Chapter 1: A Sudden Crisis

“What on earth just happened?” Papa exclaimed, bewildered.

“What are you talking about?” Lara replied, not wanting to engage in any discussion.

“We're getting soaked! Let’s locate that laboratory you mentioned,” Raul interjected.

Raul’s practicality was a relief; they needed something to focus on, even if it wasn't the ultimate goal.

“Can you take the lead back? And where are our pursuers?” They glanced around, surprised to find the area devoid of any enemies, as if the army base was abandoned.

“Yes. Let’s gather our equipment.” They spotted their supplies scattered about. Fortunately, they were clad in the gear they had acquired from the Tibetan cave, but what good were dry clothes if they were about to get drenched?

They quickly donned rain gear and grabbed a few bites to eat, grateful for the simple comforts that distracted them from contemplating the gravity of leaving time—and perhaps this world—behind. Their focus now had to shift to the lab.

They retraced their steps, stealthily bypassing the playground and heading towards their destination. To their shock, the building housing the laboratory had been completely obliterated.

“What the…?” Papa began, but his words faded as they noticed soldiers in the distance.

“Quick, we need to move!” Lara urged, leading the way back to the truck, still parked in front of the fitness center.

Papa took the wheel, with Lara and Raul guiding him. Their final destination was the castle ruins in Lindsborg, but Raul knew the base’s layout well and directed them towards a rarely used exit.

“This isn’t the time for traffic rules, Papa. Just drive!” Lara encouraged. Without hesitation, Papa pressed the accelerator, veering off-road and engaging four-wheel drive.

Mud splattered against the truck as they sped away, glancing back to see several government vehicles in hot pursuit. Thankfully, they had filled the gas tank before heading to the gym, and if nothing obstructed their path, they could reach the castle.

The journey was fraught with tension. Lara conveyed that their meeting at the castle would be a last-ditch effort. She had no plans beyond that, and the thought weighed heavily on them.

Raul, attempting to catch a signal on his smartphone, listened intently to the news as Papa maneuvered over bumps and ditches. He relayed shocking information:

“An armed militia has seized the capital building in Topeka! A civil war is erupting. National guardsmen have been deployed, but even some military and police are siding with the insurgents. Civilians are being outgunned and outmanned. It’s a massacre.”

Raul’s anguished groan cut through the tension. “What’s wrong?” Lara asked, her heart racing.

“All fifty state capitals have been attacked. Today marks the beginning of a second civil war in the United States!” Papa’s anger surged as he drove faster, fueled by rage not just at the adversaries but also at himself for realizing the truth too late.

All Lara could do was pray, wishing for the safety of her family. She longed to embrace Adam and her children, yearning for a return to normalcy. In that moment, she realized that the only true normalcy was unity with God. That was the message God was imparting through these trials: true peace came from being one with Him, while everything else was merely a fleeting shadow of genuine fulfillment.

A sense of calm enveloped Lara. Everything would be alright; she was where she needed to be.

“What the…?” Papa exclaimed once more, his keen eyes spotting something ahead.

It was Adam and the boys, driving their truck, accompanied by other vehicles speeding alongside.

“Raul, pass me that walkie-talkie!” Lara called, reaching back for it.

“Mama Bear here, over.” They waited for a response.

“Mama Bear, this is Baby Cub, over.” Cheers erupted in the truck, and Lara felt tears of joy.

“Enemies in pursuit, proceed with caution. Over.”

“Message received. Understood. Same here. Over.” Lara’s heart sank; this did not bode well.

In a moment of silence, she struggled to find the words. “Here, hold the walkie-talkie,” Papa said.

“This is Papa Bear. We’ll be alright. Over.” His confidence, a mystery to her, brought a momentary calm.

“Papa, Papa,” came Isaiah’s voice, forgetting the customary “over.”

No further words were exchanged; they simply drove on. It was a do-or-die moment. As Lara recalled Vishnu’s words about the inevitability of death, she felt a surge of determination. She was a mystic traveler, adept at transcending time. Time might be short, but she had tricks up her sleeve. She was not ready to surrender—not yet.

To Be Continued…

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Chapter 2: The Unraveling of Society

In this chapter, the gravity of civil unrest becomes clearer as Lara and her companions navigate their perilous reality.

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