“We…” Omar trailed off.

“We thought that you died. We honestly didn’t know what to think,” Nic said.

“... Yeah. We are so glad that you weren’t harmed in any way. It is a miracle,” Omar agreed.

‘So, the nightmarish experience of countless lightning strikes everywhere was all from the VR world? Whoa...  What were the odds of entering such a VR world when there was a horrible lightning storm in reality as well?’

“So, I was in this building the whole time?” Jared asked his friends who both gave him a strange look.

“Yes, you were wired to the VR game the whole time,” Nic confirmed.

“That’s why we were so worried about you,” Omar said.

‘That means I was never in reality stuck outside in the nearby park… But it all felt so real... I could feel the wind blowing at my face, the cold rain that beat heavily at me… and all the pain that followed from that experience... Were the electromyography sensors that advanced?’ Jared thought to himself and placed a hand on his hand. ‘I could even feel the air being knocked out of me.’

“Jared? Are you feeling unwell? Are you in pain?” Omar asked.

“No, I was just thinking of the whole experience. I could feel everything in the VR world. It felt so real,” Jared answered honestly.

“Yeah, the technology here is off the scales. I know what you mean,” Omar said.

“I honestly thought that I was going to die,” Jared said.

“So did we. You got us worried there,” Nic replied in a gruff tone. “If you hadn’t awoken within the next few minutes or so, Omar was about to call your Mom, the newspapers, military, and every other person he could think of.”

“Ahhh… Stop it! You are embarrassing me!” Omar exclaimed and shoved at Nic.

‘Strange… Was Omar always this sensitive? I understand where he’s coming from but this is the first time I’ve ever seen or heard him act like this,’ Jared tilted his head slightly as he watched his friends quarrel.

“It was a nightmare for me! I kept having to stop you from making this worse! The doctor had said that Jared was not injured in any way. Thus, it would have been better to just wait a couple of hours for him to regain consciousness一 which he did after almost an hour had passed!”

“Well… I…” Omar trailer off for he knew that Nic was right.

“Sorry for worrying you guys. I am okay now,” Jared said.

***

[On the way back in the car, 7.04pm一]

It had taken close to five hours for the local authorities to work together and safely free up the main route for people to travel. The storm had long ended but the devastation it brought was beyond imagination. Never in any of the residents’ lives, not even the oldest of the old, has there ever been a storm this terrifying. It was truly a miracle that no one was killed by the storm. Many were only injured and even then, it was not severe injuries.

Jared sighed softly and glanced at his friends who were seated in front of him. The car was moving very slowly and they had barely left the Beryl Mall’s car park. Nic was watching a very muted Omar who was gripping tightly onto the steering wheel. The once confident Omar was no longer the same when the storm had hit the town. Omar’s knuckles were white as he held on to the steering wheel.

“Omar, we should have been out of the car park minutes ago. You’re driving slower than a snail,” Nic remarked.

“Being safe is good…” Omar trailed off.

“Hah… Look, how about I take over the wheel?” Nic said.

“What? You don’t even have a driving license!”

“Correct, I only have a learner’s license. However, since you have a driver’s license, you can ‘supervise’ me as I drive,” Nic said and made air quotes with his fingers.

“I一”

“Omar, you are obviously very shaken and are in no condition to drive. You can’t expect Jared to drive since, despite what the paramedics that came diagnosed, he was indirectly struck by lightning. Thus, that only leaves me,” Nic reasoned.

“But it is a 20-minute drive on a busy road,” Omar rebutted.

“I will be fine. I am 20 after all.”

“How is that supposed to make a difference? We are all 20 years old!”

“I’m saying that I’m capable of making rational decisions. There will be no problems,” Nic explained.

“Well… I guess that you do have a point…” Omar hesitantly admitted.

“Good. Now, switch seats with me.”

***

They were about a block away when Jared began to see the familiar shops and food vendors. As the storm had long passed, many of the shop owners were seen setting up their respective stores again. Even the road they were traveling on was busier than it was in the daytime. Many office workers were returning home after a long day of work.

‘Life goes on, I guess,’ Jared thought to himself.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Jared fished out his cellphone from one of the zips in his backpack. There were three messages from his mother. She was replying to his earlier messages. Jared told her that they were waiting for the roads to clear before they could leave the mall. He had omitted the part about him being in the game center’s infirmary for being indirectly struck by lightning. 

Being a nurse at the only hospital in town, the storm had brought in many frightened and injured patients. There was hardly any time for her to reply but Jared was sure that his messages would have been seen rather immediately.

Tapping on the mobile, Jared read the new messages.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Sorry for the delayed reply, Honey. 

[[The hospital has been full of patients today. Everyone is shaken from the storm.

[[I’m glad that you are alright. Please take care and I’ll see you later.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Jared exhaled a breath he had been unconsciously holding in.

‘Mom is safe. That’s good,’ he thought to himself.

“All I’m saying is that we could sue the company,” Nic said.

“How so? We are clearly unharmed and the lightning was beyond the company’s control,” Omar retorted.

“True, but一”

“It was an act of God! Are you saying that the company is like heaven or something?!”

“No. I’m talking about the exposed wire on the side of the building. That was the company’s doing.”

“Yes, but the lightning was an act of God,” Omar repeated himself.

“True, but is it foreseeable that there will be lightning during a normal rainy day?”

“Yes...?”

“What month and season are we in?”

“...June and it is early summer.”

“When is the wettest time of the year?” Nic asked as if he was conversing with a child.

“...When it is June, early in the summer… So what if it is expected to rain? The lightning was still beyond the company’s control and there is no way you can pin the blame on them!”

“Yes, for natural disasters, such as the lightning storm we had just experienced, it is usually unforeseeable and inevitable.”

“There you go. So一”

“However, it is indeed the wettest time of the year and it is expected to rain very heavily almost every day now.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what we have confirmed earlier.”

“Is it reasonably foreseeable that there will be lightning during a heavy rain?”

“Yes, but it can’t be predictable where the lightning will strike.”

“True, but what would attract lightning?”

“Errr… Tall structures, water, metal, electrical appliances?”

“Is the Beryl Mall the tallest building within a fifty-mile radius?”

“...Yes.”

“Where were we in the building?”

“Hah… We were on the highest floor in the tallest building,” Omar replied grumpily.

“Yes. Now, please remind me what was struck that caused the incident back at the game center.”

“An exposed wire. Oh...”

“Yes, an exposed electrical circuit at the top floor of the tallest building in the whole area. Are you now telling me that it is completely unforeseeable for lightning to strike at that particular spot during a heavy rainstorm?” Nic asked.

‘Whoa. I had no idea that Nic could be this condescending. In fact, I’ve never seen him acting like this before,’ Jared thought.

“No, you are right. But can we really sue the company? It was not like they directly constructed the building,” Omar reasoned.

“Yes. However, they were the ones who brought in their own team of construction workers to reconstruct that section for their shop. Thus, the company can be held accountable,” Nic said.

‘Has Nic always been this knowledgeable? Although there is a minor chapter of law in his business course, I doubt that he would be well informed over a matter like this. I mean, I take the same course but it has never mentioned something like this before. If anyone, I thought it would be Omar who would know something like this,’ Jared pondered in silence.

“Whoa... That’s… Whoa… Jared, if you feel unwell or actually turn out to be injured or something by the whole accident, you can sue the company!” Omar exclaimed and turned in his seat to look at Jared.

“Ah… Yes, but I’m feeling fine.”

“Oh well,” Nic shrugged his shoulders as the car came to a stop at the traffic light.

“Oh yeah! Nic, why didn’t you voice out your opinion when we were still at the gaming center?” Omar asked.

“That’s because we are just three young boys. There are many bulky-looking staff members at the center and I figured that we would be at a loss if we were to go against them. Look at us. We are not fit nor do we have any martial arts background. Moreover, if the worst were to happen, we would be on our own. No police or any form of authority will be able to protect us,” Nic replied.

“Whoa… You thought about all of that?” Omar asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Nic answered there was silence in the car.

***

[7.25pm一]

“Hah… We have hardly left the area. I can still see the mall’s entrance from here. At this rate, it is going to be 8 pm by the time we finally reach our homes,” Omar complained.

“Yes, would any of you like to grab a bite or pack some food home while we are still here in town?” Nic asked.

“No, after all that has happened, I just want to return home as quickly as possible. I’ll fry some rice if I’m hungry. I just don’t want to stay outside any longer,” Omar answered.

“I’m good as well. I’ll just make some instant noodles or something. I am not hungry at the moment and I don’t think I’d be able to eat much. My stomach still feels a little queasy from the morphine and IV drip,” Jared replied.

“Okay then. I’ll just drive us straight home,” Nic said as he continued to stare ahead, waiting for the traffic lights to turn green.

Jared sighed and looked out of the window again. It was already getting dark as the sun was setting. Street lights were beginning to light up and all the passing buildings were already lit.

‘If I had not known better, I’d say that it was just a normal evening. Everything seems to be in place and一’

Then Jared caught sight of the homeless man he had seen earlier in the day again. He was at the same spot and dressed in dark brown ragged clothes. However, what caught Jared’s attention was that 11x16-sized cardboard sign that the homeless man held up. This time, the sign said, “You are doomed for the choice you have made.”