The Frozen Apocalypse: Betrayal and Rebirth Chapter 12

That day still came—temperatures dropped to minus fifty degrees. Power couldn't support it and collapsed.

At night, the world returned to gray darkness.

Out the window, occasionally you could see weak lights from survivors in other buildings.

I drew the curtains and huddled with Emma in the tent. After seeing the tragedy downstairs days ago, I'd been dispirited for days.

The story of The Count of Monte Cristo was nearly ending. The Count successfully revenged himself on three hypocrites and prepared to start a new life.

On Rebecca's side, only the surveillance I'd connected to an external power bank still worked. Days ago, I'd watched her mother collapse and never get up, still licking ice before death.

Rebecca, Derek, and the community's evil people hit it off robbing supplies several times, occasionally having food at home. But the snow was too thick. Things in this building and complex would eventually run out. Plus, not everyone could be overcome.

That time going out, they returned dragging broken legs and arms with difficulty.

Now Rebecca couldn't drive Lily away—she craved her obedient daughter to give her ice to lick.

Despite such deep injuries, she still shouted at the camera: "Michael Mitchell, you useless waste! Are you dead? I spread information online about your two properties. I guessed you're there. My leg's broken, otherwise I'd definitely come kill you myself!"

After shouting, she cried and kowtowed: "Honey, I was wrong. Save me. Derek Wilson isn't human. Please, please!!"

Derek, injured from robbery, was thrown out by Rebecca and Lily the first day after power collapsed. Just like me in my previous life.

But unlike when they coldly threw me out, Lily punched and kicked him: "It's all because of you! My dad won't talk to me anymore. All because of you, bad person! I lost my dad. Get out!"

She was like her mother and grandmother—always only thinking of herself.

After Lily's safe food ran out, every day facing the camera and phone, she called: "Dad save me, Dad I was wrong, Dad save me. Dad where are you! Dad come back, please!"

Resources exhausted. I saw Rebecca dragging one leg as she cut open her dead mother's hand, muttering: "Mom, you said you loved me. This is what you owe me..."

Even so, she died beside her mother's body—probably from infected wounds plus viral infection. Her feverish red face was visible even through surveillance.

Lily tried to imitate her with a knife on her mother. I felt sick, shut off surveillance, and sent Lily one last message:

"Lily, Dad used to tell you—books hold houses of gold, books hold beauty, books enrich the soul. Your grandmother, mother, and Uncle Derek teaching you that girls only need to be pretty and marry—that was wrong. Now reading makes you full! FULL!"

I couldn't have the Count's grand revenge. After all, extreme cold was humanity's disaster.

But I destroyed their waiting and hope.

The Count said forgiving them was God's business—he just wanted to send them to God. Yet he forgave Danglars.

Because forgiveness is a beautiful soul's best quality.

After power went out, I gave Schrodinger candles, solid alcohol, heat packs, and power banks. He blushed just saying thanks—truly socially anxious!

Also gave him a sleeping bag—I'd bought four for wrapping things anyway.

He awkwardly admitted never wearing long underwear, only outer pants and coats, always wrapped in comforters...

He gave me manga and bean sprouts he'd grown. Said they were for Emma—at her age, he'd loved manga.

Emma and I ate hot pot often—alcohol heating the pot, steam rising, frozen meatballs, lamb, vegetables, and Schrodinger's sprouts. So comfortable!

Later Emma learned voice acting from Schrodinger. Though anxious, he was incredibly professional.

Another skill! Despite no environmental pressure, my Emma never stopped learning. Wonderful!

Our unit was never breached. Texts said the government was finding solutions. Those robbing in extreme weather would be caught and punished severely.

Later...

Lily wasn't illiterate. After my message, she crawled to the study, opening book sets I'd bought.

She was my biological child after all—I left her one last chance. Books contained jerky and thin bread.

But she didn't survive.

Later surveillance broke. After the apocalypse, I saw her crooked writing: Dad, I was wrong! Really wrong!! Why don't you want me anymore!

Why? Dad, I love you! What you taught was right!! Dad, Dad! So cold, so hungry! I love you! I hate you!

Lily, no regret medicine exists! Some wrongs can't be repaid!

Firefighters and police worked hard even in extreme weather.

When temperatures hit minus sixty in May, they finally stopped dropping.

Then came power restoration.

The sun finally shone bright—temperatures slowly rose!

We finally saw dawn and hope.

As the Count said—all human wisdom: Wait and Hope!