Adriana defended me in front of her mother and kissed both her parents. She hugged them tightly and was glad that nothing bad happened to them.

"Hi Mrs. Valeska! It's good to see you too! Good afternoon Mr. Valeska!" I shook the blatant disrespect in stride and responded with a pleasant greeting of my own. The words of an old woman held no meaning whatsoever for an enlightened being such as myself. I would not lower my status to the likes of the ignoramuses that plagued these lands.

​​

"Do mind your words, Lucia. Seth has been nothing but good to our only daughter Adriana. As long as she's happy with him and he loves her as I love you, then his past shall all be forgiven. After all, who among us here still retains the innocence of our youth? Hmmmm. Perhaps one. HAHAHA! Hello there, young man! How was your trip?" my girlfriend's father looked at his wife, then to Kelsey and lastly, his vision stopped at me. His eyes were brimming with acceptance and understanding. It was the eyes of a stupid idealist, I disdained within.

"It was a breath of fresh air, Mr. Valeska. We sure did enjoy the scenery and the constant surprises that came along our way here." I smiled at the old fool.

"Please take a seat. I would love to hear the promise of adventure from your words alone, Seth." he invited which I happily obliged.

* * *

"So you tell me that someone went out to Everton and came back to bring news that the city there also suffered the same situation as we do?" Mr. Valeska tried to confirm what I said once more.

"Exactly, Mr. Valeska. It looks like an EMP attack from the talks that we heard from the groups of people we encountered." I said and added something new to the mix.

The rumors around the road kept spreading out of proportions as people feared the unknown state they were in.

"These are the makings of the religious terrorists, Robert! They had nothing good to do but blow people up and spread terror unto our country!" Lucia gave her opinion on the side.

She had basis for her words because 3 months ago, a series of bombings came upon various churches around the nation.

"That's beside the point, Lucia. The question is what are we going to do now?" Robert asked out loud. What's done is done and there was really no point in pointing fingers right now.

They had to take action especially now that most of their money was in investments and stocks. He wasn't even sure if supermarkets were still open to serve the people at this moment.

"That's what we came here for, father. I want both of you to come live with us. And that includes you, Kelsey." my girlfriend looked at the teenager with fondness.

"And smell the horrid stink of your boyfriend every day? I'd rather live in a mountain than be with the likes of him!" Lucia's outburst was quite passionate. She would have been a great actress, I thought.

"Hold your bias, dear. We certainly could not stay here alone by ourselves. If this confusion persists, who can tell what humanity is capable of doing?

I know that it will get better soon but until then, we should accept the care our daughter has personally given us." Robert calmed his wife and approached the predicament with a positive mind.

The middle aged couple was not used to do things by themselves anymore.

They had already been acclimated to the comforts of a wealthy lifestyle but now that they looked around them, gone were the servants and waiters that walked and jumped at their every command.

"Hmmmp!" Lucia snorted.

"So that's settled then. Let's go now while the sun is still up." I advised and looked on the hot 3 o'clock sun up above. Without a car, we'd probably have to walk twice as much as we did earlier with two useless elderlies in tow, I surmised.

"But why don't we just stay here. You and your boyfriend are welcome here. There are many available rooms for both of you." Lucia said as she gathered that they'd have to walk about 3 kilometers to get to Adriana's house. She loathed to walk such distance under this scorching temperature.

"But what about the supplies, mother? We'll run out of food in one week if we stay here. Seth and I had stored quite a lot in our house. There will be enough for all of us to stay there for a time." Adriana replied as she looked at me with a knowing smile on her angelic face.

"But I can't walk that far!" Lucia complained.

"You're still fit for your age, dear. And rather sexy still." Robert remarked.

"It's all your fault, Robert! We shouldn't have sold our old cars away. Look at us now!" Lucia did not let the sweet words sway her mood. She pouted that befitted the spoiled woman that she was.

I looked at her intently and realized that Mr. Valeska was right. This frigid crone indeed possessed a beauty that defied time.

Her dress clung at her and I could see the perky nipples pierced at the soft cloth of her garment. Adriana and her could be mistaken as sisters.

"Maybe we could buy a car on our way back, Mrs. Valeska. I'm sure many would jump at the opportunity for instant cash." I offered.

This was wishful thinking but it was better than nothing. This mansion stood away from people as it was perched on lofty land out of reach of many.

With its 20 thousand square feet of area, it shied away from the public as the mansion was built not only in grandeur but sadly, also in isolation.

It would indeed be a miracle to find a decent car in their hasty exodus.

"You heard the young man! Let's get packing!" Robert seconded me in support as he was willing to rest the case for another time. He certainly didn't expect for things like the quandary they were in to occur.