Maddening Storm

Before The Apocalypse

The Vaahid Mansion was the biggest property in the wealthy residential area of Aurora City. Built out of white glass and red-gold cement, the entire structure released a resplendence of fiery radiance under the setting sun.

After taking a quick shower and changing out of her cumbersome dress, Ella ran out of her new bedroom and exited the mansion through the back door. Upon catching this wondrous sight, her eyes filled with awe, and she sighed at the extravagance of the wealthy.

In her past life, she was too distraught over her ex-husband's betrayal to enjoy and appreciate such beauty and splendor when Jabri Vaahid brought her here. And by the time she came out of the shock, the world was in chaos, and she was locked down in an underground cell.

Ignorant of the dangers outside the cell, Ella did the unthinkable. She started a giant fire and threatened her husband to set her free if he wanted to safeguard the lives of those under his protection. Her gamble paid off and she got her freedom back, but as a result of that fire, she was expelled from the Vaahid Mansion.

As she recalled her life in the crumbled human civilization overrun with zombies, Ella's heart turned cold with dread.

Truly? She didn't want to relieve such a nightmare. A world without law and order could only be described with one word, and that was hell. But to survive, Ella needed to be prepared for the worst. She had no doubt everything she saw, experienced, and felt was real. The giant proof was her second husband Jabri Vaahid, a being that didn't even belong in her world.

So to ensure her survival and carve a safe haven for herself, Ella turned her back on the glorious mansion and hopped into her old car.

Her first stop was the largest wholesale store in Aurora City, Emerald Super Market. She needed stacks of bottled water and dry food, both of which she could buy in bulk there. Ella got out of her car and grabbed two carts, instantly garnering the attention of multiple customers.

"I heard there's a disease going around. Just to be prepared for an unexpected lockdown, you might want to stack up on supplies." She called out with a bright smile.

"Oh, is that so?"

"I haven't heard anything of that sort. Where did you hear it from?"

"Hey, my husband works at a government agency, and he didn't mention anything about a disease passing around!"

The males had thoughtful expressions on their faces, while the females scanned her with displeased expressions.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. As a human being, I've already done my duty." Ella sighed and walked past the group of people without care. She saw the flare of jealousy in the females' eyes and knew they wouldn't pay heed to her advice. She had already done her duty of warning them. Whatever action they took from here depended on themselves.

Directly heading to the bottled water section, Ella stacked an entire cart before moving on to the dry food section. Dry noodles, packaged rice bowls, canned foods, canned fruits and vegetables, sanitizers, and everything else she could think of she dumped in her cart.

She quickly checked out her items and moved them into her car.

"This...is not enough."

Let alone survive the apocalypse, the meager items she had in her trunk wouldn't even get her through the first phase.

But even if she wanted to buy more items, she didn't have the money to pay for them. All her money was spent to pay off her scumbag husband's acting courses and their daily expenses. What's more, aside from this old car, she had nothing else to her name.

"Where do I hide my stack?" She entered her car and wondered out loud.

Carrying it around was out of the question. A world without law and order ushered in rapists and murderers, making burglary and robbery petty crimes in comparison.

If she was going to survive the end of the world, she would not only need more food and supplies but also a secure location to store them until the storm settled.

"Stacy!"

Quickly pulling out her phone, Ella called the only friend she made in Hollywood City. After three rings, a charming female voice answered her call.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Stacy, this is Ella. Are you home? I wanted to ask you for a favor." Ella excitedly replied.

"Ella? Ella who?"

"Haha, very funny, Stacy, but this isn't a good time for jokes."

"Heh...aren't you the funny one here? Who said I was joking?"

The ridicule and mockery in the other's tone caused Ella to freeze. "That...It's Elladine, Stacy. Have you already forgotten my voice only after three days?" Somehow, something felt off about Stacy today. An uncomfortable feeling invaded Ella's heart as she nervously waited to hear a cry of surprise and recognition from the other woman.

But instead of a female's voice, she heard an unmistakably familiar male voice in the background.

"Stacy babe, where is my wallet?"

Ella's mind went blank.

What the he** was her ex-husband doing at her best friend's house? That too, asking for his wallet?

"Stacy, is that Kuram?" Even though uncontrollable tremors were shaking through her body, Ella's voice sounded cold and calm, surprising even herself.

"Since you already heard his voice, what are you asking for? Elladine Muzhir, open your ears and listen clearly. Kuram and I are together. Since you're a married woman now, you better stay away from him and live your own life."

"How long? How long have you been seeing each other behind my back?"

"Oh, just a little over a year and a half? Not that long really, haha...thanks for the million dollars by the way."

With a peep, the line disconnected.

Ella dazedly stared at the phone in her hand, her mind refusing to believe what she had just heard.

Stacy and Kuram, the two people she had considered family, had been seeing each other behind her back for over a year and a half?

Even though she asked the question, after hearing the answer, Elladine couldn't help but laugh in self-deprecation.

She had truly failed as a human being.

Even when she lost her head in the jaws of a rank 4 zombie protecting her so-called friend, she had yet to discover the one she considered a friend had been screwing her ex-husband long before their divorce.

Ella's eyes stung but she refused to shed tears for such disgusting pigs. For failing to see their hideous faces, she could only blame herself for being too naive.

"Ha...haha...haha!"

She started her car and drove back to the Vaahid Mansion laughing in tears. By now, the sun had already set and the blaring night lights illuminated the streets. Due to the affluent statuses of those living in the wealthy region of Aurora City, there wasn't much traffic and Ella reached home within half an hour.

She unceremoniously parked her car, entered the giant mansion, and headed to the elevator without sparing so much as a glance at the strangers chatting in the Sitting Hall.

She was done with humans. She was done with relationships. After Stacy and Kuram, Ella no longer had it in her to trust other beings.

She quickly entered the giant room allocated to her and packed her few belongings. She didn't bring much with her and the few pairs of clothes she owned took up only half of her bag. Standing in the room-sized walk-in closet and holding her battered bag in her hand, she weakly slumped onto the marble floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. Tears of pain streamed down her face, giving her huddled form a lonely and desolate feeling.

Why?

Why did the ones she considered family always leave her behind?

First, it was her adopted parents. Then, her husband and best friend.

Will she never find anyone who would genuinely love her and remain by her side forever?

Knock. Knock.

The abrupt sound snapped her out of her reverie. Ella hurriedly wiped her tears and straightened her clothes, then walked to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Me. Open the door."

Hearing the commanding voice of her new husband, Ella's nerves tensed.

Why was he here?