The three of us sat on the grass, catching our breath after the brief spar. Though short, Anthony's precise punches had left their mark. Designed to inflict pain without causing lasting harm, they achieved their intended goal: ending the fight swiftly.
Anthony's skills, honed for lethal combat, weren't suited for friendly sparring. Yet, he had restrained himself, aiming for temporary pain rather than permanent damage. The bruises would fade, but the lesson would remain.
"You're good at fighting..." Dad acknowledged, nodding in respect.
Anthony stayed quiet for a moment before speaking. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go that far."
Dad's expression turned solemn. "A man has to do what a man has to do, even if the whole world is against it. Don't let anyone impede your way forward, and fight for what you believe is right."
He placed a firm hand on Anthony's shoulder. "All I ask is one thing: protect your mother and sister. That's all I ask."
Dad's gaze burned with resolve, his eyes locking onto Anthony's.
Anthony's silence was his promise.
Allison, still worried, watched her brother and father, sensing the weight of their unspoken understanding.
I began, "I will protect you all—"
"I know..." Dad interrupted, his gaze drifting toward the sky. "The end of the world approaches, and the future's uncertain. Anything can happen."
"I'll prepare as best I can—"
"Anthony, promise me you'll protect them," Dad urged, his eyes locking onto mine, seeking assurance.
"I promise, I will protect them." I conceded.
Dad's face lit up with relief. "Good!" He slapped my back.
"Make your little sister your top priority. I think your mom would agree."
Allison pouted, "Dad!! I'm training to protect you too!!"
Dad raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."
"I leave the future to you two," he said, smiling at us.
Allison stood, throwing punches into the air. "I'll become very strong! Just you see, Dad!!"
Dad chuckled. "I'll be waiting."
The tension dissipated, replaced by anticipation for the future.
"Let's not tell your mom about this," Dad suggested.
I nodded. "Okay."
Allison agreed, and the unspoken pact was sealed.
After their heart-to-heart, life seemingly returned to normal, but beneath the surface, questions lingered. Anthony wasn't immune to uncertainty; he knew the apocalypse's date, but its aftermath remained a mystery.
His own past was a testament to survival. When monsters invaded, he spent years fighting to stay alive. As the world stabilized, he observed humanity's plight and the new reality.
It took decades for Anthony to find his purpose. He followed in the footsteps of true heroes who had protected humanity, but by the time he joined the fight, few remained.
His understanding of the post-apocalyptic world was limited. He spent over two years reaching a military base, only to find many already destroyed.
Even among heroes, Anthony was just another person in need of protection – a side character who survived against all odds.
This time, however, was different. Anthony's drive went beyond survival; he sought to protect loved ones, reconnect with lost companions, and alter the course of history.
He aimed to share his knowledge with humanity, equipping them to defend themselves. Change had to start somewhere – a spark igniting a flame that would spread globally.
Anthony's resolve hardened, fueling his determination to forge a better future.
Anthony gazed out the car window as they arrived home, his conviction and determination palpable. With a strong goal in mind, he had pieced together his broken will, ready to face the future.
"We're home," Allison announced, exiting the car.
Anthony remained seated, lost in thought.
"What's on your mind?" Dad asked, breaking the silence.
Anthony turned to him, calm and collected. His eyes reflected a maelstrom of ideas, possibilities, and opportunities – all contingent on tomorrow's success.
"Tomorrow, 6 a.m., I need to leave," Anthony stated.
Dad raised an eyebrow. "So early?"
"I must find a newly formed rift. I'll need you to drive me around."
Dad nodded resolutely. "Alright."
"I need to witness a rift's birth. It may take a few hours..."
Dad's eyes hardened. "We'll do it."
"Alright then."
The car fell silent once more, the weight of tomorrow's mission settling in.
The day passed uneventfully, and the family kept the previous day's events hidden from Mom. At 6:00 a.m. sharp, Anthony stood ready, transformed into a rugged hunter.
He wore cap boots, thick jeans, and a tool belt strap around his waist, with a backpack full of provisions over a sweater. A cap adorned his head, a hunting knife strapped to his leg, and a machete on his back. The tool belt seemed out of place, but Anthony exuded confidence, his steps unstoppable.
His dad's gaze lingered, finally grasping the gravity of Anthony's words. His intuition now took Anthony's warnings seriously.
"What's the plan?" his dad asked, seated in the car.
"We need to find a newly formed rift. We'll drive around until we locate one," Anthony replied.
"Do we need to be right in front of it when it opens?" his dad asked.
"Not necessarily, but I must be 100% sure it's new," Anthony said.
His dad pondered, chin in hand. "I might have a better idea. Your aunt's apartment building has a great view of the city. We could scan for rifts from the roof."
Anthony nodded. "That's a great idea. Let's try it."
"Alrighty then." With that, they set off.
As they drove, Ethan's nervousness contrasted with Anthony's calm determination.
Leaving quietly, Anthony and his dad slipped away from the house. However, little Allison watched from the window, her eyes fixed on their departing figures.
She felt powerless, helpless that her big brother was taking such risks. The dangers of the rifts were well-known – stranding, disappearance, and never returning. News articles warned of the perils, advising against venturing near them.
For the first time, Allison felt useless. She yearned to support Anthony, to be there for him, but her current strength would only hold him back.
Determination ignited within her. She bit her lip and began her daily exercise routine, driven by a newfound purpose.
A small spark within her heart grew into a fiery passion, fueling her resolve. Only Allison knew the depths of her potential, and the burning desire to become stronger for Anthony's sake.
With each passing moment, her resolve hardened.
As Anthony and his dad drove to his aunt's house, they were lost in thought. Suddenly, Anthony spoke up.
"We have more family?"
His dad's confusion was evident. "What do you mean? Of course, we do."
"I don't remember them," Anthony said, his calm demeanor unwavering.
"You don't?" his dad replied. "You spent a lot of time with your cousins."
"I do?" Anthony's brow furrowed. "I came back a month ago; everything before that is a blank slate."
Dad's expression turned thoughtful. "You don't care about them?"
"I don't," Anthony replied, his tone detached.
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken thoughts, Dad visibly taken aback by Anthony's cold response.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind, Dad. Just wait a month or so, and you'll understand. But for now, today's task takes priority. If it fails, all plans are meaningless."
"A month, you say..." Dad trailed off.
"You'll see what I mean, assuming today's mission succeeds," Anthony replied.
"Even then, you won't care about them, though." Anthony's calm gaze met his dad's.
"Everyone has priorities, Father. I know mine well. Do you?" Anthony asked.
"Of course, I—" Dad began.
"You don't," Anthony interrupted. "If you can't protect yourself, how can you help others?"
The silence was oppressive.
"You're weak," Anthony stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "The weak don't have a voice. You either follow the rules of the strong, or leave their protection at your own discretion, simple as that.
The words hung in the air, a harsh reality check.
"..."
I felt a pang of regret for my harsh words, but they were the truth. In a world where strength ruled, the weak had no choice but to follow or flee. Everyone had priorities, and the strong were no exception.
"To survive, we need to get stronger, Dad," I said, my tone softer now. "Right now, we're vulnerable. If a monster attacked, even I wouldn't be able to escape. Let's focus on gaining strength, and then we can discuss the rest."
Dad nodded, accepting my proposal. "Alright then."
The rest of the trip passed in silence, the soft hum of the radio filling the air. The scenic route was brief but enjoyable, and soon we arrived at our destination – Aunt's apartment building.
Aunt Claire greeted them with a mix of warmth and sleep-deprived irritation. "You could've come later, you know?" she yawned, opening the gate.
"Sis, I'm sorry. It was last-minute," Dad apologized. "Rest after we go up. You don't have to bother with us."
Susan eyed Anthony's tool belt and backpack. "What's with the gear, Tony? You look like you're heading into combat."
"For a project, Aunt," Anthony replied, omitting details.
Susan raised an eyebrow. "You seem different. Have you been exercising?"
"I have," Anthony said, his transformation evident.
"Looking good, I see," Susan nodded approvingly.
Anthony's fitness regime had been intense – pushing himself to exhaustion, resting briefly, then repeating the cycle relentlessly, day and night.
Even Dad couldn't help but stare, surprised by the changes in his son. Daily interactions had masked the gradual transformation.
Anthony smiled, thanking his aunt.
"Keep up the good work." Susan reminded them. "Remember, no loud noises," waving goodbye as they headed upstairs.
The rooftop air was crisp, the wind carrying a chill. Anthony nodded in approval. "This really was a good idea, Dad."
Dad smiled, enjoying the compliment.
Before them lay a panorama of roughly 20 rifts, some nearby, others distant but visible.
"We just wait until we spot one opening," Anthony said.
"Alright," Dad replied, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Why do you need to enter one right when it opens?"
"Simple," Anthony explained. "Rifts take at least 8 hours to close, max 3 days for the longest ones."
Dad's brow furrowed. "You're assuming you have 8 hours to return."
"Exactly," Anthony confirmed. "And it must be newly opened."
Dad's expression turned thoughtful. "How sure are you of this information?"
"No doubts," Anthony replied. "This might be known already, but they might not want it spreading."
"True," Dad agreed. "They'd want to minimize rift entries."
"We wait then," Anthony concluded.
"Right," Dad said, settling in for the vigil.
An hour into their rooftop vigil, a rift materialized in the distance. Anthony clicked his watch, marking the start of his 8-hour countdown.
"It really was a great idea, Dad," Anthony said, grinning.
Dad smiled back. "Let's go."
They hastened to the car, forgoing goodbyes. Upon arrival, Anthony geared up, standing tall before the 5-meter rift.
"Be careful, son," Dad urged, worry etched on his face.
"I will. See you later, Dad," Anthony replied, confident strides carrying him toward the rift.
Ethan yearned to stop him but felt powerless. Anthony's words echoed. "The weak have no say." Resolve ignited within him – to become stronger, to protect his son, and his family.
As Anthony stepped into the rift, space distorted around him. Disoriented, he regained balance and composure on the other side.
Scanning the desolate rocky desert, Anthony's mood darkened. "God damn it! Of all places, really?!"
"Fucking hell!" he exclaimed, trudging forward.