Chapter 345


    Acid rain usually had no scent, but this cataclysmic downpour was different. The acidity index was so high it was lethal, eroding materials and leaving


    a foul stench in the air.


    Ste was busy disinfecting the house, then turned on the air purifier with a sigh of relief.


    Confined indoors, she spent her time organizing the knowledge she had umted these past weeks, not forgetting to tutor the siblings in medical


    science


    Cooper didn’t understand a word, but he might as well have thought himself human the way he stubbornly sat by her side. fighting sleep and refusing


    to leave.


    Next door, bored out of his mind, Austin would asionally buzz over the walkie-talkie, "Hey, Ste, fancy a game of cards? We''re one short."


    Ste, ever the spirited one, replied with a grin, "Sure, if you can make it over here.”


    The acid rain had been relentless for days, showing no signs of a break in the clouds. To everyone''s surprise, Austin actually made it, decked out in a


    protective suit that was the same brand as Ste''s.


    What a copycat.


    It wasn''t just the neighbors; Bran showed up too, asking, “Ste, got anything to eat?”


    He was something else. Not only did he have a top-notch protective suit, but his dog did too, obviously custom-made.


    Buddy. d in his own gear, walked awkwardly but was still eager to see Cooper despite the acidic downpour. The two dogs yed around


    downstairs while Rosie and Dn practiced boxing on the rooftop.


    The card games were addictive, so much so that cooking was thest thing on anyone''s mind


    Ste offered half-heartedly, "We''ve got some expired instant noodles, you want some?”


    Bran, who had lost all his usual finickiness, replied. “As long as it doesn''t kill me, I''m in."


    "You''ll find out if it''s lethal once you''ve eaten it.”


    She wasn’t kidding: the noodles were indeed a year past their prime, taken from a stash in her Arcadia hideout.


    Without using the seasoning packets, Ste improvised. She threw in some dried mushrooms, beef balls. and fried eggs, serving up heaping bowls


    for everyone.


    Bran, who never touched what he considered low-end junk food, now found himself relishing every bite as if it were a gourmet meal, "Ste, sticking


    with you is the only way to get good eats.”N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Ste shot him a look, "Your family owns a farm. Making your own instant noodles and seasoning should be a breeze."


    The Porras family did have a farm, and they tried to protect it with ss domes, but who could have predicted the acid rain would be so fierce? The


    soil was doomed to contamination.


    As they ate, they discussed when the rain might end. Ste shook her head, "Who knows? It''s as if it''s got a mind of its own, deliberately tormenting


    us.”


    Living through disaster, ack of reverence meant a swift demise


    If the rain had been acidic from the start. perhaps fewer lives would have been lost. Instead, it lulled everyone into a false sense of security before


    striking ruthlessly.


    Bran didn''t waste a drop of his noodle soup, "Exactly. It''s like it''s ying a cruel joke on us.”


    They were about to resume their card game when suddenly. sunlight streamed through the windows. The acid rain had stopped, and the sun had


    broken through. The post-rain rainbow was exceptionally bright and beautiful, enchanting like something out of a fairy tale. tempting the mind and


    intoxicating the senses.


    "The sun''s out!" Cheering erupted from the rooftop as people rushed up, jumping around in jubtion.


    Bran wasn''t celebrating. He grabbed the walkie-talkie and cursed, "Have you all lost your damn minds? Didn''t you learn anything fromst time?


    Wanna bet the acid rain wille back and melt you all down to your banes?”


    Ever since Bran had taken over as the head of the Homeowners Association, his temper had grown short. his insultsing quick and sharp. Those


    who had lost their senses to excitement might have resented his words, but no one dared to argue openly. Soon enough, they calmed down and


    meekly returned downstairs.


    Less than half an hourter, the acid rain returned in a sudden deluge.


    Ste was surprised; Bran had matured. Had he not stopped them, the acid rain would have imed more victims.


    Themunity was spared, but as for the outside world... no words could sway the damned


    The authorities had warned that the acid rain might return intermittently and that even when the skies cleared, people should not rush outside but wait


    for the official all-clear. Yet human nature is often contrary.


    As the acid rain continued on and off, a new crisis loomed: water scarcity.


    Even the most frugal use wasn’t


    enough. Thesommunity''s water


    supply was dwindling fast, and even.


    if it didn’trun out, it would spoil. =


    Boiled-dr not, the water was S


    undrikable, and everyone''s ~~


    digestive systems were painfully


    aWare.


    Themunity''s pleas for water echoed across the channels.


    Water is life, and no one was willing to part with it, not even if they had some to spare. In times of crisis, self-preservation trumps charity.


    Silence was the response to the requests, and the shameless ones had nothing to do but call out names one by one.


    Eventually. everyone yed dead.


    Ste did the same.


    Fortunately, the authorities soon announced a solution: starting in two days, water would be avable at the town square for residents to collect.


    Everyone cheered at the news, but the joy quickly turned to worry. How would they transport the water back?


    While themunity heatedly discussed logistics. Ste, wrapped snugly in her nkets, remained unaware until Bran and Austin came knocking.


    "Hey, guys, could we borrow your protective suits?”


    Ste was incredulous, "You''re short on protective suits?”


    Even the rich folks could face shortages, and Shane couldn''t afford Bran to waste them. Shane had only agreed to lend out two suits.


    Without a solution for the water crisis, themunity would die of thirst. Bran had a n. The government would provide each household with two


    100-liter polyethylene drums, acid-resistant


    "Ste, if you lend out your protective suits, other homeowners can take turns collecting the water."


    Offering up the suits meant they wouldn''t have to do the heavy lifting themselves. After a moment''s consideration, Ste agreed, "We''ve got two suits,


    but we can only lend one."


    Arcadia had more, but in these apocalyptic times. unting wealth was dangerous


    Bran had noints. Between


    building 49.and 50, they could lend


    one suit each, in addition to the twe>


    from thePorras family. Every days


    our Reople would make three trips


    to caltect water, and if everyone


    uséd it sparingly, they''d survive.


    f￡


    And so it was decided.


    The homeowners were ted and


    fell in line witBran''s n. But their


    relief was.shortlived. The suits were


    cumbersome, and with water 9 <=


    weighig about two pounds per iter,


    two.pdople carrying 200 pounds


    back home were exhaustectto the


    D6int of tears.


    The journey was a clumsy ordeal, and thankfully the government-issued drums had lids, or else the water would have spilled en route.


    Once back, they still had to distribute the water house to house, leaving them with bruised and swollen shoulders from the effort.


    Yet, the instinct to survive prevailed, and no one was willing to give up easily. And every homeowner took turns, meaning it could be days before your


    turn came up again.


    Man, hindsight is a diamond, ain''t it? If only they had had their own hazmat suit. they could''ve just chilled at home, waiting for someone to drop off


    water at their doorstep.