And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 21 Noah

I grip the armrest tightly, my knuckles turning white as Hayes' father explains the tangled web of deception surrounding us. Disbelief and confusion swirl within me, making it difficult to process the revelations unfolding before my eyes.

"Wait, so you're telling me that V, the guy who's been protecting us, is actually your best friend and bodyguard?" I interject, struggling to make sense of it all.

Hayes' father nods solemnly, his expression grave. "I sent him to keep you both safe from the Hanami Organization. When he overheard your plans to travel to Japan, he knew he had to go undercover and join you."

My mind races, piecing together the puzzle. "And Jake... he had no idea you were alive either?" I ask, turning to my friend, who seems just as bewildered as I am.

Jake shakes his head slowly. "My uncle doesn't even have a private airstrip. V must have told me that to divert us here."

A heavy silence falls over the group as the weight of the deception settles upon us. I glance at Hayes, searching for some semblance of understanding, but his eyes are filled with a mix of shock and relief.

"Why didn't you just tell us the truth?" Hayes asks, his voice wavering with emotion. "We could have avoided all of this chaos."

His father sighs deeply, a hint of regret flickering across his features. "The Hanami Organization is more dangerous than you can imagine. They've been after our family for generations, seeking the research your grandfather conducted. Telling you the truth would have put you at even greater risk."

A chill runs down my spine at the mention of the Hanami Organization's relentless pursuit. Memories of the chaos in Japan, the fear, and the uncertainty, come flooding back, and I instinctively reach for Hayes' hand, seeking comfort in his touch.

"What happens now?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Hayes' father sighs, his expression grim. "There's a world ending natural disaster coming. We don't know what exactly is going to happen, but it is expected at 12 AM on February 13th, Seoul time."

My mind reels as I try to process this devastating news. In just 48 hours, life as we know it will be wiped out. The panic and anxiety must show on my face, because Hayes reaches over and gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," he says gently. "We'll get through this together."

I meet his eyes and nod, despite the terror gripping my chest. Hayes' father clears his throat and continues explaining.

"There is a bunker that's been prepared. Large enough to house over a thousand people. It was built in secret by billionaires from around the world to protect their families and friends when global catastrophe strikes."

"Where is it?" Sophie asks nervously. "How do we get there?"

"I can't disclose the exact location yet. But we need to move fast. The jet is already prepared to take us there," Hayes' father responds.

"What about our families?" I ask, thinking of my parents back home.

Hayes' father smiles. "We have already sent a team to get them."

My heart sinks, aching for my family even as hope glimmers for our survival. We have a chance, but the clock is ticking.

"Okay, let's go then," Hayes says decisively. He keeps a brave face, but I know he must be churning inside too.

We gather our minimal belongings and follow Hayes' father back to the jet. As the engines roar to life, I gaze out the window, watching the last glimpses of a world soon to be lost. Hayes grips my hand tightly in silence - two souls bound together as we hurtle towards an uncertain future.