Ray woke up as the first rays of the morning sun hit his face, the fresh smell of a forest assaulting his senses as he rose, reminding him of just how good the life was right now. As he slowly got up, he carefully extracted him from the entangled limbs. The two, beautiful redheads sleeping in the bed were still asleep, finally having gotten used to the safety of the place they now loved. For months had they ran, scraping by as they fought for their survival, escaping both the mutated beasts and the greedy humans that now roamed the earth, developing a habit of shallow sleep, waking at the smallest of noises. As he gazed down from their enormous tree house, he smiled and appreciated everything that he had now, remembering how it all started.

  Apocalypse. The end of civilisation. The Gods punishment. There were many names that the people surviving the collision called the event. Whatever name used, the result was still the same. There was no actual knowledge regarding what had started it all. Some say a meteor struck earth somewhere, escaping the sight of the satellites and all those numerous government organizations keeping track. Others say it was a weapons experiment gone horribly wrong, the scientists responsible for it all making a huge mistake in their calculations. Whatever the case, it did not truly matter, as the result was still the same.

  First, came the EMP. Electro Magnetic Impulse, frying all existing technology on the planet, resulting in numerous crashes, both cars and planes, causing countless casualties. Then the chaos started. Without the technology, it had only taken days for all hell to break loose. Riots, skyrocketing crime and lawlessness since people could not acquire any food and supplies without their credit cards and what not. As people started cannibalizing each other, both figuratively and soon enough literally, came the sand storms.

  It lasted for a few weeks, burying quite large areas in sand and changing the topography of the lands quite a bit, all while people still were fighting for survival. It was estimated that during these few weeks, more than half the population in the urban areas died, leaving only the best prepared and most ruthless to thrive. But that was only the beginning. It was after the storms that the true tests started. people noticed the speed with which the plant life died out, as if decided by a higher power that the world had to go in an early reset. It was odd though, since nobody could actually feel the lack of oxygen that was supposed to appear due to the extinction of plant life.

  And then, the beasts appeared. Creatures that resembled what had always lived besides humans, though in monstrous sizes and with acquired taste for flesh, though what else could they be feeding on, truth be asked? Plants were dying out in rapid speed and with no advanced tech working, people could not even try to start figuring out the reasons behind it all. Though not all was bad, as some would say, for the humans started to realize they too had come out for the better, with some people noticing paranormal abilities they had acquired.

  If only the world had not been going to shit as it had been, people could perhaps rejoice in the newfound, incredible things they could pull of. The abilities varied anywhere from physical prowess many times over the perceived human limits, allowing one to jump and and down multiple story buildings to the ability to control magnetic fields to a certain effect and everything in between. Still, the lack of food was an issue that demanded immediate solution, with the larger human congregations formed to try and collectively survive the end of the world asking these empowered individuals to hunt down and sustain their settlements, in turn receiving privileges and royalty treatment. Women, men, even children to spend the nights with. There was little these individuals were not allowed to enjoy, after all what was a small sacrifice to ensure the survival of the larger group.

  Ray was one such individual, though he was not part of any such settlement. He had been on a survival camping trip of sorts when the disaster struck, training and experiencing what it would be like to survive on his own after a tragedy had struck. He was a man in his late thirties, having both served in the military and now an owner of a small company creating games. Though he thought that all they made had to be based off of some kernels of truth and since they were making a survival game and due to his ideals and training he was out there on an island, preparing an extensive report to ensure their game came out gritty and realistic feeling, even if they decided to add some fantasy elements in the mix in the end.

  He had noticed the death of his tech, just like everyone else, though because of his old fashioned and some would say paranoid personality, he had been making a written copy as well, filing out a notebook with his observations and experiences, resulting in him switching over to old fashioned writing entirely for the time being. he had not panicked all that much, chalking it up to some nasty storm cooking his gear, expecting his guys to come by and replace it all once they were able, continuing with his task as planned.

  The storm had been much harder though, but he had persevered, his training and quick with providing him with plenty of ways to survive. The lack of other people in his vicinity helped though, as he only had to worry about what the nature could throw at him. It was about the time the storm was coming to and end that he realised he had changed, understanding his own mutation, or the awakened power as some would call, on an instinctual level. Since it was quite useful, though it did take him some time to realize just how amazing it was, he continued on, realizing that what he was facing was in no way a small, local issue. He would have been extracted already if that was the case. No, this was a problem on a larger scale.

  He did worry about his guys in the company, but since he did not have any family to care for and he loved being alive, the world being far too fun a place, he focused on his own survival first, developing his powers in the process. Some would say that his ability to command and control flora was useless, what with it dying out faster than the word could afford to, but that was until he realised he could 'order' plants to mutate in ways he wanted them to and be capable of growth and survival in this new world of theirs.

  Creating a new world jungle as he moved forward, he was always both protected from whatever mutated creatures roamed the devastated lands as well as fed, the plants growing food for him to sustain his life. He had advanced, using all of the skills in his arsenal, along with his new ability to find his way home. He was already expecting absolute chaos and anarchy in the urban areas, but it was not until he actually reached the first city on his way that he realised just how bad it had gotten.

  Tribes of people roaming around, hunting each other to either rob their supplies or to consume the other groups, each looking out for their own. Some hunting the mutated beasts that roamed around, using them as sustenance should they succeed in bringing one down. Those without powers, or those with ones not suited for combat relegated to servants, if not outright slaves of those in charge. There had been plenty of people who, upon noticing him had tried to take him down, but thanks to his training and strengthened body, all thanks to some special fruits he had demanded to grow, he could take them all down.

  It was on the end of the second month since the apocalypse started that he ran into Natalie and Rika, the two women now sleeping peacefully in his bed. They had been running for a week or so, pursued by a group of guys who had seen them scraping by and had decided that the two beauties could relieve their needs. It was a sheer coincidence that Ray had appeared before them moments before they were caught up with, their last ounces of strength waning, their supplies having run out as they had been on a constant run. The group chasing them had caught up just moments later, the few human skulls used as decorations on their attires not giving the slightest ounce of humanity off of them.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Ray did not look much like the older guy in his late thirties anymore, resembling a buff and well trained young man in his mid to late twenties, not displaying the slightest of the problems most people dealt with in these trying times. His insanely good condition was instantly noticed by the leader of the group, stopping some solid ten to twenty meters away from Ray, the two redheads collapsed at his feet.

  "We want no trouble stranger, but those two are our prey." their leader spoke in english. "We have been tracking them for a few weeks now. If you would be so kind and hand hand them over, we will be on our way. This does not have to get ugly." he added, his muscles bulging visibly as he displayed an ability of his own, hoping Ray would recognise an evolved.

  "Please sir." heaving, begged the older of the two "Help us. I will do anything."

  The clothes she wore were quite shabby, worn and torn from the harsh conditions she had gone through, revealing more skin than intended as it had started to tear in certain places. And while quite dirty from all the running and hiding, he could still see the beauty underneath, with curves that could ignite fire in most men should she get the chance to tidy herself up. And while he would be lying if he said he did not consider the offer with some dirty thoughts in mind, the lack of a female companion for a few months doing it's thing, he was still rational enough to solve the problem at hand first. Judging from the skulls the other group carried, they did not give Ray the best of impressions.

  "You may leave then and there will be no trouble. These two will stay with me though." Ray replied, causing the two, exhausted women to sigh in relief.

  "Afraid that is not quite possible man. We have spent quite a bit of resources tracking them and can't just leave empty handed." the leader replied. Ray in response took off his large backpack and opened it, fishing out fist sized, black fruits. He placed ten of them on the ground and then put the backpack back on.

  "These ten fruits have five lobes each. Every lobe contains as much as six thousand calories, give or take plus some vital vitamins and amino acids. You will have to do with that. Or you can try and learn the hard way what happens if you don't accept my offer." With his words said, people felt the ground tremble a little, realising just how dangerous Ray could be.

  "We will take the fruits then." the leader quickly deflated, his hands rising in surrender.

  "Wise choice." Ray replied, kneeling, carefully picking the two exhausted women from the ground, each in one of his hands and walked away, leaving the group alone. Wisely, the other group did not pursue Roy, allowing him to get away and find a secluded spot to stop and rest. He gave the two some of the fruits, explaining their properties and asking them to tell him what they knew, where they were going any anything else that could be of use.

  They thanked him, though were guarded around him as if expecting him to reveal his cannibalistic tendencies or worse, only eating the fruits after he had done the same, showing it was safe. They could not understand how Ray was so relaxed, as if the apocalypse had not affected him at all, with the younger woman, no older than eighteen even blurting out the question at one point, causing the two redhead to quickly get embarrassed and shy their eyes away.

  "Well, I am no beautiful pair of women for starters." he joked with a light laugh, earning a funny glare from the duo. "It is true though. Beauty in women is a double edged sword, doubly so in times like these. It can open you doors no others would have, but at the same time it paints a target on your backs. Men are simple like that. It is how you offered to do anything for my help, no doubt realising that your chances of survival were higher with me than that group of likely cannibals." his words caused a moment of awkward silence, him reminding of the promise spoken, though both women were now well aware he could just do as he pleased. Observing him now that they were well rested gave them no hope of escaping.

  "Lets go over there then." the older of the two spoke. "Rika does not need to see this." Natalie spoke as she began to stand up, stopped by the younger redhead Rika.

  "i will do it mom. It's not safe for you now."

  "Shush now. Let mom figure things out. I have to protect you no matter what." Natalie shook her head.

  "Or you could not rush to decisions and sit down. While I would love to take you up on that promise, let's save that for a time when we find a better place and have get ourselves a nice bath and stuff. Why ruin such pleasant activity?" Ray spoke, his reasoning both what he had said and hoping that his words would put the duo at ease around him. If they believed he was protecting them as they traveled to still have his fun, but detested the idea to ruin the experience, they might just relax around him, learning to trust and depend on him. The idea of living alone in a world without internet and all the fun stuff it offered was truly terrifying for Ray and natalie and Rika were the first people who had not been hostile towards him after the apocalypse started.

  That was how their journey started. They traveled for another month, getting to know each other better as Ray guided them, providing the fruits that sustained their group, eventually stumbling upon a rather nice place, the desolate surroundings not included. A rather large lake came into their view, with quite a large island visible in the center even from the shore, with tracks of humans passing by regularly, coming and going from multiple directions. Apparently the lake was a place quite a few groups took their water supplies from. No surprises there, the water was good for drinking, not something that was visible often.

  It was here that ray had offered to make their own place to live. All he needed was a place like this to start his sanctuary plan, something he had thought off for a while.

  "I know we should not be the ones to ask, seeing how you have quite literally kept us alive so far with your supplies, but there is nothing to sustain ourselves with here. You too surely must be running low as well by now." Natalie spoke, having come to appreciate Ray, looking towards him with as more than just their savior and she saw how Rika looked towards him as well. And she knew she was in her late thirties, while both Ray and Rika were young, very much so.

  "I told you I am an awakened, did I not?" Ray smiled as spoke.

  "Yes." nodded the duo.

  "Neither of you have asked me of my ability, have you now?"

  "Did not seem appropriate. We already are in your debt so much I don't think I could ever hope to repay you, no matter how many times I would offer myself to you." Natalie said, a sad smile on her face.

  "It's okay mom. Ray no doubt would not mind if we made him Oyakodon." Rika spoke, a large smile on her face, causing Ray to spit out the water he was drinking right now.

  "Where would we find chicken?" asked Natalie, stopping halfway in her sentence and blushing, realizing what her daughter meant.

  "Rika!" she exclaimed, clearly flustered, her eyes darting between her daugher and Ray.

  "How about I first make a place for us to live?" Ray asked a moment later, though his eyes kept darting between the two, beautiful women, his imagination running wild.

  He then took out a small piece of root from his backpack, placing it in the water. Moments later, the root started to grow in an astonishing rate, in mere minutes reaching a size that could easily support the three of them.

  "Hop on board!" Ray exclaimed, getting on first and gesturing for the duo to follow. Once all three were on, he guided the raft towards the island, reaching it mere minutes later.

  "This place seems perfect!" Ray exclaimed, looking towards the two women. "As I was saying, there is no reason to worry about my supplies, since I can just grow as much as I need. All that is necessary is light and water, something that can be found everywhere here, not to mention that a trees roots can reach deep enough to tap in the waters below as well." He smiled as Natalies and Rikas eyes widened in realization. "Yep. I can make this whole place green again." he spoke as he looked at the duo.

  "Just promise you will take care of Rika for me no matter what, will you?" asked Natalie as she looked at Ray.

  "But there is so much more Nat." Ray spoke as he smiled. "You know," he smirked suddenly "I am actually almost forty years old." fishing out another, much smaller fruit from one of the pockets of his back, handing it to Natalie, causing both redheads to look at him in disbelief.

  -----------------

  It had taken Ray another month to reach the level the island was now at, dealing with the people from settlements around who had come for the water and noticed the sudden development of the island. He had established rules and laws that had to be followed to receive support from him, allowing the forest to grow further out around the lake. providing the people around with a reliable and nutritious food. It was clear to the people around that without him, nothing here would exist, ensuring that his word was law. Though Ray cared little to exercise his power, except for regular reports regarding the lawbreakers. He had all the time in the world now, so he, alongside Natalie and Rika would make sure that there was at least one place in this new, messed up word of theirs where people could still maintain humanity.