Questions

"I might know some things," she said cautiously. "But I'm still figuring a lot of it out myself. What exactly do you want to know?"

Luke's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and trepidation crossing his face. "Well, first off, you were heading towards the portal on purpose, right? That's why you didn't want me to tag along. Why did you want to go in there, when it's so dangerous? And you were talking to that strange old man who suddenly appeared as if you already knew about the portals." His questions shot out like bullets from a pistol, bombarding Rose. Each one hit the mark of what she didn't want to discuss.

"I can't tell you everything," Rose replied cautiously. "But yes, I did go to the portal on purpose. As for that hologram or whatever it was, I was just as surprised by it as you were."

"Then where did that device come from?"

"Can't tell you," came Rose's clipped reply.

Though disappointed, Luke didn't dwell on the matter. He had too many other questions still burning in his mind.

"You were talking about a 'crystal core.' What exactly is that?"

At that question, Rose stopped in her tracks, the previous annoyance welling up inside her. "It's what gave you your ability," she grumbled, unwilling to say more. The crystal core was, after all, meant for Ethan, and now Luke had gotten it.

Even though her answer was brief, it was enough for Luke. Realization dawned upon him. "So you went inside to search for that crystal core, and I actually got it inside that monster?!"

Rose nodded grimly, confirming Luke's suspicion. "Yes, that's exactly what happened. The crystal core was meant to grant an ability, and you ended up absorbing it when you were inside that giant worm. When you activated it subconsciously, you killed it, thus saving both of us." She pushed aside her lingering disappointment, knowing there was no point in dwelling on it now.

"Then what about you?"

Rose lifted a brow in question.

"I mean," Luke stepped even closer, now whispering, "do you also have an ability? I felt something was off when we were escaping from that thing. I was so panicked that I didn't really notice at first, but then I thought about it again and again afterward. We could never have climbed that slope by normal means, right?" His eyes glittered in anticipation of her answer.

Rose exhaled. That boy really had a knack for pointing out things she wished he had overlooked.

Now the question was, should she tell him or not?

Rose weighed her options carefully. On one hand, sharing her ability with Luke could foster trust and potentially aid their survival. On the other, revealing too much was never good, especially since she couldn't completely trust him to keep this information to himself. She decided on a middle ground.

"You're perceptive," Rose said quietly, glancing around to ensure no one was within earshot. "I do have an ability, but I'm still learning about it myself. Let's focus on getting our supplies for now, and I promise we'll talk more about this later."

Luke nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response for now. He was curious, but not pushy, which Rose appreciated. As they moved on, she made a mental note to find a more private moment later to discuss their abilities further. It would be beneficial for them to train and perfect them for when they might be needed. For now, though, they had a mission to focus on.

They arrived at the pharmacy, and as Rose pushed open the door, a little bell chimed overhead.

The interior was properly lit, with rows of shelves stocked with various medications and health supplies. It was obvious from the full shelves, that the hording of supplies had not yet started in this area. 

A middle-aged woman stood behind the counter, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of customers. Rose approached her, list in hand, while Luke hung back, keeping watch near the entrance.

Rose approached the pharmacist, presenting her list of needed medications and supplies. The woman behind the counter nodded, her movements quick and efficient as she gathered the items. 

It only took them quarter an hour to pack and pay-up, already leaving the pharmacy with both their arms full with bags. They decided to bring everything to the car first, before heading to the supermarket.

There they faced a similar picture with everything still available. They quickly grabbed their list of essentials, filling their cart with non-perishable foods, bottled water, and other necessities. As they moved through the aisles, Rose couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency, knowing that these well-stocked shelves might not last long once more people realized the gravity of the situation. With their cart full, they made their way to the checkout, grateful for the foresight to prepare while they still could.

With their arms full of supplies, Rose and Luke made their way back to the cars, ready to regroup with Ethan and Andrew. They didn't have to wait long; Ethan and Andrew hurried back well before the two-hour deadline, laden with bags of various sizes. As they skillfully stowed everything inside the two cars, Ethan asked, "Did you get everything? Any problems?" 

"None at all. We got everything on our lists," Rose replied. "How was it on your end?"

"All went well, too," Ethan nodded. "Andrew, what about the generator?"

"It'll be delivered to Aunt Betty's farm tomorrow afternoon," Andrew confirmed.

"Perfect," Ethan said. "So, are we all ready to go?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

With everything packed and secured, the group piled into their cars and left town. The weather held good, and the journey back proved uneventful. They arrived at the farm at noon, just in time for lunch.