The highway was flanked on either side by rolling hills, however the group could not see very much of them through the driving rain. They came across a handful of wrecks but encountered no survivors nor any more undead. There was, though, a lot of blood and Shane saw large furrows in the ground and among the cars as if enormous claws had torn into them.
“Where are all the people?” Brynn asked aloud. Unfortunately, no one had an answer and they continued walking.
After about half an hour, they came across an eerie sight. On the left side of the road was a small standalone mountain. Although mountain was a very loose term. It was a lot of rocks and trees standing somewhat apart from the rest of the terrain around it. It was a common sight along this route but now it seemed to have an aura of malevolence and something at the top was giving off a sickly yellow glow. At the same time as they could more clearly see the mountain, they also saw a sign that gave them renewed energy, “Exit Now” was posted in big bold black letters. It was an indication that the fruit stand was close.
The road curved around the spooky mountain and then leveled out for another half a mile. Walking became easier as they no longer were stomping uphill, and it only took them another ten minutes to see the sign that said, “Farmer’s Fruit Stand”. Through the rain they could finally see the small building ahead.
The fruit stand was more than the usual roadside stand. This one was an actual building that resembled a house to some extent. It was roughly fifty feet wide and perhaps twenty feet deep with a temporary awning covering a small porch. The awning though, had seen better days as the constant wind kept it snapping and billowing on the verge of breaking. To the far right of the building, there was a separate public restroom made of stone and the parking lot was only occupied by two vehicles. There was a white four door sedan and a larger pickup truck. The sedan’s doors were all open, but the group could see no one inside either vehicle.
The small band of friends moved as a group towards the building. Brom used his newfound strength to kick down one of the barbed wire fence posts along the roadside and they all made their way towards the front door. A door they could all see was open with only darkness beyond the threshold.
Brom stopped the group just before the small concrete steps that led to the front door. “Let me check it out first.” With nods all around and an admonishment to be careful from Brynn, he carefully made his way to the door. At the doorway, he peered in but with the fading light of the day outside and no lights inside, he could only see half a dozen feet into the building. He could make out that the place was laid out like a mini market with shelves and aisles filled with different products, but the wind made hearing anything impossible. “Hello?” He called into the darkness. He was greeted with silence.
It took the better part of five minutes for Brom to enter the store after casting his sword spell. The glowing two-handed weapon gave off enough light for him to be able to thoroughly check the place and finally he returned to his friends indicating that it was safe to enter. Despite the door having been open, the interior did not look damaged or ransacked at all. There was a significant amount of water on the floor in front of the door, but otherwise the market was pristine. The biggest bonus, however, was that there was a working fireplace. While the rest of the shivering group tried their best to warm up, Brom began searching for matches or a lighter.
At Shane’s suggestion they all took off as much wet clothing as they comfortably could, and he suggested they change into anything they had that was dry. Which wasn’t much as all their backpacks were fairly soaked as were their contents. Fortunately, after a bit of exploring, Brom came back with a handful of candles and matches as well as a bunch of dry blankets. It seemed that there was a portion of the place that held a small apartment behind the main cashier’s counter. It even had a restroom that everyone took advantage of and within fifteen minutes, they had a fire going and everyone had a blanket wrapped around themselves.
Brom and Shane had to move some display shelves away from the fireplace to make room for everyone, but it inadvertently helped to have the shelves at their backs as it reflected the heat. Upon common agreement, they decided that it would be alright if they ate some of the food and drinks available. Spirits were lifted with the warmth, food, and drink, but also with the now blocked off door and the relative safety from the weather and anything else that may be outside. By the time they were well situated, it was completely dark beyond the windows.
The sounds of the wind and rain lashing the building, the crackling fire, and the occasional crinkle of a plastic bag as the group ate their fill of the various nuts, fruits and candies found in the store only lasted for a short time before Malcolm spoke. “So, are we gonna talk about any of this?”
Brynn had been leaning against her brother, covered in a blanket. Earlier she had placed her teddy bear backpack at her feet, facing the fire to dry it out. Now she spun it in place and set it back down to help dry out its backside. As she settled back in to Brom, she said. “I don’t like the monsters.”
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Brom chuckled, “Yeah, neither do I, but I’ve got to admit, the abilities are amazing. I feel like a superhero.” He stuck another piece of jerky in his mouth and chewed slowly.
Sitting on the opposite end of Brom and Brynn, Shane and Kenzie were sharing a blanket while Malcolm sprawled in the middle of the group eating dried mango chips and sipping on his second Pepsi. He looked at Brynn, “I’m with you on that one, but I have to agree with Brom. Whatever this System is, it fixed my eyes and I’m not sure if you noticed, but I cast a freaking spell!” His voice rose with excitement as he spoke.
“I’m worried about Mom and Dad.” Kenzie said with worry in her voice.
That caused Malcolm to sit up a bit straighter, “Yeah, but they’re smart and Dad’s a gamer too. He’ll get it and make sure to keep Mom safe.” There were nods all around as the rest of the group had to agree. The Reed household was the place that the group had spent the most time in. Since both Brom and Brynn’s parents had died and Shane’s parents were divorced and were mostly hands off while he grew up, they all had been drawn to the love and warmth of the Reed household. Isaac Reed was a retired boxer and worked as a mail delivery person. He was a semi-strict parent and a very protective father, but he also was fair and kind. Ava Reed was a stunning woman in her youth and had aged extremely gracefully. She was the current editor of a home décor magazine and a very doting mother. All of the kids called her Mom.
Shane hugged Kenzie tighter, “We’ll get home, and they’ll be fine. Your dad will likely have some sort of class that lets him stare down monsters until they run away in fear.”
Brom smiled and added, “Yeah, and whatever doesn’t run away, your mom will feed until they explode.” This brought a round of laughter from the group, including a new voice.
The entire group apart from Brynn leapt to their feet in panic, all of them staring at the stuffed teddy bear backpack that had just emitted an admittedly cute, squeaky laugh. Brom called his sword to hand while Kenzie and Malcolm snatched up their weapons. Brynn had leapt to her feet as well, but instead of fear, she looked confused.
“What the fuck?” Brom yelled, stepping slightly forward to place his body between Brynn and what he perceived to be a possessed and slightly demented looking teddy bear. It actually stood on its stubby little teddy bear legs and looked bizarre with a zipper running from chin to crotch. It stood with a smile on its face.
Seeing that everyone was focused on the bear, Brynn yelled and practically flung herself onto it. “NO!” She snatched it up and held it protectively away from everyone.
Brom’s eyes went wide, “Brynn, what the hell are you doing?”
With tears forming in her eyes, she yelled back, “He’s mine! Don’t you dare hurt him!”
As a result of her outburst, the rest of the party of friends dropped the outright hostility and fear and traded it for their own confused looks.
All except for Brom, who simply commanded, “Explain.” Followed by something in Russian.
Brynn answered back in Russian and then said, “Promise you won’t hurt him.” When Brom did not seem like he would back down she yelled, “Promise!”
Brom stiffened for a moment and said, “I promise.” He then shook his head as if coming out of a daze. He gave Brynn a look of anger, “Did you just do something to me?”
Shrinking back, she said, “Um, I gave you a Royal Command?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s my Class Talent. It says I can speak a one-word command to any person or creature that I can see.”
Malcolm whistled, “Dude! That’s a straight up Jedi mind trick power.”
Brom glanced at Malcolm and then returned his angry gaze back on Brynn, through slightly gritted teeth as if holding himself back, “Do not ever do something like that to me again.”
Wilting before his stare, Brynn promised as she struggled to hold the teddy bear that began wiggling in her grasp. Finally, she turned her body so the bear could be seen, and it spoke in a cutesy voice that all the group recognized. “Please don’t be mad at Lovie. She was just protecting me. Which is just wonderful, but I’m supposed to be the one protecting her. It’s a bear thing!”
At the last phrase, Kenzie blurted out, “Is that really Harvey the Wonder Bear?”
Turning towards Kenzie, the bear, Harvey answered, “That I am!” And gave a big grin.
“Wait.” Malcolm exclaimed, “From, the anime ‘That Time I became a Teddy Bear’?” He addressed the bear.
The entire scenario had everyone unnerved seeing an anime character come to life. The once backpack was a walking, talking plush bear come to life.
“Rightio!” Harvey happily answered.
“Brynn?” Brom, now obviously less angry asked something in Russian.
This caused Brynn to smile and clutch Harvey a bit tighter. “I got him from my Boon. He’s my Companion Protector.” At the wary looks on all her friend’s faces she added, “It was either choose him or Malcolm’s Batman doll.”
Slightly offended, Malcolm quickly asserted, “He’s not a doll, he’s an action figure.”
“Whatever.” Brynn responded.
“Hey, there’s a difference!”
“Okay. If you say so.”
Before the exchange could devolve into an argument, Shane interjected. “Everyone! I know this is weird and all, but can we all agree that if it was her choice and it was a boon item, that it…” He paused, “Sorry. He, is not dangerous? At least to us?”
The mood settled quickly, and everyone sat back down, Brynn cradling Harvey. Malcolm, sitting next to her immediately pestered her with questions and wanted to touch Harvey. Their banter accompanied by the oddly sweet bear soon made everyone, but Brom, relax. Brom sat brooding, staring at the fire and throwing occasional looks towards Harvey.
Kenzie finally asked Shane, “You mentioned you were chosen to be a Fatebringer? What does that mean, exactly?”
“I’m not sure. I have a skill and a spell from it. I can view someone’s Fate and I can cast a spell to bind a Fate. But there’s no other information on what either of those really means.”
“Have you looked at the help guide?” Malcolm asked as he turned his attention away from the now animate toy.