Granite City; A Manaverse Novel, Book 1

1.06 - Jeffery

The Digsby Residence - Pool House
3:35 a.m.
Granite City

Kyle hated waking up so early in the morning. Any time between three am and noon was way too early. It was like waking up late in the afternoon for anybody else. Maybe it was time to correct the many year habit.

Diggy wouldn't be allowed to poke his head in until later. As such, Kyle considered what to do. He was going to wait until the sun rose to leave. He didn't want to have to rely on the animals and their keen senses to avoid becoming breakfast for something larger.

Kyle's only option was to find another secure location. When he couldn't come up with any, he clicked his tablet back on. He was thankful every time it came back to life. Pulling up the browser, he spoke allowed to Alex, his artificial intelligence assistant. He normally used the AI to find certain movies or to look up new games while he was playing and didn't have time to type out the words himself.

"Alex. Where would be a safe location to go in a disaster?"

The chime indicating Alex had an answer sounded and the gender-less voice spoke.

"Based on current news and location, there are two locations that are labeled as possibly safe. The Granite City air raid bunkers and inside the Granite City National Bank."

Kyle paid the annual fee for the "smarter" AI. He had never been more grateful for that fact than right then. He didn't like the idea of the bank. So, he decided he would attempt to make it to the air raid bunkers.

Kyle had completely forgotten they existed until Alex reminded him. They were built during the last world war and were only a tourist attraction. He guessed the people who oversaw the bunkers had put them into use.

Even if he got there and couldn't enter, at least he had a goal. It was much better than waiting to be eaten.

"Thank you, Alex. You might just have saved my life."

The AI didn't respond, nor did he expect them to.
Kyle waited around, tapping his feet, making a quick meal for everyone, and pacing. As soon as he cleaned up everything, including his pets' waste, and it was light enough for him to feel comfortable, Kyle scratched out a note for Diggy on a pad and left.

He was not going to be responsible for his bro losing his safe location. If Mrs. Digsby found Kyle here before Diggy could head her off, Kyle knew Diggy would get kicked out. He also knew Diggy would feel awful. Kyle would rather hurt his friend's feelings than lead him to his death.

If Kyle had to guess, the reasons Mrs. Digsby didn't want Kyle in the bunker weren't all those things Diggy had relayed. He would wager it was because she wanted to ensure her family lived. Anyone outside the family would be a risk in the best case.

He didn't blame her for it either. What would Kyle do if he was back North, living near his family in East Falls? He didn't know. They had fallen out of contact a few years before over something very stupid. He regretted that more than ever now.

Kyle did slip a message to his brother, Ray. The man had his wife and kids to look after, so they spoke infrequently. He doubted his brother would see it, even if his devices hadn't fried. His parents didn't use social media and their cell numbers had changed. Hopefully, he could find a working phone and get those numbers from Ray.

Kyle and the pets all walked carefully, only being spotted a handful of times. They only had to fight to survive once. It was against another house pet monster.

The rabbit had grown to be size of cow and had jagged teeth. It clearly ate meat as they had stumbled upon it gorging itself on one of its own kind. It unceremoniously turned and jumped at them.