Chapter 9

****Author's Note****

Quick shout out to my very first Patreon follower, Colin Clark! Thanks for the support and for enjoying my content.

****End Author's Note****

Chapter 9

"This feels unsafe Drew Wright."

"For the third time man, it's just a county road. It's just gravel and dirt. We're in a 4x4 truck, this thing can handle much worse, I promise."

"Then why do I find this experience so jarring, being thrown around everywhere?"

"Pot holes. The road isn't concrete or asphalt, so rain and other weather wears it down over time, especially as heavier vehicles drive up and down it. It's pretty normal. The few folks who live this far out typically own trucks like ours, and they tow trailers full of cattle, or they own giant tractors for agriculture stuff. Low population areas mean less taxes for the local governments. So roads like these stay screwed up for awhile before they come to fix them."

"Yeah, don't worry Spock. Drew is right, once we get into town the roads are much better." Amber said.

It wasn't long before they made it into the first town. Spock was looking out of the windows like Freya would. Not that there was a lot to see in this town. A grade school, an old, run down grain mill silo, a few older homes, there wasn't many signs of civilization here compared to the suburbs and the city. Drew slowed the truck down to a crawl as they came close to town hall. Directly across the street from the government building there were about twenty or thirty people digging up, and looking through rubble. Drew pulled over.

"I'll be right back, I'd like to check in with them. Spock can fill you in while I do."

Drew walked around what was left of the historic buildings. Bricks and wood lay everywhere with plumbing pipes and rebar sticking out occasionally. There wasn't a single wall still standing. The folks out here had shovels and were trying to move rubble, some used their bare hands. Bits of long forgotten history had been dug out and laid in a pile near the side of the road. An old teddy bear, a vintage bicycle, a sign that read 'General Store'. Bits and bobs from what the old owners had left and never bothered to remove. All this history, just gone. Only scraps remaining.

Drew walked up to a tall, lanky man while the guy was shoveling through the debris. He was older, in his late 50's or early 60's. He had a veterans ballcap on his head that showed he was part of the gulf war. Balding, with glasses on his face, and a grim determination set as he worked.

"Robert. I just saw a post about this. I am so, so sorry man." Drew said

Robert stopped what he was doing, set down the shovel and pulled off his work gloves. He extended a hand towards Drew.

"I don't believe I know you stranger, I'm Robert, it's nice to meet ya despite the circumstances. Do you live around here?"

Shit. Drew totally forgot that he didn't look the same anymore. How could he forget something so important!?

"Ah, yeah. Name's... Jake, it's nice to meet you too. I just moved in about ten miles down the road. My family purchased the ol' Jefferson's home a while back and I'm staying with them."

"Ohhhh! You mean the Wrights? They're good people. Did you come to help out?"

"Nah, the family needed me to run into town to grab a bunch of stuff. Eh...Drew saw the post on facebook about this and showed me. Asked me to give you our condolences."

Robert sighed as he looked down at the shovel and the gloves in his hands.

"I appreciate that. I really do. I have some extra supplies left but... Well I suppose if it's meant to happen then God will light my path for me. I have to keep faith. Even if I have to sell my home to cover the leans."

"Oh wow, I didn't know the leans were that high. Where are you going to stay?"

"I'm... I don't know. But I know God has a plan for me. We're tested and we always come out stronger for our struggles."

"Well, it's not much, but we have plenty of land. You're welcome to throw a tent up on our property in the worst case scenario. Can't have ya living out on the streets. Also, word of advice, maybe make sure you've got a firearm. Times are changing, make sure you can protect yourself just in case okay?"

"Thank you for the offer, I'll keep it in mind."

"I'm gonna head off, again, my condolences Robert."

Drew went back to the truck, got in, and started driving into the city. The drive was quiet, with Amber only asking how Robert was doing. Drew turned on the radio as the miles disappeared under the tires while heading to the city. The mood was somber despite the music as the drive gave everyone time to collect their thoughts. The fifty minute drive allowed for reflection.

Did Drew do enough? He offered his land to Robert just in case he needed somewhere to lay his head. He recommended a gun, even though most people had several already. What more could he do? He thought about the upcoming danger. The beasts and monsters were just days away from beginning to appear. The people... there were many good people who were going to be hurt and killed. Bad people too. Magic powers, unrivaled strength, folks were going to have access to magic and superhuman abilities soon. Maybe they could secure safety with them.

He just wished the evil people of the world bit the dust quickly. If they somehow managed to stay alive in a lawless time with magic... He shuddered to think what would happen. Without the consequences from breaking laws, scummy people would become emboldened. When people were starving, under attack, and fighting for survival, everything would be tossed out the window. But the shitheads? They wouldn't change much, they'd continue as they always have. Except now they'd have the power to back up their desires. The other humans may end up becoming more dangerous than the beasts.

Drew really hoped he didn't have to deal with folks like that. He didn't want to be put in that position. But if it came down to it, he wouldn't hesitate. When it came to his friend's and family's safety, he already knew. He'd pull the trigger and end the threat.

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The early afternoon passed as a blur. Non-perishable goods were purchased in bulk. Paper products, water bottles, high proof alcohol, gasoline and propane. Every single bit of the truck's considerable cargo space was utilized, as was the bed. When the truck simply had no more room, they purchased a trailer for even more space. Two trips were completed by the time Drew received an ETA from Mark and Miranda. They'd be at his house in a little under an hour.

Amber stayed at the house after the first trip in order to start organizing supplies. The guys would go out, get stuff, bring it back, then unload it so she could start grouping everything together. They'd bought out all the propane in both sports stores in the city, they had empty barrels Amber would fill up with gasoline for storage, the gasoline itself... almost five hundred gallons had been purchased and transported back home.

Drew had signed the dotted line for six 16'x36' outbuildings to be delivered within five days on the property. He'd paid for concrete slabs to be poured starting tomorrow for said building to be attached to. They needed room for storage for everything being purchased. Plans were drawn up for a cold cellar basement and signed off on. Rush orders placed with large deposits to begin work immediately. Without power, there would be no A/C. Without power, cold storage was a must for fruits and vegetables.

They'd accomplished a lot today. Far more than originally expected. But there was still so much to do. So many more trips to the city were required before Drew would feel secure for food, and other necessities. They still needed manual tools for farming, maybe some old tractors. They probably needed more storage, but he'd have to visit some other outbuilding lots to acquire those first. Right now he was just thankful for the rent-to-own deals that they'd been offered. No money down for all those buildings.

Usually that would be an absolutely awful idea financially. But what were the business owners going to do when their vehicles stopped running? It's not like they could come repossess them at that point. They'd be too busy trying to survive themselves to worry about folks not paying rent with useless money anymore. Winter was ending, but it was still several weeks before anything could be planted.

Drew's goal was to be as self-sufficient as possible. He wanted a year's worth of supplies and food stockpiled. He needed more tools, he needed seeds for germination for future food, he needed... well he needed everything. It's pretty amazing to think about all the things one family would need to survive without outside businesses and logistics.

By the time the guys made it back home from the final trip it was close to 5pm. Mark's car was in the main driveway when Drew and Spock backed up through the property to the residential fence gate to unload the latest haul. Drew was tired at this point. It'd been a very early day for him as he was transported to the tutorial in the middle of the night, and he never went back to sleep since.

Given all the work he'd done since then he was surprised he was still coherent. All the driving, the planning, the calling, the lists, all the decisions he'd had to make throughout the day, it was wearing down on him. He was still functional, but he felt drained. If Drew had to take a guess, then the only reason he wasn't passed out already was the new stats he'd gained. But he still needed sleep soon, however right now it was time to talk with Mark and Miranda, then do a magic show for them and his mom. Then food. Then sleep.

The truck was parked and Spock began to unload the latest haul while Drew went inside. As much as he was looking forward to seeing his friends, and showing off a bit, he just couldn't find himself as excited as before, he was simply too drained. Without a care in the world he walked straight into the house. He could already hear them talking.

"Look, I just want to know where he is. We called off of work because he sent a text saying it was an emergency. Why won't you tell us what's going on?" It was Mark.

"I'm just saying to hang on until he gets back from... Ah! There you are dear." Amber said.

Drew casually walked to the loveseat in the living room as Amber spotted him. Too tired to care, he plopped down and sank into that sweet, sweet cushion. On the couch sitting perpendicular to where his loveseat was, sat a short man with a tan skin tone, black close cut hair, and a full yet professionally groomed beard. He hadn't changed out of work attire as he was wearing a light flat gray jacket and suit. Mark. On his right sat his wife, Miranda. She had a milk chocolate smooth skin tone, her straightened black hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she wore baby blue colored scrubs.

Both of them looked from where Amber was standing in front of them to the man that just collapsed into the loveseat. Miranda cocked her head to the side, clearly confused who this new man was, and why Amber seemed to recognize him. While Mark's eyes widened to the circumference of saucer plates. As Mark made eye contact with the man his head swiveled back to Amber.

"Holy shit! What's he doing here?? That's Henry Fucking Ca..." Mark began.

"I'm really not. Promise. I just look like him."

Mark's head snapped back to the man, staring at him wide-eyed still.

"...And I sound like him too I guess. I'm guessing you haven't gotten very far with 'the talk' yet?" Drew said as he turned to his wife.

"Eh... Well no. They got here about ten minutes ago and I told them you were on your way back. I figured it'd be easier for them to see you instead of the crap I went through with your mom."

Drew sighed. All he wanted was a nap.

"Hey guys. It's been a super long and tiring day and I'm honestly pooped. It'll be way faster and easier if I just show you. Can you get my mom Boo Bear?"

"Sure! She's been waiting for this all day. She perked up about two hours ago and has been asking to see it." Amber said.

"Boo...Bear?" Mark whispered under his breath.

"Cool, ya'll can just follow me. Come on, don't just sit there, we're going outside." Drew said to his friends.

Drew reluctantly relinquished his comfort as he got up and ambled over to the back door, looking behind him as he got there. His wife had disappeared to find his mom while Mark and Miranda were following, but keeping their distance and whispering to each other. Too bad he could hear everything with his increased perception stats.

"That's the guy from that show I watch!" Mark whispered to his wife.

"Ohhhhh, that's why he looks so familiar. But what's with his eyes being yellow, and why is he here?" Miranda queried.

"I don't know! It must have cost a fortune to get him to come all the way out to BFE. That's how he looks in the show!" Mark replied swiftly in a hushed tone.

"We don't have all day, we're going to be losing daylight soon, hurry up!" Drew was losing his patience.

The couple followed him out to the property and Drew was left with a choice. Continue the abuse of the poor maple Amber had forced him to injure earlier today, or take his irritation out on those horrid mesquite trees that had constantly mocked him and destroyed countless mower tires over the last few years. It was no choice at all.

"Alright, ya'll stand over there off to the side. Watch closely and don't blink."

Hmmmm, now which of these bastards would feel his wrath? Yessss, that one. It was extra spikey, even if it was a bit smaller in trunk size than the rest. Drew raised his arm and focused his will on the spell. Palm out, the mana began to collect into a sapphire colored sphere.

"What the fuck?" Mark questioned, unbelieving what his eyes were showing him.

Miranda quickly twisted and she was suddenly behind her husband, head poking around to watch.

The mana tightened as the bolt formed, the pressure built until...

"CRACK!"

Splinters flew outward as the tree absorbed the ridiculous spell it was never meant to handle. The tree had enough of Drew's shit, and this life, as it decided it would rather die than face this indignity. A loud snapping sound bellowed as the tree cursed Drew and all he stood for. As if the strings of a marionette were cut, the once peaceful mesquite fell to the earth. As the sawdust and splinters continued to fall, all was silent on the property. Unlike previous trees, which had held up so well to the damage, the small stature of this one was it's doom. An uneven stump poked out of the ground, with several jagged pieces of bark still clinging to it. The main body of the tree lay dead or dying just feet away from it's once wonderful home.

"Huh, way easier than a chainsaw." Drew muttered to himself

He turned towards his friends, Miranda was... hiding behind Mark, like a mouse poking it's head from a hole in the wall watching for predators. Mark didn't even seem to notice his wife's location, as he stood just like Amber had done the previous day. Mouth open like a fish out of water. Farther behind them and off to the side stood Amber and his mom. Unlike all the previous people he'd shown, his mom simply stood there and nodded her head while lighting up a fat one to puff on.

"Are we done now? I have shows to catch up on if the world is ending." his mom quipped as she turned around and headed back to the house.

"Yeahhhh... so, long story short, the world is ending. Magic is real, and life is turning into dungeons and dragons. Beasts and monsters are coming to kill and maim everyone. I changed my race and I have a mage style class now. That's it. I'm pooped, I'm going to take a nap." Drew said to his wide eyed friends.

He walked back to the house, waved at Spock, then walked to his bedroom, closed the door, and collapsed on the bed. He was asleep before the sun had fully set.