128 Middle of Nowhere (2/2)

My appearance did not matter to the grand scheme of things apparently.

Only my existence is.

That is good and also frightening to know.

I smile at my mother before speaking up softly.

”Umm… Stephanie, is it? Is there something on my face?”

I accompany that particular question by rubbing my face to demonstration.

John narrows his eyes when I did. He then takes a handful of seconds to adjust the rearview mirror so that he could see all three of his children together.

Misha is still on her phone, but she is also listening to music now with her walkman. From the faint sounds coming from her earphones, I think it is Britney Spears singing. Britney should be getting her spotlight around this time. In the prime-reality, she is still just a little kid.

Phase 2 of my global entertainment giant plan will launch her into stardom along with several children, but that phase is still a couple of years away.

I am in no hurry, really since time is on my side.

Like his little sister, Joshua is also on the phone. He isn't listening to music. He is playing games instead. Shitty snake apparently.

Neither of Joshua or Misha has remembered the full harshness of the future since John had protected them from the outside world to the best of his ability. If they did, they wouldn't be like this.

They would be more on edge, like their older sister, Stephanie.

”No. It is just that you look very familiar. Have I met you somewhere before?”

Stephanie responses.

”No. I would have remembered someone as gorgeous and generous as you, Stephanie. I suppose that this is a bit too late to say now but thank you for the icepack and your shoulder.”

I response calmly. My choice of words is enough.

Stephanie smiles faintly. She has heard such a compliment many times in college, but all they wanted to do is to get into her bed. I show no interest in such thing, so it is already a plus in her book.

”You welcome, Max. My father did hit you with his car, so it is only right for me to help you.”

I nod.

”Yes. Thank you again. If it was your father, he would probably just leave me there for dead. I did recall that he was thinking about driving off right after he hit me.”

I point out calmly and continue to exude an aura of maturity despite what I am emphasizing with my words.

”Hey! I did not.”

John denies hastily.

And that is enough for Stephanie to know what to believe.

”Only the guilty denies, Mr. Connors.”

I point out with a charming smile while matching my eyes with my mother. She giggles lightly before straightening herself.

John retorts with another denial, but he is only digging a deeper hole for himself. And I response to all his denials with cold and logical fact, winning a few more giggles from my mother.

”Alright, that is enough, Max. Thank you for that. Honestly, I should have taken you to the hospital or a clinic.”

My grandfather responses when he admitted his defeat. He then switches on the radio and tunes to a proper channel.

Due to the chaos, only a few channels are on air.

”Please do not engage the alien sphere. I repeat. Please do not engage the alien sphere. They will not harm you or your family if you leave them be. Do not show sign of hostility towards it or anyone in your immediate vicinity. And whatever the alien sphere does, do not retaliate. Do not retaliate!”

The radio calls out. It continues warning people about Legion and encourages people to stay in their own home for their safety.

It seems that quite a number of people get the message, judging from the amount being locked up in stasis at the moment. What was above 70% drops sharply to 30%, meaning that most people are being spit back out after Legion has his fun.

That percentage will continue to drop once the world understands the alien's intention.

Since most people are being hold up in their home for their own safety, the highway out of the city is not being congressed at all, allowing us to head to where I directed them to.

”Turn here, Mr. Connors. My place is just at the end of the path.”

John nods in understanding and steers the car towards the path. Surrounding both side of the road is withering trees. Dried up leaves constantly shower the earth.

The Curse of Decay is in full effect.

And there is no way to undo the curse, at least not with my current power and understanding of magic. But that didn't mean I couldn't save the humanity of this reality.

The path is incredibly long, allowing me to talk a bit more with my mother. She is warming up to me very nicely since I know exactly what buttons to push her.

When the road finally ends, a small shack can be seen.

The car stops right in front of it.

”This is the place? It doesn't look any different than an outhouse.”

John asks as I open the door and struggle to exit.

Seeing that, Stephanie immediately get out and help me out of the car.

”It is actually just the entrance to the underground bunker. My father has it built in case of a nuclear war with the Soviet. It is stocked up with enough supplies to last me for years. Anyway. Thank you for the lift, Mr. Connors. I wish you all the best.”

I response and struggle towards the shack. There is no need to invite them in. They will have no choice but to come in soon.

And once I open the door to the shack, it reveals to be an elevator shaft.

”Thank you, Stephanie. I do hope we meet again.”

I response.

”Me too, Max.”

Stephanie replies before heading back to the car and join the disinterested Misha in the backseat. As for the front seat, Joshua is already occupying it.

My mother seems a bit sad of leaving me, but I have that effect on people.

Standing at the doorway, I turn back to the Connors and wave them goodbye.

John begins to reverse the car once he gives his goodbye.

The car heads away from the shack, following the road back to the highway.

But sadly, they didn't get very far as the engine stalls and then dies in the middle of nowhere.

As if I would let them leave.