Chapter 28: Ben and Aunt Lucy

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ben and Aunt Lucy

"Kai, I thought it was supposed to be something small? Why did your family order so much food?" Ben asked as he high-fived Kai.

"Well, technically all this food will not go to waste" Kai said. Once the first caterers were done, he walked over to the banquet hall to check on Penelope. He happened to see Erik and Penelope looking at Penelope’s phone with furrowed brows.

"What’s going on?" Kai asked as he walked up to them. Ben has always been a quiet guy. He was more vocal towards Penelope and Ben, but was a bit timid when it came to Erik. He couldn’t help it. Erik always gave off the strict older brother vibe. He always treated Ben as a younger brother as well. Ben never felt like an outsider when he was around the three. He was just much more reserved with Erik.

"Communication has gone off the grid. The government sent out a massive emergency alert. Telling citizens not to fear, everything is under control." Penelope said as she handed over the phone to Kai.

"Communication is off the grid?" Ben said as he checked his own mobile. He also received the emergency alert.

Kai, Erik and Penelope all exchanged looks. Once the caterers were done, they led them to the outside gate and paid them a hefty bonus.

"Ben, let’s go inside. We got a lot to talk about." Kai said as he walked in w Penelope and Erik.

"Aunt Lucy, Aunt Mary, the caterers are done. Should we go and eat? Let’s not let the food get cold." Penelope said.

"Darling, you get prettier and prettier every time I see you. Tell me, what is Mary feeding you to keep you growing this beautiful?" Aunt Lucy said with a smile.

"Lucy, this girl looks just like her mother. Eliza was a beauty back in our day. I remember Allister would sulk for days when men would flock around her." Aunt Mary said while she cackled.

This was the first time Penelope had heard about such matters. Her Aunt rarely talked about her parents. It wasn’t that it was a secret, it was just too painful for Aunt Mary.

"Her mother must have been a beauty then." Aunt Lucy said as she patted Aunt Mary’s hand.

"Well, let’s get going. Dinner is waiting." Aunt Mary said, guiding the whole family and guest to the dining area.

Penelope noticed that the dinner ended at 6:30pm, giving her enough time to form her contracts before Killian’s arrival.

"Aunt Lucy, Ben, we have something important we would like to talk to you about" Ben was the one to break the ice. He felt that since he wanted to invite them to join the team, he should be the one to initiate the conversation. He couldn’t speak of the space’s existence but he could mention the zombie apocalypse.

"Okay, what is it?" Ben was the one answering. He found it strange that they ordered so much food but no one else was there.

"Well, don’t think that I’m pulling your leg. As incredulous as this sounds, the world as we know it will come to an end. A zombie apocalypse is coming. Today was the pre-apocalypse start. All communication went off the grid. In two days, the red sky phenomenon will start. Turning a high population of humans into walking corpses who feast on humans. Ben, do you recall all the zombie apocalypse novels I made you read last night? That’s why I had you read them. To mentally prepare you for what’s to come." Kai said in a matter of fact tone.

"So, you’re saying a zombie apocalypse is coming?" Ben couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He thought that his best friend and his family had lost their minds.

"I know this sounds crazy, but what Ben is saying is true. We called both of you here today to keep you two safe." Erik said.

Penelope decided that it was now or never, time was ticking. "Ben, Aunt Lucy, I know this is hard to believe but please, trust us. We just want to keep you two safe and alive...

Ben, you did read the novels that Kai sent you, right? Do you know what each novel had in common?"

"umm, I did read them. although I thought he was crazy for making me read them with him. I did read most of them." he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "What do they have in common? Let me think....People developed super powers, Crystal nuclei exist, famin happens, weather changes like extreme cold and extreme heat. Extreme rain as well. Animal and plant mutation...."

"Yes, but what else?" Kai asked in an urgent tone. He thought his friend couldn’t be that stupid.

"I don’t know, that’s all I can think of." Ben said, clearly getting frustrated that he couldn’t give the answer his friend wanted.

"A magical space" Penelope said. She knew Kai was trying to help Ben figure out the situation on his own.

"Oh yes, the hero or heroin always has a magical space. Usually from some sort of jade artifact with spiritual essence." Ben said. As if things were clicking into place, his eyes went wide. "Don’t tell me you have a spiritual space?" Ben asked Kai.

"No, I don’t" Kai answered sheepishly.

"Oh, what a bummer. That would have been pretty awesome." Ben said, once again missing the whole point of this conversation.

Penelope and Erik both couldn’t help but send exasperated glances at each other.

Penelope coughed and said "Well, he’s not the one with the spiritual world. It’s me." She proceeded to demonstrate her disappearing act to both Aunt Lucy and Ben.

"Oh dear! where did this child go? What this happening?" Aunt Lucy was the first to react. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. A zombie apocalypse? Deadly weather changes? A person disappearing right in front of her eyes?

Penelope appeared right back in the same spot she was moments ago. "As unbelievable as it sounds, it’s the truth. The world is changing. A zombie apocalypse will break out in two days. Today is the first day where the first batch of humans will awaken their superpowers. Known as awakeners. Everyone will live in danger from now on and the reason why we brought you two here is to form a contract with you two." Penelope finished talking, glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost time for Killian to arrive.

"We don’t have much time, we have a guest coming and I would like to form a contract before he arrives. This contract will grant you access to my space. Aunt Mary will be staying in the space once the zombies appear, we wanted to keep Aunt Lucy there too." Penelope was rushing now. Trying to explain everything about the contract to them.