Apocalypse Reborn : The Doomsday Archive

Chapter 7: The D_Day

 Chapter Six: The D_Day

Ethan had barely been going home.

For the past few days, he had spent most of his time at his old family house, making preparations for the apocalypse. He only returned to his marital home when necessary, and even then, he never stayed for long.

Victoria was not happy about it.

“Ethan, what exactly is going on with you?” she asked over the phone. “You hardly come home anymore. Every time I call you, you’re either busy or in a hurry to end the conversation. What am I supposed to think?”

Ethan sat at the table, studying a map spread out in front of him.

“What do you want me to say, Victoria? I’ve told you I’m busy.”

“Busy with what? You can’t keep treating me like this. I’m your wife, and I’m pregnant. You should be spending more time with me, not disappearing for days!”

He glanced at the countdown displayed by the Doomsday Archive.

TIME REMAINING: 1 DAY, 3 HOURS.

Only a little more than a day remained before everything changed.

“I have things to take care of,” he replied.

“Things to take care of? Ethan, you’re beginning to annoy me!”

Victoria was annoyed because he was no longer giving her the attention she wanted. She had no idea that while she was busy complaining, he was preparing for a disaster that would destroy the life she knew.

“Then stop calling me to complain,” he said before ending the call.

He returned his attention to the map.

The old family house was now fully prepared for the coming disaster. He had stocked it with food, bottled water, medicine, batteries, fuel, tools, and other essential supplies. He had also secured weapons and reinforced the entrances to make it difficult for anyone to break in.

His preparations went beyond the house.

He had maps showing the locations of abandoned warehouses, remote supply depots, and places where he could obtain weapons, ammunition, metals, food, and medicine. He knew which areas would become dangerous first and which places could provide valuable resources after the collapse.

He had even marked several locations outside the major cities where he could retreat if Newton became too dangerous.

He wasn’t going to make the same mistakes he had made in his previous life.

However, one thing continued to bother him.

The man he had encountered at the old Newton water treatment facility.

The stranger had known about the hidden resource. He had arrived prepared and had been determined to take it.

There was no reasonable explanation for how he had discovered the place and its contents unless he had information that ordinary people didn’t possess or the same system he posses . 

Ethan suspected that the man had also returned from the future.

He had spent the last few days searching for information about the stranger, but he had found nothing useful yet.

Who was the man?Ethan leaned back in his chair.

He would find out eventually.

For now, he had to survive the first wave.

The D-Day. 

Ethan was already awake when the countdown entered its last few hours. He sat in the main room of the old family house, watching the news while occasionally checking the Archive, he intentionally left the house while Victoria was still at work taking all his important belongings with him to camp at his old family house. 

Outside, the city was still going about its usual business. People went to work, shops opened, and cars moved through the streets. Nothing about the peaceful morning suggested that the world was about to change in few hours. 

Then the news interrupted the regular broadcast.

Ethan sat up….it was this exact time , just as he remembered. 

“Good morning. We interrupt our scheduled programming to bring you an important announcement from the authorities.”

Ethan held his breath . 

“Over the past twenty-four hours, several unusual incidents have been reported in different parts of the world . Authorities have confirmed multiple cases of unexplained aggression, violent attacks, and sudden medical emergencies.”

A series of images appeared on the screen, showing police officers surrounding a crowded street and emergency workers carrying an injured person into an ambulance.

“Although investigations are ongoing, citizens are advised to remain vigilant. The government has announced emergency restrictions in affected areas and may impose further lockdown measures if the situation worsens.”

The newscaster paused before continuing.

“Residents are strongly advised to remain indoors where possible and ensure they have enough food, drinking water, essential medication, and other supplies to last for several days. Please avoid unnecessary travel and follow official instructions.”

There it was.

The warning that most people would ignore until it was too late.

Some would rush to supermarkets. Others would dismiss the announcement as unnecessary panic, . Many would wait for the government to tell them what to do.

By the time they understood the seriousness of the situation, the opportunity to prepare would be gone.

That was exactly what happened to him. 

His phone rang.

Victoria was calling .

He answered immediately. 

“Ethan, have you seen the news?” she asked, he could hear the panic in her voice . .

“Yes.”

“Oh my God! What are we going to do? They’re talking about lockdowns and telling everybody to stock up on supplies. We need to go to the supermarket now before people rush there, where are you ? .”

Ethan remained silent.

“Ethan, are you listening to me?”

“I am.”

“Then why aren’t you saying anything? We need food, water, and other things. We need to stock up on supplies, I need to stay healthy for the baby “ 

“Then go and buy them.”

There was a pause at the other end of the line .

“What?”

“Go to the supermarket and buy whatever you need.”

“And how exactly do you expect me to do that?” Victoria asked, her voice rising. “I don’t have enough money to stock up on everything. I thought you had money in your savings for emergency? This is an emergency! !”

Ethan looked at the supplies stacked neatly around the house , he had made sure that his preparations had nothing to do with Victoria.

“I don’t have any money to give you,” he said.

“What do you mean you don’t have any money?”

“Exactly what I said !”

“ Ethan, where is all your money? What happened to the money you had? You’ve been acting strangely for days, and now you’re telling me you don’t have money when we need it most?”

“I’ve taken care of my own needs.”

“Your own needs?” she repeated incredulously. “What about me? What about your family? I’m pregnant, Ethan! What am I supposed to do if there’s a lockdown? How am I supposed to survive without necessities ?”

He listened to her complaints without feeling the slightest urge to help.

In his previous life, he had given Victoria everything he could. He had worked hard, sacrificed his comfort, and trusted her with his life.

“Victoria,” he said calmly, “you’re on your own.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? I’m your wife! You can’t tell me I’m on my own!”

“I just did, do I need to repeat myself ?.”

“Ethan, stop this right now! Whatever problem you have with me, we can discuss it later. This isn’t the time to behave like a child. We need to work together!”

He reached for the folder beside him.

“You should have thought about that earlier.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“ I’ve made my decision.”

“Ethan, I swear, if you’re trying to punish me because you’ve been busy and I’ve complained about it—”

“I’m not punishing you, Victoria, I’m playing your own games except I’m one step ahead of you !” 

He opened the folder and removed a document.

“I’m done.”

“Done with what?”

Ethan looked at the divorce papers in his hand.

“Our marriage.”

The line went quiet.

“Ethan?” Victoria whispered.

He stared at the document for a moment before speaking again.

“I’ll send you the papers….although I don’t know if that will be possible considering what’s coming but I am letting you know right now that I am dissolving this marriage!”