With Lucy's loan, Zephyr began his shopping spree, buying online and hitting the local markets. One particularly frustrating component wasn't available anywhere, forcing him to track it down at an auto parts factory. The owner initially refused to sell, but Zephyr, gritting his teeth, offered a five-hundred-dollar premium for a used part. He watched the owner gleefully count the cash, shaking his head inwardly. The man was happy with his extra five hundred, oblivious to the fact that in a week, it would be worthless.
It took three days to gather everything, filling the van's aisle and seats. Placing the last item inside, Zephyr felt a wave of relief wash over him. He'd made it. He'd crisscrossed Prism City, sourcing the diverse materials the Etherscope demanded for its first modification.
He'd also been monitoring the news. As expected, prominent figures were disappearing from public view. Life on the streets seemed normal, yet an unsettling undercurrent was building.
"Showtime," he muttered, drawing the curtains and settling into the driver's seat. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the steering wheel.
The van's structure materialized in his mind, as if he possessed a new, specialized eye. Wherever his mental gaze landed, data appeared: the condition of each part, its specifications, everything.
Overall Status: Base Vehicle (Standard), Pending Modification.
Materials Detected: Complete. Begin Modification?
Modify, Zephyr thought.
Modification Initiated. Estimated Completion Time: 72 Hours. Countdown Commencing. Vehicle Inoperable During Modification. Modification Details:…
A strange vibration emanated from the steering wheel.
The modification would take time. Zephyr watched curiously as some materials mysteriously vanished. Apart from that, nothing seemed to be happening. He got out of the van.
From the outside, everything looked normal. Reassured, he headed inside his apartment.
Boxes of supplies, ordered over the past few days, were piled almost to the ceiling. Delivery drivers had given him some strange looks, but he didn't care. They could think whatever they liked; they'd never guess the real reason.
He hadn't gone to school. What was the point, with the end of the world just around the corner?
With the modification underway, Zephyr kept busy. He called his sister every few hours, scoured the internet for survival tips—wilderness survival, first aid, common medical treatments—and downloaded detailed maps of the surrounding area. He even invested in a comprehensive national map for his tablet, one that worked offline, marking everything from small businesses to factories, highways to backroads. The free apps weren't nearly as detailed.
His money was almost gone, but his preparations were nearly complete.
His phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, his face lighting up. He'd been calling his sister constantly, only to reach her voicemail. She was finally calling back!
"Willow!"
"Hey, Zephyr! What's the emergency? I just got off the bus. This trip was amazing! We visited this tribe deep in the mountains…they were practically naked…"
"Willow, stop! Listen to me!" Zephyr interrupted, his voice sharp.
His tone sobered her instantly. "Okay, Zephyr. What's up?"
Zephyr forced himself to calm down. Panic wouldn't help. "Where are you right now?"
"Back at school. Just said goodbye to the field trip group. Heading to the dorm. My phone died, but I charged it on the bus and saw your messages." Although usually playful, Willow was sharp and level-headed in a crisis.
Even though she didn't understand his urgency, she trusted him. Since their parents' death, he'd been her protector. Despite their squabbles, she always listened to him when it mattered. He was her anchor.
"Don't go to the dorm. Book a flight home. Now."
"Okay, hold on…" A pause. "Zephyr, there are no flights."
"Tomorrow? The day after? Take a connecting flight if you have to. Don't worry about the cost."
"No, nothing. No flights at all."
"What do you mean, no flights?" A cold dread gripped him. He frantically checked online, searching various destinations. His heart sank with each click. All flights for the next three days were sold out. Everywhere. The only available flights were after the apocalypse was due to hit… This couldn't be a coincidence.
"Zephyr, should I book one for three days from now?" Willow asked, oblivious.
"It'll be too late," Zephyr muttered.
Willow didn't understand, but she didn't question him. "What about a train?"
Zephyr checked. "Sold out." Every train for the next three days was gone.
"Hold on, I'll check buses. Or maybe a car service…"
"No!"
He didn't know what the roads would be like. Even if clear, it would take her over two days to get back, and with no trains or planes, traffic jams were unavoidable. She'd be trapped.
"Willow, listen to me very carefully," he said, his voice grave. "Don't go to the dorm. Find somewhere safe, a hotel, a short-term rental, somewhere secure, and stay put. Buy as much water, medicine, food, and supplies as you can carry. Charge your phone completely and get a bunch of portable chargers, even though I don't know if they'll even work… Lock the doors and windows. Don't go outside. Wait for me."
"Wait for me. No matter what."
"Willow…" he hesitated. "The world is about to end."