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00:00The pain ceased, replaced by a hallucination of my soul freezing.
00:04What is minus 94 degrees like?
00:07Each exhale turns into shards that pierce your lungs.
00:10Your blood flow slows.
00:12Even steel turns brittle and breaks.
00:14In my past life, I watched my limbs turn dark and go numb.
00:18My younger sister Jess had on the last coat she took from me.
00:21Cuddled in Wade's arms, laughing behind the door.
00:24Vera, you have more body fat.
00:26We need this coat more than you do.
00:29I wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
00:32Human malice is colder than the harshest winter.
00:35I woke with a jolt.
00:36My back soaked in cold sweat.
00:38It was extremely hot.
00:40The cicadas outside were loud.
00:42I reached for my phone.
00:43July 15th, 2025, 95 degrees.
00:47I'm still alive.
00:48I searched for a pendant, wishing I had a storage space.
00:51Nothing.
00:51I tried to call out to the system.
00:53Nothing.
00:54Nothing at all.
00:55All that was left was my bank balance and the blazing sun outside.
00:59I had no powers or storage space, but I still had my memories.
01:03I still had my parents.
01:04Vera.
01:05The door swung open.
01:07Seeing me, my parents were stunned and thrilled.
01:10They returned, too.
01:12We tightly hugged one another.
01:14Dad's hands shook.
01:15Tears streamed down Mom's face.
01:17This time, we're done being nice for nothing.
01:19Dad wiped his face.
01:21His gaze hardening.
01:22We'll be fine.
01:23We still have one another and this house.
01:26It hasn't reached minus 94 degrees yet.
01:28We can build a shelter to survive.
01:30We need money.
01:32Mom dashed to the safe and emptied its contents onto the bed.
01:36Vera, go through all our liquid assets.
01:39Max, sell this house fast.
01:42We'll only take cash.
01:43I opened the banking app.
01:45There were no loans or overdrafts.
01:47It was our hard-earned money.
01:49Every cent had to be used wisely.
01:52Only 30 days left until the apocalypse.
01:55The bell rang.
01:57Even without opening the door, I knew who was there.
02:00It was Jess.
02:01She came for money for her boyfriend Wade's business.
02:04I opened the door.
02:05Jess walked in, wearing an entitled expression.
02:09Are Dad and Mom home?
02:10Give me $500,000 or I'm leaving home.
02:13In my past life, I went all in to get that money.
02:16This time, I looked over at my parents.
02:19Mom kept tapping on the calculator without looking up.
02:23Okay.
02:23Jess froze.
02:24Surprised by how easy it was, her face flickered with joy.
02:28Wait.
02:28Dad put out his cigarette and took a document from his briefcase.
02:32Sign this.
02:33Declaration of Relationship Severance.
02:35Dad, what do you mean?
02:37This money is meant to sever our ties.
02:40Dad's tone was cold.
02:41Take the money and your life is no longer our concern.
02:45We're going to sell this house.
02:48What?
02:49Are you crazy?
02:50Jess stared at us.
02:51You'd sell the house to make me break up?
02:53Will you sign it or not?
02:55I handed her a pen.
02:56Sign it or you get nothing.
02:58With $500,000, you can go wherever you want.
03:01Jess looked at the check.
03:03Greed won over reason.
03:04She thought we were just bluffing.
03:06I'll sign.
03:07Don't come begging me when Wade gets rich.
03:09She quickly signed it, took the check, and stormed out.
03:12As the door closed, Mom briefly trembled.
03:15Then composed herself.
03:16Without her, there's one less mouth to feed.
03:19What comes next is what matters most.
03:21We had a total of $10 million.
03:24We needed a vehicle for extreme cold, hundreds of tons of coal, a renovated shelter, and food
03:29supplies for 10 years.
03:31When survival was at stake, $10 million was nothing.
03:34Let's go.
03:35Dad looked at the empty house.
03:36His expression firm.
03:38Only the air raid shelter in the village can endure minus 94 degrees after proper insulation
03:42work.
03:42The house in Irwin Village would serve as our last stronghold.
03:47Without spatial ability, we can't store supplies instantly.
03:51Our greatest challenge was storage and preservation.
03:53Dad used the experience he had built over his career.
03:56Standing before the abandoned shelter, louprints in hand, he shouted at the construction team
04:01we paid a fortune for.
04:03What I require isn't insulation, but full isolation.
04:07Isolation!
04:08With just $10 million, Dad still spent $3 million on infrastructure.
04:13Don't worry.
04:14Dad saw the reluctance on my face.
04:16When temperatures dropped to minus 94 degrees, every bit of insulation is life-saving.
04:22My challenge was extreme stockpiling.
04:25I had to account for every cubic foot.
04:28The villagers assembled, as trucks continuously delivered supplies.
04:33Max, are you opening a supermarket?
04:35You sold your city house just for this?
04:38While carrying a 50-pound box of canned peaches, I wiped my sweat and smiled.
04:44Yeah, we couldn't get by in the city, so we returned to run a business.
04:48The glare of the sun was still blinding.
04:51I alone knew that this messy, overcrowded stockpile would turn into a treasure in a month,
04:57driving even the rich to envy.
05:00Mom suddenly rushed over, looking grim.
05:04Vera, we have a problem.
05:06We're out of money.
05:07The diesel generator hasn't been bought.
05:09We also didn't buy enough thermal clothing.
05:12We're selling it.
05:13I glanced at the van used for transporting goods.
05:16Then, at the gold bracelet on my wrist.
05:19We'll sell everything except what we're wearing.
05:21Only three days left.
05:24Temperatures fluctuated abnormally.
05:27104 degrees by day, falling to 50 degrees at night.
05:30The fluctuations made the dogs bark all night.
05:33The yard was packed tight.
05:35Organizing supplies was challenging.
05:37Dad loaded two side rooms with 50 tons of coal,
05:40bricked up the windows, left a tiny access opening,
05:43and covered the outside with weeds.
05:45The biggest problem was diesel.
05:47The generator was our final power backup.
05:50Under strict control, storing tons of diesel was impossible.
05:53The construction team's gone, but the fuel?
05:56Mom gazed at the empty metal tanks, her anxiety rising.
06:00Dad gritted his teeth and reached out to a contractor he met back in his construction days.
06:05Nate, I need fuel.
06:06Don't ask why.
06:07I'm running a greenhouse farm.
06:09I'll pay 50% extra.
06:11Cash on delivery.
06:12That night, a modified truck quietly pulled into the yard.
06:16Dad placed two boxes of cash, amounting to $600,000, into the driver's seat.
06:21Once connected, the black tube pulsed like veins as diesel flowed into the underground tank.
06:27Mom and I kept watch.
06:29Heidi from next door came out, peering about.
06:31What are they doing this late?
06:33It reeks of gasoline.
06:34I tightened my grip on the flashlight and told her the septic tank was clogged,
06:39and we were clearing it out.
06:40It stinks.
06:41You should go inside.
06:43Heidi pinched her nose and went back inside.
06:45Once the tank was full, Dad slumped against the wall in relief.
06:49We are all set.
06:50Food, coal, diesel, medicine.
06:54Whatever happens, we can survive three years.
06:57An urgent weather alert suddenly disrupted the news.
07:00Stratospheric collapse will plunge global temps in 24 hours.
07:04I looked at my phone.
07:06Jess sent a photo of her dining at a luxury hotel.
07:09You're out in the countryside while I'm in a presidential suite.
07:12At midday on August 15th, the glaring sunlight suddenly dimmed.
07:16The sky was cloudless, but it looked strangely gray.
07:20The air became still.
07:21Even the cicadas stopped chirping.
07:24Dad urged us to enter the shelter.
07:26It was pure survival instinct.
07:28We rushed into the shelter.
07:30As rehearsed, Dad shut the outer wooden door and the blast-resistant door.
07:34As the winch turned, the final airtight thermal door shut firmly and locked with a click.
07:41Silence fell.
07:42Battery-powered LED lights dimly lit the shelter.
07:44We had installed periscope-style observation ports.
07:48I looked at the thermometer outside.
07:4995 degrees.
07:5186 degrees.
07:5268 degrees.
07:53It fell below the freezing point in no time.
07:56The raindrops froze into ice.
07:58Heavy snow followed.
08:00Each snowflake was palm-sized, grayish, with a sulfuric smell.
08:04At 3 p.m., it had dropped to minus 4 degrees outside.
08:07It felt like the earth had been submerged in liquid nitrogen.
08:11The loudspeaker came on.
08:12The village chief's voice quivered.
08:14Everyone, keep warm and stay indoors.
08:16The voice stopped.
08:18Perhaps the lines snapped, or the speaker had frozen.
08:21Through the port, I saw a villager who hadn't returned home stumbling toward his house.
08:25As he ran, his movements suddenly stiffened, like a rusted wind-up toy.
08:30Just before reaching his front door, he dropped to the ground.
08:34Chaos outside.
08:36Shelter.
08:36Another world.
08:38The aerogel insulation worked well.
08:40No heating.
08:41Geothermal and body heat kept the shelter at 59 degrees.
08:44A thick sweatshirt sufficed.
08:46A padded sweatshirt was enough to stay warm.
08:48Dad ran a detector over the door seams and vents to ensure they were airtight.
08:52Both carbon dioxide and oxygen levels are normal.
08:54No air leakage.
08:56Mom dug through the supplies and took out a coal stove.
08:59Use coal first to save electricity.
09:01Smokeless coal crackled as it burned.
09:03Fire danced beneath the kettle.
09:05Dinner was simple.
09:06Noodles with three fried eggs and canned meat on top.
09:10At times like this, a bowl of steaming noodles was truly satisfying.
09:43We sat around the coal stove, eating quietly without a word.
09:43As I set down my phone, a dull thud came from the ventilation duct above.
09:48Someone was hitting the camouflage layer.
09:51It stopped after a few thuds.
09:53Dad motioned us.
09:54Dad motioned us to keep quiet.
09:55He listened closely with a listening device.
09:57It's Frank and his gang.
09:59They're seeking shelter.
10:00Our camouflage is well made.
10:02Topped with rotten wood and bricks.
10:04Thinking it was a ruin, they left after kicking it twice.
10:07Frank was the village's bully.
10:09Needless to say, he had no food stored at home.
10:12Over three days, temperatures fell below minus 40 degrees.
10:16Life in the shelter grew boring.
10:18There was no entertainment.
10:19Only faint light and relentless snowstorms.
10:22To conserve fuel, we only used the coal stove for four hours a day.
10:26We used arctic sleeping bags for the rest of the time.
10:29On the fourth day, villagers went around asking for coal.
10:32Through the port, I saw villagers wrap tightly in quilts.
10:36They used axes and crowbars to smash Heidi's door.
10:39Heidi, we're fellow villagers.
10:41Give us coal.
10:43Open up or we'll break in.
10:44Heidi's cries could be heard.
10:46Then I heard the door break.
10:48The screams stopped in under five minutes.
10:50The villagers carried off two sacks of coal.
10:53One of the axes still had blood on it.
10:55They'll find us soon.
10:56Dad cleaned his composite bow.
10:58It was his only ranged weapon, though we minimized chimney smoke.
11:02Thermal imaging or starving people with sensitive noses can still detect heat.
11:06A face suddenly appeared in the observation port.
11:09Frank was at the hidden ventilation outlet, sniffing hard.
11:12His face lit up with excitement.
11:14There is meat below.
11:15We were found.
11:16But Dad didn't panic.
11:18This shelter was built for this exact day.
11:20Frank motioned for two of his men to dig into the vent.
11:24As soon as they touched the mesh covering the vent, a blue-violet spark flared.
11:28It was a high-voltage device.
11:30It wasn't lethal, but it could knock them off their feet.
11:34A scream was heard outside.
11:36There's electricity!
11:37Max has been on guard against us.
11:39At minus 40 degrees, getting injured or sweating from panic can lead to hypothermia.
11:44They retreated after cursing and frustration.
11:46This was only the start.
11:48A greater crisis came that night.
11:50The power grid went down.
11:52The town's faint lights were visible earlier, but they all went out.
11:55The world became pitch black.
11:58Our phones became useless.
11:59Even the last signal vanished.
12:01We were isolated.
12:02Dad told us to start the diesel generator.
12:05A low rumble came from the soundproof room.
12:07Despite the soundproofing, we could still feel the floor faintly vibrating.
12:11We turned on the old radio.
12:13There were occasional transmissions.
12:15Global disaster.
12:16Stay put.
12:17Await rescue.
12:18While counting the remaining coal, Mom suddenly panicked.
12:21Max, look at this corner.
12:23Frost had built up along the shelter's wall.
12:25What's happening?
12:26Dad touched it, and his face went pale.
12:29It's frozen all the way through.
12:31The soil has frozen 10 feet deep.
12:33The cold seeps into the wall.
12:34If it drops to minus 94 degrees, our insulation may not withstand it.
12:39The city's once glamorous hotel had become a huge ice coffin.
12:43Even in her expensive fur coat, Jess couldn't stop shivering.
12:47Wade crouched in a corner, wrapped entirely in the curtains.
12:51All the wooden furniture had been burned.
12:53Even the luxury bed was turned to ash.
12:55There's no food left.
12:56Wade had a sinister gaze.
12:58They had spent the entire $500,000.
13:01They spent it on designer bags, watches, and a useless fur coat.
13:05They didn't buy any food.
13:07Let's go find your sister.
13:08Wade suddenly stood up.
13:10His eyes flickered with madness.
13:11She must be prepared.
13:13And the countryside has firewood.
13:15How do we get there?
13:16It's minus 58 degrees outside.
13:18I have a car.
13:19Wade took out a car key.
13:20It was an off-road vehicle key he took from a corpse.
13:23That car still works.
13:25If we make it through, we'll live.
13:27The two charged out frantically.
13:29Frozen dead bodies filled the streets.
13:31Some froze as they crawled.
13:33Some were smashing doors.
13:35Luck favored the wicked.
13:36The car really started up.
13:38And it had a full tank.
13:39They drove straight to Irwin Village.
13:42The next day, a car emitting black smoke crashed into a large tree.
13:46The doors opened.
13:48Two figures slowly crawled out.
13:50Jess's face was pale from the cold.
13:52She looked toward our house.
13:54It wasn't fully covered in snow.
13:56Her tears froze at once.
13:57We did it, Wade.
13:58We will live.
13:59We were having dinner.
14:01To stay warm, we had a pot of stew for dinner.
14:04The observation port alarm suddenly buzzed.
14:06Someone was here.
14:08I peered outside and my eyes widened.
14:10It was Jess and Wade.
14:12They weren't alone.
14:13Frank and his men were following them.
14:16Vera!
14:16Dad!
14:17Mom!
14:17I'm Jess!
14:18Her voice echoed from the loudspeaker, breaking the village's dead silence.
14:23I know you're inside.
14:24Wade said you sold the house and car and made $10 million.
14:28You must have a lot of food.
14:30Damn it!
14:31This idiot!
14:32To get Frank's help and mercy, she had given away all our secrets.
14:35Everyone!
14:37Jess shouted at the villagers.
14:38My parents are here.
14:39They've hoarded supplies.
14:40If we open the door, we can all survive.
14:43How cruel of her.
14:44Now the villagers were certain we had food.
14:47At the thought of $10 million worth of supplies, Frank waved his hand.
14:52Smash it!
14:53Pickaxes and hammers struck our blast-resistant door.
14:56Mom's hands shook as she held onto Dad's arm.
15:00Dad was expressionless.
15:02He walked to the control panel and turned the valve.
15:05It was connected to a high-pressure pipe.
15:08At minus 58 degrees, water was the deadliest weapon.
15:12Open it.
15:13Dad spoke coldly.
15:15I pulled the handle.
15:16Nozzles hidden above the door frame sprayed water.
15:19It wasn't just water.
15:21Dad added salt to lower its freezing point.
15:23It was liquid before spraying.
15:25On contact with objects, it would freeze instantly.
15:29Screams broke out outside.
15:30Those breaking the door were drenched.
15:32Their clothes froze in seconds.
15:34Their hands were stuck to their tools.
15:36I saw Wade take cover behind Jess, using her as a shield.
15:40She stood frozen like a statue, covered in ice.
15:44Her eyes reflected disbelief and despair.
15:46The extreme cold cut the screams off.
15:49Dad's high-pressure spray system, originally meant for decontamination, had become a deadly defense.
15:55Even at minus 58 degrees, the concentrated salt water stayed liquid and dispersed as super-cooled mist.
16:02But on contact with any object, it rapidly absorbed heat and solidified into ice.
16:08Frank ran forward with a homemade shotgun, but was doused instantly.
16:13His fingers stiffened before he could fire.
16:17Frost formed over his face almost instantly.
16:21He tried to wipe his face, but his gloves stuck to his skin.
16:26Wade, save me!
16:28Jess's scream was filled with terror.
16:31Through the port, I saw something terrifying.
16:33When the water burst out, the man who claimed to love her used her as a shield without hesitation.
16:42Her fur coat was quickly drenched.
16:45The soaked coat clung to her slender body.
16:49Wade used her as a shield.
16:50Are you crazy?
16:51It's so cold!
16:53What are you doing?
16:54Jess struggled, but Wade kept her from moving.
16:57He took cover behind the trembling woman.
16:59His gaze burned with a mad urge to survive and hatred for us.
17:03Don't move!
17:04You're my woman!
17:05You should protect me!
17:06Wade's voice trembled.
17:08Vera, open the door!
17:09Or Jess will freeze to death!
17:11Jess stopped struggling.
17:13Not out of will, but because she was frozen.
17:16Her fur coat had solidified into icy armor.
17:19Immobilizing her completely, she looked at our observation port.
17:22Her gaze turned from panic and rage into a despairing stare.
17:26Frank's men collapsed and writhed in pain.
17:29The more they struggled, the thicker the ice became.
17:32Even Frank knelt, his body hardening into an ice statue as he wheezed heavily.
17:38Is the threat over?
17:39No.
17:40Dad pointed to the monitor.
17:42Wade's still alive.
17:43He hardly got wet.
17:44What is he doing?
17:46Realizing Jess was frozen solid, Wade knocked her to the ground.
17:50He pulled out a homemade incendiary bottle, lit the fuse, and charged toward our vent.
17:56I want all of you dead!
17:59The bottle struck the vent's cover.
18:01Flames erupted, but the extreme cold snuffed them out.
18:05Dad had reinforced the vent with fireproof insulation.
18:08It burned for less than half a minute before extinguishing.
18:11But Wade didn't stop.
18:13Like a madman, he smashed the duct with a crowbar.
18:16Come out!
18:17Give me food!
18:18I have money!
18:19That fool gave me all the money!
18:21I'll pay you!
18:22He yelled, his words incoherent.
18:24But he forgot it was minus 58 degrees.
18:27He dodged most of the water.
18:29But his pant legs still got wet.
18:31Through the port, I watched coldly.
18:33His movements slowed.
18:35Five minutes later, the banging stopped.
18:38He knelt there, holding the doorframe.
18:40Face pressed against the steel.
18:42Eyes wide open.
18:44Outside the door stood five ice statues.
18:47The threat was eliminated, but our position was exposed.
18:50The ice statues were both a warning and a marker.
18:53The next morning, Dad checked the instruments.
18:56Suddenly, his face turned pale.
18:58He tapped the barometer, his fingers trembling.
19:01This is bad.
19:02My heart immediately sank.
19:04Dad turned to me, fear in his eyes.
19:07Air pressure is dropping rapidly.
19:09A severe blizzard is coming.
19:11The winds can tear houses from the ground.
19:15Our door was sealed shut by thick ice formed from last night's water.
19:19If snow blocked the vents, we'd suffocate from lack of oxygen.
19:23The legendary super blizzard is more brutal than expected.
19:27It no longer howled, only gravel scraping steel.
19:31Just then, the oxygen monitor lets out a glaring red light in alarm.
19:35The carbon dioxide levels shoot up.
19:37The air duct is blocked.
19:38There's too much snow, or the layer has collapsed.
19:41If we didn't clear it, the three of us would suffocate within three hours.
19:45Dad acted without any hesitation.
19:47He pulled out the spare hydraulic jack and the alloy drill bit and aimed at the shaft.
19:52I steadied the drill rod as Mom cranked the fan to vent leftover air.
19:56The lack of air made me dizzy, and my lungs burned.
19:59Ten minutes later, there was a sharp clang.
20:01The drill got stuck.
20:03It hit metal.
20:03A hint of joy showed on Dad's face.
20:06It's a car chassis.
20:07Wind flipped a car onto the shaft.
20:09The jack let out a heavy groan.
20:11With a dull thud, the creaking of metal came from above.
20:14A stream of cold yet incredibly sweet air rushed in.
20:18We gasped for air greedily.
20:20Dad pushed open the cover.
20:21I quickly looked out through the gap.
20:23Sure enough, it was Frank's SUV.
20:26It was like a giant lid blocking the snow.
20:28I turned and looked into the distance.
20:30My heart suddenly jolted.
20:32On the silent snow field lay fresh footprints.
20:35I followed the trail and adjusted the periscope.
20:38Three hunched figures appeared.
20:40Jason, a guy from the village, led them.
20:42Usually harmless, he now led two guy to pry open the shared grain storage.
20:47The door opened, but the inside was empty.
20:50Only a few moldy old grains and rat droppings remained.
20:53In that instant, any pretense of decency was gone.
20:57Jason suddenly raised half a brick and smashed his companion's head.
21:01Blood sprayed everywhere, like a glaring red flower.
21:04He iced the two men and took the spoiled grain.
21:07He grabbed a handful and ate it greedily.
21:10Down in the shelter, I was eating lunch.
21:11It was a steaming hot self-heating meal kit.
21:14The aroma filled the room.
21:15Starvation erases humanity.
21:17Dad picked up some beef and stared at the screen blankly.
21:20This is the current gap.
21:22Some kill for moldy rice, while others eat meat in a warm shelter.
21:26Jason dragged the bloodied sack to leave.
21:28Suddenly, he froze.
21:30Three pairs of glowing green dots appeared in the distance.
21:33It was three starving wolves.
21:35Beasts that survived in this frozen hell were the top of the chain.
21:39Jason had no time to run.
21:41The first wolf quickly snapped at his calf.
21:43The second one went for his throat.
21:45His screams lasted a short while on the audio receiver.
21:48The red liquid quickly froze on the snow.
21:50The bag of moldy grains he killed for spilled everywhere.
21:54The wolves didn't even look at it.
21:55After feeding, they didn't leave.
21:57The three wolves circled around the vent.
21:59Their nostrils twitched.
22:01They caught the scent of humans.
22:02Dad put down his utensils and walked to the workbench.
22:05He welded spiked iron bars behind the blast door.
22:08A forced entry spells death.
22:11While mom was sorting the coal we used for heating, she suddenly gasped.
22:14Max, look!
22:15A box fell from a hidden compartment of the coal bin.
22:18Inside were ten boxes of antibiotics.
22:20This was a gift from the coal seller.
22:22We didn't care before, but now it was life-saving medicine worth a lot.
22:26As we celebrated the unexpected gift, the quiet radio lit up red.
22:30After some static, a man's voice came through with a sneer.
22:34Found it.
22:34There's a good target in Irwin Village.
22:37We act tomorrow.
22:38Bring the flamethrower and burn through the shell.
22:40The static was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
22:43Dad tuned the old radio.
22:45His face flickered in the red indicator light.
22:47The stranger's voice from before came again.
22:50It felt like he was next to us.
22:51Confirmed.
22:52It's that house.
22:53Frank died there a few days ago.
22:55There are noticeable ice statues at the entrance.
22:57It was our goods.
22:59Those bodies frozen at the entrance had finally attracted vultures.
23:02There must be something underground.
23:04Those statues aren't even searched.
23:06Dad turned it off.
23:07The shelter fell silent.
23:09Prepare to fight.
23:10This time, we were no longer just defending.
23:12Mom dug out bottles of high-proof liquor from the supplies.
23:15We usually couldn't bear to drink it.
23:17The bottles were smashed open.
23:19The liquid was poured in glass bottles.
23:21Oil-soaked rags were stuffed into the openings.
23:24I sat by the whetstone and held the bow.
23:26The arrowheads made a scraping sound against the stone.
23:29A cold glint reflected.
23:31No fear.
23:31Just adrenaline-fueled calm.
23:33In this brutal world, being weak was a sin.
23:36Late at night, the voice came again.
23:38They sounded overly confident.
23:40Tomorrow at midnight, us three will go.
23:42It's so few people.
23:43I'm sure they can't withstand a flamethrower.
23:45Wind and snow raged.
23:47A roar split the darkness.
23:49Three snowmobiles burst through the snowstorm.
23:52They stopped at the entrance.
23:53Through the periscope, I saw three heavily bundled-up figures.
23:57They wasted no time.
23:58The leader waved, and a man with a tank stepped forward.
24:02Whoosh!
24:03A flame of over 30 feet long burst out instantly.
24:06It was an industrial flamethrower.
24:08The orange flames looked unnatural in this minus-58 degrees world.
24:12The thick ice sealing the door melted under the heat and turned into steam.
24:16The steel door turned from black iron to deep red.
24:20Then, cherry red.
24:21Inside the shelter, the temperature alarm blared.
24:24The initially cold shelter instantly turned into an oven.
24:27We stripped off our gear.
24:28Sweat poured down our faces.
24:30Heat seeped through the cracks.
24:31It smelled like burning metal.
24:33It won't last much longer.
24:34The gaskets will melt.
24:36Mom tightened her grip on the Molotov.
24:37Dad just calmly stared at the screen.
24:39His hand rested on a red button.
24:41It was a dry powder fire suppression system he designed.
24:44But this time, it wasn't loaded with fire suppressant.
24:47Instead, it had starch he'd gotten from a mill.
24:49You want a fire?
24:50I'll give you a big one.
24:52Dad slammed down the switch.
24:55Blast!
24:56Hidden overhead vents gushed white plumes.
24:58That wasn't smoke.
24:59It was extremely fine flour.
25:02The immense pressure made it engulf the entire entrance at a high concentration.
25:06It enveloped the man with the flamethrower.
25:08He clearly hadn't studied physics.
25:10He had no time to react.
25:12He kept his finger on the trigger.
25:13The open flame met the high concentration dust.
25:16Boom!
25:17An explosion sounded like a thunderclap from the sky.
25:20A fiery shockwave engulfed everything.
25:22The periscope screen flashed white.
25:25Then came a violent tremor.
25:27Dust rained down from above.
25:29A short while later, I could see again.
25:31The ground was scorched.
25:32The man with the flamethrower was gone.
25:34Nothing left but charred remains.
25:36Another man nearby was blasted over 30 feet away.
25:39He hung on a branch.
25:41His fate was unknown.
25:43I tightened my grip on the bow.
25:44Dad stared at the corner of the screen.
25:46The leader was lucky.
25:47He was farther away and had gotten knocked over.
25:50His face was covered in blood.
25:52One arm twisted.
25:53Still, he managed to stagger to his feet.
25:55He sneered.
25:56With his other hand, he pulled a green object from his coat.
25:59He pulled the pin and pressed it firmly against the mangled door.
26:03Come out or I'll let go.
26:05We'll get blown up together.
26:07Calm down.
26:08I turned on the loudspeaker.
26:09I was so calm that it felt strange even to me.
26:13You can blow a hole, but I've got piles.
26:16We have 10 tons of TNT down here.
26:18If you let go, we'll all burn together.
26:21That was an outright lie.
26:23Now it all hinged on who feared death more.
26:26Sure enough, the man's eyes flickered.
26:28His fingers stiffened slightly.
26:29He weighed his options and hesitated.
26:31At that moment, Dad stood still in front of the firing port.
26:35He drew the bow fully.
26:36The bowstring hummed.
26:38The man's wrist was magnified through the scope.
26:41The bowstring snapped.
26:42It was a specially made carbon steel arrow.
26:45It whistled and pierced clean through the man's wrist.
26:48It pinned his hand firmly to the ground.
26:50The pain made him instinctively let go.
26:53The grenade rolled down the steps and fell into a snowbank.
26:56It exploded over 30 feet away and kicked up a cloud.
26:58It didn't damage the blast door at all.
27:01Before the man could even recover,
27:03Mom had already lit the Molotov and thrown it precisely through the port.
27:07Flame instantly engulfed the writhing figure.
27:09We didn't step out.
27:11We watched as they turned into smoking, charred lumps.
27:14And everything stilled.
27:1530 minutes later, after it was safe, Dad went out to clean up.
27:18He pulled out a fireproof bag from the corpse of the leader.
27:21Inside was a hand-drawn map with Erwin Village circled in red.
27:25They had wrote,
27:25Suspected entrance to underground water vane.
27:28That map made Dad's eyes light up.
27:31If we had running water, our quality of life could change.
27:34Dad pointed at the lines on the map.
27:36Groundwater stays at a constant temperature.
27:38It's better than bottled water.
27:39According to the map,
27:41that potential groundwater vane is actually right beneath our house.
27:44The shelter became a work site for the next few days.
27:47We took turns.
27:48In this tiny area, we dug down.
27:50It was hard work.
27:52The frozen ground was as hard as iron.
27:54Each dig of the shovel sent a shock through us.
27:56We had to use an electric drill.
27:58Then chip it with a pickaxe.
28:00Sweat ran down our backs.
28:01Then quickly cooled in the chilly air.
28:03To conserve energy, we ate extra hardtack with our meals.
28:06The cramped space was filled with the smell of earth and sweat.
28:09But no one complained.
28:11We all knew that in this apocalyptic world, water was life.
28:15It was a currency stronger than food.
28:17By the third night, we had reached nearly 10 feet.
28:20Dad was swinging the pickaxe when he suddenly stopped.
28:22Thump.
28:23It was no longer a dull thud, but a hollow echo.
28:26Dad carefully struck again.
28:28The previously solid ground collapsed inward and revealed a pitch black opening.
28:33A damp breeze drifted up from below.
28:35The beam of the flashlight pierced the darkness.
28:38Down below that opening was actually a man-made tunnel.
28:42Moss covered the concrete walls.
28:43We could still see traces of slogans from decades ago.
28:46This was an abandoned air raid network from the war and famine era.
28:50Dad went down first to scout.
28:54A while later, his trembling voice sounded.
28:57Come down!
28:58Quickly!
28:58It's running water!
29:00Mom and I slid down the ladder.
29:01We went through a narrow hall.
29:03The view suddenly opened up.
29:05At the tunnel's end, a river flowed.
29:07It wasn't large, but under the light beam, the water sparkled.
29:10I reached out to touch it.
29:12The water was a little warm.
29:13About 39 degrees.
29:15Dad held the thermometer.
29:16His cheeks were flushed.
29:17The underground layer means it's not frozen.
29:20We can use a circulation system to heat the shelter.
29:22We can even take showers!
29:24At minus 58 degrees, 39 degrees water was like a hot spring.
29:28We stared greedily at the river, as if it were flowing diamonds.
29:32But then, just as I was about to take a water sample,
29:35the light beam suddenly swept across the silt.
29:37I froze instantly.
29:38A set of footprints was clearly imprinted on the soft mud.
29:41It was very small and barefoot.
29:43Their toes dug deep in.
29:45The mud was still wet.
29:47Besides us, there were actually other people living underground.
29:50We followed the small, wet footprints and felt our way through the air raid shelter.
29:54We turned a corner piled with moldy crates.
29:57The flashlight beam froze on a corner.
29:59Something huddled there.
30:00He was thin from going so long with no food.
30:03His clothes were torn.
30:04His skin was pale from years without sunlight.
30:06If not for those wide, terrified eyes, I would have thought it was a skeleton.
30:10It was Dwayne, the mute orphan from the village.
30:13He was clutching a dead rat and had blue liquid coming from his mouth.
30:17Beside him was a pile of what looked like moss.
30:20Dad snapped up Hiobo instantly and aimed between his eyes.
30:23Few supplies.
30:24Another mouth to feed meant big risk.
30:27Also, he knew our secret about the water source.
30:30He gave up.
30:31Closed his eyes, trembling like a leaf.
30:33For a few seconds, all we heard was the water.
30:36Forget it.
30:37Dad lowered his bow.
30:38He took two buns from his coat and tossed them over.
30:40Dwayne's eyes snapped open and he lunged at the buns.
30:44He swallowed them without chewing.
30:45After eating, he crawled over.
30:47He groveled frantically to us, then pointed up.
30:50He spread his arms wide to mime a huge circle and made anxious sounds.
30:54He made fists and mimicked holding a steering wheel, then drew a finger across his throat.
30:59He warned us that something had come with killing intent.
31:03We barely had time to catch our breath back home when the ground shook.
31:06It was machinery vibrating on frozen ground, not an earthquake.
31:10Even the glasses on the table rattled.
31:12I immediately went to check.
31:13A convoy tore through the snow, breaking the silence of Irwin Village.
31:17It was three heavily modified trailers.
31:20The fronts were fitted with snow plows.
31:22Bright red flags were displayed.
31:24Pledia, Sector 9 Rescue Team.
31:26It was the government?
31:27Mom's eyes lit up.
31:28No.
31:29Dad zoomed in the periscope.
31:31Look at their shoes.
31:32Those in camouflage wore cheap, no-name shoes.
31:35Their weapons also weren't standardized.
31:37It was a collection of rifles and makeshift shotguns.
31:40More importantly, they didn't immediately search and rescue.
31:43They kicked a corpse from the road, then lit up cigarettes and laughed.
31:47They're disguised bad guys.
31:48This rescue team was just a big looting gang pretending to be officials.
31:53They stopped at the village and discussed the route.
31:55The last truck, loaded with coal and generators, suddenly smoked and broke down.
32:00The lead vehicle didn't stop.
32:02They left behind two men and the broken truck.
32:04The main force rumbled onward.
32:07The stranded truck was like a treasure that had stopped close to our front door.
32:11It's a generator with five fuel barrels.
32:14Our fuel reserves were nearly gone.
32:16If we want to keep the heat and lights, this might be our last chance.
32:20Let's do it.
32:21The blizzard at night was the perfect cover.
32:24Dad and I put on white polar suits and crawled across the snow.
32:27The two guards left behind had clearly underestimated this weather.
32:31They huddled in front with the heater on and napped after drinks.
32:34Dad pulled out a towel soaked in ether.
32:36I had to pick the lock.
32:38Click.
32:38The lock was frozen brittle, so it opened easily.
32:41Dad quickly covered the man's mouth and nose.
32:43He struggled twice and then went limp.
32:46I did the same to the driver.
32:47We didn't try to move the generator.
32:49Instead, we took three barrels of diesel.
32:51Just as we made to leave, my flashlight swept under the driver's seat.
32:55I spotted a long black box.
32:57When we opened it, both Dad and I stopped breathing.
32:59It was two gleaming .95 auto rifles and five full boxes of ammo.
33:05This was stolen loot from a real military outpost.
33:07Come on!
33:08We carried the guns, dragged the barrels, and ran back.
33:11We had just climbed over the wall when we heard engines.
33:14The main team was back.
33:16The blinding headlights lit up the now-empty truck.
33:18Furious shouts and a chaotic burst of gunfire followed.
33:22The two missing .95 rifles felt like a huge slap in the face that struck the outlaws hard.
33:27Enraged roars echoed over the village.
33:30But that wasn't the worst part.
33:31The worst was they took out more professional tools.
33:34Industrial handheld thermal cameras.
33:36On that greenish screen, any trace of body heat would be completely exposed.
33:40Through the periscope, I stared intently at the disguised outlaws.
33:44They combed through the few remaining ruins of Irwin Village.
33:47A gunshot rang out.
33:49Mr. Royce, who was hiding in the east, was hauled out.
33:52Mr. Royce was 70.
33:54In order to ration his food, he was stick thin.
33:57He kneeled on the snow.
33:59Before he could even beg, a cruel-looking thug smashed his jaw with a rifle.
34:03Where's the gun?
34:04The diesel?
34:05Who took them?
34:06The thug stepped on Royce and spoke coldly.
34:08Mr. Royce could only manage unintelligible sobs.
34:11Useless!
34:12Another shot fired.
34:13Blood stained the snow.
34:14His body was kicked into a pit, as if tossing out the trash.
34:18The second house and the third house.
34:20The few remaining survivors were dragged out, then killed, when they couldn't give an answer.
34:25This wasn't a search.
34:27This was revenge.
34:28Suddenly, my heart clenched.
34:30The man holding the thermal imager stopped walking.
34:32He stood in front of the pile of rocks at the entrance.
34:35That was the air raid shelter, as well as Dwayne's hiding spot.
34:38Sir, there's a heat source below.
34:40It's weak, but it's a living person.
34:42The outlaws instantly got excited.
34:44Like sharks that smelled blood, they swarmed around it.
34:48They used crowbars to pry at the slabs covering the opening.
34:51Dwayne's terrified screams seemed to reach my ears, even through the thick soil.
34:55He had been found.
34:57Should I save him?
34:58I thought about it for just a second.
35:01Dwayne knew the secret of the water source.
35:03If he broke under torture and talked, our whole family would die.
35:07Besides, he was a child.
35:09Someone who had survived this world by catching rats.
35:11Prepare to fight.
35:13Dad grabbed the new 95 rifle.
35:15Determined.
35:16Vera, go to firing port number 2.
35:18It's high ground.
35:19Use the bow with the scope.
35:20Or just use the gun.
35:22Create chaos and draw their fire.
35:24I'll go save that kid.
35:25Dad didn't use the main door.
35:26He climbed into the tunnel we dug that linked to the air raid shelter.
35:30I took a deep breath and ran to firing port 2.
35:32Through the scope, I saw that the thugs had already dragged Dwayne out.
35:36Dwayne's face was covered in blood as he struggled.
35:38A burly man suspended him in the air.
35:41Won't talk, huh?
35:42You mute?
35:43The man sneered and pulled a knife from his belt.
35:45I couldn't wait.
35:46I braced the rifle.
35:47My first real fight.
35:49Yet survival instinct studied my gun.
35:51Bang.
35:52I missed the first shot.
35:53It hit the ground beside the man's feet and kicked up some mud.
35:57But that was enough.
35:58The gunshot echoed like across the silent snowfield.
36:00It sent the thugs running and covering their heads.
36:03They dove for cover.
36:04It's guns!
36:05The thieves are over there!
36:07In that moment of chaos, a strong, large figure shot out.
36:10From the shadows of the opening, Dad grabbed Dwayne's ankle and yanked him back into the
36:14dark tunnel.
36:15Pull back!
36:16Now!
36:16I yelled into the walkie-talkie.
36:18I blindly fired the gun into the crowd and prevented their counter.
36:21The thugs snapped back to it.
36:23A hail of bullets poured into the opening.
36:25Dad pulled Dwayne along and rolled into the tunnel through the gunfire.
36:28In the final moment before he went in, I saw his body jolt violently.
36:32Blood burst from his left leg.
36:35He stumbled, then fell heavily into the hole.
36:37The air in the shelter froze.
36:40Only a thick smell of blood spread.
36:42Dad lay on the workbench.
36:43His face was pale.
36:45Cold sweat soaked through the cushion beneath him.
36:47On his left thigh, a gruesome, bloody hole was gushing blood.
36:51We could even see the bone.
36:52Luckily, the main artery wasn't hit.
36:54But the bullet was lodged inside.
36:56It had to come out immediately.
36:58Mom's hands shook, but her gaze was steady.
37:00She was a veterinarian.
37:02She wasn't new to surgical sutures.
37:04We had no anesthesia.
37:06The little bit of lidocaine we had expired long ago.
37:09Do it.
37:10Dad bit down on a stick wrapped in a towel.
37:12The veins on his forehead bulged.
37:14I have a feeling those bustards will break in.
37:16Mom took a deep breath.
37:18Then heated a scalpel over a lamp.
37:20The sound of flesh being cut made us grit our teeth.
37:24Dad's body tensed up sharply, and he let out a growl.
37:27His hands gripped the table.
37:29The metal tabletop was actually dented from his grip.
37:31I held Dad's leg down as my eyes welled up, but I couldn't let them fall.
37:35Dwayne huddled in the corner.
37:37He shook with fear.
37:38He stared at the bloody hole in Dad's leg with a guilty look.
37:42Ten minutes felt like a century.
37:44Clink!
37:44A deformed bullet was tossed into the tray.
37:47Mom cleaned the wound and stitched it up.
37:49When the last stitch was done, Dad had fainted from the pain.
37:52The stick in his mouth was mangled.
37:54The surgery went well, but Dad would be crippled for at least a month.
37:58We lost our strongest fighter.
38:00Before we could even relax, a strange hissing sound suddenly came from the tunnel.
38:05I looked through the observation window.
38:07My pupils dilated.
38:08Thick, yellow smoke seeped through the cracks of the tunnel.
38:12It was chlorine gas, or some homemade poison gas bomb.
38:16They couldn't enter and didn't dare use the tunnel.
38:18So they chose the cruelest method.
38:20Smoke us to death inside here.
38:23The yellow smoke was like a snake, slithering through the gaps and silently seeping into the shelter.
38:29The air was filled with the choking smell of bleach.
38:31It was high-dose chlorine gas, or some even deadlier poisonous gas.
38:36Quick, start the ventilation system!
38:38Mom shouted with her voice sharp with tension.
38:41She pushed Dad back onto the bed and rushed to the panel.
38:44This system was the last line of defense Dad designed.
38:47It was simple.
38:48A high-powered fan would blow filtered air into the room, increasing the indoor air pressure.
38:53That way, the gas couldn't flow in.
38:55The backup generator roared to life.
38:57The fan blades spun crazily.
38:59I stared at the pressure gauge and watched the needle move to the right.
39:02At the same time, I could smell the odor being diluted and pushed out.
39:06Although the sealed door blocked most of the smoke,
39:09when I flashed a light at it, I could see the edges of the door hissing and corroding.
39:14It bubbled strangely.
39:16They couldn't enter, and we couldn't leave.
39:18I gripped the gun with sweaty palms.
39:20The gas attack lasted half an hour before it stopped.
39:23They clearly didn't want to waste their precious ammo.
39:25But then, an even more terrifying sound came from above.
39:29Thud.
39:29It was a digging sound, and the vibration of drilling the ground.
39:33It's explosives.
39:34Dad spoke weakly from the bed.
39:36His face was ashen.
39:38The gas didn't work.
39:39They'll blow the top and bury us alive.
39:41Or rip the lid.
39:42If the top collapses, even just a corner.
39:45The cold would flood in instantly.
39:47We'd have no chance.
39:48We can only await our end.
39:50We must act first.
39:52I glanced at the still-struggling dad and held him down.
39:54Dad, you rest.
39:56This time, Dwayne and I will go.
39:58Dwayne couldn't speak.
39:59But in his clear, sharp eyes, there was a fierce tenacity.
40:03He pointed to an area on the map and made a breaking gesture.
40:05A natural limestone cavern was deep inside.
40:08Its structure was unstable.
40:10Even a mild tremor could cause a collapse.
40:12That would be the graveyard and the burial ground of those thugs.
40:16Dwayne and I put on gas masks and slipped into the intricate underground maze.
40:20Dwayne led the way.
40:22He moved as nimbly.
40:23He didn't even need any light.
40:25We deliberately made noises.
40:27We banged on pipes, making it seem as if we escaped in a panic.
40:31Sure enough, the digging above stopped.
40:33The outlaws heard the noise underground and thought we were trying to escape.
40:36They immediately gave chase.
40:39Over there!
40:40Don't let them escape!
40:41Chaotic footsteps echoed through the empty tunnels.
40:44Dwayne and I led them into the cavern area.
40:45The rock walls were covered with dangling stalactites.
40:48Even the floor had cracks.
40:50At the designated spot, Dwayne quickly ducked into a hole that only he could fit in.
40:54I hid behind a large boulder, clutching the grenade we'd stolen from their truck.
40:58When the flashlight swept around the corner and the thug's shout sounded close enough,
41:02I pulled the pin and counted silently to three.
41:06Go to hell!
41:07The grenade arced through the air and landed by the support pillar in the center.
41:10Boom!
41:11The blast was magnified in the enclosed space.
41:14It was deafening.
41:15What followed was the sound of rock breaking.
41:18The rock layers above collapsed like dominoes.
41:21Tons of boulders mixed with soil crashed down.
41:24The thug's cries faded into the noise.
41:26Dwayne and I scrambled back.
41:27The tunnel behind us kept collapsing, as if death itself was chasing us.
41:31We retreated to safety.
41:33A final rumble blocked our way.
41:35All was quiet.
41:36Those men were trapped forever.
41:38But we paid a price too.
41:40All the exits to the surface were completely blocked in this man-made collapse.
41:44We became true underground dwellers.
41:47Outside threats buried beneath rock, sealed off from the cruel world.
41:51We couldn't get out, but that made it safer in a way.
41:54Days passed under dim lights and the drip of water.
41:57Dad's legs slowly healed under mom's careful care.
42:00Even though he still limped, he could already stand again and work on his machines.
42:04Dwayne officially became part of our family.
42:07Although he couldn't speak, he was so endearingly hardworking.
42:10He took over the farming, keeping the dozens of sprouts neatly organized.
42:14With the ground water and grow lights, we grew our first batch of bean sprouts.
42:17We even grew mushrooms in the damp corners.
42:20When a pot of mushroom and spam stew hit the table, the smell almost made us all want to cry.
42:25There was no killing, looting, or scheming among us.
42:28The four of us sat together.
42:30Dad served some meat to Dwayne, who grinned toothily.
42:33In that moment, it felt like the apocalypse didn't exist.
42:36Half a year passed in a flash.
42:38Our hair grew, and clothes wore out.
42:40But our gazes were brighter than before.
42:42One early morning, I went to check the sensor data from the outside as always.
42:46I froze when I saw the screen.
42:48Temperature rose from minus 58 degrees to minus 4 degrees in one week.
42:53The curve was still shooting up, too.
42:55Dad, look at this!
42:56Dad came over and stared at the screen.
42:58His expression grew even more serious, despite the warming.
43:01The temperature is rising too fast.
43:03This isn't spring returning.
43:05It's a pendulum effect.
43:06After extreme cold, it'll likely swing back to extreme heat.
43:10As if to prove his words, the sensor data jumped.
43:13The surface temperature was 32 degrees.
43:15The ice started to melt.
43:17And for us who lived underground, this could mean a disaster in the form of a flood.
43:21Heat was surging brutally.
43:23In just three days, the thermometer on the wall went crazy.
43:27The red mercury column surged from minus 58 degrees, hitting 104 degrees.
43:32We didn't even transition from extreme cold to heat.
43:35A rumbling came from above.
43:37It sounded like a stampede.
43:39It wasn't wind.
43:40It was water.
43:41Snow melted instantly in the intense heat.
43:43The world turned into a giant steam cooker.
43:46Then came the massive floods.
43:48The shelter walls began leaking.
43:50Condensation beaded on the concrete surface.
43:52The air became hot and humid.
43:54I sweated profusely, even at rest.
43:57Activate submarine mode!
43:58Dad tossed me a wrench and spoke urgently.
44:00We had already prepared for this.
44:02We added six-foot-long pipes to the ventilation duct that stuck out of the ground.
44:06All the drains were locked in reverse and coated with thick sealant.
44:10I saw the world outside through the periscope.
44:13The vast white field was gone.
44:15It was replaced by muddy, roaring yellow waves.
44:18The flood carried dead trees, broken ice, and car wreckages.
44:22They slammed into anything sticking up.
44:24At this moment, our shelter was like a submarine in the deep sea.
44:27The water pressure was building.
44:30Door groaned under pressure.
44:32Water surged higher, swallowing the rooftops.
44:34Dad stared intently at the gauge.
44:36If water enters the vents, we'll have to rely on oxygen tanks.
44:40Duane huddled in the corner, watching water trickle down.
44:43I went over, wiped the wet spot with a towel, and gave him hardtack.
44:47I shook my head and gestured that it was okay.
44:49But I knew that if the water rose three feet, we would drown inside this metal can.
44:54The flood wasn't just water.
44:56It was a boiling pot of corpses.
44:58Through the blurry lens, I saw many swollen objects.
45:01People.
45:02Livestock.
45:03They rotted in the hot flood water, breeding massive bacteria.
45:07Even with layers of filtration, the air still faintly carried a sickening stench of decay.
45:12A plague was here.
45:14Mom wore two masks and sprayed disinfectant in every corner.
45:17Water deadlier than a bullet.
45:19The apocalypse's irony.
45:21A flood raged outside.
45:23Yet, survivors faced the danger of dying of thirst.
45:25If someone couldn't resist drinking that filthy water, they'd definitely die of cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
45:32As for us, we sat around a small table and drank clean water from the river.
45:36We ate peaches from a can.
45:37The underground river had become our lifeline.
45:40Water came from deep underground, unpolluted.
45:43For our safety, we cut off all physical contact with the outside.
45:46We rarely even raised the periscope, afraid of catching some deadly germ.
45:50We relied on oxygen tanks and the air purification system to get by.
45:54This went on for an entire month.
45:56Then, one day, the sound of rushing water finally stopped.
46:00Dad cautiously raised the periscope.
46:02The mud on the lens dried and cracked, revealing the blue sky.
46:05The water's gone.
46:06Through the gap, I saw that the ground had turned into a brown, muddy pit.
46:10The buildings, trees, and bodies were all gone, leaving only a thick layer of foul silt that covered the earth.
46:17But in that dead, silent abyss, I saw a faint touch of green.
46:21Temp hit 75 degrees.
46:23Ground hardened.
46:24We headed up.
46:25Back then, to kill those outlaws, the exit was sealed during the collapse.
46:29That was now the biggest hurdle blocking our way home.
46:33Dad located the weakest point for the blast and used our last explosives.
46:37Boom!
46:37Dust flew everywhere.
46:39Sunlight pierced the darkness of the shelter.
46:41I squinted as the harsh light made my eyes water.
46:44I took a deep breath of the outside air.
46:46It still had the smell of soil and decay.
46:49But it was also freedom.
46:50We climbed out of the opening and stood where Erwin Village used to be.
46:54The village was gone.
46:55Nothing was left.
46:56Our house, the neighbor's building, all had been leveled by the flood.
47:01This place was like a clean slate, with only thick mud and countless bits of scattered trash.
47:06This soil is rich.
47:07Dad crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil, and rubbed it.
47:11The corpses and rot had turned into good fertilizer.
47:14Duane ran excitedly toward a higher spot.
47:16A small blade of grass pushed up through the mud.
47:19He pointed at the sprout and shouted with joy.
47:22Let's start.
47:23Dad wiped his hands, eyes without sorrow.
47:26Only a fierce passion to rebuild.
47:28Treasure lies beneath.
47:29We can plant our seeds now.
47:31We planted a vegetable garden on the ruins.
47:34After just one week, the first batch of kale sprouted.
47:37On the bleak wasteland, rows of greens stood like hope's flags in the sunset.
47:42The color of life was more dazzling than gold.
47:45The radio that remained silent suddenly burst to life one afternoon.
47:49It was no longer a malicious prying, nor random chaotic static.
47:53Instead, it was a clear woman's voice.
47:55We felt moved when we heard her.
47:57This is Pledia's third safe zone.
47:59If you hear this broadcast, gather southeast to rebuild our home.
48:03The cigarette in dad's hand burned his finger, but he didn't notice.
48:07He just stared intently at the old radio.
48:09The government and order still exists.
48:12Do we go?
48:13Mom stopped sorting the vegetables.
48:15She looked uncertain.
48:15It did mean safety in groups, and the return of civilization.
48:19I looked out at the setting sun.
48:21Our rebuilt greenhouse glowed golden.
48:23The shelter entrance stood like an unbreakable fortress.
48:26Groundwater babbled, and the generator roared.
48:29We'd stored enough food to last a decade.
48:31No.
48:32Dad snuffed his cigarette, his gaze sharp again.
48:35We'd be refugees there, waiting to be assigned.
48:38Here, we are our own kings.
48:40I nodded.
48:41After enduring betrayal, killing, and survival trials,
48:44we could no longer trust strangers, even if it's the government.
48:48Just then, the roar of an engine came from the sky.
48:51A painted helicopter flew low overhead.
48:53It didn't stop, but as it passed over Irwin Village,
48:56it dropped a large package that landed in the mud.
48:59Hardtack and flyers flew everywhere.
49:01I picked up a flyer.
49:02It showed a map of the safe zone and a call to rally.
49:05Seems the world really is returning to normal.
49:08As Dad watched the helicopter leave, he smiled conflictingly.
49:11But we should just stick to our piece of land.
49:14We stood in the sunset, guarding a land of our own.
49:17As more and more survivors emerged from hiding,
49:20Irwin Village, now called Irwin Fortress,
49:23became a legend within the area.
49:24Amid the silent wasteland, we were the only place with green patches.
49:28It was seedlings and cucumbers climbing over the trellises.
49:32Ragged wanderers often passed by.
49:34From far away, they would stare hungrily at the green.
49:37They swallowed heavily.
49:39You can eat if you want.
49:41Trade your labor.
49:41That was the rule I set.
49:43We needed no wealth, only labor.
49:45And so, the bustle of humans began to return to the ruins.
49:49Some cleared the mud.
49:50Some repaired the walls.
49:52All for a bowl of hot potato soup.
49:54In this small independent kingdom,
49:56Dwayne shone the brightest.
49:58Although he couldn't speak, he seemed born for farming.
50:01Those small calloused hands had the power to turn waste into magic.
50:05Seedlings that died in Dad's in my hands would shoot up in just a few days under his care.
50:10He was hardworking.
50:11He would wander the vegetable patch like an inspector.
50:14One day, I saw some wanderers pointing at Dwayne and eyeing him scornfully.
50:18Dwayne paid them no mind.
50:20He just silently shoveled some soil and expertly spread it around.
50:24Then he picked a cucumber from the trellis and took a bite.
50:27The crisp sound echoed across the silent wilderness.
50:30The wanderers immediately shut up.
50:32The scorn in their eyes turned into envy and awe.
50:35Amid piles of corpses, fresh vegetables meant being at the top.
50:39As I watched Dwayne stand up confidently, I felt relieved.
50:42This was our home.
50:44An oasis among the wasteland.
50:46The legendary Irwin Fortress.
50:48The mud clearing work after the flood continued.
50:51I held a shovel and cleared the mud around the tree at the entrance.
50:54It used to be the village landmark.
50:56It's also where Jess and Wade had died.
50:58Clang!
50:59The shovel hit something hard.
51:01I bent down and dug a shiny object out of the black muck.
51:04I rubbed the dirt off.
51:06It gleaned brightly under the sunlight.
51:08It was a diamond-encrusted hair clip.
51:10I recalled the afternoon before the apocalypse.
51:13Jess waved the check, slammed the door, and left in a huff.
51:17She posted this clip on her social media and captioned,
51:19Some women can only save money, while I can only shine.
51:23Now, this symbol of vanity and greed lay quietly in my dirt-covered palm.
51:27It still shone, but it was cold to the touch.
51:31In the mud next to the hair clip, I also dug up several bones.
51:34They bore the marks of being gnawed and soaked.
51:37What were once living souls and relatives were now just a heap of sludge and unidentifiable bones.
51:42I felt no sense of revenge and no heart-wrenching sorrow, only bleak weariness of it all.
51:48Vera, pretty, huh?
51:50In my days, I seemed to hear young Jess trailing behind me and acting cute.
51:54I breathed deep, pulled a rusty box from my pocket, wiped the hairpin clean, and set it inside.
52:00There was no grave marker or memorial.
52:02I dug a deep hole under the tree roots, buried the box, covered it with soil, and stomped down hard.
52:08In the next life, let's not be sisters.
52:11I brushed the dirt off my hands and stood up.
52:13The setting sun cast golden light over the ruins.
52:16I turned around and walked toward the shelter.
52:19I didn't look back.
52:20Time was both the cruelest chisel in the world and its softest remedy.
52:24In 2028, the third year of the apocalypse, Irwin Fortress' expansion had reached its third phase.
52:30The damp shelter now linked to several air raid shelters, becoming a huge underground ecosystem.
52:36Sunlight shone through the triple-layer bulletproof skylight and onto the floor of the common room.
52:40Dad was next to the generator.
52:42He held a wrench and taught Dwayne how to replace a worn-out gear.
52:45Although he still had a slight limp from his injured leg, it hadn't dimmed his spirit at all.
52:50His hair had turned a bit grayer, but his gaze was relaxed than three years ago.
52:55Dwayne had grown into a young man.
52:57The mute orphan who had once been skeletal now had broad shoulders and arms full of solid muscle.
53:03He gestured and skillfully took apart the parts.
53:06His gaze was focused.
53:07A chopping sound came from the kitchen.
53:09Mom was chopping vegetables.
53:11She had gained weight.
53:12While most people still killed for a piece of moldy bread, Mom had to worry about losing weight.
53:17That itself was an extravagant show of wealth.
53:20Vera, bring out that jar of pickles.
53:22We're having spam for lunch.
53:24Mom spoke energetically.
53:26I carried a pot out of the temperature-controlled storage.
53:29As I passed a mirror, I glanced at my reflection.
53:31My skin was pale from living underground.
53:34But I wasn't sickly.
53:35I had weapons, food, and family.
53:38This was our life.
53:39We weren't just barely surviving, but truly living.
53:42We sat together, enjoying this hard-won piece.
53:45Every dish on the table was grown with our own hands.
53:48I felt deeply contented looking at everything before me.
53:51Sunlight poured in.
53:52Life was great.
53:53This is our family portrait.
53:55We're still together three years later.
53:57The lookout's chime rang.
53:59It was a visitor signal.
54:00A travel-worn convoy stopped outside our perimeter.
54:03Their cars had special emblems painted on.
54:05It was worn, but well-maintained.
54:07It's a trade caravan from the southern safe zone.
54:10In three years, humanity had finally rebuilt a fragile order from the ruins.
54:14Trade had replaced endless looting.
54:16I stood high on the wall.
54:18I held my gun, but pointed the barrel down.
54:20Their leader was a one-eyed man.
54:22He eyed the string of red chilies hanging from our wall.
54:25He swallowed hard.
54:27Miss Lane, the goods are all here.
54:29The one-eyed man opened the truck.
54:31Inside were barrels of gasoline and the solar panel components we needed.
54:35There's even boxes of sanitary pads and shampoo.
54:38We want to trade for vegetables, like spinach or the likes.
54:41If it's green, we'll take it.
54:43The exchange proceeded quietly and efficiently.
54:45When Dwayne brought out freshly-picked cucumbers that still glistened with dew,
54:49the guards in the convoy were stunned.
54:51One couldn't resist touching them.
54:53The one-eyed man slapped his hand back.
54:55Watch it.
54:56These are the lane's goods.
54:57In this new world, we were no longer bullied.
54:59We controlled key resources.
55:01After the trade, the one-eyed man lit a cigarette and took a long drag.
55:05He eyed the fortress enviously.
55:07Folks in the main zone call Irwin Fortress a paradise.
55:11I can see it lives up to the name.
55:12I smiled but didn't respond.
55:14A paradise?
55:15No.
55:16We had to defend this with our lives.
55:18The convoy left together, with vegetables and our hope.
55:21Perhaps the world really was slowly getting better.
55:24After seeing off the convoy, night fell.
55:26It was New Year's Eve.
55:28Chaos aside, we still celebrated New Year.
55:30The dining room glowed warm.
55:32Light bathing the table and chasing off the cold.
55:35The most lavish meal so far sat on the table.
55:38A large pot stew loaded with generous slices of pork, a plate of crisp and fresh cucumber
55:43salad, and a plate of steaming hot dumplings.
55:46These flour dumplings had flour that came from wheat we grew and milled.
55:50Although it wasn't store-bought, the wheat aroma was very rich.
55:54Here, Dwayne.
55:55This is the one you wrapped.
55:56You eat it.
55:57Dad laughed as he took a dumpling and gave it to Dwayne.
56:00Dwayne scratched his head sheepishly and grinned widely.
56:03He stuffed the food into his mouth and hissed from the heat.
56:06Mom turned on the restored, old-fashioned TV that was connected to a drive.
56:10The screen showed New Year's Eve sketches from decades ago.
56:13The quality was fuzzy and the sound crackled.
56:15But to us, it was heavenly.
56:18A laugh track came from the TV.
56:20We laughed along.
56:21As we laughed, Mom teared up.
56:23She wiped her eyes, raised her glass of juice, and toasted to us.
56:26As well as our family being together, with not one missing.
56:30We clinked out glasses together, outside.
56:32The cold wind still howled.
56:34Perhaps things were still bad elsewhere.
56:36But right here, right now, there was food, lights, my parents, and my brother.
56:41This was home.
56:43Even if outside was hell, this place was heaven when the door was closed.
56:47As I looked around, I suddenly felt that all our suffering was worth it.
56:50Dad carried the pride of being the head of the family.
56:53Mom's face showed the simplest happiness of a mother.
56:55Dwayne's eyes sparkled, for he had found a home.
56:58Right now, I wished time would stop forever.
57:01After dinner, I walked out of the shelter alone.
57:04The setting sun stained the entire land blood red.
57:07I stood on the wall.
57:08I looked at the land that had once been devastated.
57:11Three years ago, it was a frozen hell, littered with corpses.
57:15Half a year ago, it was plagued.
57:16Now, greenery cloaked the ruins.
57:19The terraced fields we had carved out wound down.
57:21The greenhouse tarp glistened in the evening sun.
57:24The entrance, the tree where I buried the hair clip, had sprouted new buds that swayed
57:28gently in the wind.
57:30Smoke rose in wisps from the shelter's chimney, carrying the smell of firewood that traveled
57:34up.
57:35This smoke meant life and civilization.
57:37I touched my chest.
57:39There was no pendant.
57:40No storage space.
57:41No system.
57:42I had no special advantages.
57:43What remained was mom and dad's determination to sell the house and car.
57:47It was the persistence of modifying the shelter.
57:50It was the courage to pull the trigger on those thugs.
57:53Vera, come back for some fruit.
57:55I cut some watermelon.
57:56Mom's call came from behind me, followed by dad's and Dwayne's agreement.
58:00I turned around and looked at that glowing entrance.
58:02I smiled unknowingly.
58:04Was the apocalypse over?
58:06Maybe not.
58:07Disasters might come again.
58:08Extreme cold, heat, earthquakes, and plagues.
58:11It was like the earth was having one long immune reaction.
58:15But I wasn't afraid, because I knew that no matter what tomorrow brought, the Irwins
58:19had already placed firm roots into this land.
58:22I told them I was coming, then turned and ran inside.
58:25The apocalypse would end, and we would keep on living.
58:27We would live well.
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