“We’ll still get you back to school, so your parents can pick you up. But our time together would’ve ended there anyway, so it’s not really a change for you.”

  “We would’ve missed you either way, Mrs. Solomon,” Janet added. “But… can you explain why you wouldn’t want to stay in the city, where it’s safe?”

  Anne smiled. “Because building something new is exciting. Building a community is exciting. Exploring what growth means in this new world is exciting. And, well—I love the forest. I never really fit into the city anyway. I think this could suit me.”

  Ben thought about the many people they’d still need to find to grow the Protectorate and felt a deep sense of gratitude. Liz, Zack, and now Anne—all three seemed genuinely excited to help build something new.

  He called his sister to let her know they’d arrive around 7 p.m., as they’d need to drop off the students and pick up supplies on the way. The connection was poor, despite being in a normally well-covered area.

  Anne agreed they’d stop by the school first so she could head home, pack, and meet them at Julia’s house later.

  They reached the school without issue. A group of nervous parents waited anxiously for their children, who had clearly been through more than any wilderness elective was ever meant to offer.

  Sarah, quiet for the latter half of the trip after being chatty in the beginning, lingered in the car until the others had stepped out. “Mr. Jackson?”

  “Ben is fine.”

  “My parents always talked about getting out of ‘the grind,’ as they called it. I don’t know what they’re thinking now, with the System and everything, but… if I explain what the Protectorate is, and they want to join, could we come back with you?”

  “Mhh. In principle, yes. But I doubt they’d want to make a decision like that in a few hours without seeing the place first, right?”

  “They can be a bit strange sometimes,” Sarah said, rolling her eyes. “I memorized your sister’s address from when you gave it to Anne. If we’re there by 7 p.m., we can come, okay?”

  Ben chuckled. “Sure. No problem.”

  Sarah grinned and ran to her parents, who were waiting by an old vintage jeep.

  Just as Ben got back into his truck, he received a message from Adam.

  Ben walked over to Luz’s car and waved Damien over. “Adam says electronics are starting to deteriorate back at the settlement.” Both colleagues frowned. “It’s probably happening first in the high-Energy areas, but it’ll spread. We need to hurry. Damien, go get your fiancée and meet us at my sister’s place in 90 minutes. Luz, let’s hit Jane’s shop now—but we’ll stop at the police station on Franklin Street first. Just for a couple minutes. Sound good?”

  Both nodded, and Damien sped off.

  Despite the pressure in his chest, Ben stopped again as Rose flagged him down.

  “First of all, thank you for getting us back safely. The students and their parents are deeply grateful. Second, I heard from Anne that she’s joining you—I think that’s fantastic. She was born for this kind of life, and I’m sure she’ll be a great asset to your community. Lastly, I don’t know what life in the city will be like going forward. One of the parents just told me there are rumors that technology might start failing. If things get worse, would you consider letting my son and his family join you?”

  “Rose, you’re always welcome. And in principle, we’re open to anyone who’s aligned with what we’re trying to build. But I don’t have time to discuss it right now—and I’m not sure how reliable phone connections will be in the future. We usually come to town every two weeks. Why don’t we meet here, same place, in two weeks at noon? We can talk then.”

  “Thank you, Ben. I’ll be here. And again—thank you.”

  Finally, Ben and Luz got on their way. While driving, Ben considered the risk of going to the police station. He didn’t want to be delayed by interviews or administrative hold-ups. When they reached the station, he placed the two wallets in a plastic bag and wrote the name of the officer he had spoken with—Taggart—in large letters across it.

  He had Luz wait in the truck while he entered the station, walked straight up to the front desk, and said, “I have a delivery for Officer Taggart. No need to sign. Have a good one.”

  He placed the bag on the desk, turned around, and walked out. He nodded to Luz and got back into the car. Maybe not the most appropriate way to deal with this… but time feels like it’s running out.

  Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Jane’s—an old-school wholesale grocery that supplied restaurants and small businesses. Located in a quiet pocket between warehouses and workshops, it was run by Jane, the family matriarch, along with her children and staff. Orders were usually pre-packed into boxes for pickup, a simple and efficient process.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  But as they pulled in, Ben noticed how quiet it was—quieter than usual. A couple of sleek, black-tuned sports cars and a white panel truck sat parked near the loading dock. No one was in sight. Both Luz and Ben backed their vehicles into position, lining up with the loading platform. Ben remained leaning against the side of his truck, letting Luz take the lead.

  Just as she approached the door, a slim young man stepped out. Luz smiled. “Hey, Little Tony! Haven’t seen you in forever. How’ve you been?”

  The man frowned. “It’s Antonio. You still with Jackson Lumber?”

  “Sorry—Antonio. Last time I saw you, you were still in middle school. And yes, I’m still with Jackson Lumber. I’m just here to pick up our order. Your grandma said it was ready.”

  “Shouldn’t you abandon that camp up there?” he asked, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the mountains. “What’s even going on in those ‘high-Energy areas’?”

  “Oh, I get it. And maybe we should. But we’ve got a kind of safe zone up there, so...”

  Ben, listening, was growing increasingly uncomfortable. The delay. The tone. “Luz,” he interrupted, “let’s not waste time. Please.”

  She nodded with a polite smile. “Sure. Sorry, Antonio. Great seeing you again. But we’ve got to get moving.” She stepped toward the door—but Antonio blocked her path.

  “Sorry,” he said flatly. “Your order’s not ready. Come back tomorrow.”

  “But I just spoke with your grandma earlier. She said everything was fine. Let me just check with her, okay?”

  Before Antonio could respond, the door behind him opened. Two men stepped out, both hulking and heavily muscled, their tight shirts and sweatpants doing little to downplay the steroids-in-overdrive look. The shorter of the two—still nearly two meters tall—spoke.

  “Go get the last boxes,” he told Antonio. Then, turning to Luz: “No deliveries today. Piss off.”

  Ben moved quickly, jumping onto the loading dock and placing himself beside Luz. “Hi there,” he said, keeping his tone calm. “We’re not looking for trouble. But we do need this delivery. Could we speak with Jane for just a minute?”

  The man squinted, reassessing the situation. Ben wasn’t built like a bodybuilder, but he radiated a kind of quiet strength and purpose. The goon stepped forward until they were eye-to-eye. “I said, no delivery. Piss. Off.”

  Ben raised his hands in a placating gesture and nudged Luz back toward the truck. Jane has been a trusted partner for decades. We have to make sure she’s okay.

  As Luz descended the steps, Ben stayed put. “I hear you. We’re not here to escalate. But I’d really appreciate a quick word with Jane—just to understand when we can come back for the supplies.”

  Before the man could reply, Antonio re-emerged, two boxes in hand.

  “These are the last ones,” he said.

  The goon glared at Ben, then grunted, “Let’s go.”

  The muscle-bound trio loaded the panel truck and drove off—Antonio behind the wheel, the two others in the sports cars.

  Luz returned to the platform. “If that’s how the city works now,” she muttered, “I’m even more grateful for the Protectorate.”

  Ben nodded. “Let’s check if everyone’s okay, then get out of here fast.”

  He retrieved his axe from the truck before entering. Inside, they found Jane, her daughter Mary, and a younger employee. None were hurt, but all looked drained. Mary was crying quietly.

  Jane stood. “I’m sorry you had to witness that. A terrible mix of family drama and a new world order. I’d hoped to spare you that.”

  “What happened?” Luz asked, stepping forward.

  Jane sighed. “Antonio—Mary’s son—has been drifting toward a local gang, the Warriors, for some time. Never cared much for our business, but also lacked the drive to find another path. From what we can tell, the Warriors made him rob us to prove his loyalty. They’ve been seizing food and supplies across the city. Seems they think controlling food equals controlling power.”

  She shook her head. “Supply chains are breaking. Getting anything in from the countryside is near impossible.”

  Ben looked concerned. “Is there anything we can do?”

  “No,” Jane said wearily. “We’ll figure something out. But I’m afraid they took most of your order. We do have some dry goods left—rice, beans, flour. You’re welcome to them, no charge. We’re probably shutting down anyway.”

  “That’s generous, Jane. But we’ll pay. As long as money’s worth anything, it’s only fair.”

  Jane tilted her head. “You think money’s on its way out?”

  “Maybe,” Ben replied. “Electronics are already failing in high-Energy zones. And the System uses its own currency—Credits. I suspect that’ll become the norm.”

  Jane looked thoughtful. “Imagine that. Starting over at our age. So… are you staying up in the mountains?”

  Ben exchanged a glance with Luz. “Can we talk in private?”

  Jane hesitated, then nodded and led them into the warehouse.

  “If you need hairdryers, pans, or detergent, we’ve got plenty. Food, though…” She gestured at a mostly empty shelving area. “Why the privacy?”

  Ben took a breath. “You’ve been a friend of our family since my grandfather’s day. What I’m about to tell you is sensitive. Please don’t share it with anybody unless you trust them implicitly—especially not with Antonio.”

  Jane grimaced but nodded. “I promise.”

  Ben continued. “We’ve established a small settlement. A Protectorate. It’s recognized by the system. It’s a place of safety and growth—for those who commit to its values. We’re still small, and careful about who joins, but we’ve begun.”

  Luz added, “I believed in this from the start, but after today, I’m more convinced than ever. The city may not be safe for much longer.”

  Jane raised an eyebrow. “The Protectorate, huh? Bold name. And what about food?”

  “We haven’t figured that out yet,” Ben admitted. “But we just recruited two young biologists to help with that, and—this stays between us—we have access to a System Store where we can buy food with Credits.”

  Jane whistled softly. “A System Store… does that make my shop obsolete?”

  “Not at all,” Ben said. “The Store’s for survival, not comfort. It won’t be as cheap or versatile as good old human trade. Local production and barter will still have a place.”

  Jane nodded slowly. “Alright. Two last questions. First, how do I get Credits? And second, if things keep getting worse—can I join you?”

  “To earn Credits, right now you have to sell stuff to the System Store. Mainly Energy cores from slain beasts, though that may change. And yes, Jane, you’d be welcome to join us—along with any family you absolutely trust. But please keep it quiet. Our values matter, and even the System tracks how we uphold them.”

  Jane nodded. “Understood. And if I want to talk more?”

  Ben smiled. “Brickham High. Parking lot. Two weeks from now. Noon.”

  After a few more words, they loaded up four sacks—two rice, one beans, one flour—and drove off.