The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Gabrielle had lived her whole life, never imagining that the winters here, usually as mild as spring, could ever plunge to -15 degrees.

The coastal air was already damp and biting. With floodwaters rising to the sixth floor, the entire city felt like it had been sealed inside a giant freezer.

The complex was old. Aside from college students renting near the university district, most of the residents were elderly people and kids. Compared to before the typhoon hit, maybe only 40% of the building’s residents were still alive.

Typhoons, floods, then a deep freeze. What the hell had happened to this world?

Nicole didn’t take the credit. “I just gave advice based on your condition. You followed the instructions and prepared well.”

Gabrielle didn’t see it that way. She had brought a jar of pickled herring as thanks. “Lydia made this. It’s a specialty from back home. You’ve got to try it.”

The jar weighed around three to four pounds, an undeniably generous gift.

Nicole already had plenty of pickled fish and canned sardines in her storage space, but Gabrielle insisted on pushing it into her hands, nearly getting upset when she tried to refuse. In the end, Nicole had no choice but to accept it.

Seeing her take it, Gabrielle kept talking.

“We got lucky. Not only did we wake up, but none of us got sick from the cold. But next door, I think someone froze to death. A few others got frostbite or fell ill. Mary even had the nerve to knock on our door, asking for medicine.

“Where would we even get medicine? She made it sound like we were hoarding it on purpose. She’s come by several times already.

“Yesterday, someone else died. They said it was from a fever caused by frostbite.”

It was tragic, sure, but forcing the Goodmans to hand over medicine was another story. Even if they had some, they would have to save it for themselves.

In weather like this, even a simple cold could kill you.

Nicole frowned.

Everyone else was dying, yet Mary was still alive. She really was tough as hell.

Gabrielle wouldn’t come upstairs without a reason. She let out a long sigh, worry written all over her face.

“Nicole, something feels off. I think something bad’s about to happen in this building.”

“What do you mean?”

1/2

+15 Bonus

“Oliver’s been organizing the survivors to break into the homes of the dead, taking their food, clothes, bedding, and even wooden furniture. That part, I get. Everyone’s trying to survive.”

But Oliver wasn’t playing fair. He handed out supplies based on who he favored.

Men got more. Women got half. If the entire Goodman family hadn’t survived, they would’ve been pushed around, too.

Sure, the men did most of the heavy work breaking down doors, but the women were better at finding things. A lot of supplies had been hidden in unexpected places, and it was the women who found them.

However, they were outnumbered and didn’t dare push back. Oliver skimmed off what should’ve been evenly divided, taking most of it for himself. The other men, getting their small cut, didn’t complain.

That wasn’t even the worst part. He had been in frequent contact with the representatives from other buildings, and he was also working with gangs from outside.

“Yesterday, he took a few young girls out. The guys out there offered to pay one pound of food per hour. Five hours, and the men could do whatever they wanted with them. It’s inhuman.

“Faye next door was barely alive when they brought her back. Her pants were covered in blood.

“She traded her body for five pounds of rice, and Oliver took half of it. The remaining two and a half pounds had to be shared among several people. How much do you think she even got to eat?”

Nicole wasn’t surprised. In her past life, Edward had suggested she do the same thing. She had smashed his head open with a rolling pin, and he never dared bring it up again.

She hadn’t expected Faye to be this far gone.

“Mary didn’t go out?”

“No, but it’s only a matter of time.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify