3.2
In the middle of all that tension that seemed to sit heavy in the air no matter where you went, Logan decided he needed to get out of the house for a while, not because he thought it would fix anything but because staying still and listening to the news and watching people slowly lose their minds wasn't doing his family any good, and if there was one thing he understood better than most it was that sometimes you had to move, had to do something normal even when nothing around you felt normal anymore, so he told Tyler to get ready and said they were going hunting, the words coming out simple and steady like it was just another day, like the world outside hadn't started falling apart piece by piece. Mia, of course, wasn't going to let that go without a fight, standing near the door with that stubborn look she had, insisting she wanted to come along, asking a dozen questions about how they hunted deer and why she couldn't see it for herself, and Logan, despite everything, felt a small smile tug at him because that kind of innocence hadn't been touched yet, not fully, and he wasn't about to drag her into something she wasn't ready for, so he knelt down, spoke to her gently, told her she could come another time when things were… better, even though he didn't know if that word meant anything anymore.
The truth was, Logan had a different reason for going out that day, something he didn't say out loud because it didn't need to be said, not to Tyler, not to anyone, he just needed a moment where things felt controlled again, where the noise of the world didn't reach him so easily, and maybe, just maybe, he wanted to spend some time with his son in a way that mattered, not as a kid anymore but as someone who needed to understand what was coming, because whether Tyler liked it or not, the world he was stepping into wasn't going to be easy or forgiving. Back inside the house, Sarah had been moving around the kitchen with a kind of quiet focus, the smell of food filling the space in a way that almost felt out of place given everything happening outside, and for the past few days she had been cooking meals that went beyond routine, the kind of dishes you'd normally save for special occasions, putting in extra effort, extra care, not because there was a celebration but because if things were really coming to an end, then why the hell not make the most of what time they had, and she hadn't said it directly but Logan understood it anyway, understood that this was her way of holding onto something normal, something warm, something human.
Out in the open land beyond the town, where the trees stretched tall and the air felt quieter, Logan and Tyler moved with a steady rhythm, carrying the essentials without much conversation at first, because hunting wasn't something you rushed into or talked through every second, it was something you settled into, and once they found a spot that felt right, Logan set his gear down and turned his attention fully to Tyler, not as a father giving casual advice but as someone who had learned the hard way that knowledge mattered when things went wrong. He reached for the rifle and placed it carefully in Tyler's hands, the Winchester Model 70, its worn wooden stock carrying years of use, the weight of it solid and familiar, and Logan's voice stayed calm as he explained it, not rushing, not overwhelming him, just guiding him through it step by step, how to hold it, how to steady his breath, how to respect what it was capable of, because this wasn't a toy or some game, it was a tool that had been trusted by hunters, marksmen, even soldiers over decades, a bolt-action rifle built for precision and reliability, and as Tyler listened, adjusting his grip, trying to get it right, Logan watched him closely, not just checking his form but measuring something deeper, something unspoken, because this wasn't just about hunting anymore, not really.
Logan didn't rush the moment, he never did, not when it mattered, and as Tyler held the rifle and tried to steady himself, Logan stood beside him with that quiet, grounded presence that came from years of experience, not just in the woods but in places far worse, places where hesitation could get you killed, and when he finally spoke it wasn't in the tone of a father trying to comfort his son but of a man preparing another man for what was coming, his voice low, steady, carrying weight without needing to raise itself, telling him things most people avoided saying out loud, that the world wasn't going to stay the way it used to be, that whatever was coming wasn't something they could run from or pretend didn't exist, and that fear was normal but letting it control you was what got people hurt, or worse, and Tyler listened, really listened, because there was something different in his father's voice that day, something stripped down to truth without any softness to hide behind. Logan told him straight,
"You don't get to panic when things go bad, you don't get to freeze up like half the people out there losing their shit right now, you stay sharp, you stay aware, and you look out for your family no matter what happens, because at the end of the day that's all that's going to matter," and he paused for a moment, glancing out toward the trees as if measuring something unseen, before continuing, "And don't turn into one of those selfish bastards either, I've seen it already, people you thought were decent turning on each other over nothing, neighbors who used to smile at you suddenly acting like animals the second things got hard, that's not who we are, you understand me, we help when we can, we don't lose ourselves just because the world's going to hell."
Tyler nodded, gripping the rifle a little tighter, and Logan was about to say something more when the sharp vibration from his pocket cut through the quiet, pulling him out of the moment instantly as he reached for the Relay, the small device lighting up in his hand, the signal flickering slightly but holding just enough to connect, and the second he saw the name on the screen he knew this wasn't going to be a casual call. He answered without hesitation, bringing it up to his ear as Mike's voice came through, rushed, tense, none of the usual laid-back tone he carried even in bad situations,
"Logan, listen to me carefully, you need to get your ass back home right now, this isn't a drill or some rumor, this is real, they're moving people into the domes and I just got word there's still a few spots left, not many, maybe a few hundred at best, and it's filling up fast,"
and Logan didn't interrupt, didn't waste time asking pointless questions, because he could already hear the urgency, already feel the shift in his chest as everything snapped into focus. Mike continued, barely slowing down,
"They're prioritizing people, military, government, people who've actually contributed something, then taxpayers and whoever else they can fit, it's a mess but there's still a chance if we move now, if we wait, we're done, you hear me, we're fucking done."
That was enough.
Logan didn't hesitate, didn't argue, didn't overthink it, he just ended the call with a simple "I'm on it" and turned to Tyler, the calm from earlier replaced with something sharper, faster, the part of him that had been trained for situations exactly like this kicking in without effort, "Pack up, we're leaving, now," and there was no room for discussion in his voice, no softness left, just action. The drive back felt shorter than it should have, the world outside already looking different as they passed through it, people moving faster, tension rising, and the moment they reached home Logan was already out of the vehicle before it fully stopped, moving with precision as he stepped inside, his voice cutting through the house,
"Sarah, get Mia ready, we're leaving, don't pack anything unnecessary, just essentials, water, clothes, whatever you can carry," and Sarah didn't question him, didn't ask why, because she saw it in his face, that something had changed, something real.
Everything moved fast after that, almost like muscle memory, Logan grabbing what mattered, moving through the house like he had done this a hundred times before, organizing supplies, checking what they needed, not wasting a single second, while Sarah lifted Mia onto her hip, the little girl confused but quiet, sensing the urgency without understanding it, Tyler moving quickly as well, no longer just a kid following orders but stepping into the role Logan had just pushed him toward. Outside, the RV sat waiting, and Logan grabbed the keys, guiding everyone in before suddenly stopping, his mind catching something he almost missed, "Shit," he muttered under his breath, turning back toward the house as the realization hit him, the shop keys, the ammunition, something they might need if things went even further downhill, and without explaining he rushed back inside, grabbing what he needed, already thinking ahead.
As he stepped out again, he saw Mike pulling up near the house, his car coming to a sharp stop, and without wasting time Logan moved toward him, tossing the keys across with a quick motion, "Go to the shop, load up whatever we can use, I'll follow you in the RV," and Mike caught them without hesitation, already understanding the plan, because that's how it had always been between them, no need for long explanations when things got serious. Within seconds they were moving again, engines starting, decisions made, and whatever came next, they were already in it.