CURSED

"ill call you guys when I get home," Anna said to the girls as they emerged from the woods and walked back to the home later

"I want you guys to start preparing for travel right after graduation

I don't know how my parents are going to react when I tell them we want to go to japan they might just try to stop us"

"We might have to run away again like back then," Vivian said with a sigh

"it's not like we aren't already planning to," her sister said

"let's not think negatively guys," yuqi said "things might work out somehow we have the gods on our side we are celestials after all"

"yuqi is right" Justin agreed "if I go with you I might be able to help persuade them lets not think worst-case scenario just yet "

"bye guys see you tomorrow"

she gave the girls her last goodbye hugs she and Justin parted ways with the girls

giving waves to everyone as they went up the porch of the home, Anna and Justin headed towards his car

"what do you think your parents have planned for dinner tonight ?" he asked Anna as they cruised through the neighborhood

"no clue but I expect things aren't going to be pleasant so will you stay close?" Anna asked

"Obviously I'm not going anywhere without you" he replied he reached for her hand driving with one hand on the wheel

the wind coming through the open window on his side ruffled his hair

as she admired his handsome side profile that jawline of his especially was so kissable

"I'm sorry we haven't gotten a chance to really talk about anything about us becoming mates and everything" she apologized

"don't be," he said "I've got you"

he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb sending warm tingles through her body

"you've got a lot on your plate at the moment so don't worry about our relationship

just know that I'm your mate whatever you need you can rely on me" he assured her squeezed her hand gently in his

she played with his fingers enjoying how his hands were bigger than hers

strong and warm she hadn't been able to truly express how happy she was to be reunited with her mate

as they pulled up in front of her parents home to a huge crowd of reporters were outside

"What's going on?" Justin asked

Anna looked mystified "probably something to do with my parents"

she said "they must have done something big again it happens sometimes"

she pulled out her phone to check the news as Justin navigated to find a free parking spot a little way down the street

"what the ****?" she breathed in shock

"what is it?" he asked concerned leaning over to check her phone "it's not my about my parents"

"there's been a terrorist attack in Europe a weaponized contagious viral disease" she read out loud

"was used to infect a large city with a dense population of people the city is already recording dozens of casualties

the worlds medical experts and the CDC have been called in to investigate

Weyland Pharmaceuticals have already provided assistance by sending much-needed medicine and medical supplies

to the hospitals in the infected city to help with emergency relief efforts

also pledging an expert research team is being formed

and are on the way to study the deadly weaponized virus and possibly create a cure for it"

"oh my god my parents" Anna cried

she and Justin jumped out of the car and ran towards the house

Justin was yelling at the reporters to clear a path so Anna could get through the crowd

many reporters snapped photos of her as they passed by

"mom! dad!" Anna called frantically as she entered the house Justin at her heels

"Anna! sweetheart" her mother called back rushing into the living room from the bedroom with a pile of clothing in hand

"I'm so sorry sweety but its an emergency we were going to discuss

you going to college tonight at dinner but then we got the call that we were needed who's this?" she asked not recognizing Justin

"oh, mom this is my friend Justin Okami do you remember him?" Anna asked

"Sergio Okami's" grandson her father said appearing towing suitcase behind him

"of course I remember him very well honey how can you forget the one who saved Anna six years ago in japan?"

"oh Taekwondo black belt kid" I remember now her mother said "you grew up well so handsome"

"thank you Mrs. Weyland" he replied

"I was talking to your dad a few weeks ago " her father cut in

"he wants to open our pharmacy outlets in your hotel locations we are going to be doing a partnership with you guys soon"

so what brings you all the way here from Japan?" he asked

"I'm here because we wanted to invite Anna and her sisters to japan this summer at the Peach Pavilion

but we wanted to discuss it with you guys first and get your permission" Justin explained

"great idea actually" her dad responded

"We aren't going to be here with this terrorist attack that just happened we are heading the research team on this

we will probably be gone for months take Anna and the girls to japan we can be assured they are safe and well cared for

and not worry while we are working we are trusting you with them cause we know your granddad very well"

"mom, dad will you guys be OK though?" Anna asked worriedly " the news said its a weaponized and highly contagious virus

which means this is no ordinary epidemic"

"We know sweetheart we will take every precaution its not an airborne virus which is a good thing

it means we have a chance of finding its source and stopping it

we will make sure we come back to you ok" her mother hugged her warmly stroking her hair

"How soon are you guys leaving?" Anna asked

"tonight" her father replied "they need us to be there as soon as possible

we are being picked up on a military flight"

"oh my god" Anna breathed "this is happening so quickly "

"We only have a few hours to pack and maybe eat something," her mother said

"ok, you guys hurry and pack ill get dinner ready Justin please help me in the kitchen?" Anna said

"I already started," her mother said I was going to do a steak dinner so the steaks are already seasoned

you just need to cook them and prepare the mash potatoes"

"no problem Misses Weyland" Justin said taking off his jacket he placed it over the back of the couch

as he and Anna headed into the kitchen

"you prepare the potatoes ill do the steaks," he told Anna

the pair quickly got to work getting dinner together

anna quickly put on water to boil in a pot while she washed and peeled the potatoes

Justin heated a skillet and poured olive oil as he prepared to fire up the steaks

her mother left seasoned on a covered dish on the kitchen counter

Anna couldn't help noticing he seemed to know what he was doing

"you're good at cooking?" she asked him

"I'm twenty-two years old and a hotelier if I didn't know how to cook that would be a shame on me" he replied

he picked up the salt and pepper shakers and added both salt and pepper to her pot of water

"you're going to need milk and butter for those mashed potatoes," he said

"in the fridge," she told him

he got the milk and butter for her setting them on the counter

"and we are going to need a nice sauce as well" he noted "do you guys have any red cooking wine?" he asked

"cupboard above your head" her mother informed him from the living room as she came to check on them

"thank you" he replied getting out the wine and putting on another smaller pot on the stove to heat

he got out onions and other herbs and spices from her mother's herb rack

Anna placed a chopping board for him he gave her a grateful smile and began to

rapidly peel and chop ingredients for the sauce

Anna was amazed he was an expert with a knife

the speed he was working at made her fear for his fingers but he seemed totally comfortable

Anna whipped butter and milk in the blender while the potatoes boiled

the steaks sizzled in the skillet Justin was doing everything very quickly

multitasking he was very efficient making Anna feel slow by comparison

in no time the steaks were done and the sauce was simmering nicely

while Justin helped her drain the potatoes dinner was

ready to be served not long afterward and they were all sitting down to eat

"mmm you're a great cook these steaks are perfectly cooked" her mother complimented Justin with a smile while she ate her steak

"Anna didn't do too badly

either her mash potatoes are delicious nice and creamy and not too salty" Justin said

anna flushed at Justin's praise even though she knew he was only being polite he had done most of the work after all

"Justin listen to me," her father said "we don't know anything about

what's happening on the ground in Europe they aren't going to tell you everything in the news

even if there's a possible threat to the US happening right now

they aren't going to tell the public until the very last moment to avoid panic

but I know better I've worked on many similar crises before

so I want you guys to keep an eye on the news very closely ok

but take it with a grain of salt"

"we will dad don't worry we'll be ok, anna said

"if anything else happens while we are gone I want you to take the girls and leave immediately" he continued to instruct Justin

"in fact, I would feel better if you didn't wait for another

attack to happen it might be too late by then to try to leave especially

if it's here in the US

if it were up to me I would have you girls prepare to leave for Japan tomorrow morning

just to be on the safe side don't wait around for something else to happen understand"

"yes sir" Justin agreed

anna put a hand on her dad's shoulder trying to reassure him

"we will be careful dad I promise I don't think you need to be that worried"

"I know it's just that I have a really bad feeling about this, he said

"then let's see what the news says maybe it's not as serious as we might think"

her mother turned on the tv and the news was playing

there was an update the newscaster was reporting

the investigation at the scene of the

the viral outbreak of the virus was revealed

that source patient zero of this attack is actually the members of the terrorist cell

all of them infected themselves and then others before dying of the virus

the CDC has claimed the bodies for future research purposes

"you mean they intentionally infected themselves just to infect others?" anna asked shocked

"there have been similar cases in the past, her mother said "it's just that it was stopped

before the infection could become a wide-scale epidemic and those attacks also had

set specific targets with certain goals in mind"

"this time it seems a bit sloppy but that is exactly what will make things more difficult"

the report continued that a terrorist organization had

claimed responsibility for the attack praising their counterparts for their actions and declaring

they are no set targets they seek to take revenge on the western countries

for the injustices done to them with the intentions of causing

high casualties on the scale of the biblical plagues this time vowing to wipe out as many lives as possible

this is crazy anna breathed in horror eyes glued to the TV

"it's like I thought, her father said pointing at the screen with his fork finishing his food quickly

"not having any target, in particular, makes this situation even more dangerous

they are going after the general population so no one is safe

they could possibly have more attacks planned in other heavily populated cities

which means the possibility of them having sleeper cells in other countries

is very high right now"

"anna go pack your things and call your sisters" her dad ordered "you're

leaving the country on the first flight out tomorrow morning you got that

I came in on a private flight Justin informed him

I can take the girls out with me I have to make a few calls to arrange things

"do it" her dad instructed him

anna got on the phone and called the girls while Justin was on his talking to his people

Vivian answered the phone

"anna did you see the news its chaos what's happening with your parents?" she asked before anna could get a word in

"my parents are leaving the country tonight " anna replied

they are going to Europe to deal with the viral outbreak and try to stop it from spreading

my dad has told us to leave as soon as possible and go to japan with Justin

he thinks there might be more attacks

you guys need to pack right now Justin and I will come and pick you guys up"

"that's insane this is happening in Europe aren't we safe here?" she asked

"dad doesn't seem to think so he said that even if there's a threat here in the us

they aren't going to tell the public to prevent panic unless they absolutely have to

he and mom seem to be on the same page about it too

so I'm inclined to think they might not be exaggerating

I think you should tell the house mother what I just told you too

tell her to call in all the kids and keep them indoors and an eye on the news

just in case"

"all right will do" Vivian replied

"ill call you guys again when we are on our way I have to pack first

see you guys"

she hung up the call