The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 416

Chapter 416

Patrick shot the man a look. “Alex is a smart man. Why do you think he didn’t use that skill to make a profit?”

“Smart? He’s an idiot. If it were me, I’d never hand it over.”

“You’re the idiot,” Patrick snapped. “Use your brain for once!”

“Why are you yelling at me?”

“Because one day, your stupidity’s gonna get you killed.”

Well-digging could bring in a lot of supplies, but who had it easy right now?

These disasters crushed the poor. The rich still ate, drank, and carried on as nothing had changed.

It didn’t matter how much you could earn if you didn’t make it home alive.

They would smile and ask you to dig. Once the well was done, forget payment. You might not even make it out

alive.

And even if you somehow brought the supplies back, could you keep what you earned?

Everyone around you was starving. If you suddenly looked well-fed, who wouldn’t come after you?

Alex had taught them to spread the risk.

Patrick lowered his voice. “Keep your mouths shut. Anyone who leaks that we have a water source, I’ll kick them out.”

Oakhaven Gardens had walls, but they didn’t.

If word got out, their town would be the first to get hit.

The conflict had settled, but Zeph wasn’t at ease. Whenever he had time, he drove out, searching for a place before the earthquake hit, somewhere open but hidden.

There were too many people nearby. If they hid in the storage space during a quake, someone might notice.

Plus, Poppy still hadn’t fully recovered. Sometimes she would drift off, unfocused. Zeph didn’t dare give her sleeping pills anymore.

She was growing up, making friends at Oakhaven Gardens.

It was good for her, but it also increased the risk for him and Nicole. The storage space couldn’t be exposed.

After several days, Zeph finally found a place.

1

It was an abandoned factory on the outskirts, about a 20-minute drive. Behind it stretched a wide, open area, far from the forest.

He watched it for days and saw no sign of anyone.

Another month passed.

The extreme heat didn’t ease. Water levels at Oakhaven Gardens kept dropping, from two buckets per household after the storm to less than half a bucket.

They were approaching the timing of the earthquake from last time, and Nicole felt the tension building.

1/2

+15 Brhus

Zeph went early to collect water. This time, it wasn’t even a quarter of a bucket.

Nicole frowned. “Why is it so cloudy?”

It looked like mud.

The air felt heavy. Even in temperature-regulating clothing, Zeph was drenched in sweat.

He had a bad feeling.

“Yesterday’s water was cloudy, too, but not like this. I ran into Miles on the way back. He was walking his mouse. It seemed really agitated and wouldn’t stop squeaking. Could be a sign.”

Nicole’s heart tightened. “Cola’s been acting strange, too. He was tearing up the couch earlier. I thought he was just being difficult.”

Right now, Cola was at it again, tugging at the fabric, low growls slipping out.

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