All Chapters of The Apocalypse Survival Manual: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

"Illegal?"Nicole yanked off their face coverings. She couldn't name them, but she recognized them. Two were even active posters in the building group chat. People who used to look polished and decent were now hiding their faces and doing this in a disaster.She took out her phone and snapped photos. "Go ahead and call the cops. Let's see who they arrest."They hadn't expected the 18th floor to band together. They hadn't even managed to fight back. Faced with reality, they folded fast."We had no way to live," one of them pleaded. "We were forced into this. You didn't really lose anything. Can't you just pretend nothing happened and let us go?"Moments ago, they had been loud and vicious. Now, they were on their knees, begging.If it were just about Nicole, she could've quietly killed them and been done with it. But tonight was about making a statement.She looked at 1801 and Beatrice. Neither objected."You're lucky today," Nicole said. "Next time, you won't be. Get out."Wit

Zeph might not know how to take care of a kid, but his stockpile was no joke.He went into another room and came back carrying two large bags of herbal medicine, all vacuum sealed and moisture-proof.Nicole picked out more than a dozen varieties, mostly for circulation and bruising. "Put these in a glass jar. Add about a quart of vodka and seal it up. Let it sit for two weeks, and it's ready."She spotted some devilroot and set it aside. "This can be soaked, too. When it gets cold, a small sip will warm you up and help with energy and blood flow. Kids shouldn't drink it."Rock sugar soaked in vodka worked great, too. It cooled inflammation and helped with circulation. She stopped herself. If she taught too much, it might put her in danger.Poppy fell asleep quickly after taking the medicine, though she kept murmuring in her sleep. A sick child always looked pitiful. Tears clung to her lashes as her pale lips moved faintly. "Mom… I want Mom… Dad…"Zeph sat by the bed, gently

After some effort, Nicole managed to beach the inflatable raft on the driveway. She secured the raft, then followed the sloping road up to the rooftop parking deck.The parking deck was massive, packed tight with cars. Judging by the logos, most of them were high-end: Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.Westbridge was full of wealthy families. Before the typhoon, they had probably driven their luxury cars up here to keep them from flooding.Nicole swept her flashlight across row after row.Her gaze locked onto a huge RV. One look at the emblem told her it was a top-tier model worth millions. It had a bullet-resistant body and glass, reinforced run-flat tires, and most importantly, a hybrid gas and electric system. The roof even had foldable solar panels.In an apocalypse, energy was everything. Gasoline became tightly controlled, and not just anyone could get it.An RV was a moving home. You could travel, live in it long term, and stay off the grid. This one checked every bo

The rooftop was empty, and the second floor was already more than halfway underwater.As Nicole left, she glanced at the Hummer she'd had her eye on in the parking deck.It was the same model as the one owned by Zeph. It had high clearance, insane torque, and aggressive lines. In an apocalypse, it was a real war machine, something that could smash an ordinary SUV aside without slowing down.Too bad her storage space couldn't take it. Compared to that, she chose the RV instead. It was more comfortable and versatile.She patted the hood, the feeling like cutting flesh from her own body. Before long, all these cars would be submerged and swept away by the flood. What a waste!The water level was rising fast, the current growing stronger. Inflatable rafts could easily get carried off.Nicole switched to the assault boat. There were plenty of submerged obstacles below, so she didn't dare push the speed.The city was swallowed by darkness. The waterproof headlamp had a limited range

This was the truth of human nature.People didn't fear scarcity. They feared unfairness.Everyone was trapped in the same disaster. So why did you get to look clean and well-fed while others starved?They didn't just refuse to help. They waited for the chance to rob the moment the two of them got close.Nicole carried two knives: a heavy cleaver in her left hand and a narrow boning knife in her right. She shoved through the crowd with a cold face and planted herself at the window, blocking the way.Both blades were sharp, the edges still stained with dried blood. That alone made people instinctively step back.Someone started to protest, but Zeph stepped up beside her. The two of them stood there like twin executioners, one on each side.Nicole swept her gaze across the crowd, taking in every expression, and said flatly, "Don't preach to me. If you want to curse me, fine. Try to rob us, and I'll cut each and every one of you."The 18th floor had a reputation. Everyone in the bu