18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 352

Mount Oak loomed ominously just a few dozen miles from Griffith's suburban sprawl. If that sleeping giant ever decided to wake up, its molten fury would be more than enough to swallow the city whole. Even if it didn't come to a full-blown eruption, the ashfall and air pollution alone could spell disaster.

"Half the neighborhood's already packing up," Bran asked with a frown. "Should we be hitting the road too?"

Griffith's town hall was lit up all night as officials scrambled for a game plan, but by morning, there was still no clear directive. Shane, the family patriarch, was torn with indecision.

Bran didn't hesitate. "I say we bolt. If the mountain decides to play nice, we can always come back."

They had a comfortable cushion of wealth, but compared to the government's resources, they were traveling light.

The eldest and the middle Porras siblings weighed in. "Dad, Bran's got a point. The bigwigs have too much at stake to make a quick exit-industries, residents, the whole shebang. But we can afford to play it safe." Nobody wanted to think about a catastrophe, but if it came knocking, there wouldn't be enough time to lace up your running shoes.

After wrestling with the decision, Shane finally declared, "We're moving out."

The Porras household sprang into action, each member taking on their share of the preparations.

Shane, watching his family hustle, felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. He beckoned his eldest into the study. "Aside from the government safe zone, we've got no other fallback."

It was humbling to think of returning after a false alarm, but with deep pockets and the right connections, they'd manage. Pride was a small price to pay in the face of annihilation.

"Pop, I'll handle the talks when it's time," Bran assured him.

Years had shaved away the reckless bravado of Bran's youth.

Shane looked at his son with a mix of pride and sorrow. "Son, while we head to the government shelter, I need you to take a different path."

Bran was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"You're heading to the Kindle Society." Shane stood, clapping Bran on the shoulder with firm resolve. "With your skills, you'll get in. No doubt about it."

Bran couldn't fathom why his father would split the family.

Despite their fortune, the Porras had only one standout-Bran.

Shane feared the worst-that the Porras name might be wiped out in one fell swoop.

The Kindle Society was no ordinary refuge. It boasted stringent governance, cutting-edge technology, and formidable defense capabilities. It was the Big Leagues, far beyond what any government shelter could offer. A whole family wouldn't stand a chance, but Bran, as a lone wolf, might just squeeze in.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. The Porras lineage had to endure.

Bran was dumbfounded. "Dad, you're talking crazy."

"I've got your brothers, and your mother has us. Just focus on making it to the Kindle Society. Don't overthink it. If we get through this, we'll be reunited. If not..."

Shane took a deep breath. "Don't screw this up. Live!"

Bran's head buzzed with disbelief. "We're family. There's no reason to split up."

Even in the chaos of the government shelter, the Porras could buy their way into special consideration.

Shane, suddenly impassioned, let his walking stick do the talking. "How old are you to still be acting so damn stubborn?"

It took a dozen whacks before Bran reluctantly agreed.

"Once you're in the Kindle Society, no more fooling around. Bow when you must. A little humility won't kill you."

Shane's words had the gravity of a last will and testament. "If you make it through, replace someone, settle down, rebuild the Porras name."

And if starting a family wasn't in the cards, at least don't live a lonely life-replace someone to watch your back.

Bran turned away, his eyes stinging.

"Sir, it's urgent!"

Tina's panicked voice echoed from downstairs. "The official announcement's out."

The break of dawn was overshadowed by a darkness like no other.

The government's emergency broadcast confirmed it: The satellite cluster's impact on Mount Oak had caused severe tremors. A volcanic eruption was now highly probable. Residents were urged to pack up and evacuate. There were three evacuation options: retreat to a safe distance of 100 miles for observation, head to the Goldbridge government shelter, or, for those with the right credentials, seek refuge in the Kindle Society. The government would provide escorts for the first two options.

No one would choose to leave their home if they had a choice. And what about those at the bottom of the ladder without enough food to buy their way into Goldbridge?

As for the Kindle Society, it was out of reach for most.

Shane's face turned ashen. "Pack fast, take what you can! We need to move, now!"

If the government was making moves, the eruption could be imminent. What if the disaster reached the scale of those that once obliterated entire island nations?

Once the news hit the streets, pandemonium would break loose.

Delaying their departure could mean getting caught in a mass exodus, where survival to Goldbridge was far from guaranteed.

The Porras family, with their fleet of vehicles and arsenal, had the means to move quickly.

Shane gave Bran the SUV, loaded with guns, ammo, and other precious supplies. They skimped on food supplies, planning to regroup and support each other once they found stability.

The bitterness of past grievances evaporated, replaced by the agony of separation.

As the dawn crept in, Stella and Jasper finished packing, debating their true destination. They told Lukas and the others it was the Kindle Society, but Stella, used to her freedoms, wasn't keen on the idea. The Kindle Society was a fortress of military discipline and technological brilliance-not a place for wild cards.

Bran sat in his SUV, forehead resting on the steering wheel, the weight of his father's expectations pressing down on him.

After a long moment, he lifted his gaze to the family home, to the people who defined his life, and with a determined foot on the gas, he vanished into the early morning light.

Jasper was a man with his roots deep in the police force, with an understanding of the Kindle Society that ran far deeper than most. From the get-go, he wasn't keen on getting involved with them.

One false move, one slip of attention, and they could replace themselves in the crosshairs, and she knew all too well the heavy price of secrets exposed.

Stella looked at him, her eyes seeking guidance. "Where do we go then?"

Jasper mulled it over, his mind racing through options. "How about we head to Lincoln first, replace a place to crash? If this storm isn't as bad as it looks, we'll hunker down somewhere safe. But if we hit the kind of trouble that's out of our hands, then maybe just maybe we'll check out the Kindle Society. See what they can do for us."

If it didn't fit, if it wasn't right, they could always walk away. No harm done.

Stella had no objections; it sounded like a plan-a comparatively safer bet.