Apocalypse: Survivor-in-Law

"Caroline, please open the door."

​Malcolm slapped his bleeding and frostbitten hands against the reinforced glass of the balcony. The temperature outside was negative eighty degrees Celsius.

​The sudden global freeze had turned Brighthaven into solid ice. Entire skyscrapers were encased in thick white frost. Millions of people had frozen to death in their sleep during the first week alone.

​Malcolm was the live-in husband of the wealthy Mercer family. He had spent the last three years serving them like an obedient dog.

​When the apocalypse descended he became their pack mule. He scavenged the deadly frozen streets every single day just to keep them alive.

​Inside the massive and luxurious Mercer estate living room a fire burned brightly in the heavy cast iron stove he had built with his own two hands.

​His wife Caroline sat on the plush leather sofa securely wrapped in the thick thermal blanket he had risked his life to find just yesterday.

​Beside her sat Victor Hargrove. He was the billionaire heir to Blackridge Capital and a man who had never worked a day in his life.

​Victor had his arm wrapped tightly around Caroline. He was eating a steaming bowl of beef stew.

​That meat was the very last ration Malcolm had scavenged from a ruined supermarket across the frozen city. Malcolm had taken a rusty knife to the ribs from a starving looter just to bring it home to them.

​Malcolm felt his knees buckle entirely. The cold was chewing mercilessly through his exposed flesh.

​He pressed his rotting face against the glass. "Caroline. I am begging you. Let me in. I will die out here."

​Caroline finally stood up. She walked slowly to the glass door. She looked down at him with absolute disgust.

​She pulled her phone from her pocket, typed a quick message and pressed the bright screen against the glass.

“​Victor only brought enough emergency supplies for three people”

The words burned into Malcolm's dying retinas.

“​You are taking up valuable space. Thanks for the food. Die quietly.”

Malcolm stared at the screen in pure horror. Caroline had been sleeping with Victor this entire time.

​He had starved himself for a full month to keep her fed. He had bled daily for this incredibly ungrateful family.

​They had intentionally locked him on the balcony in freezing weather to die. They were actively clearing space for her rich lover to move in and take his place.

​Victor walked up behind Caroline. He smirked at Malcolm and raised his glass of expensive red wine in a mocking toast.

​Then Victor pulled the thick velvet blackout curtains shut.

​The warm light of the living room vanished instantly.

Malcolm's heart began to slow drastically. The agonizing pain in his limbs faded into a terrifying and heavy numbness.

​He fell to the icy concrete floor of the balcony. An ocean of pure hatred consumed his soul.

​I was a dog begging for scraps. I gave you my blood and my life.

​If I get one more chance I will make you all beg for death.

​Malcolm closed his eyes and let the endless cold consume him entirely.

​"Malcolm! Are you deaf or just incredibly stupid."

​Malcolm gasped violently for air. He threw his arms up to block the biting apocalyptic wind.

But ​there was no wind.

​He opened his eyes in panic. Blinding summer sunlight streamed through the large bay window. He was sitting on the floor of his own living room.

​He looked down at his trembling hands. They were pale and warm. The black rotting frostbite that had claimed his fingers was completely gone.

​He grabbed his phone from the glass coffee table with frantic speed. The screen displayed July 15. The year was 2026.

​It was exactly one month before the extreme cold apocalypse destroyed the world.

​Malcolm stared at the date in disbelief. He was alive. He had actually returned to the past.

​A heavy realization crashed over him. He had exactly thirty days to prepare.

​In one month the global supply chains would completely shatter. Money would become worthless paper overnight. A single loaf of bread would cost a man his life.

​He needed to hoard supplies immediately. He needed mountains of freeze dried food and thousands of gallons of purified water.

​He needed to stockpile medical equipment and tactical winter gear. He needed high grade fuel and heavy weaponry to defend himself from the starving mobs.

​Most importantly he needed millions of dollars in cash right now to buy it all.

​"Stop ignoring me and listen."

​The shrill and demanding voice snapped his attention forward immediately. Caroline stood near the grand entryway. She was holding an expensive designer purse.

​Sitting on the imported Italian leather sofa was Victor Hargrove. He was wearing a tailored suit and sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

​Cynthia, Caroline's mother stood next to the couch. She glared at Malcolm like he was a cockroach that had crawled out of the drain.

​"I said I am leaving," Caroline repeated. Her voice dripped with icy condescension. "Victor and I are going to the Grand Hotel. We have private business contracts to discuss."

​Malcolm remained perfectly silent on the floor. The sheer audacity of these parasites was staggering to witness with a clear mind.

​In his previous life he had begged her not to go. He knew exactly what discussing private contracts in a hotel room meant. He had cried and pleaded for her to respect their marriage.

​This time Malcolm slowly stood up. He brushed the dust off his jeans.

​"Discussing contracts," Malcolm said. "Is that what we are calling prostitution now?"

​The entire living room exploded.

​"How dare you speak to my daughter like that?" Cynthia screamed. She slammed her palm hard against the glass table.

​"You are nothing but a useless husband," Cynthia continued. "We clothe you and feed you. You bring absolutely zero value to this family."

​Caroline flushed bright red with extreme anger. She pointed a manicured finger directly at his chest.

​"You are pathetic Malcolm," Caroline yelled. "Victor is securing a massive supply chain deal for my company. He is actually helping our family survive."

​"He is helping you into his bed," Malcolm replied instantly.

​Victor chuckled softly from the sofa. He put his coffee cup down. He looked at Malcolm with supreme amusement.

​"He is right," Victor said smoothly. He leaned back and crossed his legs. "Why are we still hiding this Caroline? You should just dump this loser today."

​Caroline looked at Victor with wide and surprised eyes.

​"Make it official with me," Victor continued. He gestured dismissively at Malcolm. "He is a charity case your grandfather forced you to marry. He does not belong in our world."

​Caroline looked back at Malcolm. Her expression hardened into disdain. She lifted her chin to assert her dominance.

​"Keep your mouth shut Malcolm," Caroline warned. "If you ruin this business deal for me I will divorce you tomorrow."

​She expected him to panic. She expected him to fall to his knees and apologize for being jealous and selfish.

​Instead Malcolm just stared at her with absolute indifference. He saw three walking corpses waiting to freeze.

​Victor stood up from the sofa. He walked over to Malcolm with a supreme look of arrogance.

​He pulled a sleek leather checkbook from his tailored suit jacket. He clicked a gold fountain pen.

​"I like your wife Malcolm," Victor said with a cruel smirk. He quickly scribbled a number on the paper. "She is very talented."

​Victor tore the check and dropped it onto Malcolm's chest. It fluttered down to the floor.

​"There is ten thousand dollars," Victor said loudly. His tone was drenched in utter contempt. "Take this pocket change and go rent a cheap apartment. Stay out of my way because I am going to thoroughly enjoy your wife tonight."

​Cynthia crossed her arms and smiled proudly. She clearly approved of the billionaire humiliating her poor son in law.

​Caroline waited for Malcolm to pick up the check and swallow his pride like the obedient dog he always was.

​Malcolm looked down at the piece of paper. Ten thousand dollars.

​To a billionaire like Victor it was the equivalent of tossing a dirty coin to a homeless man.

​Malcolm slowly lifted his boot. He stepped heavily onto the check and ground it firmly into the carpet.

​Victor stopped smiling. His eyes narrowed in genuine surprise.

​"Keep your loose change Victor," Malcolm said quietly. He looked directly into Caroline's eyes. His gaze was as terrifying as a winter blizzard.

​"You do not need to wait until tomorrow," Malcolm said. "Let us get a divorce right now."

​The arrogant atmosphere in the room died instantly.

​"What did you just say?" Caroline asked. Her superior posture cracked in absolute shock.

​"I said we are getting a divorce today," Malcolm said. His voice echoed with chilling finality. "I will give you thirty minutes to meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Do not keep me waiting."