LOGINGoing solo wasn't realistic, so Marcus swallowed his pride and joined a scavenger team.He thought he had picked a strong group, only to find out there was always someone tougher and even more desperate. People were willing to risk their lives over piles of scrap metal.His team eventually got into a fight with another group. If Marcus hadn't dropped to the ground and played dead, he probably would've been stabbed to death.All over a pile of worthless junk.Once, he bought private planes and yachts without thinking twice. He even spent seven figures on a pink diamond without blinking. Now, he was risking his life over scrap metal."Haha... Hahaha..." The absurdity of it suddenly hit him, and Marcus started laughing. Before he knew it, the laughter turned into tears.Marcus couldn't believe he had actually broken down crying in front of Nicole. The embarrassment only made him feel worse.But disasters didn't care that he was once the son of the richest man in the city. Witho
After two bowls of noodles took the edge off his hunger, Marcus finally slowed down and started eating with the polished manners he had grown up with.Then he said angrily, "I found the punk who stole my car."Nicole, who had just decided to be nice to him for once, nearly choked on her noodles. "Cough... Cough..."Seriously? She had already given back half his medicine to make up for it, and he was still hung up on that car.Nine years later, and he still hadn't let it go.Nicole was so annoyed she almost dumped her bowl over his head.If those three off-road vehicles hadn't been worth so much, she never would've given back medicine she had already considered hers.Still annoyed, she forced a smile. "Really? Who stole it?""They got away. I couldn't catch them." Marcus kept eating as he cursed under his breath. "Those punks better hope I never find them. If I do, I'll tear them apart!"Nicole's patience finally ran out, and her voice turned cold. "It's not like yours
Nicole nodded. "Alright, but try to come by soon. We'll probably head back out scavenging once we've rested for a bit, and I don't want you making the trip for nothing.""Okay," Marcus said flatly.Nicole gave him their address. Neither of them bothered with small talk or sentimental goodbyes. They simply went their separate ways.Marcus watched the truck disappear into the distance. After everything he had been through over the years, he thought he had already hit rock bottom. He thought things couldn't possibly get worse. Apparently, they could.What a miserable life!Back home, Nicole and her family showered, cleaned up, and sat down to a good meal. They had eaten well enough while they were away, but nothing compared to eating at home.Once everyone finished, Poppy cleared the dishes and started on the housework. Nicole took a sip of juice and said to Zeph, "When the Robinsons' guest house got crushed by the satellite, Marcus gave us a lot of medicine as payment. It was
Nicole saw the man ahead as well. He really did look like a beggar.His clothes were in tatters, and he wandered barefoot down the road with no clear destination.Another person half-broken by the apocalypse.Nicole had barely finished the thought when the man heard the truck behind him, turned around, and started waving for them to stop.People used all kinds of tricks to rob travelers. He could easily be a lookout trying to lure them into an ambush.Nicole chambered a round. If he tried anything, she would shoot.The man waved both arms. "Stop! Stop!"Nicole scanned the area but didn't see anyone hiding nearby. Zeph kept driving and passed him without slowing down.The man immediately raised his middle finger at the truck. "Damn it! Stop!"Nicole narrowed her eyes. Something about him looked familiar in the rearview mirror. She stared for a few seconds, then finally recognized him."Stop."The moment the truck pulled over, hope returned to the man's face. He limped tow
Zeph noticed something in the rearview mirror. Someone was chasing after the Marauder so hard he had apparently lost a shoe.He frowned. "That looks like Marcus."Nicole stared at him. "What?"That made no sense. Even if the Robinsons left Westbridge, the Jazenville government base would've been the obvious place to go. Why would Marcus come all the way out here?She didn't buy it. "Are you sure you're seeing that right?"Zeph slowed down so she could take a look.Sure enough, a filthy, ragged man was running after them. He looked so ridiculous that Nicole almost didn't recognize him.But he kept chasing for hundreds of yards without giving up, even after losing a shoe.Nicole stared into the rearview mirror. The longer she looked, the more he really did look like Marcus.Damn it. She was finally able to drive the Marauder openly, and somehow, Marcus showed up again.Nicole groaned. "Go, go, go! Speed up!"They had history with Marcus. She couldn't exactly turn around and ki
Military life meant grueling training every day, but soldiers were also full members of the Ark Project and received better food, housing, and supplies.Nicole knew they were worried about her, so she gave a helpless smile. "Zeph still hasn't fully recovered, and I was sick not long ago, too. We barely qualified to get into the base as it is. Besides, we still have Poppy and Cola to take care of. Joining the military or taking a regular job just isn't realistic right now. We'll try scavenging first and figure something else out if it doesn't work."Every family had its own problems. Jeremy could tell neither of them wanted to join the military, so he didn't push. "Fair enough. As long as you've thought it through."After chatting a little longer, he stood up. "We still have training tonight, so we should get going."Nicole tried to get them to stay for dinner.Jeremy and the others shook their heads. "Our food and housing are covered. We already ate at the mess hall before w
Just after midnight, the timer refreshed. One hundred thirty minutes remaining.That meant time could stack.Nicole nearly laughed out loud. Seconds mattered. During crucial moments, even a minute could mean the difference between living and dying.She decided that unless it was absolutely necess
Nicole jolted, then immediately checked with her mind.The storage space was still there. The supplies were still there, too. She tested it; she thought of an item, and a coal briquette appeared in her hand.Sweeping the space again, she noticed the glowing timer had reset to zero.That was when
After paying the deposit, Nicole drove straight to the largest outdoor gear store downtown.The outdoor gear market was fiercely competitive. The store was in full clearance mode, shutting down with brutal discounts. Some items were marked down to 20% of the original price.Perfect timing.Nicole
"Ah!"Nicole Floyd jolted upright in bed, gasping. Sweat streamed down her forehead, her eyes unfocused and hollow.The sight in front of her cut through the haze in her mind.This was her old apartment, the one from before the apocalypse.Ding, ding…Text alerts kept chiming. She grabbed her p







