100 Systems Invasion

5. Even If I Die

What would you do if the world end tomorrow?

That was the question asked repeatedly by his professor, earlier today, at noon. Back then, Seth was obliviously blissful for his lack of knowledge – that the world he knew could end tomorrow.

Now, the answer to that question was quite simple.

The world could end tomorrow, and he spent the last two hours and with a sandy blonde stranger he met in a home décor store. Her name was Amy Palmer and her current goal in life was to beat her cousin’s ‘Most Strangest Day of My Life’ story.

That being said, Seth was riding shotgun while Amy drove her second hand car to the direction of his mother’s house.

“So, what do you do for a living?” The sandy blonde asked, completely disregarding the dried blood on Seth’s clothes.

“I’m a student.”

“Oh. That’s why you looks to be on the young side.”

“Do you always help random people out at night for amusement?”

Amy shrugged. “My thousand bucks is on the line if I don’t do something crazy by this week.”

“Even if you die doing it?”

“Dude, you came by my store in questionable attire. My life is practically in your hands!” That was unnecessary, in his opinion. But Amy seemed to be the kind of girl who take no shit on daily basis. “Please tell me you just murdered someone today.”

That was … unexpected.

Seth shifted on his seat. A little away from the sandy blonde, until his back pressed against the car’s door. It was too early. “There’s a chance I could do the same to you.”

“But there’s no chance of two serial killers in the same car.” Seeing his pale face, Amy took pity. “I’m kidding. But seriously, you didn’t kill someone today, right?”

Seth sighed, slumping on his seat as he brought a hand against his forehead. “No,” he said, closing his eyes and willing his brain not to supply him with Victor’s spontaneous demise.

“Because believe it or not, you look extremely similar to the escaped murder suspect on the local news just now.”

He kept his silence.

“Shit …” Amy muttered. “You’re him?!”

He half-expected her to stop the car and call the police right away. But, his other unsaid guess was correct. The sandy blonde squeeled and punched the air.

“Hell yeah, baby! You just really made my day, I could kiss you!”

“Please don’t …”

“God! How could I be this lucky?!”

“Seriously now?”

“Come on, dude! You’re the newest murder suspect on the run and I manage to run into you!”

“You shouldn’t be this happy.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I won’t lose this a bet to my cousin. He can eat shit!”

“Still …” Seth mumbled, “You shouldn’t be this happy. You can die tomorrow.”

“Huh? What’s that?”

Seth flicked his eyes on his phone, dreadedly looking at the small 22.17 on top of his screen. No more than two hours before the first wave invasion. “Say, what do you think when you heard ‘first wave invasion’?”

Amy seemed to think this thoroughly. Unlike what her previous spontanity displayed. “I’d say the Russian and North Korea finally go all out and nuke all burger parlors in the states or alien ships raining down on us, demanding our streaming service’s lifetime passwords.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“What do you expect? You want my answer, so you got it. Don’t complain.”

But she probably got something right.

The first wave invasion, even Victor didn’t tell him anything about it. Except for how horrondous it seemed. It could be some unannounced war from the other nations, or it could be an extraterrestrial force making a contact with humanity through ill means.

“The first wave invasion will begin at midnight.” The words left his mouth before he was aware.

“What, now?” Amy was looking at him with a confused expression. “Are you claiming that something big is going to happen in an hour?”

Seth nodded, “It will starts in the most populated area.”

“Then, we should head to the city’s entertainment and economic center!”

“No! Are you crazy?!”

“Well, I just want to know what’s this ‘something big’ you keep talking about.”

“I don’t care about you, but I need to survive.” He then added as if in after thought. “Even if I have to deck you out and steal your car.”

“You’re no fun.”

“There won’t be any fun if we’re dead.”

Amy tapped her finger on the steering wheel, thinking again. “You know what, I’m just going to bet all of my thousand bucks on your delusion and hope something crazy will really happen.”

“Huh?”

“Fine, we’ll do it your way. Let’s go find an unpopulated area and wait for the so-called first wave invasion to happen. I can’t wait to see Wade’s face when I tell him things.”

Seth turned his head, looking out at the side of the road they passed. Something big would happen and all of those people out there could die. He didn’t think he should warn them. They were too busy cat-calling girls, stuffing their mouths with delicious junks, and watching something funny on their phone.

They wouldn’t heed a no-one’s warning.

“If your cousin still alive, that is.”

“Oh, he’ll stay alive, don’t worry. Wade is like a cockroach you can’t get rid of.” Amy said again, “But, you’re right. Let’s get him first before I forgot.”

The second-hand car made a sharp turn, causing Seth to bang his head against the hard window. The sandy blonde then stepped on the gas pedal and the car zipped through the city road, heading towards a complex area just one and a half hour before the first wave invasion begin.