Chapter 7
The eternal night descended suddenly.
Due to the rolling blackouts during the heatwave, many people missed the emergency broadcasts on television and were caught completely unprepared.
Unlike the chaos and noise of the heatwave, the arrival of the eternal night plunged the city into an eerie silence. Fear quickly spread, blanketing every corner of the darkened streets.
Just two days in, temperatures plummeted drastically. Air conditioners roared in desperation, straining so hard they sounded like they might
burst into flames.
But the difference between the bitter cold outside and the struggling warmth indoors proved too much. The power grid, already overstressed, finally gave out.
With the extreme cold, phone batteries drained quickly. Although I had stocked up on power banks and heat packs, I knew this seven–day battle required prudence. I switched off my phone and stopped checking for updates about Liam, Clara, and Mia.
In times like this, being well–prepared made you a target.
After carefully locking all doors and windows, I retreated to a small, windowless room. Lighting a candle, I basked in its fragile glow. With a dozen heat packs plastered over my body and layers of thick blankets wrapped tightly around me, I finally felt alive again.
I knew not everyone was as fortunate. The darkness distorted time, amplifying unease.
Whispers of desperation, clawing sounds, and faint wails echoed faintly from the outside. Paranoia gripped the city.
Suddenly, a rhythmic pounding on my door broke the silence.
My heart jumped to my throat.
“Hello? Anyone there? It’s the property management office. We’re here to bring you warmth!”
Property management?
The same company that usually ignored every request for help? Suddenly braving the cold to deliver aid?
Impossible.
A chill ran through me, not from the cold but from disbelief.
<
In this weather, prolonged exposure to the freezing air was a death sentence.
No one would risk their life to help others.
I stayed silent, hoping whoever was outside would leave.
But the voices didn’t fade.
“She’s definitely inside! I saw her move a ton of stuff into this house weeks ago. If we can get in, we’ll have enough to last until the sun comes
back!”
My stomach sank.
Still, there was one
Despite
all
my precautions, despite my careful, quiet preparations, someone had noticed me moving in.
bning:
while the extreme weather limited my actions, it also protected me.
I had personally hired an expert to upgrade the security system on my door. Breaking through it, even with a power saw, would take at least ten hours.
Anyone attempting to force t
their way in would freeze to death long before then.
Besides, they probably couldn’t find proper tool.
Minutes passed. The banging and shuffli
outside gradually stopped.
Then came the frustrated, shivering growl of a man, his voice trembling with rage. “You selfish bitch! You better stay inside forever! Just wait until the sun’s out. I’ll make sure you regret this!”
I smirked to myself. “You might not even live to see the sun again.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I silently thanked the heavens for giving me this second chance.
Now, I would put myself first. No more meddling. No more misplaced kindness. Only survival.
