5

Chapter 3

As time drew on,winter rolled in and so did our event. We met up after school,I,a now licensed driver,rented a car big enough to hold the ruling 5,Dineo and Ann. The 4 hour drive helped the 2 girls bond with each other and the rest of us. The other 10 followed in different cars behind us. The drive had gone by in a flash, especially with the "no stop rule",which consists of moving the car until the music runs out or we reach our destination. As the 3 cars pulled into the dirt road about 20 minutes away from the property gate for the farm,I remembered the news broadcasting the very same road when the cracks started,a one sided slaughter. Human bodies,skinned and strung up like trophies on the barbed fences along the road. My grandfather included and...Lia... Damn it,I had completely forgotten about her,how was she doing? Lia,my only friend on the farm,had survived the first onslaught with the awakening of her chosen abilities. She was...on a different level than all of us. If our entire attack squad had attacked her during the cracks,we would have lost misreably. She was a telepathic chosen. A rare ability,even more so than the holy type. Mind control, telekinesis,telepathy. The total package,if I remember correctly,she was quite the looker during the cracks. A leader of a strong hold at that. She had gained a reputation as a destroyer. Snapping those who opposed her in half with a simple look,but she was kind,we got our food from her,only thanks to our connection I presume. I stayed silent until we pulled up Infront of the farmhouse,then I saw them. My grandfather. Lia. They were alive. It nearly brought me to tears. If I remember correctly,it has been 7 years since I last visited the farm in this life. Would she still recognize me?
As soon as I completely stepped out of the car and closed the door,I was tackled to the ground by a teary eyed Lia. "You jackass,why'd you wait so long to come back?" She sniffled. "Sorry,highschools a pain and the ass." I smiled. "I missed you too Lia" I said as I hugged her back,soaking in the freshly made mud. " Fuck you,I'm not weak enough to miss your dumb ass" she said while burying her head in my neck. "Lia. Language." My grandfather said while lighting his pipe. "Sorry..." Lia said with a nervous smile. We both stood up and I introduced everyone to Lia and my grandfather. There was obvious tension between Dineo and Lia,but it was expected. "So,you all came to hunt?" My grandfather said with his thick voice as he exhaled some smoke." I hope your all a better shot than this little shit." He said flicking Lia on the forehead. "Hey! I'm 3/5 now thank you very much." She said with her lip in a pout. "Well,it's most of thems first time shooting so I think it's more of a teaching session than an actual hunt,but I'll bring you back a good pair of antlers for the trophy rack." I said as I sat down. The rest of the group were shown to there rooms by the maids. "Ricardo. We will speak tonight." He said more coldly than I expected. "Ofcourse grandfather" . "But first" he started with a smile. " We will drink and smoke untill all of your friends sleep in a pile". "You sure your heart can take it old man?" I asked jokingly. "Watch your tounge boy,unless you want a rerun of your father's wedding video." I laughed as I remembered that video. My grandfather is my mother's father. The only family I had on my dad's side was 2 aunt's,which I never found the reason for. My father and mother had met when my mother nearly ran my father over,as they were both drunk and very lost,they took it as fate and 2 years later,had a wedding. That was the first day my grandfather and father had met. Both heavy and controlled drinkers,they had racked up a bill of nearly 60K. They only stopped when my father soiled himself and had passed out in his own shit. Which was caught on the wedding tape,which my grandfather was in control of. I presume he took that part of the video on purpose,but he claims it to be a happy coincidence that braught him and my father very close together,now it was my turn. Almost like it had turned into a tradition. A right of passage. Once everyone was situated and unpacked,we had an early dinner and we were almost pushed into the living room,where my grandfather and Lia had awaited us with what seemed like my grandfather's endless stash of alcohol. From brandy and whiskey to vodka and shooters. The ruling 5 had known that alcohol and narcotics were excellent ways to boost poison resistance. Both of which my grandfather had. We sat down as the maids had brought a sort of party bag for each of us. Each containing a drinking glass,a shot glass and a bag of the narliest smelling weed I had ever smelled,even during the crack. That night went by in a flash. With glass after glass,then shit after shot and finally ending with joint after joint,by the time I had finished my last joint,my thoughts sounded like screams and my heartbeat like gunshots. My head throbbing in a way I didn't know it could. My grandfather lit his pipe and inhaled. "Well" he exhaled. "Its now a 1v1" he said looking around. Everyone including the others in the ruling 5 and even Lia who lived with this monster had passed out,its a miracle that I can even speak but I managed. "I thkow rah lan nar. Rote makhe bank?" (Translated to:I think you won grandpa. How the hell aren't you dead yet?: take note this line wasnt meant to refer to a certain language,it simply resembles a drunken chatter and slurred words.) " My boy,I've done this every night for 40 years,this was just my warm up" he said as he laughed. "But listen and don't speak. Nod if you understand." That nod is all that I could managed or rather that's what it felt like. "You've grown strong my boy and have gathered a strong group. I don't know your reasoning but I'm glad you've set your mind to protect these people. Don't try to deny it,I might be old but I'm not senile yet. I can see it in your eyes. You've solidified your conviction and that's what made me do this challenge. To see how far you'd go for these people". He said as he took one of his rifles from the wall. A shock and terror spread through my body,a terror great enough to pump enough adrenaline in my to stand up and punch him in the jaw. He went to the ground hard as I took the rifle and the maids aided him to his feet. I unloaded the rifle and placed it back on the wall. "A great hit,boy." He said with a bleeding lip and already bruised lip. "Grandfather. I understand that you were simply doing what was needed. But. If you ever threaten the lives of my friends again. I will kill you." I said more infuriated than I had intended and with it,I had released the control I had on my mana. Seeing the fear in his shaking legs I controlled myself. "Sorry,I didn't mean it like-" he cut me off by raising his hand. "Relax boy. That's the response I wanted." He smiled with bloodied teeth. "You know where the rifles and ammo is. Take Lia with you tomorrow. By the time all of you wake up,I'll be heading into town to refill my stash." I looked at him as he sat down. "Gotcha,I want us to camp out there for about a week,you got any tents?" I asked as I sat down. " Barely enough for you all. But yeah,I have tents. The maids will show you tomorrow." He said as he exhaled some smoke. Then it hit me,with the adrenaline now out of my system,the weed and alcohol now reawakened and hit me like a semi truck carrying copper. My eyes became heavy and the next thing I knew it was light out...