After throwing the last empty bucket of barley in the truck's bed, Marlow looked over his family’s barnyard. He’d saved the most challenging chore for last. The pig’s trough had broken after momma Lucy wanted some alone time from her litter. She thought a safe place, a great place to ‘hide,’ was in the trough.

Marlow found her asleep on a fresh pile of new firewood. If the rain ever stopped, they would have a great bonfire. He picked up the remnants of the trough. He took them to the retired trash can. He dumped them unceremoniously in the tin, causing a pack of rats to scatter from behind, Which scared the bejeebers out of Marlow. Which caused him to stumble backward. Which caused him to trip and land on his rear. Which sent a bolt of pain up his spine.

A black rat looked back at him, sized him up, and then chased after its companions. Getting up, Marlow attempted to brush his butt off but came away more muddy than clean. He reminded himself to throw a towel down before he drove off.

Hay, of course, was everywhere; the crop was ready to be harvested on the morrow, and the cows had just started to come back home. But the pigs had nothing to eat from. Looking around the shed, all that turned up was a couple of buckets used to stop the rain from getting in the chicken coop. He poked his head into the sealed enclosure and found it humid and dry, with all the chickens minding their business.

Figuring that Joy would check the barnyard tomorrow, he filled the buckets with slop and dropped it off before he sloshed his way back toward his truck. Pork and Bacon were excellent, but the smell of raised pigs was almost unbearable. After he got in his truck, he drove off and merged onto the freeway to go home. He forgot to throw down a towel first.

“I’m here today to tell you some serious news.”

The radio crackled against the storm in the otherwise silent truck. Little did Marlow know that this one message by President Musk would change the world.

“Everyone must go to a government building and be issued a government data core,” President Musk announced, followed by a rustling of fabric as the radio droned on.

“Sometime within the next month, this world will become dangerous.” Switching on a blinker. Marlow signaled that he was getting off the freeway. He headed into his familiar hometown. He began drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he stared at his windshield wipers that couldn’t swipe fast enough.

“For that reason, we and the world have prepared a refuge: A haven to weather the impending storm until we can tame this new reality. After that, it will be impossible for us as a people to survive on earth.”

Then the radio erupted with a cacophony as many people began talking over each other to try and get their questions answered. With that, Marlow turned down the radio, hoping it hadn’t damaged the remaining speaker in his truck. But unfortunately, one voice was just barely heard over the disgruntled crowd.

“All of our troops… no. All government employees who hope to survive longer than a month, please go to your nearest government-owned building and get a Core. They are free, and I will now demonstrate their purpose.”

The cacophony of questions died off. Instead, the sound of rock scraping against wood could be faintly heard as the president took his time to gather his thoughts.

“These gems act as a key, a storage device, and a path to safety. Already, tens of thousands of people are in this new world, not knowing they are fighting to save all of us. None of them are coming back. At the time of this broadcast, all people connected to the game ‘Eternium’ are living their true lives there. As the man who sent them, I also have to join them. So take the Core and hold it to your head. That is all you need to do. Good luck… and Godspeed.”

Silence reigned as the sound of a rock hit the ground. Curious, Marlow changed the channel, wondering if his radio broke. He turned it to a new station. He caught the tail end of the conversation.

“-it seems as though the president of the free world has disappeared. Leaving us to wonder. Is this threat even real?” Flipping to the following channels had similar results, claiming that the president had just vanished out of thin air as if that was possible.

Glancing up, he noticed the cars ahead of him piling up. He rode his brake and eventually joined the line of vehicles. Then, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, he waited. Someone probably panicked and crashed into someone. But then why were the other lanes also backed up?

Leaning his head against the window, he squinted, seeing nothing but tail lights ahead of him. Since traffic barely moved, he pulled out his phone to call his mom.

“Hey, Ma, I just got done at the farm. I’m returning, but this massive pile-up is on the highway. Any clue what’s that about?”

“Sorry, honey. I’m guessing someone lost control of their car and slid. It has been raining a lot. We will be here waiting to watch that show that just came out. Oh, what's it called-”

A single car alarm began blaring, cutting off his mom momentarily. Then, leaning his head to the driver’s window again, he could see something flash briefly in front of the taillight. Blinking, he looked around. He even unbuckled himself to look through the other windows of the truck. Only to find regular traffic outside.

“Honey, are you alright? Is something wrong?”

“I’m fine. I guess I just saw a deer or something.”

“A deer! What is one doing this far down from the mountains?”

“Looking for food, probably.”

“Well, if things change, let us know. I think it's your sister’s turn to pick the show tonight.”

“Ok, love you, mom.”

“Love you.” Ending the call, buckling back in. He flipped the radio on and found the regularly scheduled music. So he waited, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, bobbing his head to the beat, trying not to think about the mud sliding down his pants.

Thunder flashed, setting off a few car alarms. Not thinking much of it, Marlow whipped out his phone and popped open YouTube to see if anything interesting was happening.

People began screaming and running from their cars. Looking up, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. A three-eyed cat, the size of a lion, landed on a van a few cars ahead of him, which caved in the roof, trapping the occupants inside. Marlow unbuckled himself as he crouched down. Then, switching apps, he called his first favorite contact, Dad.

“Hi, ya sport, what is going on?” Flinching at the loud sound, he whispered back.

“Hey, Dad, can you get everyone to a safe place?”

“Why would I do that? Did you believe that crap? `The world is going to be a dangerous place.’ What will they sell us this time? More nonsense about-”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Dad, it's real.”

“Well, why would you say that?”

“You may want to look outside.”

“One second, these old bones aren’t. What on earth is that!”

“DAD! ARE YOU OKAY!”

“I’m… fine, just something went into Jenny's house. What is it- oh my! Jenny! Where is it taking her!” Marlow’s car rocked from side to side, poking his head over the steering wheel. Marlow saw the tail end of a beast walking between vehicles.

“Dad, I think we should go to a government building.”

“OK, we’ll meet you at the post office. JOY! ANN! Get in the car! NOW-” Sitting up fully, he checked where the beast went. He found a pair of them, toying with a car a few lanes over.

Grabbing his lantern, he carefully opened the door. He slipped one muddy leg out first, then the other. Then, gently closing the door, he snaked about the front of his car to the other side.

Crouching and scuddling, he made his way to the right shoulder. He found a few other people also hiding from the three-eyed cat monster. Each one was overlooking the barrier. There, he saw a fifteen-foot drop with some trees and bushes.

Sneaking his way towards the exit ramp. The sound of metal on metal could be heard as a semi-truck barreled down the right shoulder. Several monstrous cats clawed, scratched, and cracked up its windshield.

Ice rushed through Marlow's veins as the world rushed past him. He couldn’t move or think and only watched as a twenty-ton truck charged at him.

Standing up, he found his legs buried with bags of hesitation and encased with sand stress. He felt his chest tighten as chains of worry warped around him. Some people around him jumped, taking their chances with gravity rather than an out-of-control truck. But Marlow couldn’t move.

An abrupt jolt overcame him as a tattooed-covered arm blocked his vision. Then, getting swept up by a stranger, they collided with the barrier and tumbled over. Crashing into a tree and then bushes on the way down. Marlow stared at the broken branches as the rain continued pouring down.

“Hey, are you alright? I’m sorry I didn’t ask permission before tackling you.” The stranger said. Marlow wanted to respond, but his tongue just felt so heavy.

“I didn’t knock the wind out of you? Did I?” The stranger leaned over, and Marlow saw his shocked face in the stranger’s reflective sunglasses. Everything hurt, Marlow thought. I just hurt.

“Note to self: learn some basic shock treatment. When this is all over.” The stranger clapped his hands, which sounded like two gongs to Marlow.

“Umm, you take your time, kid. Grandpa Sunny will keep an eye out. I will go check the other people who jumped, m-ok?” Before Marlow could even blink, the old biker was gone.

Sitting up was harsh. Marlow felt everything, saw everything normally, and heard everything clearly. Still, his body felt restrained, as if under a dozen blankets. He so badly wanted to just go to bed and wake up to find that none of this had happened, but the pain and wet clothing kept dragging him back to reality.

Marlow watched as the rain poured down, overwhelming a poor sewer grate, causing a mini whirlpool right above it, trying to help suck all the water away.

“Hello, is anyone home? HELLO?” It was the biker grandpa. Marlow blinked owlishly, trying and failing to recall how he hadn’t noticed the grandpa walking back to him.

“Can you tell me your name, little one?” This stranger didn’t seem bothered to wait for his response, as if he had all the time in the world. Feeling uncomfortable around this caring stranger, Marlow forced himself into action.

“Marlow A Stedfaster.”

“Hello, Marlow, I’m Sunny. We’re going off to find some of these cores. Would you like to join us?”

“I’d love to join you,” Marlow muttered as his jaw shivered. Sunny clapped his hands, which sounded like a miniature sonic boom.

“Wonderful! Can you walk?” Pushing himself off the ground, Marlow wobbled and then righted himself. Right as he was about to face the plant into the asphalt, Sunny’s hands were ready and waiting, just in case Marlow fell. Nodding that he was alright, they joined a cluster of people who also jumped up and began to walk.

As they made their way through the streets, Marlow heard a monstrous cat’s low growl behind them, but when Marlow turned around, no cat was there. He felt like they were being forced into a terrible fate.

A long blond woman spoke softly with a southern draw. “So that you all know, I have a gun. So if any of those mutated mountain cats come, I want you all to get down.” Silent nods passed around the group as they steadily trekked on.

As they climbed a hill, Marlow's pants felt a little off. Then, batting at the mud on his pants, he noticed what was wrong - his phone was missing. Patting his other pockets, he realized that his phone was gone. Marlow wanted to say something but didn’t want to draw any attention. So he sidled up to Sunny.

“Hey, Sunny.”

“Yes?”

“Can we go back? I think I dropped my phone.”

“I don’t think that would be the best idea. I may be strong, but your phone isn’t worth risking our lives. Besides, what's on it anyway?”

“My parent's phone numbers. We would meet and go in together, but I’m unsure which post office we would meet at.”

“Oh… well, do you have their numbers memorized?”

“I… don’t….”

“Umm… Well, I think we're all ending up in the same place. I hope you’ll have some luck finding them there.” Sunny moved along as Marlow began spiraling down into a pit of worry.

What if he never saw his family again? What if he became an ugly hobo who was so ugly he started a war with the other hobos over food? What if the hobos found out he had no food? He’ll be chased out of the city, forced to fend for himself! Then he’d never see civilization again! He’d have to live in the wild and become friends with animals! Would he become one of those people who talked to animals as if they were people? Well, to be fair, he did that anyway. Maybe it would be so bad he’d get there and find his family, and they’d move on together. What could go wrong? Well, probably a lot.

“Are you okay there?”

“Um, no.”

“Well, I like to break my problems into bite-sized pieces and take them on individually. Even if it is a mountain, I know I’ll get through it piece by piece if I keep working on it.” Sunny muttered quietly as they rounded the block. They found a small line of people already gathering from the post office.

“For what it's worth, I hope you find your family, kid. Do you know where they live?”

“Oh, um, thanks? We live near the base of Powerhouse Mountain.”

“Oh, that’s quite far out there.”

“Yeah, I’m thinking about waiting it out so we can meet.”

“Smart lad. Well, I’m off to go get a core. See you on the flip side.” Sunny waved to Marlow as he fell behind. Then, worried that he might hold up the line for someone trying to get in, Marlow sat near the trees far from the post office.

Marlow sat there for hours as people slowly joined the queue. Then, hearing a low growl behind him, Marlow spun and saw something hiding beyond the chain link fence. As he stepped away from the chain link fence, whatever it was dashed away. Worried about the mutated mountain cats, he picked a spot closer to the post office in case those cats came back.

At first, the small queue was no more than twenty people out the door, but soon it became a crowd. More and more small groups of people came and joined. It even went to a point where Marlow had to retreat to his first position just to get a good look at everyone he hadn’t noticed yet.

A bottomless pit weighed in Marlow’s gut as the crowd patiently waited. His feet felt cold from all the water that flooded into his boot. Looking down the street, he waited. Then, I waited some more as the rain poured down.

Perhaps Dad was talking about the other post office closer to them, yeah! Why would I talk about the post office on the other side of town near the freeway? Yeah! It’s probably been so long that they have already gone through the line and were in the new world waiting for him! Unless… they were still waiting for him on this side… No, Dad was smart enough to ensure everyone was safe before coming to check on him. Mom is wise enough to know that separating at a time like this was a horrible idea, so she persuaded Dad to stay with them. Plus, Joy was practical enough to ensure everyone would go through it together. Of course, everyone would be alright.

Marlow joined the line, turning around even though his gut told him to go. Time trekked on until Marlow made it inside. Free from the weather, Marlow looked ahead. People at the front of the line were handed gemstones. Then, the queued people touched their foreheads with the gem and vanished.

There were a few murmurs, but no one wanted to return outside and take their chances with the mutated mountain cats. So when Marlow was handed a core, he immediately put it to his head.