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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.
00:10:03My home has been a little bit more than that.
00:10:04of the heavy work but coordinating everything and tying up loose ends these past two days
00:10:08has totally worn me out i tear open a bag of beef jerky chew a bite and flip on the
00:10:14tv the news
00:10:15channel is still all peace and calm the weather report casually mentions that there might be some
00:10:19rain in the coming days no one knows that once this rain starts it will mark the end of human
00:10:24civilization just then my phone rings it's that disgusting three person group chat happy birthday
00:10:33babe you are the brightest superstar love you hurry back honey we are waiting for you at your apartment
00:10:44back then my blind trust got me not this time from now on i write my
00:10:54my own story i head to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath i know very well once the storm
00:11:03starts the tap water will stop running soon this might be my last chance to take a bath
00:11:14i feel the bath out of the pool gather rose petals across the water and soak in the calm
00:11:24before the storm while i'm drying my hair jack calls seeing the word darling pop up on screen
00:11:35i hold back my disgust and answer the call looking at the dark clouds outside
00:11:43a cold smile curls at the corner of my mouth hey where are you why aren't you back yet
00:11:53oh oh jack my mom suddenly missed me and asked me to come home for a few days
00:12:03days i am already on the train no way i can make it back tonight
00:12:14what but we bought so much food you guys leave first don't wait for me go ahead and finish all
00:12:27that food
00:12:28i consider it celebrating my birthday after hanging up i can almost picture exactly what those two
00:12:40look like in that apartment that apartment sits in a low-lying zone it is always the first neighborhood
00:12:51it's drainage system is terrible once the torrential rain pours down the whole place will be submerged in
00:13:05no time i truly hope they enjoy their nice little dinner
00:13:47so
00:13:50after all this is probably the last peaceful meal of their lives a blinding flash of lightning cuts
00:13:56across the sky outside the window followed by rain pounding against the bulletproof glass
00:14:01i check the time 8 27 p.m the apocalypse has officially begun and just like that the three
00:14:08person group chat starts up again jack sends a photo it's a feast of dishes with a peanut
00:14:13flavored birthday cake right in the center babe the rain outside is crazy when are you coming back
00:14:18looking at the photo it's all food media likes not a single dish i like even the cake it's mia's
00:14:24favorite peanut butter flavor three years with jack and he still doesn't remember that i'm allergic to
00:14:33peanuts the news finally cuts in with an emergency alert the city issues a red alert for rain rainfall
00:14:45is expected to exceed 400 millimeters in the next two hours and it will keep rising
00:14:57the world outside the window soon swallowed by heavy rain the once lively city falls into chaos
00:15:19the phone rings again something feels off the rain is way too heavy the street outside the door is
00:15:31already flooded are you sure you're not coming back i pop a freshly grilled rib into my mouth
00:15:40the outside is charred and caramelized the inside is tender and juicy paired with a left bank
00:15:51bordeaux cabernet sauvignon this feeling is absolutely heavenly then i start typing in the group chat
00:16:01can't make it back rain's too heavy trains are canceled you too just stay there whatever you do
00:16:11don't go outside happy birthday chloe welcome to the end of their world
00:16:22the curtain has risen on my revenge now 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 news day storm has finally arrived i'm hiding out in my 37th floor penthouse
00:17:17savoring some good food meanwhile my cheating boyfriend and backstabbing best friend are out
00:17:23there in the storm desperately struggling to survive even though i know full well they might lose their
00:17:28lives in this terrifying deluge i will never open my door and let them in all because in this life
00:17:34i came back reborn on the second day of the doomsday storm that cheating boyfriend from the group chat
00:17:40actually has the nerve to send me a message acting all concerned telling me not to go out unless it's
00:17:45absolutely necessary
00:17:47don't go out unless it's important
00:17:51quite the actor is empty then my good bestie
00:17:58Mia chimes in looks like i'm stranded so i'll have to crash at your place
00:18:07oh wait your boyfriend jack won't be mad at me will he
00:18:15Mia even throws in a smirking emoji their little stunt makes me sick
00:18:23all that talk about never crossing any boundaries just feels like they're showing off on purpose
00:18:33behind my back they've already done everything they claimed they wouldn't
00:18:40i completely ignore those disgusting messages looking back i was really naive and pitiful back then i once thought i
00:18:51had the perfect love and the most sincere trustworthy friendship in the world
00:18:58little did i know they had already teamed up to betray me as i look back on all the details
00:19:07from my past life i realized their betrayal was full of obvious signs all along
00:19:51i recall every time mia felt under the weather my boyfriend jack would always turn up right
00:19:57on time thoughtfully handing her painkillers
00:20:04but when i had a really bad cold jack's phone was always unreachable
00:20:11jack is actually a pretty good cook yet whenever mia joins us for dinner the whole table is nothing but
00:20:17vegetarian dishes
00:20:18he knows perfectly well mia dislikes meat and he also knows i'm a total carnivore
00:20:26all those little unnoticeable details they were all clues exposing their betrayal all along
00:20:37the rain outside keeps pouring harder and harder
00:20:43before long
00:20:45the whole world outside is drowning in flood water
00:20:51terrifying lightning and thunder clash wildly together
00:20:57rain drops slam against the glass like cannonballs
00:21:01i stand alone in front of the florida ceiling window
00:21:06i happen to notice a small orange glow
00:21:11bubbling in the water
00:21:13my heart stops
00:21:14i immediately grab my binoculars for a closer look
00:21:25it looks like a sanitation worker
00:21:30who's fallen into the flood
00:21:33fighting desperately
00:21:34in his life
00:21:36then a sudden
00:21:38waved hit
00:21:40and he's completely swept away
00:21:43gone without a trace
00:21:46the cruel apocalypse
00:21:48has only just begun
00:21:51human life
00:21:52has become as worthless
00:21:55as trash
00:21:56silently swallowed up by the raging flood
00:22:05i'm too tense to even breathe
00:22:10suddenly
00:22:11suddenly a violent
00:22:12hot clap of thunder
00:22:14crashes down
00:22:16plunging half the city
00:22:19into total darkness
00:22:21in an instant
00:22:22in an instant
00:22:33in an instant
00:22:38falling in the não-
00:23:02floodwaters come surging from the distance
00:23:04like a raging tide even standing up here on the 37th floor the sight before my eyes
00:23:11makes my legs go weak with fear the entire city is swallowed by the flood all the shorter buildings
00:23:19are instantly engulfed in darkness luckily all the residential buildings near me are newly built
00:23:24high-rises so the power supply facilities remain undamaged just in case i quickly get the generator
00:23:32ready for any of the margins looking at that old apartment building in the distance
00:23:41now swallowed by darkness i feel a quiet sense of relief thank goodness i installed that one-way
00:23:51privacy film early on even if the whole world loses power one day no one outside will be
00:24:01able to see the light inside my home luckily the internet is still up i casually open a video on
00:24:13my phone and the trending page is filled with scenes of devastation from the torrential rain
00:24:22in just two days over 800 people are already dead that cold lifeless number is absolutely
00:24:36horrifying to look at
00:24:41because everything in the malls and school markets is already looted people's ugly side in disaster really shows
00:24:57the news reports say rescue supplies are in the year shortage right now which basically means the rescue teams won't
00:25:08arrive anytime soon
00:25:11if we want to survive if 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 they not only had the house specially reinforced during renovation
00:25:35but also installed heavy duty water proofing on the top floor
00:25:41i'll probably be fine getting through this endless downpour
00:25:47what worries me
00:25:48more
00:25:50the creatures that come after the storm
00:26:25in my past life
00:26:26jack and mia stole my spot on the rescue vehicle
00:26:30and 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 local the sixth but right now the place is an absolute wreck
00:27:03the flood water has already covered the entire bed
00:27:09jack starts non-stop whining in the group chat
00:27:15asking if i'm still at my mom's place
00:27:18just then a new message appears
00:27:23it's mia
00:27:25chloe i remember you have a penthouse apartment
00:27:29we're already on our way there
00:27:32get your room ready for us
00:27:34listening to this
00:27:36my heart raises instantly
00:27:39overwhelmed by deep regrets
00:27:42i remember back in my past life
00:27:48my relationship with my best friend
00:27:51meo 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
00:28:22i 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
00:28:37i happen to have your key with me whether they're your home or not
00:28:50we're coming
00:28:52we'll be at your door for any minute now
00:29:36i tremble in fright and drop my phone
00:29:38my heart starts pounding wildly
00:29:40they're really coming for me any moment now
00:29:42what on earth should i do to stay alive
00:29:45the storm has been raging non-stop for four full days now
00:29:49that 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
00:30:08have somehow found my address
00:30:13now they're rowing over on a shabby
00:30:17inflatable raft forcing me to open the door and take them in
00:30:26in my past life
00:30:29not only did i bring me into this apartment
00:30:34but i was also stupid enough to give her a spare key
00:30:40and in the end she 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 remember i'd had the locks changed after my rebirth
00:31:09the key mia has won't work at all even though i know i'm safe
00:31:12i still need to double check every inch of this security tool
00:31:17i have to make sure it's absolutely solid
00:31:21after checking everything i went back to the bedroom and 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
00:31:35through lives mean nothing to me
00:31:38not for anything in the world will i open the door and 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 and peer through the peephole
00:32:15there they are jack and mia standing right outside the door
00:32:18both of them soaked from head to toe
00:32:20jack is banging frantically on the steel door shouting for me to open it
00:32:24his face filled with anxiety and panic
00:32:30open it chloe open 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 he'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 i've already reinforced this door to bank vault level
00:32:56he thinks he can bust down my door with some rusty iron rod in his dreams
00:33:02jack stop
00:33:04let's just stay here for now at 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
00:33:16i can see everything clearly through the monitor
00:33:20right there in the dark grimy hallway the two of them shamelessly started making out
00:33:25my stomach turned in disgust and i nearly threw up
00:33:28they're filthy crawling out of flood water and garbage
00:33:31and they can still stand to put their mouths on each other
00:33:34now that's true love not even the apocalypse can stop them
00:33:38but their moment of tenderness didn't last long
00:33:42jack becomes anxious and restless again
00:33:46as the night creeps by the temperature in the hallway keeps getting colder
00:33:50mia has come down with a high fever shivering 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 without a single expression on my face
00:34:03my eyes falls on the medical supplies lined up on the shelf full 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 stuck 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 one side of his face swells up right away
00:34:31but he only stays quiet for a moment then he starts coaxing mia in a low voice
00:34:34mia just hold on a little longer maybe your fever will break soon
00:34:38the rescue team will be here any minute can 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 i honestly don't know what i ever saw
00:34:53in him mia completely brushes off jack's comfort she shakes his hand off in disgust points right at
00:34:59his nose her face screaming nothing but contempt for his uselessness just at that moment the door
00:35:04across the hall swings open the man and woman who betrayed me are begging desperately outside and i still
00:35:13refuse to open the door instead the door across the hall opens first through the security monitor
00:35:20by my door i see it clearly a big hulking guy just walked out of the apartment across the hall
00:35:25his gaze
00:35:25lingers greedily on mia's damp clothes for a full half minute and he even licks his lips i'm sitting
00:35:31right here on my couch watching the whole thing on the screen jack shifts to stand in front of mia
00:35:37look bro we gotta just the man brushes jack aside effortlessly
00:35:44his lecherous eyes fixed firmly on mia
00:35:47come with me quietly i have got all the good stuff inside food medicine hot water and a nice
00:35:56comfy bed stick with me and you will live in comfort far better than freezing to death out here in
00:36:04the
00:36:04hallway seeing the hungry look in mia's eyes jack absolutely loses his mind he swings at the guy
00:36:12and the two of them start fighting jack tries to play the hero in front of me and gets knocked
00:36:16flat on
00:36:17the ass for his trouble seeing mia actually tempted i can't help but smirk this is the best friend who
00:36:23was
00:36:24always jealous of me and stole my boyfriend and underneath it all she's still just as greedy and
00:36:29selfish enraged out of his mind jack pulls another punch and rushes straight at the brute
00:36:46but unexpectedly mia tells jack to back off then lets the big man hoist her onto his shoulder and carry
00:36:53her
00:36:53into his luxury apartment without hesitation jack can't believe his eyes he stands rooted to the
00:37:00spot like a statue it's not until the door across the hallway is about to shut that he finally snaps
00:37:06out of his daze and shouts angrily at her
00:37:13at that moment a ruthless glint flashes in mia's eyes before she speaks without a shred of mercy
00:37:18out there it is nothing but storm and flood as long as i can survive nothing else matters
00:37:25the 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 jack who's already starving
00:37:50can't take it anymore he actually knocks on that brute's door his voice is low and begging
00:37:55as he pleads outside bro just throw me some food anything to keep me alive i was wrong i should
00:38:01not
00:38:01have swung at you like that please just have some pity on me give me something to eat my girlfriend
00:38:05his family is rich i will have her send you a ton of money right now hearing what he says
00:38:09through the
00:38:10monitor i let out a cold laugh even at a time like this jack is still trying to squeeze something
00:38:15out of me but no one inside paid him the slightest attention instead sounds of laughter and teasing
00:38:22between a man and a woman along with suggestive rumors drifted out from behind the door
00:38:30jack figures out immediately what's going on inside his already hopeless face twists with rage and
00:38:36humiliation he shakes with fury veins bulging on his forehead then he picks up that iron rod
00:38:41and starts banging on the door a hundred times more vicious than when he was hitting my door the
00:38:46sounds coming from that apartment just keep getting louder jack's last mental defense completely crumbles
00:38:51and he drops the iron rod in utter dejection i'm sitting here nice and steady at my dining table
00:38:58eating popcorn and drinking coke watching this whole drama show on my monitor honestly this is more
00:39:04intense and entertaining than any tv show thinking back on my past life mia was jealous of my wealthy
00:39:11family and my good-looking boyfriend so she just snatched jack right away from me
00:39:27as with me those two scumbags teamed up to rob me and take my life they killed me in this
00:39:33life mia
00:39:34doesn't hesitate for a second to abandon jack just to save her own skin i guess that's exactly the kind
00:39:40of
00:39:40that Trash Link 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,
00:39:48and the flood water has already risen to the Tenth War.
00:39:51Seeing how terrifyingly fast the water is rising,
00:39:53I have a bad feeling.
00:39:57Pandora's box has been flung wide open.
00:40:00This disaster comes pouring down upon the world.
00:40:09On social media, fees for help are flooding everywhere.
00:40:12Reading those desperate cries for help
00:40:14gives me a complicated feeling I can't quite put into words.
00:40:17The girl in the video doesn't even have time to cry for help
00:40:20before the giant spider monster stabs her straight through the heart.
00:40:24But as large-scale blackouts roll through the city,
00:40:26updates online get fewer and farther between.
00:40:29Still, I can't help but notice one image.
00:40:31A haggard mother holding two starving children.
00:40:34They look like they're barely hanging on.
00:40:37I can't bear to look anymore.
00:40:39In this cruel, apocalyptic world, no one can save anyone else.
00:40:42The only person you can rely on is yourself.
00:40:55Right then, my mom calls me.
00:40:57Honey, how are things over there?
00:40:59Hearing mom's warm, familiar voice sends a wave of comfort through me.
00:41:03All my fear and unease melts away.
00:41:05Mom, just hearing your voice puts me at ease.
00:41:08Everything is fine here. I have plenty of supplies.
00:41:11Dad snatches the phone and tells me.
00:41:13Thank goodness they listened to me.
00:41:14They moved their supplies up to the old house on the hilltop
00:41:17before the storm hit.
00:41:18Up there on the mountain, life is actually pretty comfortable right now.
00:41:21My parents had saved up a bit over the years.
00:41:23They built a small villa on a hilltop back in their hometown.
00:41:26And every summer, they'd go up there for a little vacation.
00:41:29Now that the storm is here, that house has turned out to be just what they needed.
00:41:35I give them a few more instructions, then reluctantly hang up.
00:41:39Knowing that my parents are safe puts my mind completely at ease.
00:41:42In the middle of this terrible apocalypse, having my family safe and sound is the greatest comfort I could ever
00:41:49ask for.
00:41:51Even in the apocalypse, I never stop working out.
00:41:55I've heard this massive storm is going to last a full six months.
00:41:59This is bound to be a long, grueling battle of endurance.
00:42:02Having plenty of supplies isn't enough.
00:42:05You also need a body strong and healthy enough to carry you through.
00:42:09But that night, I suddenly couldn't sleep.
00:42:11In the darkness, I thought I heard some noise outside my door.
00:42:14Out of habit, I sit down at the computer to check the cameras.
00:42:17And what I see nearly scares me half to death.
00:42:20Mia sticks her hand through the crack in the door and tosses out a few apples and a bag of
00:42:25bread.
00:42:25The second Jack sees food, he's like a starving wolf.
00:42:29He springs up from the floor and grabs that door frame, holding onto it, not letting it go.
00:42:34His eyes are blazing with rage and hatred.
00:42:38Seeing him like this, almost insane and terrifying, sends chills down my spine.
00:42:44Mia is no match for Jack's strength.
00:42:46The door is about to be forced all the way open.
00:42:49Watching through the screen, I can't help but break out in a cold sweat for her.
00:42:53Then, the big man comes out.
00:42:55But before he can even say a word, Jack takes him down with a swing of the iron rod.
00:43:00In an instant, the big man becomes a corpse.
00:43:03Jack stands over him, laughing like a maniac.
00:43:06His features are contorted like some demons.
00:43:09And there's actually this smug look on his face.
00:43:12Like 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?
00:43:33I really miss you.
00:43:35I still love you so much.
00:43:37Have you been thinking about me?
00:43:39Fear tightens my throat, leaving me speechless.
00:43:41My fingers tremble uncontrollably.
00:43:44I know perfectly well I can't let him get suspicious.
00:43:47I quickly reply, I miss you too.
00:43:49My phone's been dead.
00:43:51No signal these days.
00:43:54I called your mom earlier.
00:43:56She told me you're not at home.
00:43:58She said you never went back.
00:44:00Are you lying to me?
00:44:02I break out in a cold sweat in an instant.
00:44:05I didn't get home until after I got off the phone with you.
00:44:07So my mom thought I hadn't come back yet.
00:44:12Babe, I miss you so much.
00:44:13Where exactly are you?
00:44:14I'll come find you right now.
00:44:18Fighting back my disgust, I reply.
00:44:21I'm back in my hometown with my mom.
00:44:23Gotta go.
00:44:23We just lost power again.
00:44:25I 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.
00:44:33He seems to have a vague feeling that I'm actually hiding inside this apartment.
00:44:38Thank goodness the pinhole camera I installed is extremely well hidden.
00:44:42Jack has no idea it's there.
00:44:43The thing he should be doing right now, instead of searching everywhere for me,
00:44:48is dealing with that dead man on the floor.
00:44:51Mia is completely terrified by now.
00:44:53She's slumped to the floor like a limp heap, unable to stir an inch.
00:44:57Jack completely ignores her.
00:44:58With a cold, expressionless face, he bends down, grabs the man by the collar,
00:45:03and drags 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.
00:45:19The man's body slams into the water and sends up a huge splash.
00:45:23To anyone who doesn't know what's going on, it just looks like another person who couldn't take the apocalypse anymore
00:45:29and offed themselves.
00:45:30Once I dispose of this man's body completely, Jack drags Mia, who's still slumped on the floor, straight into the
00:45:36apartment.
00:45:36By now, there's nothing in her eyes but pure fear.
00:45:40She just lets him pull her inside.
00:45:41And the moment that apartment door slams shut, after that, Mia does whatever Jack tells her, completely obeying to his
00:45:48words.
00:45:49Eight months slipped by in the blink of an eye.
00:45:51The rain stopped, but then the temperature dropped crazily.
00:45:55The flood water turned into thick sheets of ice.
00:45:57After that long stretch of extreme weather, City's power grid had been dead for a long time.
00:46:02Jack and Mia are at my door again.
00:46:03They're wrapped in layers of ragged clothes and blankets, shivering in the hallway.
00:46:08That burly guy, he didn't actually have that much food stocked up.
00:46:11On top of Jack's reckless spending and wasting in these past few months, they've now run out of food for
00:46:16a full three days.
00:46:17Hunger and cold are slowly eating away whatever humanity they've got left.
00:46:22Jack, the face that used to be so good looking, now his eyes are all sunken in.
00:46:27He's nervously tugging at his messy hair, looking just like a zombie.
00:46:30Mia's even worse off.
00:46:31Her face is all frostbitten.
00:46:33Her hair looks like dead straw.
00:46:35She's completely lost that vibrant look she used to have.
00:46:38Because just now, Jack snatched away that last piece of moldy cracker from her.
00:46:42I've seen this kind of savage fighting countless times over these eight months.
00:46:46Every single time, it feels so satisfying.
00:46:49Just when I thought their little fight for today was about to end, Jack suddenly stands up.
00:46:55His eyes lock on my door.
00:46:57It's that kind 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.
00:47:08That buzzing sound just keeps ringing in my ears.
00:47:15Jack's voice is all raspy as he says to Mia.
00:47:18That bitch Chloe's definitely in there.
00:47:21I've been hearing noises from that side for months now.
00:47:27And there's light coming through the crack under that door.
00:47:29That means she's got food and electricity in there.
00:47:32If we can just pry this door open, we'll be living like kings from now on.
00:47:36The moment Mia hears there's food, you can see that greed flash in her eyes.
00:47:41She completely forgets how Jack stole that last half of her cracker.
00:47:45She actually helps him drag over the extension cord all on her own.
00:47:49Watching these two out of their minds on the screen, I set down my coffee cup.
00:47:53If you're so determined to walk right into your own death, don't blame me for what happens next.
00:47:58I walk over to the shoe cabinet and grab the explosion-proof connector I prepared.
00:48:03Then I grab the high voltage switch I'd already set up and hold it in my hand.
00:48:07Back when I was renovating, I had someone run electricity through the inside of the security door.
00:48:11All I have to do is press this switch and the whole door will instantly be live with 3,000
00:48:16volts of high voltage.
00:48:17Jack walks up to the door with the drill.
00:48:19He walks up to the door with that ugly grin on his face, muttering curses the whole time.
00:48:24Chloe, you selfish bitch.
00:48:26You'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.
00:48:41I pressed the switch.
00:48:42A huge crackling sound and blue electric arcs exploded all over the door.
00:48:47Jack doesn't even have time to scream.
00:48:49His whole body springs off like a rocket.
00:48:51He crashes hard against the hallway wall.
00:48:54The drill, pouring out thick black smoke, falls to the side.
00:48:57His whole body is convulsing violently, foam coming out of his mouth.
00:49:01His already messy hair is now standing straight up from the shock.
00:49:04Mia, who is 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.
00:49:16She pissed herself.
00:49:17I let out a cold 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.
00:49:25It's a little...leaky.
00:49:28Next time you two want a visit, remember to make an appointment in advance.
00:49:31That way you won't get accidentally shocked again.
00:49:34When he hears my voice, Jack's whole body jerks.
00:49:37He barely manages to lift his head, and his eyes are just filled with shock and pure venom.
00:49:44Chloe, so you are home, you evil woman.
00:49:49You ran high voltage through your door.
00:49:52Are you trying to kill me?
00:49:53I answer all nonchalant.
00:49:55Kill someone?
00:49:56I wouldn't dare.
00:49:57This is just self defense.
00:49:59As for you two, showing up with a power drill trying to pry my door open,
00:50:03I believe that's called attempted home invasion, right?
00:50:07And you know what, in this lawless apocalypse we're living in now?
00:50:11Home invaders usually get killed.
00:50:17Jack struggles for a long time before he can barely catch his breath.
00:50:21That hit didn't kill him, but it pretty much crushed him completely.
00:50:25He's only got a little strength left.
00:50:27He realizes brute force isn't going to work.
00:50:29So he puts on that fake act again.
00:50:32Chloe, I know I was wrong.
00:50:35I screwed up everything.
00:50:37I shouldn't have betrayed you.
00:50:39I shouldn't have gotten together with Mia.
00:50:43But I'm seriously starving.
00:50:49Come on, we used to love each other.
00:50:52Just give me something to eat.
00:50:54Even just one slice of bread, please!
00:50:57Mia starts wailing too.
00:50:59Chloe, I'm your best friend!
00:51:03We used to go shopping and eat together, don't you remember?
00:51:07Jack made me do it!
00:51:08He forced me!
00:51:10Chloe, please save me!
00:51:12Watching them grovel like that makes me sick to my stomach.
00:51:15I look at them through the peephole and say coldly,
00:51:19save your energy.
00:51:21I'd rather feed my supplies to a dog than give them to you two.
00:51:24You two just stay out there in the hallway and enjoy starving nice and slow.
00:51:29Then I shut off the intercom.
00:51:31I let them wail and curse all they want outside.
00:51:34I just pretend I can't hear any of it.
00:51:36But I know perfectly well, this piece isn't going to last.
00:51:39The structure of this building is starting to show some problems
00:51:42after being soaked in flood water for so long.
00:51:45Last night I felt some slight tremors.
00:51:47And the ice outside is constantly pressing against the walls.
00:51:51The 37th floor might be high up.
00:51:53But if the foundation gives way,
00:51:54this place will turn into my grave in an instant.
00:52:03I pull out the satellite phone I've been holding on to.
00:52:05The one I spent a fortune on before the apocalypse hit.
00:52:08I bought it so I could still reach the outside world
00:52:11after the internet and power went out.
00:52:13I call that familiar number,
00:52:15and on the other end, my dad's voice comes through right away.
00:52:18Chloe, is that you?
00:52:21How are things over there right now?
00:52:23Hearing my dad's voice,
00:52:24all my defenses crumble in an instant.
00:52:27My eyes get a little teary.
00:52:28I hold back the tears and say,
00:52:31Dad, I'm safe here for now.
00:52:34But this building might not hold up much longer.
00:52:37The foundation is shifting.
00:52:39I 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,
00:52:46Be extremely careful.
00:52:47The ice out there is really unstable right now.
00:52:50Some places look frozen solid,
00:52:53but underneath it's all rushing flood water.
00:52:56And things are crazy out there.
00:52:58A lot of survivors have formed armed gangs,
00:53:00moving everything in sight.
00:53:02A girl like you coming out here alone?
00:53:04It's way too dangerous.
00:53:06I take a deep breath and say firmly,
00:53:07Dad, don't worry.
00:53:09I've been ready for this for a long time.
00:53:11I have guns.
00:53:16Dad and I agreed on a meeting spot,
00:53:18right under that signal tower at the edge of the city.
00:53:21After hanging up, I start getting everything ready.
00:53:24I sling the gun behind my back and clip the stun gun to my waist.
00:53:29Now,
00:53:31I'm leaving.
00:53:39Night falls.
00:53:40The wind outside howls even harder against the window.
00:53:43I go out to the balcony.
00:53:44The floor to ceiling windows here face the other side of the city,
00:53:48which perfectly avoids the line of sight of those two pieces of trash in the hallway.
00:53:53The water level has already risen to the 20th floor now.
00:53:56That's only about 10 plus floors below me.
00:53:58The freezing wind cuts into my face,
00:54:00but the fire inside me just keeps burning hotter and hotter.
00:54:04I hit an off-road vehicle in the garage upstairs a long time ago.
00:54:08This is a car I specially modified.
00:54:10The off-road vehicle has ice-studded tires
00:54:13and a strengthened four-wheel drive diff lock.
00:54:16I raised the chassis and tuned the powertrain
00:54:19to handle extreme cold conditions.
00:54:21I check the gas tank and make sure there's plenty of fuel.
00:54:24Everything's ready.
00:54:25Right as I'm about to drive off,
00:54:27a scream comes from above.
00:54:28I hear Mia's voice.
00:54:30Turns out those two just wouldn't give up.
00:54:33They've been watching me from the hallway window the whole time.
00:54:37Look, Jack!
00:54:38That bitch is trying to run away!
00:54:40She has a car!
00:54:41She actually hit a car from us!
00:54:43Chloe!
00:54:44Don't you dare run!
00:54:46Take us with you!
00:54:47Take us with you now!
00:54:49Or I'll kill you!
00:55:00I look up and see two heads poking out from the window on the 37th floor.
00:55:05Turns out Jack has a gun.
00:55:08He pulls the trigger.
00:55:10The bullet comes flying right at me.
00:55:12The bullet hits the ice, not far from me.
00:55:14Chunks of ice go flying in all directions.
00:55:16Almost tearing through my cold weather suit.
00:55:18I stare up at them coldly.
00:55:20Since you're so desperate to die, I'll give you a ride.
00:55:22I don't rush off.
00:55:24Instead, I take the gun off my back and aim it at the window above.
00:55:29Jack clearly never thought I'd shoot back.
00:55:31He curses and pulls his head in.
00:55:33But 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.
00:55:40That pipe was already cracked from the cold, and barely hanging on.
00:55:45One shot, and it comes crashing down with a roar.
00:55:48Huge icicles, along with chunks of debris, come crashing down.
00:55:51The window shatters instantly.
00:55:52The freezing wind mixed with ice shells comes pouring into the hallway.
00:55:56I can even hear Mia's blood-curdling screams.
00:56:01No window to block it.
00:56:02Tonight's minus 40 degree cold will be more than enough the next time.
00:56:06Enjoy.
00:56:07See you later, you two scumbags.
00:56:09Hope you can last a few more hours in that ice pit.
00:56:16Once I leave the neighborhood, the scene in front of me is even more shocking.
00:56:21The once bustling city is now nothing but dead silence.
00:56:25Skyscrapers stand like lonely islands in the middle of a vast, frozen wasteland.
00:56:30Frozen cars and trees are everywhere.
00:56:33Once in a while, you spot a few bodies, frozen mid-struggle, trapped in the ice.
00:56:37I see that monster bug that killed me in my past life.
00:56:42It's frozen dead.
00:56:46I breathe a small sigh of relief.
00:56:49Even though I have weapons, in this kind of extreme environment, I have to stay on guard at all times.
00:56:56Right as I get near the central plaza, several blinding lights suddenly flash in front of me.
00:57:01A few modified off-road vehicles come racing toward me.
00:57:06It's those gang members.
00:57:07The looters.
00:57:08In the apocalypse, people with their own vehicles are usually the most dangerous kind.
00:57:14They bully the weak, have no humanity left, just pure evil.
00:57:18I immediately duck down and turn off my headlights, trying to hide among the ruins.
00:57:25But they clearly spotted me a long time ago.
00:57:28The megaphone blasts out this cocky voice.
00:57:31Stop your car!
00:57:33Hand over your supplies, and maybe we will let you live!
00:57:38Hearing that, I tighten my grip on my gun.
00:57:40You wanna rob me?
00:57:41You better pray you get the chance.
00:57:44I start the car again and slip into a tight little side street, which should limit their advantage in numbers.
00:57:50Those cars are right on my tail.
00:57:53A chase breaks out of frozen streets.
00:57:55The guys chasing me are clearly desperate too.
00:57:58They just won't let up.
00:58:00Some of them even start throwing Molotov cocktails at me.
00:58:03The flames explode on the ice and swallows my car.
00:58:13I calmly speed out of the flames.
00:58:15The bandits behind me keep firing non-stop.
00:58:18I ignore them and focus on the terrain around me.
00:58:21Up ahead is an intersection.
00:58:22On the left is an office building that's already half fallen down.
00:58:26Tons of concrete and rebar are scattered right across the middle of the road.
00:58:29It's the perfect trap.
00:58:31I deliberately slow down, pretending like I'm panicking and not paying attention, and head straight for it.
00:58:37The bandits behind me think I'm losing it.
00:58:39They scream with excitement and floor it.
00:58:41Right as the car is about to smash into the pile of concrete and rebar, I slam the gas,
00:58:46use the tilted ice slab as a ramp, and jump right over the road.
00:58:50The car right on my tail isn't so lucky.
00:58:53The driver doesn't even have time to react.
00:58:55A huge crash, and several cars pile right into each other.
00:58:59The remaining cars slam on their brakes in the air, spinning out all over the ice.
00:59:03In the middle of all that chaos, I fire three shots of the gasoline on the ground.
00:59:07Instantly, it ignites.
00:59:09Flares shoot up into the sky.
00:59:10Their screams are immediately swallowed up by the blast.
00:59:13After taking care of the pursuers, I didn't stop for a second.
00:59:16I keep driving at full speed toward the edge of the city.
00:59:19Because I know, that explosion just now is probably going to attract even more looters.
00:59:24I'm driving my off-road vehicle across the frozen highway, thinking I'm finally safe.
00:59:30But I never expected. Underneath the ice, there's a deadly monster hiding.
00:59:35I see several massive tentacles reaching up through the island.
00:59:39Wherever they touch, the ice sizzles and hisses with blood smoke.
00:59:43What the hell is that?
00:59:48Those disgusting tentacles keep attacking me.
00:59:51Corrosive slime drips onto my car, and in an instant, it burns a huge hole right through the top.
00:59:57My arm gets burned too.
00:59:59This is the first time since the apocalypse started that I've felt the threat of death again.
01:00:04I shoot back, but the bullets can't kill it.
01:00:07The wounds heal instantly.
01:00:09The thing gets pissed at me, thrashing its tentacles around and becoming even more furious.
01:00:14Not until that tentacle monster rose up with a thunderous crash did I realize.
01:00:19I seriously underestimated how terrifying this apocalypse really is.
01:00:23But I have to survive.
01:00:25I throw the gas, dodging the monster's chase, and keep firing at the same tentacle over and over again.
01:00:32My way worked, I blew one of its tentacles off.
01:00:35The monster becomes furious.
01:00:37It flips my car over and traps me in a circle.
01:00:40I can clearly smell its disgusting, fishy stench.
01:00:44There's no way out.
01:00:46Just when I think I'm definitely going to die, I hear a gunshot.
01:00:50A fully armed man standing on a speeding off-road vehicle.
01:00:53The bullet hits the monster's head with perfect accuracy.
01:00:58The man who saved me.
01:01:00His name is Felix Carter.
01:01:02He quickly scans the area, confirms there's no immediate danger, and walks over to me.
01:01:09I carefully avoid the monster's tentacles, clutching my knife the whole time, and keeping distance from him.
01:01:15I know he saved me, but this is the apocalypse.
01:01:18I have to stay alert no matter what.
01:01:21I treat my wounds quickly, my mind racing the whole time.
01:01:24I thought that since the facehugger that killed me in my past life was frozen, the world outside wouldn't be
01:01:30that dangerous.
01:01:30But then, from what Felix tells me, I realize it's actually way more dangerous now.
01:01:36That tentacle monster I just ran into?
01:01:39That's just one of countless mutated creatures out there.
01:01:42I finally understand.
01:01:44If I hadn't run into Felix, I would have died.
01:01:47Those mutated creatures, they need special gunpowder to kill.
01:01:51Felix teaches me how to make the special bullets.
01:01:54He helps me flip my car back on its wheels, and even helps fix the top the tentacle monster corroded.
01:01:59The night grows darker.
01:02:01We sit together like old friends, eating toast, and spend a pleasant evening.
01:02:06We traveled together across the empty roads, and made it to this small town.
01:02:11Felix and I looked at each other.
01:02:13Neither of us said goodbye.
01:02:14We just drove off toward our own destination.
01:02:19Another night passed.
01:02:21Up ahead is a huge mountain range.
01:02:24That's where my parents are.
01:02:25The terrain here is really high, so it didn't get flooded.
01:02:29The vegetation on the mountain is still thick.
01:02:32You can even see patches of green, signs of life.
01:02:36I hide the offered vehicle in a cave, load up my gear, and start hiking up the mountain.
01:02:43My body is completely exhausted, but the desire to go home keeps pushing me up, step by step.
01:02:51The mountain path is rough and hard to walk on.
01:02:54The snow is up past my knees.
01:02:57But 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.
01:03:06And under that tower, two aging figures are standing in the freezing wind, waiting for me.
01:03:12My mom and dad.
01:03:14In that moment, all my walls come crashing down.
01:03:18Tears spill out. I can't stop them.
01:03:21Dad! Mom! I'm home!
01:03:24Mom recognizes me right away.
01:03:25She 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, a wave of warmth hits me.
01:03:47The fire in the fireplace is burning bright, crackling and popping.
01:03:54You've lost weight, my child.
01:03:57You've been through so much, haven't you?
01:04:01Are you hungry, sweetheart?
01:04:03Let me make something for you.
01:04:05Watching mom's back as she busies herself, I start crying.
01:04:09It 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, most of them are just long
01:04:19-lasting stuff.
01:04:20Like sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, and some dried ham.
01:04:24I mean, funds were limited.
01:04:26So what they could stock up wasn't anything too fancy.
01:04:29But 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.
01:04:40And 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.
01:04:53The taste is absolutely perfect.
01:04:56My parents' health are visibly better, too.
01:04:58They 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.
01:05:37Seeing 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, we've almost forgotten how cruel the
01:05:56apocalypse 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, that old denim jacket looks really familiar to
01:06:31me.
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.
01:07:12Mom, 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 and 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, and the risk of a possible plague.
01:07:41But I come prepared.
01:07:42I pull out the protective suits and disinfectant I had stockpiled, and 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.
01:07:58No exceptions.
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.
01:08:13Mom 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, it'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, revealing the long buried soil underneath.
01:08:48Mom, Dad and I start clearing land for a vegetable garden in the yard.
01:08:51I 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, I 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 clean-up efforts are underway.
01:09:28Even though the city has turned into ruins,
01:09:31when I see countless people walking out of the ruins,
01:09:34even though they were in rags, thin and pale,
01:09:38there is still a longing for the future in their eyes.
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,
01:09:48and fill several big backpacks with them.
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.
01:10:12Three years passed in a flash.
01:10:14The city that was once submerged under flood water now has skyscrapers rising up again.
01:10:19Mom, Dad and I move down from the mountain too.
01:10:22We use the savings and supplies we have left to trade for a small, stand-alone house in the New
01:10:27District.
01:10:28Thanks to the huge stockpile of seeds I hoarded before the apocalypse,
01:10:31and the farming experience I gained up on the mountain,
01:10:34I become a technical advisor at the New District's agricultural base.
01:10:38And what makes me even happier?
01:10:40I run into Felix 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.
01:10:52No 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.
01:11:37Nice.
01:11:39Your life.
01:11:40The new life is no more in challenge.
01:11:45Oh you can't ask me either.
01:11:54China?
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