Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse-Chapter 19: Rainstorm, Poisonous Moths

"You ran into robbers last night?"

Evelyn Ford was silent for a few seconds before nodding.

"I don’t mean anything by it. Fighting back against robbers is self-defense, especially since times have changed. I just wanted to remind you to be careful. Building C next door had a home invasion, and a lot of people are dead. Those robbers are vicious. You shouldn’t go out for the time being."

Evelyn Ford looked at Officer Graham. She was surprised that he would go out of his way to warn her at a time like this.

Evelyn Ford never liked being indebted to anyone. She went back inside, grabbed a bag, and handed it to Officer Graham. The plastic bag was still stained with blood; it was part of the spoils she’d taken from the robbers’ assault boat last night. Officer Graham took it and opened it. Inside were two heads of Chinese cabbage.

"You don’t have to give me this. I didn’t warn you just to get something in return."

"I know. Just think of it as a give-and-take."

Officer Graham almost laughed. ’Is that what a give-and-take means?’

"Alright, I’ll take them. How are things outside?"

"There are bodies floating in the floodwaters everywhere, lots of poisonous moths, and the water level is rising fast. Also," Evelyn Ford paused, then continued, "you should use this time to stock up on more supplies. The downpour isn’t stopping. What if the reservoir bursts its dam?"

Evelyn Ford left it at that. Officer Graham’s expression changed. At the thought of the reservoir bursting, his eyes filled with dazed terror.

He gave Evelyn Ford a few more warnings, then raised his torch and headed back upstairs. Watching his hurried retreat, Evelyn Ford sighed.

’Humans are so insignificant in the face of nature.’

’But humanity’s resilience is also powerful. Even as one disaster follows another, there will always be people who stubbornly fight to survive.’

After returning to her apartment, Evelyn Ford sorted through last night’s spoils and realized she had collected quite a haul. Once everything was organized, she stored it all in her space. The trip had been incredibly fruitful, and Evelyn Ford was very satisfied.

After finishing lunch, Evelyn Ford pulled back the curtains to observe the situation outside. Seeing the bodies floating on the water in the residential complex, she frowned. ’Are these robbers really just ordinary robbers?’

That afternoon, Officer Graham and a few other neighbors installed another security door on the fourth floor. While this was happening, Evelyn Ford stepped out to clean something off her own door and happened to overhear several people downstairs talking about her.

"A young woman like her, out for a whole day and two nights, and she even brought back supplies. She’s not as simple as she looks."

"Who knows? But she’s got some serious nerve. I saw her come back last night, and her protective suit was covered in blood. I’m telling you, she probably went out robbing, too."

"I knew she was no good. Has anyone who tried to get shelter from her ever succeeded? She even chopped off one of Robert Rhodes’s hands. She’s ruthless."

"It’d be better if she just died out there. Yesterday morning, the Rhodes family went at her door with an axe and couldn’t even damage it. The quality is incredible. Her apartment looks so secure."

"But if she dies, who will we go to when we’re sick? Let’s stop talking, in case someone overhears."

***

Later that afternoon, Lauren Keller came up for a visit. She had caught a bad cold from the freezing weather, and it seemed quite serious. Fortunately, she had bought plenty of medicine during the trip to The Daxon Mall.

"Evelyn, thank goodness you’re back safely! Why were you gone for so long? Everyone was saying you weren’t coming back. The Rhodes family came to take out their anger on your door with knives and axes. It’s a good thing the door wasn’t damaged."

Seeing how weak and listless she looked, Evelyn Ford urged her to go home and rest.

"I’m fine. I mainly came to tell you that robbers hit the complex the night before last. They said they’re coming back tonight. You shouldn’t go out today... no, don’t go out at all for the next few days. I’m telling you, a lot of people died in the next building over. The men were killed, and the women..." As Lauren Keller spoke, her emotions suddenly crumbled.

"How did things get like this? Evelyn, is there any hope for us? I’m so scared. I’m terrified of dying. Have the authorities just abandoned us?"

’Who isn’t afraid of death?’

"Lauren, if those people come, you have to fight back. Don’t be afraid. Think about your family. You can only protect them if you stay alive."

’As for the authorities, it’s not that they don’t care. They’re either completely overwhelmed or dealing with more important matters, like transferring supplies and building bases.’

Lauren Keller stared blankly at Evelyn Ford. "I can’t."

"That’s normal. We were born in a civilized age, got a normal education. Most of us wouldn’t even dare to kill a fish or a chicken, let alone fight back against those monsters. But your fear won’t make them merciful. If you die, do you think your grandparents and parents will be able to survive?"

Lauren Keller’s expression gradually hardened. She had studied law and revered its principles, but she wasn’t an idiot. She knew that survival was what mattered most now.

"Evelyn, I understand."

Evelyn Ford nodded. "Good. Go home, get some sleep, and build up your strength for the fight."

After Lauren Keller left, Evelyn Ford stared at her door. She went back inside, took out more than a dozen medicinal herbs, and brewed a pot of poison.

After brewing it for three hours, Evelyn Ford gave some to Officer Graham’s family and Lauren Keller’s family. She poured the rest into a spray bottle.

Night fell, and the entire complex sank into an eerie silence. Dressed and ready, Evelyn Ford stood by the window, raising a pair of binoculars to watch the area below.

At eleven o’clock, it was quiet outside. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Tonight’s downpour was mixed with hail, and the sound of it striking the glass was unnerving.

But Evelyn Ford didn’t let her guard down. At twelve, a single splash hit her window. When Evelyn heard the sound, her heart sank. ’They’re here. And there are a lot of them.’

Evelyn heard a scream. They were smashing the balcony glass of the building in front of hers. The men laughed wantonly. Evelyn’s hands trembled, the veins on her wrists bulging.

She heard the security door downstairs shaking. They had brought axes and saws in addition to their knives.

’A long, long time ago, Evelyn’s dream was to become an excellent doctor like her parents—to pick up a blade only to save lives.’

’But today, the blade she held to protect herself was for killing—for killing those demons who had lost all humanity.’

’She had to kill them to survive.’

Evelyn told herself over and over, ’This is a public service. Don’t be afraid. Don’t hold back. Don’t hesitate.’

With a loud CLANG, the fourth-floor security door was torn down. Their savage laughter echoed through the entire building. The thud of an axe striking a door was like a death knell, torturing every resident.

"Please, let us go! We have nothing in our home! Don’t kill us, please don’t kill us!"

"What’s this bag of rice, then? You dishonest old bastard. Tonight, we’ll start with your family as an appetizer. Alright boys, kill the men. As for the women... heheh... take them all with us."

"No! I’m begging you, let us go!"

"Let you go? Haha! I’ll do you a favor." With a single slash, the old man fell, his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

A burly brute dragged the young woman into the bedroom while the others laughed lewdly and began ransacking the room for supplies.