[A/N: Hello everyone.
First, I'd like to thank everyone who continues to read the novel.
I wanted to ask again if you could click the heart button on my profile.
Thank you.]
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At noon, at the fast-food restaurant.
I kept looking at my phone, absorbed in a wide variety of thoughts. This had been the most exciting day of my life, and the worst part was that it wasn't in a good way.
"Dreams, work, getting things through less-than-honest means, medicine, party weapons, a bank... and money", I muttered, a little dejected by the emotional roller coaster I'd experienced in those few hours. I reviewed everything I'd done in order, as if trying not to forget anything.
I composed myself after a few minutes, finished my burger and the rest of the food I'd ordered, took a big sip of my drink, and then returned to the truck. I was about to head toward the outskirts of the city when I remembered the party I'd been invited to today. I needed to buy clothes, since the ones I had weren't appropriate for parties of this type. Before, we'd only get together with a few friends or coworkers to celebrate at a bar or perhaps go out to dinner at a restaurant if everyone's budget allowed.
Half an hour later.
I walked into the first store I saw and asked the man's wardrobe manager for help with the type of clothing I needed. I specified that I wanted something semi-formal, but in the Korean fashion style. She looked at me a little strangely for the request, but since she was very professional, she recommended some outfit combinations that made me look quite good. The store employee also kindly recommended that I get a haircut, since my current hairstyle didn't match the outfit, she suggested. So, following her suggestion, I went to a salon after finishing my clothing shopping. At the salon, I asked for a haircut that matched my outfit, or rather, the kind of haircut these K-pop idols wear. The barber served me also gave me a suspicious look. "This is turning out to be more awkward than I thought", I thought, watching each strand of hair fall out after a precise and professional cut by the man tasked with changing my style.
"The party is at 6 p.m. Don't be late", Ron texted me, announcing the party. The message had been sent along with a link to a location, which I can only assume was Ron's house. "I think I'll have to pick up the pace", I thought, checking the time. I left the salon and headed toward my truck, which was parked nearby. The cut had completely changed my appearance, and now I have places to visit with this new look.
Afternoon.
I had already finished visiting some of the houses I'd researched online. The features were very similar; the most expensive ones were already quite secure. Some had backup power supplies, and some even had functioning water wells, which would be very useful when the drinking water supply was interrupted.
On the other hand, the cheaper ones had much less security, although understandably so since it's much safer outside the city than inside. Although some of these had wells, like their more expensive counterparts, the capacity was different.
I returned home shortly before five, showered to remove the remnants of my haircut. I dressed in the clothes the clothing store employee had suggested, and applied a light perfume, which I had been storing since my previous birthday; I hadn't even used it. After checking myself in the mirror, grabbing my ID and cards, I left the house and headed off in the truck to the address shown in the link Ron had sent me earlier.
I arrived at the party about fifteen minutes before the agreed-upon time. I didn't want to upset Ron or his daughter with my tardiness. I parked the truck far from Ron's house. I didn't want it to disturb the other guests, and it was a little embarrassing for me to arrive at a party in a truck.
I stood in front of the door and couldn't believe what I was seeing; it was a spectacular house. Without even entering, I had no doubt it had more than ten bathrooms; it gave the impression of the kind of mansion that might have more bathrooms than bedrooms.
"It's a good thing I left the truck parked far away", I thought, a little embarrassed. I was a little nervous, and the only consolation I had was that I hadn't skimped on my clothing. This outfit I'm wearing is probably worth more than I'd spent in several months on clothes alone, which for the occasion was just what I needed.
"I'm at the door", I texted Ron as I stood in front of the front door. I was hesitating whether to knock and barge in, but I didn't know what to say or how to introduce myself, so I trusted Ron to save me from this predicament. "I'm coming", he replied immediately.
"Welcome back, Alex", Ron said after opening the door. I had only waited a few minutes.
"Hi, Ron. Here's a gift for… What's your daughter's name?", I said, a little embarrassed. My face felt hot, probably flushed red, and judging by the look on Ron's face, he seemed to notice my embarrassment too.
"Hahaha… You obviously don't know her name. I haven't told you. Why are you embarrassed about it?", Ron asked after laughing a little at me. "Her name is Emily, don't forget", he said, still laughing.
"That's right", I said, a little awkwardly. "So, her name is Emily, it's a nice name", I said cordially. However, Ron hadn't interpreted it the way I intended. I noticed he was looking at me as if he were a suspect in a crime.
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[A/N: Overprotective parents, there are only two options: love them or hate them.]
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"Yes, it's a nice name", he said with a menacing look. Although he didn't seem to want to show this side of himself, it seemed that the overprotective feelings he had for his daughter came out whenever she was in danger.
"I brought her a gift. It's a bracelet", I said, trying to change the subject.
"You shouldn't have bothered. I'll put it with the rest", Ron told me. He didn't think much of my gift, and honestly, I didn't expect it to mean anything either. "After all, it's just a job", I thought as I followed Ron inside.
"This house is so luxurious. I should call it a mansion", I thought as Ron led me through a reception room, then through the dining room and living room, and finally, we came out into the mansion's backyard, where a small stage was set up with several tables in front of it. Everything was decorated very ostentatiously, each table set up to accommodate several guests. On one side was a bar, along with several tables filled with cocktails and various drinks, while on the other side was a kitchen, also accompanied by tables, but these had many freshly made cold dishes, salads, and desserts on them.
"We won't be able to see anything like this after this whole thing starts", I muttered, my face growing worried. "Everything we take for granted—comforts, luxuries, drinks, and food—will be just pipe dreams once this world is populated by these sleeping beings waiting for their turn in this play", I thought as I followed Ron.
Ron had shown me everything he had prepared for his daughter. He seemed to take great pride in achieving this for her. I just nodded and answered mechanically, my mind filled with thoughts of the apocalypse. Every single thing I saw—the guests enjoying appetizers, the staff attentive to their requests, the hosts trying to make everyone feel comfortable, my mind transformed all of this into a chaotic situation.
The luxuries were all broken and ruined, the tables and their decorations thrown everywhere. The food simply vanished, as if it were just a fantasy in the approaching world. Meanwhile, my mind also imagined these people running for their lives, some of them attacking and biting others. Screams everywhere, sobs, pleading, the floor covered in blood, lifeless bodies, children hiding under tables, screaming their parents' names for help, parents searching for their children. I could even imagine how some people betrayed others to save themselves. My head is full of dark thoughts, I knew I was at a party, everything was normal, and what I was imagining was just a product of my deepest fears, but I also had the feeling that all these images that came to mind were memories of some dreams, dreams that represented the future, a future that right now I did not want to face. Fear, for the future, anguish, for not being able to do anything to save them, worry, for my loved ones and friends, anger, for all those people I imagine betraying others, and sadness for all these people who would most likely die in a few more days, especially small children.
Even though Ron kept talking to me, proudly boasting about some of his accomplishments, introducing me to some of his friends, I couldn't process reality. It was just my mind taking control of my emotions, not letting me live in the present. I thought I'd be like this the whole party, ruining what Ron had hoped I'd do, and because of this, I wouldn't be able to get what I'd asked Ron earlier, further increasing my anxiety. However, a voice pulled me out of my daydream.
"Dad! If you didn't let me, bring someone to join me, at least you could join me, don't you think?", a female voice scolded Ron.
"Emily!", Ron said cheerfully, unbothered by the previous scoldings. "I thought you were with your friends. Where are they?", he asked Emily.
"Don't change the subject. I had a lot of friends I could have invited to join me, and now I don't have anyone, so you'll have to stay with me all night", Emily said reproachfully.
"Hahaha… You shouldn't trust men too much, Emily. They're dangerous", she said, laughing.
"It's just a birthday party!", she said, a little angrily. "So, you'll join me, right?", she said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I know, but I don't trust those young guys. They can be quite impulsive, and I don't want you to be in any danger", she said in a gentle tone, seeming to try to calm her down. "Besides, I found the perfect person to join you", she said with a mysterious smile.
"I don't think it's some guy who works for you, right?", Emily asked suspiciously. "It's nothing like that. He's a young friend of mine. We have a project we're working on, and he offered to join us on this very important day for you", she told her, dismissing her concerns.
"I hope so", she said, still not dispelling her suspicions. "What time will he arrive? I don't want to spend the whole afternoon alone with my friends", she asked, a little uneasily.
"No need to worry, he's already here", she said with a smug smile on her face. "This is Alex. He'll be your date for the rest of the day", she said, introducing me as I approached Emily.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Emily", I said in a friendly tone, extending my hand for a simple handshake.
"Hi, Alex", she said, shaking my hand, but not before getting very close to me. She seemed to be analyzing me closely, looking for any vulnerable gestures on my part, as if she were a predator with its prey. "I hope my father didn't force you to come", she said suspiciously.
"Of course not. I really wanted to come and help with whatever I could. Of course, I also found the company on this special day", I said, trying not to show weakness. "She seems very assertive", I thought, analyzing her attitude.
"That's great, because I really need you to join me", I said without hesitation.
"Of course, I'm at your disposal", I said in a cheerful tone, while trying to hide my frustration. "It's all about resources, it's all about resources", I repeated to myself to convince myself that this long night would have meant.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Thanks everyone for reading this chapter.
To be honest, this was one of the chapters I was hesitant to post, since Emily's character was one I only included to create a side story.
I've always loved stories about students surviving the apocalypse, like All of Us Are Dead.
So, unfortunately, I had to break my promise and post another filler chapter. The only important thing about this chapter is that we know he's handsome.
Read my other novel called Vinland Kingdom: Race Against Time.
You can find it on my profile.]