It was just a 20-minute drive to Julia’s place. She lived in a neighborhood with a mix of commercial and apartment buildings. As a nurse, her salary wasn’t huge, but together with child support from her ex-partner Robin, who lived nearby, they were doing alright.

  As they approached the building, Ben noticed a few things. First, Damien was already there, parked in front of the entrance. His fiancée, a slim, short woman in her early twenties, stood beside him, looking relaxed. Second, the restaurant that had occupied the ground floor had been replaced by… something else. The large front windows were painted gold and blue, and a banner above the door read Energy is Salvation. Several people stood outside, wearing what looked like bedsheets dyed in gold and blue, wrapped around themselves like robes. Third, Anne was sitting at a coffee shop across the street, sipping a hot beverage.

  Ben ignored the oddly dressed people, waved to Anne to signal she still had some time, and walked up to Damien. “Hi there, I’m Ben. Nice to meet you,” he said, shaking the young woman’s hand.

  “Hi, I’m Tracy. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s great to meet you,” she replied, full of energy.

  “We’re glad to have you join our settlement. I assume Damien explained our values and what we’re trying to build?”

  “Yes! This is all so exciting. Honestly, all these changes are a bit scary, but also kind of thrilling. I don’t know how useful a fitness coach and dance teacher will be in this new world, but I’m ready to help however I can.”

  Ben thought for a moment. “We all have to be flexible—I didn’t expect to be running dungeons as part of my job,” he said with a laugh. “But I think your skills could be really valuable. One of our team members, Barry, is going to start teaching martial arts. I’m sure if the two of you team up, you’ll get us in shape in no time.”

  “Oh, that sounds awesome!”

  Ben chuckled at the contrast between Damien’s reserved demeanor and Tracy’s bright enthusiasm.

  “Would you mind waiting here with Luz while I go up and get my sister and her family?”

  They both nodded and joined Luz, who was lounging in her driver’s seat. Ben entered the building and climbed to the second floor, knocking on Julia’s door. Even before it opened, he heard his niece and nephew running up, arguing about who would get to open it.

  The twins each grabbed one of his legs in a hug. “Hello! We’re so excited for our trip!” Robby shouted.

  “Will we go camping in the forest again?” Christina asked at the same time.

  They were six years old, with their mother’s eyes but their father’s slightly chubby build—probably still baby fat, Ben thought.

  He picked them both up and carried them into the apartment. “I’m excited too! Not sure about camping, though. Are you packed?”

  They nodded eagerly as they entered the living room, where Julia and Robin were loading food and cooling elements into bags.

  “Hey Julia, hey Robin. You guys doing alright?”

  Julia smiled, walked over, and gave him a hug. “I’m so happy you’re fully healthy again! Congratulations, big brother.

  As for us coming over,” she added with a skeptical look, “I’m only doing this because things are unusually quiet at the hospital, thanks to some of the perks my colleagues received. And this is just a trial, alright?”

  Ben nodded, then turned to Robin. “You’re coming too?”

  “Yes, definitely. I’m actually looking forward to it. I don’t think the city will stay safe for long. I just read online that electronics are starting to fail. Without them, things will get rough fast.” He looked at the twins. “Are you two excited for Ben’s magic-free zone?”

  Both nodded, though Christina looked a bit uncertain about the lack of magic.

  “Alright. If you’re packed, let’s get going.”

  Ben carried the twins while Julia and Robin grabbed the bags. Outside, Luz greeted the kids and updated Ben. “My sister will meet us in two weeks at the school and come back with us then.”

  Ben nodded. “Thanks.” She then pointed a little down the road.

  A few cars away was the vintage jeep Ben had seen earlier at the school. Standing in front of it were three people who clearly recognized him and were waiting expectantly.

  He let the twins down—having carried them down the stairs—and asked Luz to help Julia and Robin with loading. Then he walked over to Sarah and her parents.

  “Hello there. I’m Ben,” he said, smiling at Sarah while shaking hands with the adults.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Hi, I’m Howard. This is my wife, Deepika,” the man said. Ben shook her hand as well. “Sarah told us about your settlement and your vision. The truth is, even before all this happened, we were thinking about making a big change—maybe moving to Costa Rica. But now, with everything going on, we definitely don’t want to stay here.”

  Deepika nodded. “It almost feels like fate that Sarah met you,” she said, smiling. Sarah rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful.

  “And you made that decision in an hour, packed your bags, and drove here?” Ben asked, incredulous.

  The family simply smiled and nodded.

  “Did Sarah tell you about our values—and that everyone contributes?”

  “She did. And we’re happy to contribute financially, too. Just tell us what it costs,” Howard added.

  Payment? Ben realized he hadn’t even considered that. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a businessman, he thought with a quiet snort.

  “Payment’s not necessary right now. We’re still figuring things out, but you don’t need to pay anything upfront. Are you ready to go?”

  They nodded again. Ben gave them quick directions, and they returned to their car to join the now four-vehicle caravan.

  Back at the trucks, Julia and Robin were packing the last bags. Ben looked around and didn’t see the twins—until he spotted them near the odd group outside the former restaurant, chatting excitedly.

  “…and where is this magic-free place?” one of the robed strangers asked.

  “Oh, it’s in the Blue Mountain Forest,” Robby said. “Our uncle owns it! It’ll keep us safe!”

  Ben quickly walked over, gently placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “Hi there, sorry—we’ve got to go.”

  “Wait,” said the woman in gold and blue. “Are you a system follower?”

  Ben turned and smiled politely. “Didn’t realize there was a way to opt out of the world as it is now,” he replied, backing away with the kids.

  “There is a way,” the woman called after him. “We from the Church of Energy reject the systems and all attempts to restrain the divine Energy. Only by rejecting the system can we find salvation. Are you their uncle?”

  Ben just waved, picked up the twins, and walked them back to the truck. “You know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers, right?”

  “Sorry, Uncle Ben,” they said in unison, looking guilty.

  In the meantime, Anne had finished her coffee and joined Luz in her truck, seemingly having packed only a large backpack and not much more.

  Shortly after, the group got back on the road—with Ben, now driving with his family in the cabin, leading the way.

  They left the city without issue and were back on the highway within 30 minutes. Another half hour later, as they began gaining elevation, their problems started.

  It was Julia who first noticed. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but my phone isn’t responding anymore.”

  Ben checked his own phone and confirmed her observation. First, it stopped responding to any input. Then, with a strange noise no digital device should ever make, it powered down completely.

  Minutes later, the displays in the car began to flicker—and shortly after, the engine cut out. The vehicle rolled to a stop.

  “Damn!” Ben said, hitting the steering wheel in frustration.

  He coasted to the side of the road, set the parking brake, and turned to his family. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this.”

  The other two trucks had suffered the same fate. Only the old jeep from Sarah’s family kept going—likely built in a time with far fewer electronics.

  Everyone got out of their vehicles and gathered by the roadside. While waiting, Ben took a few deep breaths and tried to collect his thoughts.

  “This is a serious problem,” he began, “but staying in the city as its infrastructure collapses could be even more dangerous.”

  Grim expressions met him, but there were nods of agreement.

  “The way I see it, we have three options. First, return to the city. Second, we stay together and follow the road on foot, using the jeep to carry our luggage and pacing ourselves accordingly. Third, we split up: the kids, Robin, and one of Howard or Deepika take the jeep and drive to the settlement, while the rest of us cut through the forest. It should take two to three days on foot—much faster than following the winding roads.”

  He looked around. “Any thoughts?”

  Anne was the first to speak. “I’m not going back to the city, and walking ten-plus days alongside a jeep with kids isn’t realistic. Option three makes the most sense.”

  Tracy followed, after exchanging a glance with Damien. “We’re also for option three. Isn’t this a perfect opportunity for growth and community?” She ended with the kind of bright, encouraging smile she’d probably used a hundred times to get her fitness clients to do one more rep.

  Before her parents could weigh in, Sarah piped up. “If it’s option three, I want to hike through the forest. Mrs. Solomon can confirm I did great on our trip!”

  “It’s definitely not option two,” Julia said firmly. “There’s no way I’m letting my kids camp out for two weeks in this environment.” She hesitated before adding, “Honestly, I’m not so sure we shouldn’t just head back to town…” She glanced at Robin.

  He blushed slightly. “I still think we should get to the camp. But… I’ll admit I’m not in shape for a long hike. If I can ride in the jeep, then option three works for me.”

  Howard raised a hand, gesturing that he and Deepika needed a moment. They stepped aside for a brief conversation, then returned.

  “We’re good with option three,” Howard said. “Deepika will join the hiking group. I’ll take Robin and the twins in the jeep. And Sarah—if you promise to follow your mother’s instructions to the letter—you can go with her.”

  Ben smiled. “That sounds like consensus. Luz, would you mind riding with Howard, Robin, and the twins? You know the route better than Robin and can help guide them.”

  Luz nodded in agreement.

  They quickly redistributed bags and gear. Anne’s large backpack would serve as the primary supply cache for the hiking group.

  About twenty minutes later, Howard guided the jeep back onto the road, waving to the group of six adults—plus Sarah—who were setting out on their trek through the forest.

  “So, Ben, how far is it from here to the settlement?” Anne asked as they stepped through the dense forest.

  “Given how far we made it out of the city, it should be about 40 kilometers. Looks like everyone here is reasonably fit, so assuming we cover a few more kilometers before dark, we should arrive the day after tomorrow.”

  She nodded. “It’s pretty likely that we’ll run into some trouble on the way, right?”

  “Realistically, yes. But so far, we haven’t seen anything we couldn’t handle. I expect threat levels will keep rising with the increased Energy, but we’re a solid group. Between your martial skills, Damien’s fire magic, and my axe, we’ve got a decent amount of firepower.”

  “I’m a physicist—well, I was,” Deepika said with a wry smile. “I’ve never had to fight, but I got a perk called [Displace]. It lets me make minor adjustments to the environment around me. I’m not sure how useful it’ll be in combat, but I’ll help however I can.”

  Ben nodded gratefully. “Thanks.”