[h2][center][color=a187be]The Oakwood Ranch[/color][/center][/h2]
Anna peeked into the room only to see Ethan packing his bag.

[color=8dc73f]“I have to go, mum,”[/color] he said when he noticed her.

Anna snorted. [color=a187be]“Like hell you have to.”[/color]

[color=8dc73f]“I am a DOCTOR, they are rallying everyone to…”[/color]

[color=a187be]“Are you insane?”[/color] she interrupted him. [color=a187be]“Have you seen the news? Do you want yourself get killed? To abandon Alex? For what?”[/color] Anna shook her head desperately. How can her own son be so stupid?

[color=8dc73f]“I took an oath to help people.”[/color]

[color=a187be]“You can help people here. There is nothing you can do for the others.”[/color] Anna absentmindedly touched the gun, safely placed in a holster at her side.

Ethan looked at her nearly with disgust. [color=8dc73f]“So this is how is it going to be? We will hide out here and shoot everyone who comes close?”[/color]

[color=a187be]“Of course not. But in case you haven’t noticed, the society out there isn’t what it used to be anymore. People are killing each other for a can of soup.”[/color]

He rolled his eyes. [color=8dc73f]“You are over exaggerating.”[/color]

[color=a187be]“Am I? Give it a few days and you will see. But you will do that from here. You are not going anywhere,”[/color] Anna said firmly.

Ethan gave her a sad laugh. [color=8dc73f]“I’m not fourteen anymore, mum. You can’t ground me.”[/color]

She nodded. [color=a187be]“I can’t. But she can,”[/color] Anna pointed at Rachel, who was just going up the stairs, cradling Alex in her arms.

[color=00aeef]“As much as I hate to say it, I agree with your mother,”[/color] Rachel frowned. [color=00aeef]“You are not leaving me and our daughter just because you think you have some obligations to other people. There is no discussion on that.”[/color]

[color=a187be]“See, she agrees with me. You don’t see that every day, do you?”[/color] Anna laughed. As much as she disliked her daughter-in-law, right now she was glad for her support.

[hr]

George was atop of the northwest guard tower. Well, he liked to call it a guard tower, but truth be told, it was pretty far from being an actual tower. Still, it provided him partially covered and elevated spot to see over the wall and far to the grass fields surrounding the ranch, as well as to the edge of nearby forest. He lowered his binoculars. Careful observation of the entire horizon didn’t reveal anything unusual. Perhaps it was too soon, but he believed that in times like these, you can never be too careful.

He glanced at his sniper rifle. While he was ex-military, he never was a professional sniper. Still, he would be better than any untrained civilian, which will soon start roaming the country, searching for things to steal and people to kill. It was maybe little too pessimistic thought, but George believed it. Sooner or later it is going to happen, and he will be prepared.

He overlooked the pasture where Bob and Mary tended to the cows. The animals have finally calmed down, they felt the tremors from the earthquakes long before humans even noticed them. But while animals could relax as there was no immediate threat to them, humans could not. The electricity was still working and most TV channels were operational, providing everyone with images of riots, shooting, even bombing. 

Frowning, George thought it was just typical. There is a huge disaster, and instead of helping, people immediately jump at each other's’ throats. Countries in the middle east took the advantage of turmoil in the UN and reignited every old feud they had with each other, killing thousands of civilians in the process. Not that human life had had any value in those parts of the world even before all this mess.

George shook his head, trying to get rid of those depressing thoughts. He saw Anna leading the house and quickly jumped down from his spot to catch up with her. [color=f26522]“So how did he take it?”[/color]

[color=a187be]“Not well,”[/color] she sighed. [color=a187be]“But he will do what Rachel says.”[/color] George just laughed. [color=a187be]“Hey I don't like her either, but what can we do?”[/color]

[color=f26522]“Everything looks fine for now, at least around here.”[/color]

Anna nodded quietly. [color=a187be]“I don't think there will be any immediate trouble for a few weeks, but we better be prepared.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“Yea, my thoughts exactly.”[/color] For anything.