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Watch Beneath The Freezing Rain, I Tore Off The Traitors' Masks Complete Story - Best Web Drama
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00:00:15Doomsday came.
00:00:16I was murdered in cold blood by the two people I trusted the most, with their own hands.
00:00:29Until the massive flood swallowed the whole neighborhood.
00:00:32I watched helplessly as the freezing water flooded into our apartment.
00:00:36In just seconds, the room was almost full.
00:00:38So I held my breath and fought my way toward the door.
00:00:41But no matter what I did, the door wouldn't open.
00:00:44Familiar voices drifted in from outside.
00:00:46It was my boyfriend Jack and my best friend Mia.
00:00:48They'd locked me inside this flooding room on purpose, leading me to drown.
00:00:53Overwhelmed by suffocation, my consciousness began to blur.
00:00:56But I couldn't die. I had to get out of here no matter what.
00:00:59Seeing the rescue team directing everyone to evacuate, I finally felt at ease.
00:01:03As long as I got on that vehicle, I would be safe.
00:01:06Jack and Mia boarded the car too.
00:01:09There was only one seat left.
00:01:12And to save their own lives, they pushed me off the car.
00:01:17I chased that vehicle like crazy, screaming for them to save me.
00:01:25Until my legs gave out, and I couldn't run another step.
00:01:30All I could do was stop in despair.
00:01:34I was standing there, breathless and hopeless, when a strange sound came from behind me.
00:01:41Before I could turn, something latched on to me.
00:01:46Like a freaking face hover.
00:01:50A freezing cold thing slithered down my throat.
00:01:54And an instant gut-wrenching pain exploded through every inch of my body.
00:02:03My heart stopped beating.
00:02:05If I could do it all over again, I would never, ever, throw my life away for something as worthless
00:02:16as love.
00:02:26Maybe fate took pity on me.
00:02:29When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was that custom made expensive ceiling.
00:02:38I had actually been reborn three days before the doomsday storm.
00:02:46Since God is giving me a second chance, I swear I will not let Jack and Mia, those two scumbags,
00:02:59get away with it.
00:03:01In my past life, Mia always put on this holier-than-thou act, pretending to advise me to break up
00:03:10with Jack.
00:03:11While behind my back, she'd already hooked up with him.
00:03:16And Jack, that loser who lived off me, spent my money recklessly, yet resented me for not sleeping with him
00:03:29before marriage.
00:03:31In the end, just to steal my survival supplies, he killed me with his own hands.
00:03:44Happy birthday, babe.
00:03:47I'll bring Mia along to celebrate for you.
00:03:52Don't worry.
00:03:53She promised to just eat and keep her mouth shut.
00:03:58If I hadn't been reborn, I probably would have fallen for that and felt all touched.
00:04:07But not this time.
00:04:10I didn't reply.
00:04:11But right now, the top priority is getting money and stocking up on supplies.
00:04:18I remember it clearly.
00:04:20On my birthday, three days from now, that apocalyptic storm is going to hit.
00:04:29Ninety percent of the world's land will be submerged, and alien creatures will invade.
00:05:13This 37th floor penthouse I'm in right now was an adulthood gift from my parents.
00:05:18But it's just a place to live.
00:05:20If I'm going to stockpile supplies for years, even 200 square meters won't be enough.
00:05:25I have to think of a way.
00:05:26I quickly open all the banking apps on my phone and pull out every penny.
00:05:31No second thoughts.
00:05:32No caring about the interest.
00:05:34Because in three days, those numbers will be worthless.
00:05:37I also cash out all my designer bags and investments at a discount.
00:05:41Adding that to my savings, I suddenly have nearly $6.5 million in cash on hand.
00:05:46There are four units on this floor.
00:05:51Other than mine, 3702 in the middle, 3701 on the left, and 3703 on the right have always been empty.
00:06:10I hear that they were purchased by two property flippers as an investment.
00:06:18I reached out to a real estate agent right away.
00:06:23I'm willing to pay a 20% premium in full cash.
00:06:29The only term is, we sign the papers and finalize everything today.
00:06:38Drawn by the money, the two landlords agreed without hesitation.
00:06:45In just one morning, I get the keys to both neighboring units.
00:06:52Now I can use these two empty apartments as storage.
00:06:59I can stockpile massive supplies freely, without messing up my own living area.
00:07:08Housing problems solved.
00:07:11All that's left now is to stock up on supplies.
00:07:15First stop, I head straight to the biggest supermarket in the city.
00:07:22Before the shopkeeper even had a chance to greet me, I hand him a shopping list.
00:07:30I practically bought out the entire supermarket.
00:07:36Holy hell, lady!
00:07:38Are you trying to supply an entire army or what?
00:07:43No.
00:07:44Company perks.
00:07:47I just rented two employee dormitories.
00:07:52Please have someone deliver everything to my place.
00:07:55I'll double your shipping fee.
00:07:58The owner is thrilled.
00:08:01He arranged to deliver everything that afternoon.
00:08:07I have enough food, water, medicine, and weapons.
00:08:14This feeling of sitting on a mountain of treasure is even better than winning the lottery.
00:08:25I contact a security door installer.
00:08:29Not only do I reinforce my own front door, but I also replace the doors of the two neighboring units
00:08:38with vault-grade mechanical combination locks.
00:08:42I also have thick metal bolts welded onto the inside of each door.
00:08:50I break through the walls connecting 3702 to the two neighboring units, so I can access supplies without ever stepping
00:09:03outside.
00:09:04All the window glass is covered with the highest grade glass fill.
00:09:12My home has become an impenetrable fortress.
00:09:34I haven't done anything before that, but I can find space.
00:09:55By the time I finish everything, it's already evening of the third day.
00:09:59I slump exhausted onto my leather sofa. Yeah, I paid people to handle most of the heavy work.
00:10:05But coordinating everything and tying up loose ends these past two days has totally worn me out.
00:10:11I tear open a bag of beef jerky, chew a bite, and flip on the TV. The news channel is
00:10:15still
00:10:16all peace and calm. The weather report casually mentions that there might be some rain in the
00:10:20coming days. No one knows that once this rain starts, it will mark the end of human civilization.
00:10:25Just then, my phone rings. It's that disgusting three-person group chat.
00:10:31Happy birthday, babe. You are the brightest superstar. Love you.
00:10:38Hurry back, honey. We are waiting for you at your apartment.
00:10:44Back then, my blind trust woman got me in touch. Not this time.
00:10:51From now on, I write my own story.
00:10:55I head to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath.
00:10:59I know very well, once the storm starts, the tap water will stop running soon.
00:11:09This might be my last chance to take a bath.
00:11:14I fill the bath out of the pool, scatter rose petals across the water, and soak in the calm
00:11:23before the storm.
00:11:25While I'm drying my hair, Jack calls.
00:11:30Seeing the word darling pop up on screen, I hold back my disgust and answer the call.
00:11:39Looking at the dark clouds outside, a cold smile curls at the corner of my mouth.
00:11:48Hey, where are you? Why aren't you back yet?
00:11:53Oh, Jack. My mom suddenly missed me and asked me to come home for a few days.
00:12:03I am already on the train.
00:12:08No way I can make it back tonight.
00:12:13What? But we bought so much food!
00:12:19You guys eat first.
00:12:23Don't wait for me.
00:12:25Go ahead and finish all that food.
00:12:29Consider it celebrating my birthday.
00:12:33After hanging up, I can almost picture exactly what those two look like in that apartment.
00:12:43That apartment sits in a low-lying zone.
00:12:48It is always the first neighborhood to flood.
00:12:53Its drainage system is terrible.
00:12:57Once the torrential rain pours down,
00:13:01the whole place will be submerged in no time.
00:13:06I truly hope they enjoy their nice little dinner.
00:13:50After all, this is probably the last peaceful meal of their lives.
00:13:54A blinding flash of lightning cuts across the sky outside the window,
00:13:58followed by rain pounding against the bulletproof glass.
00:14:01I check the time.
00:14:038.27pm.
00:14:04The apocalypse has officially begun.
00:14:06And just like that, the three-person group chat starts up again.
00:14:09Jack sends a photo.
00:14:11It's a feast of dishes.
00:14:12With a peanut-flavored birthday cake right in the center.
00:14:15Babe, the rain outside is crazy.
00:14:17When are you coming back?
00:14:18Looking at the photo, it's all food Mia likes.
00:14:21Not a single dish I like.
00:14:23Even the cake.
00:14:24It's Mia's favorite peanut butter flavor.
00:14:25Three years with Jack and he still doesn't remember that I'm allergic to peanuts.
00:14:34The news finally cuts in with an emergency alert.
00:14:40The city issues a red alert for rain.
00:14:44Rainfall is expected to exceed 400 millimeters in the next two hours and it will keep rising.
00:14:58The world outside the window is soon swallowed by heavy rain.
00:15:05The once lively city falls into chaos.
00:15:09A car pointing to a flare and people scream.
00:15:15All of them sink into one loud of a door.
00:15:20The phone rings again.
00:15:23Something feels off.
00:15:25The rain is way too heavy.
00:15:28The street outside the door is already flooded.
00:15:32Are you sure you're not coming back?
00:15:35I pop a freshly grilled rib into my mouth.
00:15:40The outside is charred and caramelized.
00:15:45The inside is tender and juicy.
00:15:49Paired with a left bank Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon,
00:15:54this feeling is absolutely heavenly.
00:15:58Then I start typing in the group chat.
00:16:02Can't make it back.
00:16:03Rain's too heavy.
00:16:05Trains are canceled.
00:16:07You too just stay there.
00:16:09Whatever you do, don't go outside.
00:16:14Happy birthday, Chloe.
00:16:18Welcome to the end of their world.
00:16:22The curtain has risen on my revenge.
00:16:26Now, let's see, in the face of hunger and fear,
00:16:32how long your so-called true love can actually last.
00:17:11The Tuesday storm has finally arrived.
00:17:14I'm hiding out in my 37th floor penthouse,
00:17:17savoring some good food.
00:17:19Meanwhile, my cheating boyfriend and backstabbing best friend
00:17:22are out there in the storm,
00:17:24desperately struggling to survive.
00:17:26Even though I know full well they might lose their lives
00:17:29in this terrifying deluge,
00:17:30I will never open my door and let them in.
00:17:33All because in this life,
00:17:34I came back reborn.
00:17:36On the second day of the doomsday storm,
00:17:38that cheating boyfriend from the group chat
00:17:40actually has the nerve to send me a message
00:17:42acting all concerned,
00:17:44telling me not to go out unless it's absolutely necessary.
00:17:48Don't go out unless it's important.
00:17:51Quite the actor is in the team.
00:17:55Then my good bestie, Mia chimes in.
00:18:01Looks like I'm stranded.
00:18:03So, I'll have to crash at your place.
00:18:08Oh, wait.
00:18:10Your boyfriend, Jack, won't be mad at me.
00:18:14Will he?
00:18:16Mia even throws in a smirking emoji.
00:18:19Their little stunt makes me sick.
00:18:23All that talk about never crossing any boundaries
00:18:28just feels like they're showing off on purpose.
00:18:33Behind my back,
00:18:35they've already done everything
00:18:38they claimed they wouldn't.
00:18:41I completely ignore those disgusting messages.
00:18:45Looking back,
00:18:46I was really naive and pitiful back then.
00:18:49I once thought I had the perfect love
00:18:52and the most sincere,
00:18:56trustworthy friendship in the world.
00:18:58Little did I know,
00:19:00they had already teamed up to betray me.
00:19:04As I look back on all the details
00:19:07from my past life,
00:19:08I realized that their betrayal
00:19:11was full of obvious signs all along.
00:19:52I recall every time Mia felt under the weather,
00:19:54my boyfriend, Jack,
00:19:55would always turn up right on time,
00:19:58thoughtfully handing her painkillers.
00:20:04But when I had a really bad cold,
00:20:06Jack's phone was always unreachable.
00:20:11Jack is actually a pretty good cook.
00:20:13Yet whenever Mia joins us for dinner,
00:20:15the whole table is nothing but vegetarian dishes.
00:20:18He knows perfectly well Mia dislikes meat.
00:20:21And he also knows I'm a total carnivore.
00:20:26All of those little unnoticeable details,
00:20:31they were all clues,
00:20:34exposing their betrayal all along.
00:20:39The rain outside keeps pouring harder and harder.
00:20:44Before long,
00:20:45the whole world outside is drowning in flood water.
00:20:51Terrifying lightning,
00:20:53and thunder clash wildly together.
00:20:57Rain drops slam against the glass
00:21:00like cannonballs.
00:21:02I stand alone
00:21:03in front of the Florida ceiling window.
00:21:06I happen to notice
00:21:08a small orange glow
00:21:11bobbing in the water.
00:21:13My heart stops.
00:21:15I immediately grab my binoculars
00:21:18for a closer look.
00:21:25It looks like a sanitation worker
00:21:30who's fallen into the flood,
00:21:33fighting desperately
00:21:35over his life.
00:21:36Then,
00:21:37suddenly,
00:21:39and he's completely swept away,
00:21:43gone without a trace.
00:21:45The cruel apocalypse
00:21:48has only just begun.
00:21:51Human life has become
00:21:54as worthless as trash.
00:21:56Trash is silently swallowed up
00:21:58by the raging flood of blood.
00:22:05I'm too tense to even breathe.
00:22:10Suddenly,
00:22:11a violent clap of thunder
00:22:14crashes down,
00:22:17plunging half the city
00:22:19into total darkness
00:22:21in an instant.
00:22:26I'm too tense to even breathe.
00:22:30Suddenly,
00:22:31open the sea rope
00:22:31and aんな
00:22:51and trying to imagine�甲
00:22:53will tell you
00:23:00undergoing the grey
00:23:00form
00:23:00of the
00:23:00fire and
00:23:00grabbing your
00:23:00number
00:23:00Flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, floodwaters come surging from the distance like a raging tide.
00:23:07Even standing up here on the 37th floor, the sight before my eyes makes my legs go weak with fear.
00:23:15The entire city is swallowed by the flood.
00:23:18All the shorter buildings are instantly engulfed in darkness.
00:23:21Luckily, all the residential buildings near me are newly built high-rises, so the power supply facilities remain undamaged.
00:23:29Just in case, I quickly get the generator ready for any enlarging.
00:23:36Looking at that old apartment building in the distance, now swallowed by the darkness, I feel a quiet sense of
00:23:47relief.
00:23:48Thank goodness I installed that one-way privacy film early on.
00:23:54Even if the whole world loses power one day, no one outside will be able to see the light inside
00:24:03my home.
00:24:06Luckily, the internet is still up.
00:24:10I casually open a video on my phone, and the trending page is filled with scenes of devastation from the
00:24:21torrential rain.
00:24:22In just two days, over 800 people are already dead.
00:24:30That cold, lifeless number is absolutely horrifying to look at.
00:24:46People's ugly side in disaster really shows.
00:24:57News reports say rescue supplies are in this year shorted right now.
00:25:04Which basically means, the rescue teams won't arrive any time soon.
00:25:12If we want to survive, the only option now is to rely on ourselves.
00:25:24It's almost as if my parents could foresee the future.
00:25:29They not only had the house specially reinforced during renovation, but also installed heavy-duty waterproofing on the top floor.
00:25:41I'll probably be fine getting through this endless downpour.
00:25:46What worries me more is the most dangerous creatures that come after the storm.
00:26:25In my past life, Jack and Mia stole my spot on the rescue vehicle.
00:26:29And I was attacked and killed by some unknown mutated creature.
00:26:33No one knew that even more unknown dangers were on their way.
00:26:39So in this life, I came fully prepared.
00:26:42Hopefully, I'll never have to use these corrosive chemicals.
00:26:47The time has come.
00:26:49Day three of the doomsday storm.
00:26:51Jack starts getting chatty in the group again.
00:26:53He casually sends a few photos of the place.
00:26:55The home he and I used to share.
00:26:57That apartment of ours is on a low floor, the 6th.
00:27:00But right now, the place is an absolute wreck.
00:27:03The floodwater has already covered the entire bed.
00:27:07Jack starts non-stop whining in the group chat, asking if I'm still at my mom's place.
00:27:18Just then, a new message appears.
00:27:23It's Mia.
00:27:24Chloe, I remember you have a penthouse apartment.
00:27:30We're already on our way there.
00:27:32Get your room ready for us.
00:27:34Listening to this, my heart raises instantly.
00:27:39Overwhelmed by deep regrets.
00:27:43I remember back in my past life.
00:27:47My relationship with my best friend, Mia, was incredibly close.
00:27:56So close that we were like sisters sharing the same dress.
00:28:03I never held anything back from her.
00:28:07I even brought her to my penthouse before.
00:28:13Back then, to show just how deep our bestie bond ran.
00:28:21I was stupid enough to even give her a spare key to my penthouse.
00:28:33But look at this now.
00:28:36What am I supposed to do?
00:28:43I happen to have your key with me.
00:28:47Whether you're home or not, we're coming.
00:28:52We'll be at your door for any minute now.
00:29:12And I'll worry about it.
00:29:13I don't think so.
00:29:15I need to take control of it really quickly.
00:29:16In terms of my class, you need to kill me.
00:29:17Now, time with blood in your house.
00:29:23Which means you do not try knowing your heart.
00:29:28But gently do good, thinking.
00:29:29It's necessary for you.
00:29:35Perhaps you'll need to help your heart as you are true.
00:29:36Because of the rock you're at your birth,
00:29:37or you'reca-op 되�ling.
00:29:40Then it's tooMary.
00:29:41Who are you?
00:29:41Who can get really Moving on?
00:29:42What on earth should I do to stay alive?
00:29:44The storm has been raging non-stop for four full days now.
00:29:48That little apartment Jack rented is completely underwater.
00:29:53Me? I've already stocked up on everything I need and am fully prepared.
00:29:59Living comfortably in the penthouse Dad gave me.
00:30:03That worthless man who betrayed me and my fake best friend
00:30:07have somehow found my address.
00:30:13Now they're rowing over on a shabby and inflatable raft,
00:30:20forcing me to open the door and take them in.
00:30:26In my past life,
00:30:29not only did I bring Mia to this apartment,
00:30:34but I was also stupid enough to give her a spare key.
00:30:40And in the end,
00:30:43she teamed up with that piece of trash
00:30:48and got me killed.
00:30:52So since I've been given a second life,
00:30:55there's no way I'm ever giving them another chance to hurt me again.
00:31:03Just as I was pacing around in panic,
00:31:06I suddenly remembered I'd had the locks changed after my rebirth.
00:31:09The key Mia has won't work at all.
00:31:11Even though I know I'm safe,
00:31:13I still need to double check every inch of this security tool.
00:31:16I have to make sure it's absolutely solid.
00:31:21After checking everything,
00:31:23I went back to the bedroom
00:31:24and pulled the heavy blackout curtains shut,
00:31:28cutting myself off entirely from the outside world.
00:31:32And I made a solemn vow in my heart.
00:31:36Through lives mean nothing to me.
00:31:38Not for anything in the world will I open the door
00:31:42and take them in this lifetime.
00:32:06I was jolted awake by a frantic pounding at the door.
00:32:10I know full well it must be those two.
00:32:12I creep barefoot over to the front door
00:32:14and peer through the peephole.
00:32:16There they are, Jack and Mia,
00:32:17standing right outside the door,
00:32:19both of them soaked from head to toe.
00:32:20Jack is banging frantically on the steel door,
00:32:23shouting for me to open it,
00:32:24his face filled with anxiety and panic.
00:32:30Open it, Chloe!
00:32:32Open the door!
00:32:35I know you're in there!
00:32:36Meanwhile, Mia's lips are purple from the cold.
00:32:38Her whole body trembling non-stop.
00:32:41After about 10 minutes or so of Jack pounding on the door,
00:32:44he completely loses his patience.
00:32:45He'd somehow picked up an iron rod without me noticing.
00:32:48He hefts it up and slams it hard against my front door.
00:32:51But how could he know?
00:32:52I've already reinforced this door to bank vault level.
00:32:56He thinks he can bust down my door with some rusty iron rod?
00:32:59In his dreams.
00:33:01Jack, stop.
00:33:04Let's just stay here for now.
00:33:06At least it's safe for the moment.
00:33:08Maybe Chloe just fell asleep and didn't hear us.
00:33:12Let's wait a little longer.
00:33:17I can see everything clearly through the monitor.
00:33:20Right there in the dark, grimy hallway,
00:33:22the two of them shamelessly started making out.
00:33:25My stomach turned in disgust.
00:33:27And I nearly threw up.
00:33:28They're filthy, crawling out of floodwater and garbage.
00:33:31And they can still stand to put their mouths on each other?
00:33:34Now that's true love.
00:33:36Not even the apocalypse can stop them.
00:33:38But their moment of tenderness didn't last long.
00:33:41Jack becomes anxious and restless again.
00:33:46As the night creeps by,
00:33:48the temperature in the hallway keeps getting colder.
00:33:50Mia has come down with a high fever.
00:33:52Shivering and huddled on the icy ground,
00:33:54she's clearly burning up and losing her senses.
00:33:59I watch everything happening out there
00:34:01without a single expression on my face.
00:34:03My eyes falls on the medical supplies lined up on the shelf,
00:34:06full of fever and anti-inflammatory meds.
00:34:08Yet I only stare at them with a cold, mocking smile.
00:34:12Right about then, Mia slaps Jack hard across the face.
00:34:16I can't believe my luck!
00:34:18Stuck with a useless loser like you!
00:34:20If I were with Chloe, I'd be inside with food and drink!
00:34:25How did I ever hook up with you in the first place?
00:34:27That slap completely stuns Jack.
00:34:29One side of his face swells up right away,
00:34:31but he only stays quiet for a moment.
00:34:32Then he starts coaxing Mia in a low voice.
00:34:35Mia, just hold on a little longer.
00:34:37Maybe your fever will break soon.
00:34:39The rescue team will be here any minute.
00:34:40Can we just hang on a little longer?
00:34:42In my memory, Jack has always been this charming, thoughtful gentleman.
00:34:48And now, look at him, groveling in front of Mia like that.
00:34:51I honestly don't know what I ever saw in him.
00:34:54Mia completely brushes off Jack's comfort.
00:34:56She shakes his hand off in disgust, points right at his nose,
00:35:00her face screaming nothing but contempt for his uselessness.
00:35:03Just at that moment, the door across the hall swings open.
00:35:08The man and woman who betrayed me are begging desperately outside, and I still refuse to open the door.
00:35:16Instead, the door across the hall opens first.
00:35:19Through the security monitor by my door, I see it clearly.
00:35:22A big, hulking guy just walked out of the apartment across the hall.
00:35:25His gaze lingers greedily on Mia's damp clothes for a full half-minute, and he even licks his lips.
00:35:30I'm sitting right here on my couch, watching the whole thing on the screen.
00:35:35Jack shifts to stand in front of Mia.
00:35:37Look, bro, we gotta just...
00:35:39The man brushes Jack aside effortlessly.
00:35:44His lecherous eyes fixed firmly on Mia.
00:35:48Come with me quietly, beautiful.
00:35:50I have got all the good stuff inside.
00:35:53Food, medicine, hot water, and a nice comfy bed.
00:35:58Stick with me, and you will live in comfort.
00:36:01Far better than freezing to death out here in the hallway.
00:36:05Seeing the hungry look in Mia's eyes,
00:36:09Jack absolutely loses his mind.
00:36:12He swings at the guy, and the two of them start fighting.
00:36:14Jack tries to play the hero in front of Mia, and gets knocked flat on his ass for his trouble.
00:36:18Seeing Mia actually tempted, I can't help but smirk.
00:36:22This is the best friend, who was always jealous of me and stole my boyfriend.
00:36:26And underneath it all, she's still just as greedy and selfish.
00:36:30Enraged out of his mind, Jack pulls another punch and rushes straight at the brute.
00:36:46But unexpectedly, Mia tells Jack to back off.
00:36:49Then lets the big man hoist her onto his shoulder,
00:36:52and carry her into his luxury apartment without hesitation.
00:36:56Jack can't believe his eyes.
00:36:58He stands rooted to the spot, like a statue.
00:37:02It's not until the door across the hallway is about to shut,
00:37:05that he finally snaps out of his daze, and shouts angrily at her.
00:37:13At that moment, a ruthless glint flashes in Mia's eyes,
00:37:16before she speaks without a shred of mercy.
00:37:18Out there, it is nothing but storm and flood.
00:37:23As long as I can survive, nothing else matters.
00:37:26The big man slams the door with a loud bang, and in that pitch black hallway, Jack is suddenly all
00:37:30alone.
00:37:32I watch his pitiful state with cold eyes, not a trace of sympathy in my heart.
00:37:37All I feel is the sweet satisfaction of revenge finally served.
00:37:45Not after long, the rich scent of steak wafts out from inside the room.
00:37:49Jack, who's already starving, can't take it anymore.
00:37:52He actually knocks on that brute's door.
00:37:53His voice is low and begging as he pleads outside.
00:37:56Bro, just throw me some food! Anything to keep me alive!
00:37:59I was wrong. I should not have swung at you like that.
00:38:02Please, just have some pity on me. Give me something to eat.
00:38:04My girlfriend and his family is rich. I will have her send you a ton of money, right now!
00:38:08Hearing what he says through the monitor, I let out a cold laugh.
00:38:12Even at a time like this, Jack is still trying to squeeze something out of me.
00:38:18But no one inside paid him the slightest attention.
00:38:20Instead, sounds of laughter and teasing between a man and a woman, along with suggestive murmurs, drifted out from behind
00:38:27the door.
00:38:30Jack figures out immediately what's going on inside.
00:38:33His already hopeless face twists with rage and humiliation.
00:38:37He shakes with fury, veins bulging on his forehead.
00:38:39Then he picks up that iron rod and starts banging on the door.
00:38:43A hundred times more vicious than when he was hitting my door.
00:38:46The sounds coming from that apartment just keep getting louder.
00:38:49Jack's last mental defense completely crumbles, and he drops the iron rod in utter dejection.
00:38:55I'm sitting here, nice and steady, at my dining table, eating popcorn and drinking coke, watching this whole drama show
00:39:01on my monitor.
00:39:03Honestly, this is more intense and entertaining than any TV show.
00:39:07Thinking back on my past life, Mia was jealous of my wealthy family and my good-looking boyfriend.
00:39:12So she just snatched Jack right away from me.
00:39:27Those two scumbags teamed up to rob me and take my life.
00:39:31They killed me.
00:39:32In this life, Mia doesn't hesitate for a second to abandon Jack just to save her own skin.
00:39:38I guess that's exactly the kind of karma that Trash like Jack deserves.
00:39:42After finishing my popcorn, I get up and walk to the window.
00:39:45The storm outside is still raging crazily, and the flood water has already risen to the 10th floor.
00:39:51Seeing how terrifyingly fast the water is rising, I have a bad feeling.
00:39:57Pandora's box has been flung wide open.
00:40:00This disaster comes pouring down upon the world.
00:40:09Now I've come back and we'll catch up and see how like a bird phrase helps you or like a
00:40:09bird word get off all night.
00:40:09Again, we had aár 1942 on it in 2010.
00:40:10So I said to please, they encourage, to please, please, subscribe and press our agenda is on to
00:40:33two starving children. They look like they're barely hanging on. I can't bear to look anymore.
00:40:39In this cruel, apocalyptic world, no one can save anyone else. The only person you can rely on
00:40:44is yourself. Right then, my mom calls me. Honey, how are things over there? Hearing mom's warm,
00:41:00familiar voice sends a wave of comfort through me. All my fear and unease melts away. Mom,
00:41:06just hearing your voice puts me at ease. Everything is fine here. I have plenty of supplies. Dad snatches
00:41:12the phone and tells me, thank goodness they listened to me. They moved their supplies up to
00:41:16the old house on the hilltop before the storm hit. Up there on the mountain, life is actually pretty
00:41:20comfortable right now. My parents had saved up a bit over the years. They built a small villa on a
00:41:25hilltop back in their hometown, and every summer, they'd go up there for a little vacation. Now that
00:41:30the storm is here, that house has turned out to be just what they needed. I give them a few
00:41:36more
00:41:36instructions, then reluctantly hang up. Knowing that my parents are safe puts my mind completely at
00:41:42ease. In the middle of this terrible apocalypse, having my family safe and sound is the greatest
00:41:48comfort I could ever ask for. Even in the apocalypse, I never stop working out. I've heard this massive
00:41:56storm is going to last a full six months. This is bound to be a long, grueling battle of endurance.
00:42:02Having plenty of supplies isn't enough. You also need a body strong and healthy enough to carry you
00:42:08through. But that night, I suddenly couldn't sleep. In the darkness, I thought I heard some noise outside
00:42:13my door. Out of habit, I sit down at the computer to check the cameras, and what I see nearly
00:42:19scares me
00:42:19half to death. Mia sticks her hand through the crack in the door and tosses out a few apples and
00:42:25a bag of bread. The second Jack sees food, he's like a starving wolf. He springs up from the floor
00:42:31and grabs that doorframe, holding onto it, not letting it go. His eyes are blazing with rage and
00:42:37hatred. Seeing him like this, almost insane and terrifying, sends chills down my spine. Mia is no match for
00:42:45Jack's strength. The door is about to be forced all the way open. Watching through the screen,
00:42:50I can't help but break out in a cold sweat for her. Then, the big man comes out. But before
00:42:55he can even
00:42:56say a word, Jack takes him down with a swing of the iron rod. In an instant, the big man
00:43:02becomes a
00:43:03corpse. Jack stands over him, laughing like a maniac. His features are contorted like some demons,
00:43:09and there's actually this smug look on his face, like he's proud of himself for driving off an intruder.
00:43:15And right then, Jack turns around and walks over to my front door.
00:43:26He sends me a message through the camera.
00:43:31Chloe, how have you been lately? I really miss you. I still love you so much. Have you been thinking
00:43:38about me?
00:43:38Fear tightens my throat, leaving me speechless. My fingers tremble uncontrollably. I know perfectly
00:43:45well I can't let him get suspicious. I quickly reply, I miss you too. My phone's been dead. No
00:43:51signal these days.
00:43:54I called your mom earlier. She told me you're not at home. She said you never went back. Are you
00:44:01lying
00:44:01to me?
00:44:02I break out in a cold sweat in an instant. I didn't get home until after I got off the
00:44:07phone
00:44:07with you. So my mom thought I hadn't come back yet.
00:44:12Babe, I miss you so much. Where exactly are you? I'll come find you right now.
00:44:18Fighting back my disgust, I reply. I'm back in my hometown with my mom. Gotta go. We just lost power
00:44:24again. I toss my phone aside and keep my eyes fixed on the surveillance screen on my computer.
00:44:30Meanwhile, Jack is staring intently at my front door. He seems to have a vague feeling that I'm
00:44:35actually hiding inside this apartment. Thank goodness the pinhole camera I installed is extremely
00:44:41well hidden. Jack has no idea it's there. The thing he should be doing right now, instead of
00:44:46searching everywhere for me, is dealing with that dead man on the floor. Mia is completely terrified
00:44:52by now. She's slumped to the floor like a limp heap, unable to stir an inch. Jack completely
00:44:58ignores her. With a cold, expressionless face, he bends down, grabs the man by the collar, and
00:45:03drags him, like a piece of trash, toward the stairwell that leads to the roof.
00:45:15All I hear is this dull, heavy thud from downstairs. The man's body slams into the water and sends
00:45:22up a huge splash. To anyone who doesn't know what's going on, it just looks like another
00:45:27person who couldn't take the apocalypse anymore and offed themselves. Once I dispose of this
00:45:31man's body completely, Jack drags Mia, who's still slumped on the floor, straight into the
00:45:36apartment. By now, there's nothing in her eyes but pure fear. She just lets him pull
00:45:41her inside. And the moment that apartment door slams shut, after that, Mia does whatever Jack
00:45:46tells her, completely obeying to his words. Eight months slipped by in the blink of an eye.
00:45:51The rain stopped, but then the temperature dropped crazily. The flood water turned into
00:45:56thick sheets of ice. After that long stretch of extreme weather, City's power grid had been
00:46:00dead for a long time. Jack and Mia are at my door again. They're wrapped in layers of ragged
00:46:05clothes and blankets, shivering in the hallway. That burly guy? He didn't actually have that
00:46:10much food stocked up. On top of Jack's reckless spending and wasting in these past few months,
00:46:15they've now run out of food for a full three days. Hunger and cold are slowly eating away
00:46:20whatever humanity they've got left. Jack, the face that used to be so good looking, now his
00:46:25eyes are all sunken in. He's nervously tugging at his messy hair, looking just like a zombie.
00:46:30Mia's even worse off. Her face is all frostbitten. Her hair looks like dead straw. She's completely
00:46:36lost that vibrant look she used to have. Because just now, Jack snatched away that last piece of
00:46:41moldy cracker from her. I've seen this kind of savage fighting countless times over these
00:46:45eight months. Every single time, it feels so satisfying. Just when I thought their little
00:46:51fight for today was about to end, Jack suddenly stands up. His eyes lock on my door. It's that
00:46:57kind of crazy you only get when you're staring death in the face.
00:47:04In his hand is the power drill he looted from the burly guy's place. That buzzing sound just
00:47:10keeps ringing in my ears. Jack's voice is all raspy as he says to Mia,
00:47:17that bitch Chloe's definitely in there. I've been hearing noises from that side for months
00:47:23now. And there's light coming through the crack under that door. That means she's got
00:47:30food and electricity in there. If we can just pry this door open, we'll be living like kings
00:47:35from now on.
00:47:36The moment Mia hears there's food, you can see that greed flash in her eyes. She completely
00:47:42forgets how Jack stole that last half of her cracker. She actually helps him drag over the
00:47:47extension cord all on her own. Watching these two out of their minds on the screen, I set down my
00:47:52coffee cup. If you're so determined to walk right into your own death, don't blame me for what happens
00:47:58next. I walk over to the shoe cabinet and grab the explosion-proof connector I prepared. Then I grab
00:48:03the high voltage switch I'd already set up and hold it in my hand. Back when I was renovating, I
00:48:08had
00:48:08someone run electricity through the inside of the security door. All I have to do is press this switch
00:48:13and the whole door will instantly be live with 3,000 volts of high voltage. Jack walks up to the
00:48:18door
00:48:18with the drill. He walks up to the door with that ugly grin on his face, muttering curses the whole
00:48:23time.
00:48:24Chloe, you selfish bitch. You've got all that stuff and you just sit there watching us starve.
00:48:30When I get through this door, you're gonna pay for it!
00:48:37The moment the drill bit touched the lock, I didn't hesitate. I pressed the switch. A huge
00:48:43crackling sound and blue electric arcs exploded all over the door. Jack doesn't even have time to
00:48:48scream. His whole body springs off like a rocket. He crashes hard against the hallway wall.
00:48:53The drill, pouring out thick black smoke, falls to the side. His whole body is convulsing violently,
00:49:00foam coming out of his mouth. His already messy hair is now standing straight up from the shock.
00:49:05Mia, who was right behind Jack, is completely frozen in shock by what just happened.
00:49:11She backs away, screaming nonsense, and plops down onto the icy cold ground. She pissed herself. I let out a
00:49:18cold laugh, open the intercom, and say to the two sorry figures outside,
00:49:22Oh my, so sorry about that. The quality of my door isn't great. It's a little leaky.
00:49:28Next time you two want to visit, remember to make an appointment in advance. That way you won't get
00:49:33accidentally shocked again. When he hears my voice, Jack's whole body jerks. He barely manages to lift
00:49:39his head, and his eyes are just filled with shock and pure venom. Chloe, so you are home? You evil
00:49:48woman.
00:49:49You ran high voltage through your door. Are you trying to kill me? I answer all nonchalant. Kill someone?
00:49:56I wouldn't dare. This is just self-defense. As for you two, showing up with a power drill trying to
00:50:02pry my
00:50:03door open. I believe that's called attempted home invasion, right? And you know what? In this lawless
00:50:09apocalypse we're living in now, home invaders usually get killed.
00:50:17Jack struggles for a long time before he can barely catch his breath. That hit didn't kill him,
00:50:23but it pretty much crushed him completely. He's only got a little strength left. He realizes brute force
00:50:28isn't going to work, so he puts on that fake act again. Chloe, I know I was wrong.
00:50:35I screwed up everything. I shouldn't have betrayed you. I shouldn't have gotten together with Mia.
00:50:44But I'm seriously starving.
00:50:49Come on, we used to love each other. Just give me something to eat. Even just one slice of bread,
00:50:56please. Mia starts wailing too. Chloe, I'm your best friend. We used to go shopping and eat together,
00:51:05don't you remember? Jack made me do it. He forced me. Chloe, please save me. Watching them grovel like
00:51:13that makes me sick to my stomach. I look at them through the peephole and say coldly,
00:51:19save your energy. I'd rather feed my supplies to a dog than give them to you two. You two just
00:51:25stay
00:51:25out there in the hallway and enjoy starving nice and slow. Then I shut off the intercom. I let them
00:51:32wail and curse all they want outside. I just pretend I can't hear any of it, but I know perfectly
00:51:37well
00:51:37this peace isn't going to last. The structure of this building is starting to show some problems
00:51:42after being soaked in flood water for so long. Last night I felt some slight tremors, and the ice
00:51:48outside is constantly pressing against the walls. The 37th floor might be high up, but if the foundation
00:51:54gives way, this place will turn into my grave in an instant. I pull out the satellite phone I've been
00:52:04holding onto, the one I spent a fortune on before the apocalypse hit. I bought it so I could still
00:52:10reach
00:52:10the outside world after the internet and power went out. I call that familiar number, and on the other
00:52:15end, my dad's voice comes through right away. Chloe, is that you? How are things over there right now?
00:52:23Hearing my dad's voice, all my defenses crumble in an instant. My eyes get a little teary. I hold back
00:52:29the tears and say, Dad, I'm safe here for now. But this building might not hold up much longer. The
00:52:37foundation is shifting. I want to get out of here and come find you guys up in the mountains.
00:52:43Dad's voice on the other end is urgent, as he says, be extremely careful. The ice out there is
00:52:49really unstable right now. Some places look frozen solid, but underneath it's all rushing flood water,
00:52:56and things are crazy out there. A lot of survivors have formed armed gangs, putting everything in
00:53:01sight. A girl like you coming out here alone, it's way too dangerous. I take a deep breath and say
00:53:07firmly, Dad, don't worry. I've been ready for this for a long time. I have guns.
00:53:16Dad and I agreed on a meeting spot, right under that signal tower at the edge of the city.
00:53:21After hanging up, I start getting everything ready. I sling the gun behind my back and clip the stun gun
00:53:26to
00:53:26my waist. Now, I'm leaving.
00:53:38Night falls. The wind outside howls even harder against the window. I go out to the balcony.
00:53:44The floor-to-ceiling windows here face the other side of the city, which perfectly avoids the line
00:53:50of sight of those two pieces of trash in the hallway. The water level has already risen to the 20th
00:53:55floor
00:53:55now. That's only about 10-plus floors below me. The freezing wind cuts into my face, but the fire
00:54:01inside me just keeps burning hotter and hotter. I hit an off-road vehicle in the garage upstairs a long
00:54:08time ago. This is a car I specially modified. The off-road vehicle has ice-studded tires and a
00:54:14strengthened four-wheel drive diff lock. I raised the chassis and tuned the powertrain to handle extreme
00:54:20cold conditions. I check the gas tank and make sure there's plenty of fuel. Everything's ready.
00:54:25Right as I'm about to drive off, a scream comes from above. I hear Mia's voice. Turns out those
00:54:31two just wouldn't give up. They've been watching me from the hallway window the whole time.
00:54:36Look, Jack! That bitch is trying to run away! She has a car! She actually hit a car from us!
00:54:43Chloe, don't you dare run! Take us with you! Take us with you now, or I'll kill you!
00:55:00I look up and see two heads poking out from the window on the 37th floor. Turns out Jack has
00:55:06a gun.
00:55:08He pulls the trigger. The bullet comes flying right at me. The bullet hits the ice,
00:55:13not far from me. Chunks of ice go flying in all directions, almost tearing through my cold weather
00:55:18suit. I stare up at them coldly. Since you're so desperate to die, I'll give you a ride. I don't
00:55:23rush off. Instead, I take the gun off my back and aim it at the window above. Jack clearly never
00:55:30thought
00:55:30I'd shoot back. He curses and pulls his head in, but I never meant to kill him with this shot.
00:55:36Anyway, the bullet rips through the night air and hits the drain pipe right above their window.
00:55:41That pipe was already cracked from the cold and barely hanging on. One shot, and it comes crashing
00:55:46down with a roar. Huge icicles, along with chunks of debris, come crashing down. The window shatters
00:55:52instantly. The freezing wind mixed with ice shots comes pouring into the hallway. I can even hear
00:55:56Mia's blood-curdling screams. No window to block it. Tonight's minus 40 degree cold will be more than
00:56:04enough than I'm telling you. Enjoy. See you later, you two scumbags. Hope you can last a few more hours
00:56:11in that ice pit.
00:56:16Once I leave the neighborhood, the scene in front of me is even more shocking. The once bustling city
00:56:22is now nothing but dead silence. Skyscrapers stand like lonely islands in the middle of a vast frozen
00:56:29wasteland. Frozen cars and trees are everywhere. Once in a while, you spot a few bodies, frozen mid-struggle,
00:56:36trapped in the ice. I see that monster bug that killed me in my past life. It's frozen dead.
00:56:46I breathe a small sigh of relief. Even though I have weapons, in this kind of extreme environment,
00:56:53I have to stay on guard at all times. Right as I get near the central plaza, several blinding lights
00:57:00suddenly flash in front of me. A few modified off-road vehicles come racing toward me. It's those gang
00:57:06members. The looters. In the apocalypse, people with their own vehicles are usually the most dangerous
00:57:13kind. They bully the weak, have no humanity left, just pure evil. I immediately duck down and turn off
00:57:21my headlights, trying to hide among the ruins. But they clearly spotted me a long time ago. The megaphone
00:57:29blasts out this cocky voice. Stop your car! Hand over your supplies, and maybe we will let you live!
00:57:38Hearing that, I tighten my grip on my gun. You want to rob me? You better pray you get the
00:57:43chance.
00:57:44I start the car again and slip into a tight little side street, which should limit their advantage in
00:57:49numbers. Those cars are right on my tail. A chase breaks out of frozen streets. The guys chasing me
00:57:56are clearly desperate too. They just won't let up. Some of them even start throwing molotov cocktails at
00:58:03me. The flames explode on the ice and swallows my car. I calmly speed out of the flames. The bandits
00:58:16behind me keep firing non-stop. I ignore them and focus on the terrain around me. Up ahead is an
00:58:21intersection. On the left is an office building that's already half fallen down. Tons of concrete
00:58:26and rebar are scattered right across the middle of the road. It's the perfect trap. I deliberately slow
00:58:32down, pretending like I'm panicking and not paying attention, and head straight for it. The bandits
00:58:37behind me think I'm losing it. They scream with excitement and floor it. Right as the car is
00:58:42about to smash into the pile of concrete and rebar, I slam the gas, use the tilted ice slab as
00:58:48a ramp,
00:58:48and jump right over the road. The car right on my tail isn't so lucky. The driver doesn't even have
00:58:54time to react. A huge crash as several cars pile right into each other. The remaining cars slam on their
00:59:00brakes
00:59:01spinning out all over the ice. In the middle of all that chaos, I fire three shots at the gasoline
00:59:07on the ground.
00:59:07Instantly, it ignites. Players shoot up into the sky. Their screams are immediately swallowed up by the blast.
00:59:13After taking care of the pursuers, I didn't stop for a second. I keep driving at full speed toward the
00:59:18edge of the city,
00:59:19because I know that explosion just now is probably going to attract even more looters. I'm driving my off-road
00:59:26vehicle across the frozen highway, thinking I'm finally safe. But I never expected. Underneath the ice,
00:59:33there's a deadly monster hiding. I see several massive tentacles reaching up through the island.
00:59:39Wherever they touch, the ice sizzles and hisses with white smoke. What the hell is that?
00:59:48Those disgusting tentacles keep attacking me. Corrosive slime drips onto my car,
00:59:53and in an instant, it burns a huge hole right through the top. My arm gets burned too. This is
01:00:00the first time since the apocalypse started that I've felt the threat of death again. I shoot back,
01:00:05but the bullets can't kill it. The wounds heal instantly. The thing gets pissed at me, thrashing
01:00:11its tentacles around and becoming even more furious. Not until that tentacle monster rose up with a
01:00:17thunderous crash did I realize. I seriously underestimated how terrifying this apocalypse really is.
01:00:23But I have to survive. I throw the gas, dodging the monster's chase, and keep firing at the same
01:00:30tentacle over and over again. My way worked, I blew one of its tentacles off. The monster becomes furious.
01:00:37It flips my car over and traps me in a circle. I can clearly smell its disgusting, fishy stench. There's
01:00:45no
01:00:45way out. Just when I think I'm definitely going to die, I hear a gunshot. A fully armed man standing
01:00:51on a
01:00:52speeding off-road vehicle. The bullet hits the monster's head with perfect accuracy.
01:00:58The man who saved me, his name is Felix Carter. He quickly scans the area, confirms there's no
01:01:05immediate danger, and walks over to me. I carefully avoid the monster's tentacles, clutching my knife the
01:01:13whole time, and keeping distance from him. I know he saved me, but this is the apocalypse. I have to
01:01:19stay
01:01:19alert no matter what. I treat my wounds quickly, my mind racing the whole time. I thought that since
01:01:25the facehugger that killed me in my past life was frozen, the world outside wouldn't be that dangerous.
01:01:31But then, from what Felix tells me, I realize it's actually way more dangerous now. That tentacle
01:01:37monster I just ran into? That's just one of countless mutated creatures out there. I finally
01:01:43understand. If I hadn't run into Felix, I would have died. Those mutated creatures, they need special
01:01:50gunpowder to kill. Felix teaches me how to make the special bullets. He helps me flip my car back on
01:01:56its wheels, and even helps fix the top the tentacle monster corroded. The night grows darker. We sit
01:02:02together like old friends, eating toast, and spend a pleasant evening. We traveled together across the
01:02:08empty roads, and made it to this small town. Felix and I looked at each other. Neither of us said
01:02:14goodbye.
01:02:14We just drove off toward our own destination.
01:02:20Another night passed. Up ahead is a huge mountain range. That's where my parents are.
01:02:26The terrain here is really high, so it didn't get flooded. The vegetation on the mountain is still
01:02:31thick. You can even see patches of green, signs of life. I hide the offered vehicle in a cave,
01:02:39load up my gear, and start hiking up the mountain. My body is completely exhausted,
01:02:46but the desire to go home keeps pushing me up, step by step. The mountain path is rough and hard
01:02:53to walk on.
01:02:54The snow is up past my knees. But with every step I take, I feel a little more at ease.
01:03:01After about two hours of walking, I finally see that familiar signal tower. And under that tower,
01:03:07two aging figures are standing in the freezing wind waiting for me. My mom and dad. In that moment,
01:03:16all my walls come crashing down. Tears spill out. I can't stop them. Dad! Mom! I'm home!
01:03:24Mom recognizes me right away. She covers her mouth in shock, tears falling from her eyes.
01:03:30She and dad hold onto each other, stumbling and staggering through the deep snow, running toward me.
01:03:41Walking into this little two-story villa at the top of the mountain,
01:03:44a wave of warmth hits me. The fire in the fireplace is burning bright, crackling and popping.
01:03:54You've lost weight, my child. You've been through so much, haven't you?
01:04:01Are you hungry, sweetheart? Let me make something for you. Watching mom's back as she busies herself,
01:04:07I start crying. It feels so good to be cared for like this.
01:04:13I look around and see that while the supplies here are pretty well stocked,
01:04:17most of them are just long-lasting stuff, like sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, and some dried ham.
01:04:24I mean, funds were limited, so what they could stock up wasn't anything too fancy. But that's okay.
01:04:31Now that I'm back, this place is going to turn into paradise.
01:04:37Outside, it's dozens of degrees below zero, and people are killing each other over half a moldy cracker.
01:04:43Meanwhile, my family is sitting in front of a warm fireplace, eating delicious steak.
01:04:49That tender steak with mom's homemade black pepper sauce. The taste is absolutely perfect.
01:04:56My parents' health are visibly better, too. They don't look so worried and miserable anymore.
01:05:04To be safe, dad and I spent a whole week raising the wall around the villa by another meter.
01:05:09We also covered the top of the wall with broken glass and barbed wire.
01:05:13On the only path into the yard, I dug several hidden traps and filled them with sharpened bamboo spikes.
01:05:19I know this place is pretty remote, but you never know when some wandering survivors might stumble up here.
01:05:24I won't hurt anyone for no reason, but I also won't blindly trust anyone either.
01:05:29That's the absolute rule of surviving the apocalypse.
01:05:33Every night, I scroll through the hundreds of movies and TV shows I downloaded.
01:05:38Seeing my parents laughing and happy right in front of me, it fills me with accomplishment.
01:05:43Maybe this is the whole meaning of being reborn.
01:05:46And just like that, life goes on peacefully for two months.
01:05:49The extreme cold seems to still be going, but in this isolated little shelter,
01:05:54we've almost forgotten how cruel the apocalypse really is.
01:06:00But no matter how harsh the winter is, it will end one day.
01:06:05That day, I was up on the roof clearing snow.
01:06:09Suddenly, through the binoculars, I notice something strange at the foot of the mountain.
01:06:14Some of the snow has melted, uncovering an abandoned, beat-up car.
01:06:18A hungry tiger is feasting on something.
01:06:21My heart stirs.
01:06:22I adjust the focus and take a closer look.
01:06:26Even though the tiger has already eaten away most of their faces,
01:06:29that old denim jacket looks really familiar to me.
01:06:32It's the same one Jack was wearing.
01:06:34And that small, skinny body next to him?
01:06:37Judging by the shape, that should be Mia.
01:06:40So they actually did make it out.
01:06:43Too bad they didn't die by my hand.
01:06:45Or in the flood.
01:06:46They just froze to death out there, trying to find a way to survive.
01:06:50They were only a few kilometers away from my shelter.
01:06:54Looking at how miserably they died, I feel nothing.
01:06:57Not even a hint of feeling.
01:06:59It's like I just saw two dead stray dogs on the side of the road.
01:07:03All the love and hate between us.
01:07:05It all got cut clean that snowy, windy night a long time ago.
01:07:11Mom, I want some crispy fried chicken.
01:07:15Okay.
01:07:18The turning point came 12 months after the apocalypse began.
01:07:22That morning, the long lost sun finally broke through the thick clouds
01:07:26and shone down on the vast white landscape.
01:07:29The temperature slowly began to rise.
01:07:32The sound of the ice melting echoes through the valley like music from heaven.
01:07:36Even though it comes with the stench of rotting bodies and garbage,
01:07:40and the risk of a possible plague, but I come prepared.
01:07:43I pull out the protective suits and disinfectant I had stockpiled,
01:07:46and give the entire villa a thorough decontamination.
01:07:50I tell my parents very seriously.
01:07:52The environment is really unsafe right now.
01:07:55No one leaves the house without full protective gear.
01:08:02This is the official emergency rescue command center.
01:08:05The rain disaster has ended.
01:08:06Flood waters are receding.
01:08:08Survivors, please remain calm.
01:08:10Wait for rescue in place.
01:08:11Or make your way to temporary shelters in the major cities.
01:08:14Mom and Dad hear the broadcast and hug each other, overjoyed.
01:08:18Dad keeps repeating.
01:08:19It's finally over.
01:08:21It's finally over.
01:08:23I let out a long, deep breath too.
01:08:27I have supplies.
01:08:29But this endless, sunless apocalypse,
01:08:33it's finally coming to an end.
01:08:35The flame of civilization didn't go out.
01:08:41As the temperature rise, the ice and snow on the mountain melt,
01:08:45revealing the long, buried soil underneath.
01:08:48Mom, Dad, and I start clearing land for a vegetable garden in the yard.
01:08:52I pull out the seeds I've been hoarding.
01:08:54Cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers.
01:08:57The moment I drop those seeds into the soil,
01:08:59I feel like I can see a new lease of hope.
01:09:02No more of that lifeless canned food.
01:09:05Just real life, still carrying the fresh scent of earth.
01:09:09Two weeks later, the first batch of tender green sprouts pushed through the soil.
01:09:13Seeing those little patches of green?
01:09:15Mom's as happy as a little kid.
01:09:18At the same time, down in the lowlands, the world is getting busy too.
01:09:22Trucks and helicopters start showing up constantly.
01:09:25Large-scale decontamination and cleanup efforts are underway.
01:09:28Even though the city has turned into ruins,
01:09:30When I see countless people walking out of the ruins, there is still a longing for the future in their
01:09:40eyes.
01:09:41I decide not to hide anymore.
01:09:43I pick out some supplies we can't use up, mostly medicine and compressed biscuits, and fill several big backpacks with
01:09:49them.
01:09:50Under the cover of darkness, I quietly left the supplies on the road the rescue teams had to take at
01:09:55the foot of the mountain.
01:09:57After doing all that, I quietly go back to my little mountaintop home.
01:10:04The post-disaster rebuilding is harder than anyone imagined, but human resilience is endless.
01:10:40Three years passed in a flash.
01:10:41And I'm starting a new life again.
01:10:42He's now a rescue team leader, in charge of post-disaster reconstruction.
01:10:46No one talks about those dark days anymore, but every single person cherishes the present much more.
01:10:53No one ever mentions Jack and Mia's names again.
01:10:55They were like dust in that great storm, washed away completely into the sewer of history.
01:11:03And me?
01:11:05I'm starting a new life.
01:11:28I'm starting to say love.
01:11:32Hey!
01:11:33Don't go! Don't go! Don't go! Don't go!
01:11:39Don't go! Don't go!
01:11:41This is a great show.
01:11:43I'm so tired.
01:11:51I'm so tired.
01:11:53I'm tired.
01:12:07I'm so tired.
01:12:17I'm a tired.
01:12:22I'm tired.
01:12:24I'm so tired.
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