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Chapter 1 Back Before The Apocalypse With a shout, Nadia Hale opened her eyes and shot upright in bed. Sweat rolled down her forehead, and her eyes were dazed and full of despair. Her foggy mind went blank at the sight in front of her. She thought, 'Isn't this the apartment I lived in before the apocalypse?' Her phone kept buzzing with incoming alerts. She grabbed it from the nightstand and realized it was 9:32 a.m., September 14, 2029. She had dozens of unread messages, all warnings about the super typhoon Cleaver expected to hit the coast in the early hours of the 17th, with winds of 100–120 mph and days of relentless rain. Nadia went numb, thinking, 'I was dead... right? Dead in that hell of the apocalypse. Am I stuck in some nightmare just 'cause I didn't wanna die like that?' Another alert popped up at 9:37 a.m. She twisted her arm hard. Pain shot through her, reminding her this wasn't a dream. She'd really been sent back just three days before the storm that kicked off the apocalypse. More precisely, two and a half days left. Nadia didn't feel happy. Only a bone-deep exhaustion crept in. Typhoons, flash floods, scorching heat, freezing cold, earthquakes... every disaster was pure torture. She didn't think it was worth experiencing again. But since she was already back, she couldn't bring herself to wait for her doomsday. She splashed cold water on her face. In the mirror, she saw herself—young, pretty, skin glowing with fresh collagen, untouched by the harsh scraps of survival. Everything looked deceptively perfect. Her tired gaze fell on the diamond necklace around her neck. She'd been abandoned in a hospital as a baby, and the necklace had been with her ever since, until Wesley Young grabbed it to give to the school's popular girl, Sylvia Moore. Three years into the apocalypse, Sylvia had stayed flawless with pristine clothes and glowing skin, like she was still living in a peaceful world. Nadia remembered one time she'd fainted from hunger, and she'd seen Sylvia pulling an ice cream bar from the necklace, licking it calmly. Nadia seemed to make up her mind. She grabbed a blade, sliced her finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto the necklace. The jade blazed with a dazzling light. When she opened her eyes again, she was inside an unfurnished apartment with no front door. All utilities were hooked up, and there were two bedrooms, a living room, roughly 860 square feet, and ceilings around 10 feet high. A small 110-square-foot dirt garden clung to the balcony. Floating above the living room was a holographic timer: 01:56:13. 'Is this the Storage Realm that kept Sylvia living so perfectly? Also the one she stole from me?' Nadia wondered. After leaving the Storage Realm, Nadia noticed her mind now held a whole apartment inside. She could feel every corner just by focusing. To figure out how the Storage Realm worked, she ran a little test with hot water. Everything inside stayed fresh, except the balcony and the garden. When she stored something with her mind, the timer didn't move. But the second she stepped in, it started counting down automatically. Time was tight. She didn't have the luxury to puzzle out all the rules. 'Since I get a second shot at life, and I've got this Storage Realm, I'm not letting myself flop again,' she thought. In her previous life, Nadia had only lasted three years in the apocalypse. She had no clue what disasters were still coming, so she grabbed her phone and started googling natural disasters. The results scrolled on and on, and she nearly passed out. 'Surviving is brutal,' she sighed inwardly. Setting aside extra feelings, she grabbed paper and a pen and started making a supply list. Nadia had grown up in an orphanage. On the surface, it looked peaceful, but behind the scenes, kids fought hard for scraps. That was how she learned to be self-serving and never get ripped off. Always feeling insecure, she collected recyclables to sell for money in elementary school, worked part-time in middle school, and even tutored kids and cleaned bathrooms. She'd do anything for money. She'd always done well in school. Even while studying pre-med in college, she kept five high school seniors on tutoring contracts, charging 60 dollars a session. Nadia was obsessed with making money. She'd sell insurance, stream online, and try anything legal. Over more than a decade, she'd saved about 60,000 dollars, planning to put a down payment on a house after graduation. Yet now, all that counted for nothing. She had classes in the afternoon and tutoring at night, but none of that mattered anymore. Nadia texted her students' parents, saying she was sick and wouldn't be able to tutor for a while. She asked them to find replacements and settle the fees. Tutoring fees were usually paid every two weeks. Most parents weren't hurting for money, and two of them even sent an extra 200 dollars as a get-well-soon gift. She received 2,000 dollars in total. She didn't forget to warn them that a massive typhoon was coming, so they should stock up on food and emergency meds. Disasters kept piling up. Her medicine list alone filled three pages. Some items were not only expensive but also impossible to get at normal pharmacies. She snapped pictures and sent them to her old buddy, Zachary Shaw, who worked in a pharmaceutical supplier. [Big-spender client needs this tonight. Can you get me a killer price?] Zachary replied instantly: [No prob.] Less than five minutes later, his call came through. "Nadia, this list is crazy. You sure you're not messing with me?" "Money's in. The client only has one request. They want it delivered tonight," she said. She had no time for chit-chat. She hung up and wired 15,000 dollars right away. She texted: [Settle the balance later.] The list of supplies was massive. Nadia grabbed her keys and headed out. Her eyes caught the limited-edition new AJ sneakers sitting on the table. She felt like smashing her head against a wall. She'd always been practical. But whenever she dealt with Wesley, it was like she'd been cursed. To chase him, she'd moved out of the dorm, rented a pricey apartment near her school, and camped overnight at the store to snag those latest AJs for him. Her own shoes never cost over 100 dollars, but she spent over 2,000 dollars on the limited edition pair for him without a second thought. And what did she get? He accepted the gift, took her necklace away, didn't answer her confession, and took the school's queen bee to eat all her stored food on a typhoon day. During three years of disasters, he never helped, and when demons attacked her, he just watched coldly. 'If I'd known, I wouldn't even have done those stupid things,' Nadia thought. 'I'd like to see without my stockpiles and the Storage Realm, how shiny and perfect he and Sylvia can really stay.' The super typhoon raged for half a month, followed by three straight months of record rainfall. The whole city was flooded. Nadia rented on the 18th floor. She didn't get wet, but life was still messy. ***** She left her building and grabbed a full breakfast at a street café. Then she hit the car rental and drove off in a box truck, heading straight to the AJ store. The staff was shocked at her return request. After all, this was the new limited edition. Selling them was never a problem. She returned the shoes for over 2,000 dollars. That money could stock food for at least two years. Spending it on a man was totally a waste. Next, she drove to a store for doors. She ordered the two thickest stainless steel doors, each with triple locks, guaranteed to stop even a sledgehammer. The total cost with installation was 2,000 dollars. To save time, she measured everything before leaving. The shop owner worried about accuracy, but as soon as Nadia gave the building and unit number, they agreed immediately. They'd done business with that complex before. They said they could install the door the day after tomorrow. Across the street was a glass shop. Nadia picked the thickest shatterproof glass at $200 per square foot, also scheduled for installation the day after tomorrow. Nadia thought, 'They can knock and smash however they want. This time, nobody is getting in with a knife to kill me.' Chapter 2 Storing Up Supplies After paying the deposit, Nadia headed straight to the city's biggest outdoor gear store. The store was swamped with clearance items due to the competitive industry. Some stuff was going for a fraction of the price. It was a perfect time to grab a deal. She filled her cart with everything that could save her life: two inflatable rafts, four rubber boats, first-aid kits for fire and earthquakes, tents, axes, climbing ropes, binoculars, radios, waterproof flashlights, and giant solar chargers. She chose nothing cheap or flimsy, only the real deal with high quality. The saleswoman noticed a serious buyer and tried to push jackets and sleeping bags. "All our gear is on sale today. Quality guaranteed." Nadia raised her brows and asked, "Do you have stuff that can keep me warm below -80°F?" The saleswoman replied in surprise, "In our city, you can wear a T-shirt in winter." "I'm heading to the polar research station," Nadia said flatly. Seeing she wasn't joking, the saleswoman quickly called a partner store and said, "We've got Arctic-grade parkas and mummy-style sleeping bags. Layer them together, and you'll stay alive. They're pricey and shipped from another state." The partner ran an online store with good reviews and could overnight the order. The seller guaranteed they'd be delivered the next afternoon. Nadia got two sets, spending over 2,000 dollars. She spent another 4,000 dollars on additional outdoor gear, filling the truck. While nobody was looking, she stashed them all in the Storage Realm. The rafts needed diesel, but private buyers couldn't get any. Nadia went to a repair shop for a siphon and barrels, filled her truck at nearby gas stations, and carefully siphoned fuel into the barrels at a quiet spot. After a few trips, she had 130 gallons of gasoline. The apocalypse was chaotic, full of blood and violence. She went to a security supplies store and told the owner, "I need some gear for the trip to Denirika." The sho owner immediately pulled out the best gear he had. "The weather there is nice. You need something of the best quality." Nadia grabbed three sets of stab-resistant outfits and two bulletproof vests. She then drove to the largest clothing wholesale market in the suburbs. She stocked up on warm gear: down jackets, heavy coats, cashmere sweaters, thermals, scarves, gloves, socks, snow boots, light sneakers, insulated shoes, slippers, and anything that might be needed. Brand didn't matter to her, only quality. She spent 4,000 dollars at the market and then went next door to the general goods wholesale store. She bought blankets, big down comforters—18 to 22 pounds each—three of each, all packed in compression bags. She then grabbed shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, sanitary products, paper towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, thermoses, lighters, and rubber hot-water bottles. She even bought 20,000 heat patches, a lifesaver in freezing weather. Some online sellers offered rare finds: glass kerosene lamps and windproof lanterns, which were vintage-style gear from the 1960s. She grabbed five of each and asked: [Do you have kerosene?] Very few people would buy that, so the shop had only 25 gallons. Nadia bought it all and asked for extra wicks. She knew these lamps would last way longer than candles. She also bought alcohol stoves, solid fuel tablets, and portable propane camp stoves. Remembering that the Storage Realm had power, she grabbed several induction cooktops. Bug spray, disinfectant, water purification tablets, mosquito repellent, and anything else she could think of went into the cart. By the time she was done, another 6,000 dollars was gone. Next door was the fruit wholesale market. She bought apples, pears, watermelon, kiwi, bananas, cantaloupes, starfruit, grapes, and over twenty kinds in total. She spent another 2,000 dollars. By the time she left the wholesale market, the sky had gone dark. Her phone showed several missed calls, all from Zachary. He had also sent a message saying the order was ready. Nadia drove to the building where his company was located. More than twenty large cardboard boxes were waiting downstairs, packed with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory meds, iodine, medical alcohol, gauze, and even tetanus shots. They were all lifesaving supplies in a disaster. The order had cost over 13,000 dollars, but it eased some of the tight knot of anxiety in Nadia's chest. Zachary transferred her a 600-dollar commission and said, "A lot of the meds on your list aren't in stock, so I have to pull favors from other suppliers." "I'll deliver these first. Dinner is on me another day." Sitting behind the wheel, Nadia reminded him, "That super typhoon is about to hit. Stock up on fuel and food at home." Zachary didn't take it seriously at all. They'd already had more than a dozen typhoons this year. Every time, the warnings sounded scary, but the storm barely did anything. Nadia stored the medicine in the Storage Realm and then drove to the mall nearby. She ordered pizza and beer. The restaurant was packed. Young students and couples were everywhere, their faces bright with life, completely unaware that disaster was coming. The food would take a while. Nadia's gaze landed on the glowing red charcoal under the oven. She suddenly remembered that she had forgotten the most important stuff. She immediately asked the owner for contacts who sold charcoal, coal briquettes, and propane tanks. She called them one by one, wanting everything delivered the next day. To her disappointment, those shops were all in low-lying areas, and the authorities had ordered them to move their stock. They were too swamped to deliver anything for the next two days. The three stores happened to be in the same area. Nadia didn't even wait for her food. She got in the truck and drove straight there. Charcoal was cheap, but it took up space. Nadia checked the Storage Realm and only bought 500 pounds of smokeless, high-heat charcoal, with a charcoal stove and fire starters thrown in. One propane tank could last about two months. In case the Storage Realm lost power, she bought ten tanks. Coal briquettes burned for a long time, but with power shortages spreading across the country and trade sanctions with another country driving up coal prices, the cost had gone through the roof. Each briquette cost about 1 dollar. Nadia bought 2,000 of them. By the time she got back to her apartment, it was almost nine. She rested for a moment and entered the Storage Realm to organize the messy pile of supplies. To save as much space as possible, she stacked the propane tanks, coal briquettes, and charcoal in the kitchen. She stripped away every bit of unnecessary packaging, packed all bulky soft items into compression bags, and stacked everything layer by layer all the way up to the ceiling. Money really burned fast. She had spent over 40,000 dollars in a single day, just enough to fill the small bedroom and the kitchen. The supplies took up around 1,700 cubic feet. Just as she finished cleaning up, something suddenly kicked her. She went flying out of the Storage Realm and hit the floor. Stunned, tried to go back in, but an invisible barrier blocked her. She thought, 'What the hell? Did the Storage Realm swallow all my stuff?' Chapter 3 Her Supplies Were Swallowed Nadia panicked and quickly checked with her mind. The Storage Realm was still there, and so were the supplies. She tried pulling something out with her mind, and a coal briquette appeared in her hand. She scanned the space again and found that the holographic timer had hit zero. Only then did Nadia understand. The Storage Realm only let a person stay inside for two hours. She thought, 'Fine. Still better than nothing.' By the time she finished showering, it was already past midnight. She checked the Storage Realm again. A fresh two hours had been added, and she finally let out a small breath of relief. Lying in bed, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time. In the end, she had to take melatonin to keep herself going. Even then, she didn't have a sound sleep. She dreamed again of those people chasing her with knives, and rusty blades stained with old blood hacked down at her body. Nadia jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. It was five in the morning, and the sky outside was still dark. She entered the Storage Realm and looked over her stockpile to steady her nerves. Only then did her breathing slowly calm. She didn't try to sleep again. She grabbed her truck keys and drove to the city's largest wholesale produce market. Dawn had just begun to break, but the market was already packed with trucks and vendors. Nadia went straight to the vegetable section and bought the freshest produce, still beaded with dew. She bought 100 pounds of pumpkin, carrots, beans, celery, tomatoes, and so on. For potatoes and sweet potatoes, she bought 200 pounds each. She also bought 100 pounds each of garlic and chili. They could be planted, and they were good for seasoning. In freezing weather, a bowl of soup could be enough to pull someone back from the edge. She bought as she walked forward. Except for greens, she didn't skimp on anything. In total, she spent around 1,300 dollars. By the time she finished breakfast, it was nearly nine, and the crowd in the wholesale market had thinned out. Nadia compared prices at several stalls before stocking up on staples. She got 100 bags of wheat, 50 bags of flour, and 200 pounds of beans, peanuts, and other dry goods. She also bought 50 jugs of olive oil. She spent nearly 10,000 dollars. After some bargaining, the owner threw in three extra bags of flour. Just this batch alone would be enough to feed her for a few years. While the owner prepared the order, Nadia walked to the seasoning section nearby. She bought ten large tubs each of mayonnaise, vinegar, and barbecue sauce. She then paid for 30 pounds of garlic powder, rosemary, cinnamon, and black pepper, 300 pounds of sugar, and 3,000 pounds of salt. Food mattered in the apocalypse, but salt mattered even more. Without enough salt, the body simply couldn't hold up. In the third year of the apocalypse, Nadia had personally seen someone trade one bag of salt for 30 pounds of grain. 3,000 pounds of salt barely took up any space. Once supplies became scarce, she could use them for trade. If space hadn't been a problem, she would've stocked up on several tons. After the truck was loaded, she drove to a quiet corner with no cameras and stored everything in her Storage Realm. Then she headed for the frozen food section. She bought ten large cases of frozen pizzas, waffles, mac and cheese, and similar easy meals. Next, she went to the dry goods section and bought walnuts, almonds, dried cranberries, and more. Another 3,000 dollars was gone. When she reached the meat section, Nadia noticed the stall that supplied the school cafeteria. The owner brightened the moment he saw her. "Nadia, what can I get you?" Before the typhoon, the weather was hot and muggy, and the stall didn't have much meat left. At this hour, it wasn't exactly at peak freshness, but the prices were fair. She ordered 200 pounds each of pork, ribs, beef, lamb, and rabbit, along with 100 chickens, 100 ducks, and 50 geese. The owner stared at her, asking, "Girl, are you kidding me?" His wife worked at a slaughterhouse, and Nadia had brought them plenty of customers for commission before. Nadia replied, "My relatives are throwing a big wedding. Can I get a good price?" The owner smiled, "You're my VIP client. Come on, I won't make money off you on this one. 30% off everything." Meat burned through money fast. Pork was cheap, while beef and lamb were still expensive. That was why buying through someone she knew was the smartest move. The total came to about 10,000 dollars. Nadia didn't haggle, but she added one more request. She wanted two heavy bone cleavers and two butcher knives. Self-defense weapons were a must, but she didn't have the time or the connections. She could only grab whatever she could get. The owner looked startled. "What do you need those for?" "Relax. I won't do anything illegal," Nadia smiled. Thinking of the profit and their old connection, the owner agreed without making a fuss. Next, she went to the fish stall and ordered 100 fish. She only asked them to gut and clean the fish, not cut them into pieces. She would come back for them once they were ready. She then paid for 3,000 chicken eggs and 1,000 duck eggs. Thinking that the disasters might end one day, she also bought some fertilized chicken, duck, goose, and quail eggs, along with a small home egg incubator. The garden inside the Storage Realm came to mind, so Nadia went to a seed shop and bought vegetable seeds, all fast-growing kinds like lettuce, spinach, and other greens. Seeds were cheap. She spent 150 dollars, enough to keep herself fed for decades if she used them right. The black soil garden was only about 100 square feet, but the two balconies could still be used. Nadia bought planters, a hoe, a shovel, and bags of potting soil. With a faint hope for the future, she ran to the fruit sapling section. She bought three mature saplings of apple trees, grapevines, orange trees, and dozens of other varieties. Meat would disappear over time. As the disasters dragged on, ordinary people wouldn't be able to eat fresh meat, and even powerful people wouldn't have the resources. Nadia bought a breeding pair of rabbits. Rabbits could live on greens, reproduced fast, and could definitely cover her need for meat. She liked snacks, so she bought boxes of her favorite snacks. Money flowed out like water, and it hurt badly. But when she thought of the supplies piling up inside the Storage Realm, a deep sense of security and satisfaction rose in her chest. Nadia spent the entire day at the wholesale market. By the time she walked out, the streets were bright with lights. People came and went in a lively rush, and the best part of the day had only just begun. She went to a restaurant and treated herself to a big meal. Whatever she couldn't finish, she packed up and took it with her. ***** It was still early when she got home. She organized the Storage Realm, filling the large bedroom until nothing else could fit. The greens and fruit saplings went in the living room, while the rabbits were placed on the balcony. This time, she paid attention to the time. When only ten minutes were left on the timer, she left the Storage Realm. The moment she came out, the two rabbits were kicked out too. They landed on the floor and nearly died from the fall. At first, Nadia felt annoyed. Then joy rushed through her. It seemed the Storage Realm didn't only have a time limit. Even though she wasn't inside, other living creatures couldn't stay inside either. That meant no one else could take her treasure from her. In a great mood, she sat down and went over her list again. She had bought almost everything she could think of, and there was about 6,000 dollars left in her account. Only the living room and bathroom were still empty in the Storage Realm. If she wanted to survive extreme disasters, there was still a lot more to prepare. But she didn't plan to keep stocking up on bulky supplies. She opened a food delivery app and picked restaurants with the best reviews. She ordered more than twenty dishes she'd always wanted to try but had never been willing to splurge on, ten portions of each. Then she added fried chicken, coffee, ice cream, desserts, and dozens of other treats. She spent over 3,000 dollars. To keep everything fresh and tasting right, she scheduled every order for pickup at specific times. She was exhausted, but she still wanted to see the city's last stretch of brightness and noise. That afternoon, the school sent out a notice. To prepare for the incoming super typhoon, classes would be suspended for three days. The exact return date would be announced later. The students cheered. They called their friends and made plans to go out, turning the coming storm into an excuse for one last night of fun. Coastal cities faced more than a dozen typhoons every year. Every time, students prayed for canceled classes, and this time, their wish had finally come true. Nadia used to be the same. But none of them knew this storm was different. After this, they would never have to go to school again. Eating pizza and drinking beer, Nadia carried a heavy, tangled feeling as she kept driving around to pick up her orders. When she got home, she still felt like she had forgotten something important. But for the moment, she couldn't remember what it was. Chapter 4 The Disaster Officially Began As soon as midnight passed, the timer refreshed and showed 130 minutes remaining. That meant the time could stack. Nadia was overjoyed. A minute or even a second could save her life at the critical moment. She decided that unless there was a special reason, she wouldn't enter the Storage Realm again. She would save every minute for the extreme cold or the earthquakes. With food in hand and the Storage Realm as her lifeline, Nadia finally felt a little more confident about the disaster coming her way. She slept through the night without dreams. The next morning, a phone call woke her. The crew installing the door had arrived. One of them asked, "Miss, you already have a stainless steel door. Why are you changing it?" Nadia replied, "There have been break-ins around the complex lately. I want something solid." The installer asked with a helpless smile, "The deadbolts are safe, sure, but we'll have to drill into the ceiling and the floor. Aren't you worried about damaging the apartment?" "That's fine. Safety comes first," said Nadia. Her landlord had taken a job out of town. In her previous life, even after the building collapsed in the earthquake, Nadia still hadn't heard a word from them. So remodeling the place wouldn't be an issue. The crew for the shatterproof glass arrived right after, and both sides got busy. The sound of drills rang out from time to time. Since it was the weekend and she was worried about bothering the neighbors, Nadia posted a quick message in the group chat and said sorry. Then she opened the app and kept ordering food online. She wanted to spend the rest of her money. In less than two hours, the door and glass were installed. Nadia paid the remaining balance she had set aside. Looking at the apartment now sealed up like a bunker, she finally felt a weight lift from her chest. Just then, her phone rang. She thought it was from the food delivery guy, but it turned out to be Wesley. "Nadia, it's my birthday party. When are you coming?" On the other end, Wesley's voice sounded warm and bright, mixed with the lively laughter of a crowd. Nadia sneered, "Sure. Wait for me." Wesley clearly liked Sylvia, yet he kept stringing Nadia along. All he wanted was her surprise gift and the necklace she had. Even through the phone, Nadia could hear Sylvia's sweet voice in the background. In Nadia's previous life, she had thrown herself at Wesley, and Wesley had barely paid her any attention. This time, he was the one calling. Alarm bells went off in Nadia's head. She wondered, 'How did Sylvia know my necklace had the Storage Realm? 'Judging from Wesley's attitude, he probably doesn't know the secret. Sylvia must have pushed him into making the call.' After hanging up, Nadia grabbed her keys and went downstairs. Wesley lived on the eighth floor, and lively voices spilled out from his apartment. Nadia walked straight past and continued downstairs without the slightest hesitation. The air outside was still hot and heavy, but the first edge of the super typhoon had already arrived. Every now and then, a sharp howl of wind swept through the street. A new alert said that the typhoon was now expected to arrive at 9 p.m. tonight. Nadia was shocked, thinking, 'Why is it early?' She went to the school library and picked out medical books so she could keep studying during the disaster, along with books on martial arts, survival skills, and mental resilience. That huge library would be submerged during the flood. Countless valuable books would disappear forever. Just thinking about it made Nadia's heart ache, but there was nothing she could do. Avoiding the cameras, she placed the books she wanted together with a few others in one pile and then quietly slipped them into the Storage Realm. She knew that stealing books was wrong, but soon, the library would be underwater, and countless books would be destroyed. Books were part of human civilization. She couldn't take them all, but if the disasters ever ended, the ones she took could be donated back. Wesley called again. Without a word, Nadia blocked him. She left the school and went to a supermarket. She rode the elevator to the rooftop parking lot, walked around carefully, and came back down. Faced with aisle after aisle of tempting products, she didn't buy anything. Instead, she wandered back and forth across the second floor a few times before driving somewhere else. The rental company called. Because the typhoon had moved up, the office was closing early, and she had to return the truck before 3 p.m. Nadia agreed on the phone. By the time she returned the truck, it was already 4 p.m. The typhoon winds kept screaming, rattling everything outside. The owner was a decent guy. After checking the truck and finding no issues, he refunded her 600-dollar deposit. The disasters didn't arrive all at once. They gave people a little warning and time to react. Too bad people failed to catch it. Nadia kept some cash on her for emergencies and didn't keep spending recklessly. ***** Back at the apartment, she grabbed her laptop, tablet, and phone, then started downloading everything she could think of: movies, music, life hacks, recipes, offline maps, disaster first aid guides, and survival manuals. A shopping app suddenly popped up with a delivery update. Nadia then realized that she had forgotten the cold-weather gear she had ordered online. It should've arrived yesterday evening, but the seller had shipped late, and the courier had been delayed. The package had only just reached the courier station. She called right away. The courier station told her the typhoon had already arrived, so delivery was impossible for now. They could only deliver it after the storm passed. Or she had to pick it up herself before six. Outside the window, the wind was already howling. The trees in the complex whipped back and forth like they were about to snap. Once the typhoon and heavy rain hit, the courier station would be flooded. Without that gear, there was no way she could survive temperatures colder than 90 degrees below zero. No one accepted her ride request. Nadia ran downstairs, unlocked a shared bike, and pedaled like mad toward the station. It was only a little over a mile away, but riding straight into the wind made it almost impossible to open her eyes. Trash and flattened cardboard flew through the air around her. By the time Nadia reached the station, she was drenched in sweat, her hair blown into a wild mess. Because of the typhoon delays, packages were piled everywhere. Nadia didn't even stop to catch her breath. She rolled up her sleeves and started digging through the stacks. Luckily, her package was large. After more than ten minutes of searching, she finally found it. The typhoon outside had grown even stronger. The sky was dark and heavy like night had already fallen. Nadia clenched her teeth, picked up the big package, and headed out. The moment she stepped through the door, a violent gust slammed into her. Her whole body was swept off her feet. Just in time, a man loading packages beside a vehicle shot out his hand and grabbed her. His stance was steady. With one strong pull, he dragged Nadia back from the wind. Nadia thanked him, but her voice was swallowed by the storm. The man glanced at her and said, "The typhoon's already here. Carrying a package out isn't safe." Nadia hadn't expected the storm to turn this bad so fast. She had no choice but to retreat into the station, refreshing the ride-hailing app over and over while adding a bigger tip. But there were more than 300 people ahead of her in line, and not a single driver was accepting rides. The man had picked up a lot of packages and packed his Hummer almost full. Seeing Nadia's anxious face and the way she kept looking for a way out, he hesitated before asking, "Where are you going?" Only then, under the station lights, did Nadia get a clear look at him. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans and looked to be in his early twenties. His hair was cropped short and clean. His jawline was sharp, looking cold. He was tall, at least 6 feet, with long legs. Nadia thanked him again. The man's expression stayed calm and distant as he replied, "No big deal." She said, "I live at Crest Gardens. Could you give me a lift? I can pay you." The man nodded and opened the door. The back seat was packed full. Nadia opened the front passenger door and found a little girl sitting there. She looked about five, with a timid face and a pink dress. Her round eyes looked up at Nadia. The man said, "Daisy, let the lady hold you." The apocalypse was already here. No one would care about traffic cameras anymore. Nadia lifted Daisy onto her lap and tucked the package by her feet. The wind screamed outside, but the Hummer drove steadily through it. Under the dark sky, broken branches whipped through the air. Sheet metal roofing had been torn loose and clattered loudly in the storm. Farther down the street, a girl in a dress clung tightly to a utility pole. From the shape of her mouth, she seemed to be screaming for help. The disaster had officially begun. Chapter 5 We're Not Close The ride was only a little over a mile. In a few minutes, they reached the entrance of Nadia's apartment complex. Nadia held out 500 dollars to him, thanking him for saving her and for taking the risk of driving in this weather. The man's voice was cool and firm. "No need. I'm going the same way." Since he refused to take it, Nadia didn't push. Before getting out, she reminded him, "The typhoon might knock out the water and power. Remember to stock up on food." After speaking, she pushed open the door, hugged the package to her chest, and ran into the wind. Big raindrops started pelting down. Nadia wiped her face in a mess and stepped out of the elevator, only to look up and see Wesley and Sylvia standing outside her apartment. They must have been waiting for quite a while. Wesley's face was tight with impatience, while Sylvia still wore a sweet smile. Her white dress made her look pure. "What took you so long?" Wesley snapped. "We've been waiting forever." The sight of them dragged up every ugly memory from the apocalypse in Nadia's mind: the bullying, the humiliation, and the way they had watched coldly while demons tore her apart. Nadia's mood turned foul in an instant. In her previous life, she had been stupid. She couldn't blame anyone else for that. But if they wanted to leech off her again in this life and steal her necklace, she wouldn't back down. She thought bitterly, 'Everything I went through, they'll go through twice as hard.' Her face stayed blank as she asked, "What do you want?" Nadia had always been warm and eager around Wesley. Now that she had turned cold without warning, Wesley froze for a second before blurting out, "Why didn't you come to my birthday?" "We're not close. Why would I go?" Nadia retorted. "You..." Wesley's words choked in his throat. He thought, 'What's wrong with her? She's clearly been chasing me. She even said long ago that she would give me a gift.' Wesley didn't come for the gift. Sylvia was interested in Nadia and wanted to meet her. Sylvia studied Nadia with a gentle smile. "Hey, Nadia, nice to see you." Nadia's voice was icy. "I don't know you." Sylvia looked a little embarrassed, but her voice stayed sweet. "Today is Wesley's birthday. We're all from the same school, so we thought we'd get together." Wesley's birthday party had already happened at noon. Dragging Nadia to the eighth floor now was only about taking the necklace from her. Nadia mocked. "Are you deaf? Told ya we're not close. What does his birthday have to do with me?" Wesley hadn't expected Nadia to be so cold. His expression darkened as he snapped, "Nadia, what's your problem?" "You and she are wearing matching couple rings, but you keep inviting me to your place again and again. Are you two-timing her?" "Don't flatter yourself. I'm not into you at all." Wesley was furious, his embarrassment turning into anger. "Sylvia, let's go." But Sylvia didn't want to leave. She insisted, "Nadia, here's the thing. We came over for Wesley's birthday, but now the typhoon has hit, and I can't get back. Could I stay at your place tonight?" Nadia retorted, "Are you insane? I already said I don't know you." Wesley's face went grim. "Nadia, watch your mouth." "This is how I talk. Don't come bothering me if you can't handle it," Nadia shot back. Wesley grabbed Sylvia and started to leave, but Sylvia refused to move. She clenched her teeth and kept her smile in place. "Hey, that necklace you're wearing is really pretty. Where did you get it?" Nadia took off the necklace, asking, "You want it?" Sylvia's eyes lit up. "Would you sell it to me? I really like it." Nadia let go, and the necklace fell to the floor. Then she lifted her foot and stomped on it hard. Within seconds, the necklace shattered into pieces. After the Storage Realm bound itself to Nadia, the necklace lost its original shine and turned dull. It was useless now. Nadia knew if she didn't destroy it right in front of Sylvia, Sylvia might do something to hurt her. Nadia scoffed, "Your liking makes me sick." Seeing the necklace destroyed, Sylvia froze in shock and cried out. With his girlfriend being humiliated, Wesley flew into a rage and started throwing insults at Nadia. A dangerous look flashed in Nadia's eyes. "Get lost. And don't show up in front of me again." Wesley's face turned dark with anger. He grabbed Sylvia and stormed off. Only then did Nadia unlock the door and step inside. She couldn't wait to tear open the package. The cold-weather suit was thick, soft, and warm once she put it on. The mummy-style sleeping bag was sewn with several layers of down, and the quality was excellent. When the deep freeze came, these could keep her alive. Outside, the wind screamed. The sky was dark and heavy. After locking every door and window, Nadia took out large plastic storage barrels and filled them with water. Once they were full, she put several into the bathroom inside the Storage Realm. Once the typhoon and heavy rain fully hit, the complex would soon lose water and power. Outside, the storm roared like the world was splitting apart. Inside, Nadia kept busy in the kitchen, prepping ingredients. She cooked plenty of each dish. She packed the finished dishes into the stainless steel food pans she had prepared in advance, then placed them into the Storage Realm. While the typhoon had only arrived and every household still had some food stored, she had to cook the stronger-smelling dishes as soon as possible. Later, she wouldn't dare cook freely. The smell alone could make people target her. After that, she baked pizzas and bread, keeping at it until after midnight. When everything was done, she changed out of her greasy clothes, took a hot shower, and fell into bed. She was still half asleep when the sound of a power drill woke her. Nadia pulled open the curtains. Outside, the sky was gloomy, and wind and rain were roaring together. She thought dawn hadn't come yet, but when she checked her phone, it was already past nine in the morning. Her messages were exploding. The building group chat and class group chat both had dozens of unread messages. Plenty of people were still celebrating Typhoon Cleaver's arrival. Office workers were finally free from endless overtime, and students got to stay home from school. Many people in the chats were posting photos and videos of storm damage. Landscaping trees had been ripped up by the roots. Luxury cars had been crushed. A tornado had torn straight through a metal-roofed warehouse and split it open. Some people started to realize that something was wrong. They wailed that they hadn't stocked up on food, saying they rushed to the supermarket after work only to find the produce gone. The drilling kept going. It seemed to be coming from next door. Nadia was confused. There were only three units on each floor, and the other two units had always been empty. In her previous life, once the floodwater rose to the second floor, the residents who were forced out and never got rescued started eyeing empty apartments. They broke the doors open and moved in. At first, everyone got along peacefully. But as food became harder to find, their eyes grew darker and more calculating. More than once, they tried to pry open Nadia's door in the middle of the night. This time, she had bought a fire axe. If they dared to pry, she dared to swing. But it wasn't just the sound of the drill. She also seemed to hear a child's voice. Nadia opened the door and stepped out. The door to Unit 1801 was wide open. A brand-new stainless steel door leaned against the wall nearby, while a young man in a casual suit was drilling into the wall. Hearing her door open, he turned and looked over. Nadia froze in surprise. "It's you?" Chapter 6 Tornado Nadia hadn't expected that unit 1801 wasn't just occupied by new tenants, but it was the young man who had helped her yesterday at the courier station. The man looked slightly surprised when he saw her, gave her a nod, and went back to his work. He was striking and cold, tall and lean. Under his clothes, the lines of his muscles were faintly visible, hinting at a powerful build. Nadia felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly greeted him and retreated back to her apartment. Things were different this time. The typhoon had come earlier than expected, and now there was a new neighbor. No one in their right mind would install three stainless steel doors in a row. It would be best if they got along, but vigilance was still necessary. The man had acted bravely at the courier station, but with a disaster looming, and human morality collapsing as it had in the apocalypse, no one could say he wouldn't turn evil. Nadia double-locked her doors, brushed her teeth, washed up, and finished breakfast. The sky had brightened slightly, but it was still dark and heavy with clouds. Nadia stood on the balcony. The typhoon lashed against the walls, wind screaming like crazy, and the rain pounded the shatterproof glass until it rattled and shook. In just one night, streets were flooded, many cars were partially submerged, and low-lying areas were swept away by the rushing water. The rain blurred her vision. In the distance, the city looked gray and misty. The sky pressed down, like two invisible hands squeezing the city into a tight ball and crushing it relentlessly. Nadia lifted her binoculars and scanned the city from the balcony. The streets became rivers, clouds hung low and thick, and water spouts swirled violently, sucking in trees, cars, and everything else in their path. It was as if the storm wanted to swallow all of creation. Turned out a tornado had formed. Nadia's heart leapt. She watched in horror as the tornado instantly cut through an overpass. Lightning struck trees, igniting fires, only for the pouring rain to douse them seconds later. 'Were there tornadoes like this in my previous life?' Nadia thought. She didn't remember. Everything felt different this time, and she had a sense that things were heading for the worst. Her phone kept buzzing with messages. Annoyed by the noise, she turned off the network and went to the kitchen, washing and chopping ingredients without pause. After too much work, Nadia didn't have a good appetite. For lunch, she made a simple pasta dish. As she turned off the stove, she faintly heard a child crying. She ignored it at first, bundled up the trash, and took it outside. Then she heard the cries again, coming from next door. She had only been studying medicine for a year, not even halfway trained, but she still knew more than most. The child's cries didn't sound right. After a moment's hesitation, she knocked on 1801's door and called out, "Daisy." The three stainless steel doors were so thick that her knocks barely made a sound. She waited for a while with no response, about to leave, when she heard a click. Someone inside fiddled with the lock for a long time, and the door opened. Nadia saw a small, terrified face streaked with tears. There was still vomit at the corners of her mouth and an unusual flush on her cheeks. "Why are you crying, Daisy?" asked Nadia. Nadia reached out to touch Daisy's forehead. It was burning hot. Clear nasal discharge ran down her face. Judging from the symptoms, Nadia knew Daisy had a fever from a cold. "Where's your dad?" Nadia asked. "My brother is gone." Daisy's voice was hoarse with crying, while her hands wiped at tears. "He doesn't want me either." Nadia thought, 'Either? So she has been abandoned once?' Looking at the three solid stainless steel doors, Nadia gently touched Daisy's head to comfort her. "No, he probably had something to do and will be back soon. How about coming to stay at my place for now?" A five-year-old child who was sick would naturally be scared in a strange environment. But Daisy remembered Nadia, and after a moment's hesitation, Daisy nodded. Nadia brought Daisy back home and checked her temperature. It had spiked to over 102°F. She found some cold medicine suitable for children, which also contained fever-reducing ingredients. After giving Daisy the medicine, Nadia wrote a quick note on a sticky and left it on the door of 1801, just in case her family worried. Listening to the storm howl outside, Nadia couldn't help but feel curious about her neighbor. Going out in weather like this was like asking for trouble. The typhoon came with occasional lightning, and the TV had already lost signal. Daisy curled up on the sofa, terrified and uneasy. Nadia's mind flashed back to her own childhood. She saw other kids cared for by their parents while she lay sick in bed, hugging a pillow, feeling abandoned and insecure. She wasn't good with children, so she pulled out her tablet and started an animated show for Daisy. The distraction worked. The listless girl perked up a little. Nadia sat next to Daisy, scrolling through her phone. Several new notifications popped up, including one from Wesley. Wesley texted: [Nadia, I was wrong yesterday. Don't be mad. I was really looking forward to you coming to my birthday, but you didn't, so I was disappointed.] Nadia scoffed inwardly, 'He was tough yesterday, wasn't he? After only one night, he couldn't handle it and came to apologize? 'Makes sense. With so many people celebrating his birthday, the house probably still had a few guests left. Bet they had snacks, beer, and cake at the party. No one can cook, and he has no real food supply. 'Even with canned food or cookies, it isn't enough to feed all his friends.' Nadia glanced at the time on the message. It had been sent an hour ago. He was indeed hungry and asking for food. Several messages from unknown numbers came in after Wesley's message. Nadia ignored them all. Two parents of her tutoring students messaged her too. They thanked her for reminding them to stock up on food in time, or their whole family would have gone hungry. One even offered a gift to show appreciation. Nadia politely declined. At that moment, she wasn't in the mood for gifts anyway. Scrolling through the group messages, she saw posts showing seafood feasts, people drinking wine, and others showing the contents of their fully stocked refrigerators. Many of them were competing to show off. Some even played chain games. None seemed aware of how high the price for their actions would be. The typhoon and heavy rain would last for over two weeks. Even if the government wanted to send help, the harsh conditions made it impossible. Once food ran low, the people flaunting their supplies would be the first targets for theft. Where there were posts showing stockpiles, there were also requests for help. Most of these people were young and relied on food delivery. They spent recklessly, never cooked at home, and had closets full of clothes and face masks but no food. [Went to the supermarket yesterday. Cans were all gone. Could someone help me?] [I couldn't get anything either. Bought two frozen pizzas, but I don't have an oven at home.] One person started the thread, and many followed. Some even invited a pretty girl to their house for food, but unfortunately, they weren't in the same building. Most were watching the drama, not helping. But when someone suggested bartering—five facial masks for one can—people started responding. There were so many messages that Nadia scrolled through them quickly. One forwarded video showed a car being swept into a flood. Firefighters risked the typhoon to try to rescue it, only to be swallowed by the surging water from a broken levee. There were plenty of videos like this, some showing successful rescues, others complete failures. Nadia felt a heavy weight in her chest. Just as she was about to put down her phone, Wesley's name popped up on her screen again. Chapter 7 Begging Her For Food Nadia didn't even blink before blocking Wesley. Less than a minute later, her phone rang. The number was unknown. Even without looking, she could guess it was Wesley himself or one of his friends. In this lifetime, Nadia refused to be a doormat. She wouldn't allow them to take any food from her. She turned off her phone. Daisy was asleep on the sofa, curled up, restless even in her dreams. Her fever had dropped to about 100°F. With Daisy around, Nadia couldn't continue cooking fancy meals. She didn't want anyone to know that she had enough supplies. She ate the cold pasta, and somehow it tasted amazing. The balcony had a small escape window open. The rest were covered with frosted window film. Light came in, but anyone outside couldn't see inside. Nadia took out planting pots and potting soil. She grabbed a few potatoes with buds, cut them into chunks, and rubbed the cuts with ash so the sprouts would stick. She then planted them in the pots. She planted about 20 pots in total and placed them on the balcony inside the Storage Realm. Next, she planted garlic, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables. She hung the pots on the balcony railing with hooks. With careful tending, she could grow her own greens freely. Before she could wash her hands, someone pounded on the door and shouted, "Nadia, Nadia!" The voice was unfamiliar. She guessed it was one of Wesley's friends. She scoffed inside, 'Heh, looks like they're really starving.' "Nadia, you're always cooking. Can you spare some food for us?" "We can pay double, no, five times the price. Is that okay?" "Open the door. I'll transfer money to you right now." "Hey, we're friends. We're going to see each other later anyway. Do you really have to be so harsh?" Through the two doors, the voices weren't loud, but they were getting more aggressive. One even kicked the door in frustration. Nadia grabbed the knife from the kitchen, flung the door open, and swung it. "Who kicked it?" Three guys were standing outside. They had been briefly happy at the sound of the door opening. They knew Nadia had a crush on Wesley, and that she wouldn't let her crush starve. They had finished all their snacks last night. By breakfast and lunch, they were already starving. Only a few cans of beer remained, making them hungrier with every sip. Wesley said Nadia was obsessed with hoarding, claiming she lived like an old lady with stuff she could never eat in time. They had always mocked Nadia behind her back. They never expected they'd need her help now. Before they could say anything, the knife swung past. Frightened, they jumped aside and shouted, "Nadia, are you insane?" Nadia blocked the doorway, her expression icy. "Get lost. Don't be so shameless." They retorted, "Are you really so heartless?" "I don't even know you guys. Why should I care if you are starving or not?" Nadia's voice dripped with menace. She raised the knife and threatened. "Kick my door again, and see what happens." She had survived three years in the apocalypse. She had fought and killed someone. She had seen the worst of human nature. Seeing her murderous glare, the boys' skin crawled. "You... We're friends, and we will pay you." "I don't have food at home. Even if I have, I'd rather give it to the homeless than to you guys," Nadia snapped. "Think I don't know how much you've been gossiping behind my back? You look down on me like that, and you are still begging me for food?" Their faces turned red, and their bodies shook with anger. She continued, "Tell Wesley to stop begging food from me. He has his sweetheart, doesn't he? Living off a girl while acting high and mighty. Isn't that pathetic? "Try asking me for food again, and I'll post everything on the school forum and the building group. Let's see if he can handle that." "You... Good for you!" one of them snapped. Between going hungry and saving face, they chose the latter. On top of that, Nadia had gone completely berserk, swinging a knife with fierce eyes. The guys guessed she'd been provoked by Wesley and Sylvia's relationship. "Just wait and see!" They spat out the threat and slunk away. Nadia didn't say a word. She slammed the knife into the wall as they ran, making sure they got a good scare. After that, they probably wouldn't dare come back for a while. 📖 The story gets hotter—click "Download" to read the uncensored chapters! 👇