Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

Chapter 153: Dense Fog, The Rain Stops

Upon entering the building, everyone began searching for a room. The people already inside were still panicked from the collapse, and with so many new arrivals flooding in, arguments and conflicts erupted once more.

At that moment, Taylor Vance stepped forward. He explained the situation outside to the residents: all the houses had collapsed, the ground was sinking, and apart from this building, there was nowhere else to go.

The building still had plenty of empty space. Even if the residents didn’t agree, the outsiders would have forced their way in regardless. Left with no choice, they had to let everyone inside.

Just as Evelyn Ford’s group got inside, many more people trickled in after them.

Evelyn Ford found a storage room, and for the time being, everyone had to squeeze inside.

"Will this building keep sinking? Is it safe for us to stay here? Maybe we should just leave."

"It should be fine. The building hasn’t shaken at all since we came in, so it must have stabilized. Let’s just take shelter from the downpour here for now. Where could we even go if we left? The rain is coming down so hard, and it’s freezing. We’d die of exposure in a matter of hours. Annie can’t get cold."

Chase Underwood and Serena Lynch sat whispering in a corner, while Ronan Kendrick and Quincy had found some wooden planks somewhere and started a fire.

Evelyn Ford let Mina and Lola out of her space, then began to clean the wounds of Officer Graham and the others.

Helplessness, powerlessness, anger, despair... A torrent of emotions flooded Evelyn Ford’s heart, suffocating her.

Her clothes clung clammily to her skin. Despite the fire burning in the storage room, she was still shivering from the cold.

After tending to everyone’s wounds, Evelyn Ford left the storage room. She stepped outside, took off her shoes, and poured out the collected water and sand. Evelyn glanced down at her own pale, wrinkled feet, then wrung the water out of her pant legs.

"Come with me."

Ronan Kendrick appeared at her side, carrying Mina and Lola. Evelyn picked up her shoes and followed him upstairs.

Eventually, they found an even smaller storage room under a landing in the stairwell. Ronan Kendrick cleared out the clutter inside, making the five-square-meter space feel much more open.

After ushering Evelyn Ford inside, Ronan Kendrick pointed to her clothes.

"Change out of those clothes. I’ll be right outside the door, so don’t worry."

He set Mina and Lola down, then closed the door and stepped outside. Evelyn didn’t stand on ceremony. She quickly changed, then took out a set of Ronan’s clothes and shoes, placing them on a clean patch of floor before knocking on the door.

"Your turn to change. I’ll go out."

Ronan Kendrick grabbed her arm. "Just turn your back. There are people outside."

Evelyn quickly turned away. She had just scanned the small room. ’No windows,’ she thought. ’Looks like we can’t light a fire in here for warmth.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK... Someone came and pounded on the door. Finding it locked from the inside, they cursed under their breath and moved on.

The sound of frantic footsteps echoed from outside, mingled with the wailing of children and the curses of adults.

"Alright. Come sit down."

Evelyn scooted over. Ronan was busy drying Mina’s long, damp fur.

"Are we not going back?"

Ronan looked up at her. "We’re not. Take out the battery and the electric heater for warmth. I won’t let anyone in."

Evelyn leaned against the wall, silently staring at the ceiling of the small room.

"Will it collapse in here?"

"No. And even if it does, I’ll get you out."

Evelyn sat silently on the floor, saying nothing.

"You’re like a scared little animal right now."

"You’re the little animal."

Ronan sat down across from her. Mina and Lola’s fur was dry now. The clamor outside continued—someone, unable to find an empty room, started screaming obscenities, while another person yelled for a doctor.

Evelyn’s head felt heavy, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

When Evelyn woke up, she found Ronan’s jacket draped over her. He was still sitting across from her, apparently asleep.

Evelyn took out two meal boxes and gently tapped his arm.

"Time to eat."

Ronan opened his eyes and gazed at her for a moment before nodding slightly. "Okay."

「A day and a night later,」 the rain stopped. Evelyn finally found the courage to leave the storage room. She needed to check on Officer Graham and the others.

When she returned to the first storage room, she saw that Officer Graham, Roy Henderson, and Owen Chapman were all awake. Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief.

"Evelyn, where did you and Ronan go?"

"To a storage room upstairs."

"As long as you’re okay. The rain has stopped. We’re going to head back to salvage our things. Are you two coming?"

"I’m not going back. You all go ahead."

Serena Lynch could tell something was wrong with Evelyn and looked at her worriedly. "Evelyn, are you okay? Did this scare you badly?"

Evelyn forced a smile. "No, I’m fine."

After Evelyn left, Serena Lynch sighed. "For even someone as capable as Evelyn to be this shaken... when will these disasters ever end?"

Looking at Annie crying for food in her arms, Serena wiped away her tears, dug a few pieces of Dried Meat out of her bag, tore them into small bits, and fed them to him.

Evelyn looked at the people lying scattered all over the hallway, a heavy pressure settling in her chest that refused to lift.

She returned to the storage room, sank wearily to the floor, and closed her eyes, retreating into silence once more.

Ronan watched her silently, then nudged the electric heater a little closer to her.

Before, no matter what happened, Evelyn had always been able to bounce back quickly. But this time, she was truly exhausted.

After the rain stopped, many people left the building, returning to their former homes to search for food and possessions.

Many people had gone missing, died, or been gravely injured in the downpour and the collapse.

All peace and tranquility had been shattered by this storm, just like the one that had marked the beginning of the apocalypse two years ago. It left nothing in its wake but injuries, exhaustion, and a world of ruin.

Starting over was an incredibly difficult task. Whether to leave or to stay here and continue to just scrape by... Evelyn, like everyone else, was lost.

「For several days straight,」 Evelyn remained silent, spending all her time leaning against the wall in a daze.

She would answer when Ronan spoke to her, and she would even crack a smile when Mina was being playful, but she just wasn’t the same. Her eyes were veiled with despair and numbness.

"Can you talk to me? What are you thinking about right now?"

Evelyn opened her eyes. "I’m so tired. Even with all the food I have, I can’t fight against these sudden accidents and disasters. They could happen at any moment—in the next second, or even while I’m sleeping."

Ronan could feel her fear and anxiety. She so rarely showed this vulnerable side of herself, and it left him feeling unsettled and agitated.

"Everyone was trying so hard to survive. Even living in a dense fog where you couldn’t see the path ahead, with no sun, a shortage of water and salt... no one gave up. They were rebuilding their homes, raising livestock, growing vegetables... Everyone was trying so, so hard."

Evelyn buried her face in her knees, hiding the tears that streamed down her cheeks from Ronan.

"Everything will be okay," he said. "Trust me."

Ronan raised his hand and began to awkwardly pat her on the back.