The Goodwills: Adventure in an Apocalyptic World

chapter one

The banquet hall glowed beneath warm golden lights, its marble floors reflecting the soft shimmer of antique murals and sculptures arranged with almost ceremonial care. The Goodwill family filled the room with hushed conversations and polite laughter.

At the high table, Robert Goodwill, broad-shouldered with a thinning hairline and a voice that could carry through storms, rose to his feet.

“Everyone,” he called, the smooth baritone slicing through the chatter, “may I have your attention?”

The room stilled. Robert let the quiet settle before he began.

“Every human life has a peak,” he said. “For some, it’s something earth-shaking, like the man who first stepped on the moon. For others, it’s wealth, fame, recognition. Whatever form it takes, a peak is still a peak, and it deserves to be honored.”

He paused, scanning familiar faces, siblings, nieces, nephews, each one attentive.

“Today,” Robert continued, “we celebrate a man whose peak keeps rising. A brother to some, a father to two, a son to some of blessed memory, a mentor to all and a husband to one amazing woman who still refuses to share him with anyone.”

Subtle laughter rippled across the room.

“Victor Goodwill,” Robert said, smiling, “has always tested the limits of what excellence looks like. Childhood competitions, debate trophies, academic honors. He’s been stacking wins since he could walk. He earned an international scholarship, graduated top of his class, secured his master’s degree, and kept pushing.”

He gestured proudly at Victor’s wife.

“And before I forget, the Goodwills are still multiplying their victories. Katie is almost done with her doctorate at an Ivy League school, though Caleb still pretends not to hear me when I brag.”

Caleb groaned under his breath. Robert grinned.

“But back to the man of the hour,” Robert said, lifting his glass. “Victor just concluded a multinational deal that has earned recognition far beyond our borders. That is not luck” he paused. “That is excellence!”

e raised his glass higher.

“To Victor!”

A wave of cheers burst through the hall as Victor rose, smiling, bowing politely, trying but failing to hide the pride tugging at his expression.

The celebration resumed with renewed energy. Relatives approached Victor with handshakes, hugs, and warm words. Waiters weaved between tables with trays of wine and pastries. Vanessa, in a shimmering cosmic-blue gown, drifted through the crowd like a star, accepting compliments with modest grace.

“You look stunning, dear,” Aunt May said, admiring her.

“It’s all Victor’s moment,” Vanessa replied.

“Oh please,” May teased, “every successful man has a woman reminding him when to breathe.”

Vanessa laughed and changed the subject before May could continue.

Across the hall, Caleb nudged his twin brother. “You love dragging Katie’s achievements in everyone’s face.”

“Who, me?” Robert scoffed. “I’m subtle.”

“You shout.”

“Well, that too.”

The air was bright, warm, full of life. The Goodwills lived up to their name: harmony, laughter, kinship.

Until the lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then darkness.

Conversations halted. Chairs scraped softly. A few gasps echoed.

“What the hell?” Caleb muttered to Robert.

“Don’t look at me,” Robert whispered back. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

Victor pulled out his phone ‘no signal. What happened?’ he thought. Around the hall, others did the same, murmuring anxiously. A few teens ran to the windows.

“The sky is still blue!” a little boy shouted.

“Very scientific,” Vanessa said gently, hiding her tension.

Robert signaled to Caleb and both hurried toward the exit. Minutes later, they returned looking pale and shaken.

Victor approached them immediately. “What’s wrong?”

Robert’s voice dropped. “Don’t react loudly. W-we can’t leave.”

Victor frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like,” Caleb said. “We walk toward the exit and suddenly, we’re ten steps back. Every time. We counted.”

Victor stared at them, waiting for the punchline. There wasn’t one.

“Let me try.”

He strode to the door, jaw set. Five steps. Six. Seven

And in an instant, he was ten steps away again.

His heart dropped.

He tried again.

And again.

The same result.

He returned to his uncles, shoulders heavy. “It’s real.”

The three stood in grim silence, the edges of panic creeping in.

“Should we tell them?” Victor whispered.

“They’ll find out soon,” Robert said, “whether we want them to or not.”

Aunt May approached, worry etched into her face. “What’s happening?”

Robert stumbled over his words. “I-it’s nothing. Just a small issue”

She knew him too well. Without exposing him, she turned to the others and said lightly, “Don’t mind them. The ‘men’ are sorting things out.”

But whispers spread. The atmosphere thickened.

Then the world shifted.

The colors drained from the room, fading like wet paint being washed away. A low hum vibrated through the floor. The air tightened, thick and electric.

A blinding flash erupted from the exit door, swallowing the hall whole.

Screams, gasps, hands shielding faces then.

Then nothing.

Just white.

And silence.

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