登入RAYNAThe first impact shook the villa before midnight.I was standing in the command room when the windows rattled violently, followed by a deep rumbling sound that seemed to travel through the walls. The security supervisor immediately turned toward the external monitoring screens, but the images had already begun to change. Snow was sweeping across the cameras in thick, almost continuous sheets, making it difficult to distinguish the perimeter from the surrounding landscape.“What's happening outside?” I asked.“Visibility has dropped considerably, ma'am. The northern cameras are beginning to lose their signal.”Lior stepped closer to the screens. “Switch to the secondary feeds. I want to know whether the barriers are still holding.”The supervisor followed his instruction, but the images were barely better. The storm had become so violent that even the security lights were struggling to illuminate the courtyard. What had been an ordinary snowfall earlier in the day was now a wall
RAYNA The revised fuel report was waiting on my desk when I entered the command room the following morning. I had barely slept the previous night, and the numbers in front of me were already giving me another reason to worry.The generator was functioning, the water distribution system had stabilized, and the heating equipment was operating normally, yet our fuel consumption remained higher than expected. The storm had buried the solar panels, preventing them from contributing enough power to reduce the generator's workload. Every passing hour meant more fuel was being consumed simply to keep the villa warm.I picked up the report and studied the figures again.“How much have we used since yesterday?” I asked.The supervisor standing across from me pointed to the latest entry. “Approximately twelve percent more than our usual daily consumption.”My eyes narrowed. “That's too much.”“Yes, ma'am….the temperature has dropped further, and the heating system is working harder to maintain
The Cold Was Closing InRAYNAThe water pressure dropped again shortly after midnight. I was in the command room reviewing the latest fuel consumption figures when the maintenance supervisor rushed through the door, his expression immediately telling me that something had gone wrong. “Ma'am, we have another problem with the water system.”I put down the report. “What happened?”“The northern line is holding, but the pressure in the secondary distribution pipes has dropped. We've checked the connections twice but something is restricting the flow.”“Are you saying another pipe has frozen?”“We suspect so. The temperature has fallen considerably, and the insulation around some of the older connections may not be enough to withstand these conditions.”I stood and followed him toward the maintenance section. Lior was already there, speaking with two guards about the security arrangements. When he noticed me, he immediately ended the conversation and joined us.The supervisor brought up th
The Water We Could Not WasteRAYNABy midday, the temperature inside the villa had stabilized, but the storm outside had become even more violent. Snow continued gathering against the walls, covering the lower sections of the windows and burying the pathways that connected the main building to the storage and utility areas.I had barely finished reviewing the revised fuel allocation when the security supervisor entered the command room. “Mrs. Rayna, maintenance has reported a problem with the water supply.”I looked up immediately. “What problem?”“The pressure has dropped in the outer sections. Two of the pipes are no longer responding, and the workers suspect they may have frozen.”I closed the fuel report. “Has the main water supply stopped?”“Not completely…..the inner sections are still receiving water, but the pressure is falling.”I stood. “Take me to the maintenance room.”Lior, who had been checking the security arrangements, followed us downstairs. The maintenance superviso
RAYNAThe first warning came before sunrise. I was still in bed when the alarm from the command room sounded through the villa. It was not the usual security alert. This one was longer, sharper, and followed by the announcement that made my stomach tighten.“Thermal system warning….backup power has been activated.”I pushed the blankets aside and reached for my robe. Lior stirred beside me, already waking. “What happened?” he asked.“I don't know yet.”We hurried to the command room, the security supervisor was standing in front of the control panels, studying the readings. Several sections of the thermal grid were marked in yellow, while the main power supply showed that the system had switched to its backup source.“Explain,” I demanded.“The storm buried most of the solar panels overnight,” he replied. “The batteries were already carrying a heavy load, and the charge dropped below the required level and the generator has taken over.”I looked at the external temperature reading, it
RAYNABy the time I entered the main hall the following morning, the villa was already awake. The kitchen staff were preparing breakfast, two guards were changing shifts near the entrance, and the maintenance team had gathered around a table covered with tools and repair lists. It was an ordinary scene, almost painfully ordinary considering the world outside.A few months earlier, most of these people had been strangers to one another. Now they shared meals, work, responsibilities, and the same uncertain future. We had survived the first disasters, but keeping a group of people alive through an endless winter required more than locked gates and full storerooms, it required cooperation.Leo approached with a notebook in his hand. “The department heads are waiting in the meeting room.”“Did something happen?”“No emergency. We finished the weekly reports, and there are a few things they want to discuss.”I followed him inside… Lior was already there, standing beside the large table. He







