Chapter 2

It turned out everything was because of my wonderful elder sister.

Eleanor was three years older than me and worked in genetics research.

She claimed that, through big data studies, she had ample evidence proving I was a born troublemaker.

She told our mother that I had dissected frogs alive as a child.

Not only that, but she also alleged that any dead mice or cats found around our home were my doing.

She even presented numerous case studies she had found that stated that people like me were born without empathy but with high IQs. This explained my cold personality and good grades.

She warned that if left unchecked, I would eventually commit acts like murder and arson.

My mother believed her. She was wary of me in every way. Eleanor merely suggested I had an emotional disorder and needed to obey her and do good things.

Only after being given a second chance did I realize that these “good deeds” were whatever suited her.

It was precisely because of Eleanor’s words that even when I was tortured to the brink of death, my mother did not show a hint of sorrow. Instead, she seemed relieved.

The universe has a sense of justice. It gave me a second chance.

This time, I would show them what a troublemaker really was.

…

I had claimed that I needed Eleanor’s help to find supplies as merely an excuse.

Why should I be the only one to suffer in this extreme heat?

The moment we stepped outside, a wave of heat rushed to meet us.

The scorching sensation made our instinct scream for us to turn back and dive into the air-conditioned house.

But I knew that I had to go out.

If I missed today, the temperatures would later climb even higher. The heat would eventually soar to a terrifying 140 °F.

Once we were outside, I ditched Eleanor and headed straight for my destination.

Sure, I used to be naive and trusted them blindly, but I was not a complete idiot.

The extreme weather, insane heat warnings, and anomalous magnetic field were all clear signs of an impending crisis.

So, I had been storing the majority of the stockpiled supplies in a rented basement, while leaving only a portion at home.

I did not have the chance to tell them about the stash in the past before they betrayed me.

With my supplies already covered, I did not need to scramble for more. Instead, I went to purchase a lithium-powered chainsaw.

It might not be as deadly as a blade in close combat, but it would make anyone think twice.

On top of that, I picked up several real self-defense items, such as knives and daggers, for emergencies.

Finally, I purchased a few sets of hidden cameras.

I gathered the items I needed and placed them in my backpack. My final stop was the basement.

While procuring supplies in the past, I had discovered that the basement was cooler than the air-conditioned rooms.

Given the current temperature of over 104 °F, I estimated the basement’s temperature would not exceed 86 °F.

Back then, when I was exhausted from hauling and storing supplies in the heat, I would simply rest down there.

The basement was originally a storage space for the landlord’s random junk.

Fortunately, during the cleanup, I had found a large inflatable pool.

I had always been frugal. After checking that the pool was intact, I had not thrown it away. The pool could serve as a water storage tank.

Once I made up my mind, I got the hose and started filling it up.

It was important to know that by the tenth day of the ongoing heatwave, water would become the most critical issue.

…

Only after completing all these preparations did I return home.

Seeing me return empty-handed, especially in contrast to Eleanor, who had just come home from outside looking thoroughly disheveled, my mother yelled at me. She blamed me for abandoning Eleanor outside.

I sneered and said, “Who’s supposed to be the older sister here, me or her?

“If a grown adult can’t manage to keep up and gets lost, that’s not on me. That’s just not being the sharpest tool in the shed.”

Eleanor shot me a glare. Just as she was about to argue, both my mother’s and my phones vibrated simultaneously.

It was a message from the group admin in the neighborhood residents’ group chat. The message announced the arrival of a relief supply shipment.