The sudden shout made everyone jump. Boyd's eyes narrowed, his calm mask giving way to alertness. "What happened?!" he demanded, stepping closer to Jim.
Jim spoke quickly,"We barely dodged it. Some car… it came out of nowhere, completely out of control. We swerved just in time—by a hair—but it couldn't stop. It crashed right into the trees ahead."
Without waiting, Jim looked back urgently from the RV. "Quick, follow me!"
Boyd nodded. "Kenny, bring the truck. Father Khatri, get Kristi ready."
Kenny and Father Khatri moved immediately, working fast and efficiently. Within moments, the truck was ready, and Kristi was prepared.
The group, except for Donna, climbed into the truck. Boyd checked quickly to make sure everyone was settled. Jim stayed in the RV and drove ahead, leading the way to the crash site.
The engines started with a roar. The truck followed close behind the RV, as they raced toward the place of accident.
Dean, who too had climbed in the truck, felt his attention slip for a moment. A notification from his world travel panel had popped into his mind.
**
World Progress Percentage Reward: 0.5%
**
Dean blinked and frowned. He realized the 0.5% reward was for changing the plot—stopping the RV from getting into an accident. But he still didn't understand why he got the earlier 0.05% without any notification. He closed the panel with a quiet sigh, shaking his head, and looked back at the road ahead.
Just as he refocused, another notification popped into his mind. Dean groaned in his mind and rubbed his temple. 'Isn't there a silent button for this?' he thought. But he knew he couldn't ignore it and opened the panel again.
**Mission Panel**
Mission Objective: Personally help the new arrivals survive the night.
Reward:
•100 points per person survived
•World Progress 1.2%
**
Dean stared at the words for a moment. Every life he kept safe from the town's dangers counted toward his mission points. That meant the Matthews family, along with Jade and the other guy whose name had slipped his mind.
If they survived, he could earn about 600 points in total.
For a moment, his heart beat faster. Six hundred points could mean a big upgrade— new skills and abilities. The system hadn't shown him the full limits of what points could buy, but he already knew they were his ticket to survival in this cursed town.
Then reality hit him again. If the mission was offering that much, it meant the danger would be huge. Survive the night. It looked simple in words, but Dean knew the truth.
He pressed his lips together and leaned back in the seat. 'Although dangerous… this is a huge opportunity,' he thought quietly.
'Ahh what should I do? What should I do?' He kept asking himself.
He tapped his fingers on his leg, weighing the options again. Missions weren't compulsory. He had learned that already. The system didn't punish him if he ignored one. No penalties, no deductions. That gave him some breathing room.
For now, he chose to let things play out.
After what felt like a long run through the winding forest road, the RV slowed down and pulled to the side. The accident came into view.
The truck stopped behind it, and Boyd was the first to jump out, giving sharp orders.
Dean got out more slowly. His eyes scanned the scene. A Chevy Camaro was smashed against a thick tree trunk. The front bumper was crushed, and the hood bent upward. The windshield was cracked but still holding. From the angle, Dean could tell the car hadn't been going too fast. It looked like they had tried to brake before swerving. The crash looked bad but not fatal.
Jim after parking the RV on the side, stepped down quickly, his face tense. Kenny and Father Khatri moved fast, along with Kristi toward the car. She crouched by the driver's side window and peered inside. The rest of the group stood close, waiting.
Kristi leaned over the driver first, quickly checking his pulse and breathing. She brushed back his hair, pressed lightly against the cut on his forehead, then moved on to the passenger. Her hands worked fast, steady, checking his head, his airway, his chest.
After a moment, she straightened and looked at Boyd. "Both of them are unconscious, but it's just light injuries. No threat to their life."
Boyd and Jim let out a long sigh of relief, the tension in their shoulders easing.
She continued, "We still need to get them both out carefully and take them to the clinic."
Dean stepped forward before anyone else could volunteer. "I'll help," he said quietly, already moving toward the Camaro's door.
Kenny gave him a quick nod and joined in. Father Khatri came around the other side of the car. The three of them followed Kristi's instructions.
Dean pulled at the driver's side door until it opened with a sharp creak. The smell of oil and smoke rushed out, but the car wasn't about to catch fire. He leaned in, slid one arm behind the driver's back, and lifted slowly as Kristi cautioned, "Careful." Kenny helped take the weight, and together they eased the man out. Father Khatri spread a blanket nearby, and they set him down.
Dean then moved to the passenger side, where Jade slumped against the seatbelt. Father Khatri unbuckled him, and Dean slid his arms under Jade's shoulders while Kenny steadied his legs. They lifted him out inch by inch, Kristi keeping watch, before laying him gently on another blanket by the truck.
Boyd gave a short nod. "Good. Let's get them loaded."
Jade's friend was lifted into the front seat of the truck, a jacket rolled behind his head for support. Whereas Jade was laid carefully in the back, where Kristi could keep an eye on him. Once everyone was secure, Boyd gave the order, and the convoy started moving again. Now the truck took the lead and the RV followed behind it.
Dean sat near the back, his thoughts drifting until Kenny's voice pulled him out.
"What about the Matthews family?" Kenny asked. His voice was low but direct. "There's not much daylight left. We don't have much time to pull the spikes plan."
Boyd's hands tightened on the wheel. "Once we reach the clinic, I'll talk to them face to face. I'll tell them the truth—that the night is dangerous, that they need to stay."
"And if they don't listen?" Dean pressed.
Boyd's jaw tightened. "Then I'll make them listen. If reason doesn't work, I'll push harder....A gun on the table usually makes people reconsider their decisions."
Dean leaned back, thinking it over. He didn't disagree with such approach.
Boyd went on, voice lower. "That's the last resort. I'd rather not scare them more than necessary. If words don't work, I'll point to their kids. Parents will do anything to protect their children. If they see the kids are at risk, they'll stay without a fight."
Father Khatri, seated near the front, glanced back. "You could also lean on faith," he said gently. "Tell them to trust the people who've lived here longer. Sometimes hope works better than threats."
Boyd didn't dismiss it. He kept his eyes on the road, his voice steady. "One way or another, they're staying the night. Even if I have to drag them inside and bar the windows."
In no time, they reached the town clinic. The truck stopped in front, followed by the RV. The doors opened, and the group moved quickly, carrying the two unconscious men inside. Kristi guided them to the cots, pulled out her supplies, and Father Khatri helped her, checking bandages and setting up what little equipment the clinic had.
Jim parked the RV close by and climbed down. He had a worried and slightly frustrated look on his face. He stood at the door for a moment, watching Kristi clean the cut on Jade's temple. Relief showed on his face when he saw they were not in mortal danger. But something else still weighed heavy on him.
He walked over to Boyd, who stood near the entrance like a guard.
"Hey," Jim said quietly, scratching the back of his neck. "Thanks… for helping them. For helping us."
Boyd gave him a short look and muttered," Not a problem."
Jim nodded slowly. He let out a breath, frustration in his voice. "About the road. I need to ask… what's going on? We tried leaving more than once. No matter which way I drove, the RV came back. Same road, same trees. We ended up right back here. Is there some detour I missed?"
Boyd studied him for a moment. He chose his words with care. "It's not your driving. It's the town. The road doesn't let anyone out. You can drive from any point, but you'll always come back. Everyone here tried. We all ended up back where we started."
Jim's eyes narrowed and suspicion crept on his face. "Are you kidding me? That can't be real."
Boyd's jaw tightened, but his voice stayed level. "The first time I came here, I didn't want to believe it either. But none of us are here by choice. You're not the first to roll in thinking you could leave. You won't be the last."
***
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