Mutagen

Day 3 – 4:02 PM – Citta Italia Main Road, Citta Italia Pvt. Subd. , Molino III, Bacoor City, Cavite

While everyone in the convoy was in panic, Mark on top of the MB Sprinter was waiting for the right timing to shoot. The oversized dog was still quite a distance away. Despite the distance of the threat away from them, Mark could clearly see its features.

The three meter tall dog had a lean body structure with a broad and deep chest. Its fur was longer compared to common dog breeds but not too long either. The fur was drooped over its body and not scattered in every direction. The ears of the dog was lopped but quite small compared to its body proportions.

Its size aside, it also had several strange features. Like the golden sheen on its cream colored coat and its golden eyes that was shining despite not being shined with direct light. Furthermore, there were several golden spikes in protruded on its body. There was even a horn in the middle of its forehead.

Sad to say, Mark could not recognize the breed off this dog.

As the dog was now clearly on sight, Mark finally fired his first shot.

TSST!

The first shot missed because of the distance and the speed the dog was running. However, it looked like it was alarmed about Mark's existence on the roof of the black vehicle in front of the convoy. It stared at the man that was aiming an assault rifle on with a ferocious glare.

Mark saw the dog stare and snarled at him however, it did not continue on staring at him as it ran closer and closer. It was also observing the other vehicles behind. Then, as it decided on its target, the direction it was running shifted slightly.

TSST! TSST! TSST! TSST! TSST!

Five shots were fired by Mark forcing the dog to stop. Mark realized that it was wary of him, or rather, his assault rifle. He deliberately shot the area in front of it to gauge several things. He was also monitoring its overbearing emotions. When the dog forcibly stopped, Mark pulled out the two radios again.

"Vehicles without combatants increase your speed and run on the left lane. Chief, your vehicle and the other multi-cab should follow directly behind ours. The vehicles on the right lane will serve as a wall. This huge dog is wary of guns."

Mark said in a stern voice towards the radio connected to the police while making sure that the other radio could also hear his orders.

"Odel, match the speed of the vehicles to the right."

Following his orders, the vans and the armored Caddilac drove towards the opposite lane making the vehicles on the right lane as cover. Seven vehicles drove with full speed along the private main road in two columns. It was fortunate that it was a private subdivision and there was no vehicles abandoned on the main road. If not, this formation was impossible to pull off without facing accidents.

The huge dog was surprised due to the sudden change. Mark could detect its emotions and overwhelming anger.

Of course, the huge dog would not stop there to capture its prey. Since its first target was hiding behind these small vehicles, it made its move, charging towards the multi-cabs. It could not wait to eat its prey.

However, that would not happen so easily.

Mark and the police started to shoot the huge dog. It was not a warning shot anymore but they were all shooting the large animal with intent to kill it.

Sensing the danger, the huge dog started to jump side to side but it did not stop its charge. It continued snarling as it came closer and closer. The policemen and the armed volunteers started to panic inside their vehicles. Their shots became more and more inaccurate and disoriented.

SPLURT!

The huge dog was already just a dozen of meters away from the multi-cab at the end of the convoy when the dog was shot in its thigh. The three shot burst Mark made all drilled holes into its thigh forcing it to stop and wail in pain.

It was then that the situation became more severe.

The huge dog retreated and several steps and howled. The howl was ear-piercing and it even made two of the policemen to drop their pistols outside the window of the multi-cab involuntarily. Everyone who heard the howl felt dizzy and could not help but cover their ears with both hands.

"STOP THE CARS!"

SCREEEECH!

All the vehicles except for the MB Sprinter forcibly stopped. It was because the Chief yelled on the radio at the last moment. His order was a good call or else, the disoriented drivers might have caused an accident and did more damage. Everyone on the convoy experienced an excruciating pain in their ear and head. The only exception was Mark's group that was inside the MB Sprinter due to the tight soundproofing of the vehicle.

Still, the vehicles stopping only gave the huge dog more time to catch up. Ignoring its wounds that were still spurting blood, the three meter tall dog charged towards the convoy once more.

On top of the MB Sprinter, Mark forcibly endured the pain in his ear and aimed his gun once more.

TSST! TSST! TSST!

Mark emptied the remaining ammunition in the clip of his assault rifle.

The huge dog did not expect that there would be someone who was able to endure its howl and was buffeted with the rain of bullets. Several holes appeared on its body spurting blood. The huge dog wailed in pain and looked angrily towards the man who shot it. It became dumbfounded. He saw the man stretching his hand towards it while his eyes were glowing red. The dog felt a bad feeling and immediately fled. It ran away and jumped over the roof of a two story house. It continued to flee until it could not be seen anymore behind the rows of houses.

Mark who was ready to launch a mental attack almost cursed. The damn dog was too sensitive and immediately ran away after feeling danger. Still, he could sigh in relief that it retreated. If it did not, they would surely incur casualties because of that dog.

"Is everyone alright?"

Mark heard Madam Lanie speak through the radio. The replies came immediately and it seemed that several people within the multi-cab targeted by the dog fainted and their eardrums were ruptured. Except for those, everyone else was fine. Everyone was relieved that the huge dog retreated.

It was good that Mark's body was not the same as before the outbreak. If it was before, he doubted that he could endure that sound wave attack. As there was no time to check for everything, Mark spoke to the radio.

"Everyone, we should hurry up and move on. The dog retreated for now but I don't think that it will stop attacking just like that."

What he said, poured water on the relieved faces of everyone. They all hurried to get back on the way.

On the other hand, Mark was frowning while looking at the rows of houses to the north. The other people might not know but he could. The dog did not run away but was hiding behind that row of houses. Probably, it was healing its injuries. It was a pity that he would not be able to do a mental attack at this distance.

***

The convoy continued on the road with even faster speed than before. Everyone only hoped that they could leave this place as soon as possible.

While above the roof of their vehicle, Mark kept on staring on a certain direction while aiming his gun. The people on the other vehicles could see him but could not understand his actions. However, the police chief and the policemen who participated back then when they dealt with the escaped criminals at the Police Command Center was sweating profusely. They think that Mark had the ability to sense enemies or danger around him. With Mark behaving like that, they knew that the huge dog should be nearby.

While Mark was concentrating on monitoring the direction where he could feel the dog was, he heard Mei's voice from his radio.

"Gege, what kind of dog is that? It didn't seem attracted to you."

It made him almost spew out blood from his mouth. Mei's wording made him feel that he was too ugly that only the infected was interested on him. Still, he did not push it. It was not the time for jokes right now.

"That dog is not a mutated infected or an evolved animal like the huge cat back there in the City Hall."

Everyone who knew the circumstances inside the vehicle was surprised. It was not an infected and not an evolved animal. Then what was it?

He then heard Odel speaking.

"Master, don't tell me that it's a Mutator."

"It is. It had the same fluctuations that you have back then when I fought you."

Melissa, Charmaine, Sundra and the other woman was surprised. Not because the dog was a Mutator but because Mark said that he fought Odelina before. However, they did not understand everything else in the conversation with those aside.

Then, Mark heard Abbygale's voice from the radio.

"Papa, I want that doggie."

The little girl's request made everyone stare at her.

"That doggie is not for children, Gale. I'll find a dog for you later but not this one."

Mark replied in a gentle voice but he was actually having a cold sweat. The request of his self-proclaimed daughter was getting more dangerous.

Hearing that, Abbygale was visibly displeased.

"Gale, that doggie is dangerous. Your Papa might get hurt."

Mei followed up what Mark said. However, the little girl stared at Mei. She then spoke.

"Mama, tell Papa to get me that doggie."

Abbygale begged and hugged Mei. Everyone was struck speechless. However, it seemed that it was effective towards Mei. As if she had just lost her mind, she spoke on the radio.

"Gege, is it possible to catch that dog?"

Mark choked and started coughing hard.

'Just what the hell?'

As Mei was holding the voice input button of the radio on her hand, Mark could hear everything they were saying. The little girl was being cunning!

"Master, is it possible to subdue that huge dog? You can do it right?"

Odelina asked making Mark even more dispirited.

'These women were surely going to kill me in the future.'

He thought in his heart.

But he could not lie to these girls and deny that it was not possible. Just as he said, the dog was in the similar situation as Odelina when she was being consumed by that consciousness that sprouted because of her mutation. That dog was also struggling mentally.

If fact, if it was not dangerous, he also wanted to catch that dog and make it his pet. However, he was not sure if he would be able to. The one who saved Odelina was not him after all but Freed. Furthermore, the emotional fluctuations of this Mutator Dog were more berserk. If he encountered this dog before he evolved, just the emotional fluctuation the dog was releasing was enough to make him lose consciousness.

The girls inside the vehicle were waiting for his answer but he was still contemplating. Nevertheless, he detected some movements this time. He looked towards the direction the convoy was going and they were about to arrive at the other entrance of the subdivision. Fortunately or unfortunately, the gates were also closed. The closed gates prevented the infected from coming in but now, it barred them from coming out safely.

He could detect that the huge dog was also starting to move. This damn cunning dog planned to attack them when they were busy opening the gates.

Like a mouse cornered by a cat, they would have no choice but to fight it. Not to help these baggage they were escorting but for them to survive themselves. Since that was the case, he might as well get the chance to subdue this ferocious animal.

For some reason, his blood started to boil with that thought. His eyes were glowing and he let out a ferocious smile similar to a madman's. He knew that the mental effects the Mutagen brought to his body was kicking up again. But this time, he just let it go without restraining it. He felt that this time, he might as well go wild.

He pressed the voice input on the radio and calmly spoke.

"You girls win. We're going to catch that dog. Gale! Odel! Both of you will help me with this! Go all out!"