Planning
That night, after Edward had been put to bed, Elmore and Ash sat at the kitchen table. The weight of the news broadcast still hung heavy in the air, but the candle light gave the room a warm, familiar comfort. Elmore leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face.
“What do you think, Ash? We can’t keep ignoring it forever.”
Ash stared at the empty plate in front of her, the soft hum of the refrigerator filling the silence for a moment. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice low. “It’s getting worse, isn’t it? The world outside… it’s not the same anymore. But here... we’re okay for now. Maybe we don’t need to rush into anything.”
Elmore nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same thing. We’re safe here. We’ve got food, power’s back on, and the land’s giving more than we expected. Maybe we just take a step back for a bit. Let things settle.”
Ash met his eyes, her lips curving into a tired smile. “I’d like that. It’s been a while since we just… relaxed, you know? With Edward and everything going on, I feel like we’ve been stuck in survival mode. Maybe we take a week or two to just be a family.”
Elmore’s shoulders relaxed a little at her words. “Yeah. Spend some time together. Maybe take Edward down to the swimming hole. God knows I could use a dip.”
Ash chuckled softly. “I could too. It’s been ages since we did anything fun like that. I’m sure Edward would love it.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, each letting the idea settle. For a while, they’d pretend the world outside their little mountain home wasn’t falling apart.
“We should probably head into town soon, though,” Elmore added. “See if any of the local stores are buying. We’ve got a pelt, antlers, meat and fruits to sell a bit and still have plenty for ourselves. Plus, we can check on what the situation is like up there.”
Ash nodded. “Yeah, we could take the pelt , hooves, and antlers for sure. And some of the fruit. But let’s not rush into it. We’ve got time. I’d rather ease back into things.”
“Fair enough,” Elmore said, smiling. “And maybe we take it easy for a bit. Have some movie nights. God knows we need more of those.”
Ash grinned. “You’re not wrong. I think we’ve earned a few date nights at home. Just the two of us, some popcorn, a blanket on the couch… sounds perfect.”
Elmore chuckled. “It does. We can even sneak in a few old classics. I know you’ve been wanting to watch those sappy rom-coms or some horror movies again.”
She playfully swatted him. “Hey, it’s been a while, okay? Besides, you owe me after all those action movies.”
“Alright, alright. You win,” Elmore said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Rom-coms and horror it is. But only if we can throw in at least one good fantasy for balance.”
Ash smiled, the tension from earlier slowly fading. “Deal.”
They sat together for a little longer, letting the peaceful silence take over, each lost in thought about the simple pleasures that still remained. Life had gotten complicated, but for now, they’d focus on what mattered most—each other and their son. For at least a little while, they could pretend the world wasn’t crumbling just beyond their quiet mountainside.
After a while, Elmore stood, stretching. “I’m gonna check the garden tomorrow morning, see how things are progressing. The crops are growing faster than I thought. We might be self-sufficient in another month or so, maybe sooner.”
Ash stood too, wrapping her arms around his waist. “That sounds good. We’ll figure it out together, like we always do.”
Elmore kissed the top of her head, holding her close. “Yeah, together. Always.”
That night, Elmore and Ash sat down on the couch, wrapped up in blankets, with a bowl of chopped fruit between them. They chose an old Adam Sandler sitcom to watch, the kind of light-hearted humor they needed to unwind. Ash laughed easily at the silly jokes, and Elmore found himself chuckling along, enjoying the simple escape from the heavy reality they were facing.
As the evening stretched on, the two settled deeper into the couch, cozy and comfortable. By the end of the episode, Ash was leaning against Elmore’s shoulder, her hand resting on his chest. He glanced down at her and smiled softly, glad they could share this moment of peace. When the show ended, they turned off the TV and headed to bed, falling asleep happily, the weight of the world outside forgotten for a few blissful hours.
---
The following days passed in a gentle rhythm. Elmore, Ash, and Edward spent their time together, enjoying the little things. Elmore taught Edward a few new words, smiling as the toddler fumbled through them but improving with each try. Edward still carried the wooden block his father had carved for him everywhere, gripping it tightly. Elmore noticed one day that the block had started to develop tiny etchings along its surface, lines and grooves that hadn’t been there before. He didn’t mention it to Ash, nor did he try to take the block away. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but for now, it didn’t seem harmful.
They made their way down to the creek a few times, enjoying the cool water at the swimming hole Elmore had grown up visiting. Edward splashed around in the shallow areas, giggling at the sensation of the water, while Elmore and Ash waded deeper, finding solace in the simple joy of the moment. It felt like a piece of their old life, something untouched by the chaos outside.
Eventually, they decided to head into town. They stopped at a local pawn shop, bringing along the antlers, hooves, and pelt from the mutated deer Elmore had hunted. The shopkeeper was more than happy to pay a good price for the unusual materials, especially given how scarce good metal and leather were becoming learning them another 400$ bringing them back to 2000$. They also made a stop at a nearby grocery store, where Elmore spoke to the owner about selling some of the crops he was growing.
“We’re starting to run low,” the owner explained, scratching his head. “Supplies from the big chains are drying up. If you’ve got meat or produce, we’re willing to pay a premium for it.”
Elmore nodded, feeling a sense of relief. At least they had a way to stay afloat if things got worse.
After they returned home, Elmore sat down at the kitchen table, pen in hand, and jotted down a bullet-point list of things he needed to do in the coming weeks:
- Keep working on the garden; crops are almost ready.
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- Process the fruits from the trees for selling.
- Keep an eye out for more meat; hunting might need to ramp up.
- Check on Dad’s place for when they move back.
- Keep an eye on Edward’s block.
Once the list was complete, Elmore folded it up and stuck it in his back pocket. He had a plan, and that gave him some comfort.
The next week was spent much like the last, with Elmore making sure to balance work with time for his family. They played in the yard, Edward toddling around with his block in hand, and they shared more meals together. Elmore did some more hunting, though he didn’t come across any creatures quite as large or dangerous as the mutated deer. He stocked up what he could.
One day, while driving around the small valley town, Elmore noticed how many of the homes were empty, abandoned as people fled or were taken by the chaos. Several houses had been ransacked, windows broken, and doors hanging open. The eerie quiet was unsettling, but Elmore pressed on. At one place, he spotted a deep freeze still sitting on the porch of a house that had been otherwise stripped clean.
He figured no one was coming back for it, and it could be put to good use. After checking to make sure it was still working, he loaded the deep freeze onto the back of his truck and took it home. Now they’d have even more space to store meat, a valuable resource as times grew tougher.
By the end of the week, Elmore felt like they were as prepared as they could be. The crops were growing fast, they had plenty of meat, and the property was in good shape.
One year later
the world had changed in ways no one could have predicted. Edward was now three, chattering away in broken sentences that often made Elmore and Ash laugh. But the weight of the world had grown heavier. The Nexus was no longer a secret, though the truth of it remained shrouded in fear and paranoia. The governments, refusing to acknowledge it openly, had adopted a brutal stance: any sign of powers meant immediate execution. Even in places where nearly everyone, including law enforcement and judges, had their own Nexus, no one dared admit it publicly. The silent threat loomed over society, crushing any semblance of open discussion or unity.
Rural communities, like the one Elmore’s family lived in, were different. Here, powers were used, but only when no one was looking. People whispered about them in hushed tones, aware that the wrong move or a careless display could mean death. Despite this, Elmore had managed to survive—thrive even—in this world of hidden abilities.
Elmore had been growing stronger. His Nexus had reached level 2 not long ago, but to his frustration, this seemed to only increase his potential. His skills, capped at level 10 before, could now reach 20, though he hadn’t fully realized what this meant. It had happened after a brutal encounter with a bear, a monstrous creature that had somehow learned to ignite its own fur like a blazing torch. It had taken every ounce of strength and strategy for Elmore to bring the beast down. His Nexus had pulsed during the fight, but afterward, there was no new skill or clear reward—only the knowledge that he had grown stronger.
Unbeknownst to Elmore, he had ability points waiting to be spent, lying dormant as he navigated this strange new reality. His connection to the Nexus had deepened, but the full potential of it remained out of his reach, just beyond his understanding.
Meanwhile, across the globe, civilization teetered on the brink. In places like Africa, the untamed jungles of Asia, and the wildernesses of Australia, those who had embraced their Nexus openly were seizing power. Warlords with abilities and growing levels now ruled swathes of land, their influence spreading unchecked. These were the places where powers flourished, far from the surveillance of governments that refused to acknowledge what was happening.
The highest level anyone had reached so far was level 4. These individuals were legends, whispered about with fear and awe. No one knew what they were truly capable of, but the stories hinted at terrifying abilities—powers that could reshape the land, command armies, and dominate the weak.
But for Elmore, life remained about survival, family, and maintaining a low profile. He wasn’t chasing power, though it was finding him nonetheless. As Edward grew, so did the responsibilities and dangers around them. The world outside their valley had become a place of uncertainty and fear, but for now, they were safe—quietly adapting.
life around Elmore had both changed drastically and, in some ways, remained remarkably the same. His father, Edward's namesake, had returned home to the family property with Elmore’s grandmother. They were greeted by a yard that Elmore had diligently maintained, making sure the place didn’t become overgrown. His father immediately returned to his garage, his true sanctuary, where he noticed Elmore’s modifications. Though there were complaints about the diesel processor taking up space, his old man grudgingly admitted pride in Elmore for fixing up the old '64 and building something so complicated.
Elmore wasn’t rich, but he was comfortable. His arrangement with the local grocery store to supply meat, fruits, and vegetables had been a solid source of income, though that had slowed down as others in town had followed suit, growing their own produce or tapping into greenhouses. However, the real money came from selling oddities—animal parts, antlers, and strange items that defied normal explanation. These weren’t yet regulated by the government, which hadn’t quite grasped the new economy forming in rural places like Elmore's town. Pawnshops were full of these peculiarities, and they attracted buyers with curiosity and cash.
Gas prices had dropped, now sitting at $25 a gallon. Outrageous by old standards, but significantly more affordable than it had been during the darkest points of the crisis.
Ash had developed her own skills over the year, with her [Silver Tongue] ability becoming a crucial tool in getting the best deals and keeping their family out of trouble. Her talent for persuasion had come in handy more times than Elmore could count.
The town itself had seen a significant drop in population, going from a bustling 10,000 to around 3,000 souls. Those left were the stubborn sort, the ones who refused to abandon their homes despite the dangers that loomed ever larger. Looters, once a distant threat, had grown bold, ransacking small towns along the highways. Occasionally, military forces would step in to suppress these groups, but they were now a part of life, a danger Elmore always kept in mind.
His father and grandmother had also revealed their Nexus abilities over the past year. His father had been vague, only mentioning that his abilities were "useful as a mechanic" and made it easier for him to defend himself if necessary. His grandmother, though more confused about what the Nexus truly meant, had hinted at a sort of longevity—despite being in her 80s, she was starting to believe she might live for much longer than anyone expected. It was a strange and unsettling thought for Elmore, though he was grateful to have them both still around.
Elmore’s sister had contacted him through the remnants of "bookface," mentioning plans to move back home. However, crossing state lines had become incredibly dangerous, with the highways controlled by unpredictable groups of looters, military checkpoints, and bandits. He hoped she could find a way, but it was a gamble.
On the national stage, the political landscape had shifted radically as well. It was an election year, and the candidates couldn’t be more opposed. One was the general who had infamously shot a politician live on television. He was campaigning on a platform of extreme control, with promises to hunt down those with abilities and neutralize them before they could become a threat to society. His opponent, a well-spoken man with a seemingly ordinary past, argued that abilities were more widespread than people realized, and that society needed to move forward and accept this new reality rather than fall back into paranoia and authoritarianism.
For Elmore, the big political battles seemed distant, but their consequences were always looming. As he listened to the news, holding Edward on his lap and glancing at Ash, who quietly worked beside him, he knew that their peace couldn’t last forever. But for now, all he could do was hold onto what he had—his family, their home, and the strange, quiet life they had carved out in the mountains.
Research
Elmore sat at his desk, the faint glow of the desktop screen illuminating his face as he dove deeper into the chaotic mass of information available online about the Nexus. It had been an obsession of his for weeks now—trying to make sense of it, trying to figure out why this thing had happened to him and to so many others.
The first thing he noticed, after combing through hundreds of research papers, blog posts, and forums, was that no one under the age of 18 had ever developed a Nexus. It didn’t happen right on their birthday either, but always after some major event, whether physical or emotional, as though the body or mind had to go through a catalyst to trigger it. Some people spoke about traumatic events—car accidents, near-death experiences, or extreme stress—while others mentioned moments of deep personal reflection or physical achievement.
Elmore also found several accounts of people who had leveled up. The idea of "leveling" had become more common in discussions as people began to notice their abilities evolving. Most people who reached level two said they were able to raise their ability caps from 10 to 20, just as he had, though none of them could quite explain how they did it.
A rare few mentioned spending some kind of points to increase their attributes—strength, agility, intelligence—but it was always vague. No one seemed to know exactly how the process worked, and there were no detailed guides, only anecdotes and half-baked theories from people who often vanished from the forums shortly after posting, their accounts going silent and inactive.
One of the most tantalizing finds was a man who claimed to be level three. His post had been filled with braggadocious claims—how his abilities had skyrocketed and how no one else could match him. But something about the post seemed off, like the man was trying too hard to be impressive. The rest of the users had torn into him, calling him a troll. Still, the thought of someone reaching level three stuck with Elmore.
Another thing that stood out was how every person with a Nexus had two unique abilities. And while people occasionally found ways to improve their abilities, the upgrades were always incremental. There were no dramatic transformations, just subtle improvements—like a sword being sharpened or a skill becoming slightly easier to use. Each ability had some kind of condition for it to evolve, but no one seemed to have a concrete method for figuring out what those conditions were outside Elmore himself.
Weeks passed as Elmore tried to put together the puzzle. He spent hours scrolling through online forums, looking at anything from scholarly articles to wild conspiracy theories, all in hopes of learning more. But every piece of information felt incomplete. It was as if the world was still learning how to understand the Nexus, and no one had all the answers.
Then, something clicked.
One night, while standing in the shower after a long day of chores, Elmore’s mind drifted to the elusive idea of ability points. He had read a few scattered accounts from people who claimed that they had discovered points to spend—points that could enhance their core attributes, whether strength, speed, or something else. But none of them had explained how they accessed these points.
As the water cascaded over his shoulders, his muscles relaxing under the warmth, he felt a strange sensation in his mind—a subtle awareness he hadn’t noticed before. It was like a flicker of light, faint but persistent, nestled somewhere deep within his consciousness. Elmore closed his eyes and focused.
It felt like a menu, something he could open but had been too distracted to notice until now. Slowly, the sensation became clearer, and Elmore realized that he had points—20 of them, to be exact.
The discovery was as thrilling as it was confusing. He had been reading for weeks about others who had tried to find their points, and now, here they were, waiting for him to use them.