope to have it done within a year. Enough about me, tell me the truth, what happened to you that brought you to seek shelter from someone you had only seen once?" Although the two were talking they never once stopped looking at the mutants in front of them. Ai was only being talkative since observation was a boring task. 

"One second, look over there, what is it doing?" Eiji pointed to a certain spot near the wall of the base. A large mutant that seemed to be a mix of different animals was hunched over, its skin was glowing and it was starting to form pulsating boils all over its skin.

"Shit! Come we need to leave now." Ai said, grabbing Eiji's hand and pulling him along. Eiji looked at the small hand holding his and felt that it was slightly rough. He could tell this girl was always training with that small body of hers. But he knew her actions meant nothing to her. But he hopped one day he could joke about how the first time they held hands was when they were running from something.

The two entered the stairwell that led down to the base. After the door was closed, Ai sat on the top steps leaning against the closed door. Eiji sat next to her making sure to keep a bit of distance in order to not annoy the girl. "So what was that back there?"

"It is something I have heard about but it is also something I have never confirmed until today. Mutants have a habit of quickly evolving when given enough radiation. I am not sure if this is a fact or not but what I heard was not only does the mutant gain more intelligence after evolving they will also become very violent and kill anything they see. But as I said, I am not sure this is true, but I sure as hell did not plan to use myself as bait to find out the truth." Ai explained. 

"How do you know so much? I mean shit had only hit the fan about two months ago yet you seem to be at home so easily in this world and know so much about it. Like what is a first type machina?" Eiji was full of questions. He did not understand how Ai knew so much. 

"A first type machinas are the little spider looking machines that first appeared and began killing off the survivors as for the rest of your questions..." Ai paused and thought for a moment before taking a long look at Eiji. "Maybe in the future, I will tell you." 

Ai, left it at that as she closed her eyes and listened to the sounds going on outside. There seemed to be some fighting going on between the mutants because loud roaring could be heard and sounds of flesh being torn filled the air.

Eiji looked at Ai and wondered what this girl was hiding. She seemed to know so much and was so capable in such a tiny body. Eiji did not close his eyes like Ai did he just kept them on her as he watched her resting peacefully. He was not sure if she was sleeping or not. But even if she was he did not care. She had trusted him to guard her and that was what he planned to do.

Ai on the other hand was wide awake. She might have been resting but she was also testing Eiji. They were in an area where no turrets were around, just the two of them, and the only thing stopping him from killing her, if he so chose, was to point and shoot. But even after thirty minutes the man next to her did not make a single move. To this, Ai let out a small sigh of relief internally. She was glad her judgment was not wrong. On this day Eiji gained a bit more of Ai's trust. 

An hour went by and the sounds outside began to diminish. Only the sound of rain could be heard as it hit the ground. Ai opened her eyes and looked over at Eiji who just so happened to be looking at her. A small smile formed when she saw Eiji turn his head away quickly with blushed cheeks. But that smile soon faded when she heard thumping sounds and more of her traps being set off. 

Ai pulled Eiji close and whispered into his ear: "Do not make a sound and keep your gun ready. Be ready to run at any time." 

Eiji nodded and whispered back: "No matter what happens I will make sure you escape. Make sure you take good care of your sister and the little ones."

Ai gave a glance at Eiji somewhat unsure how to react to his words just now but quietly nodded her head. "We will leave that as our last choice." 

Ai reached over and began hooking up the traps for the door before tugging on Eiji's arm and slowly backing away from the door. The sounds in the hall were becoming loud and louder. Until finally they stopped right in front of the door. A sniffing sound could be heard followed by a loud roar.

*Bam!*

***

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