The frozen pipes had turned water into a scarce resource in the neighborhood. The only way to obtain it was to brave the arctic chill of minus seventy degrees to collect snow. But melting the snow indoors, where temperatures hovered at a bone-chilling minus fifty to sixty degrees Celsius, was another challenge altogether. The ice was unyielding, like concrete, and desperate residents risked their lives trying to quench their thirst, some with fatal outcomes.
During these trying days, Phoenix noticed through his security system that Alexander's gang was lurking nearby, likely waiting for him to emerge in search of water. But Phoenix had prepared well; his home was a bastion of resources, allowing him to live out his days in comfort without stepping foot outside.
Phoenix mused about Alexander's survival despite a leg injury and the extreme cold, which would have spelled doom for most. Whether it was the frigid temperatures halting the infection or sheer luck, Phoenix wasn't sure, nor was it of any consequence to him. Alexander's fate seemed sealed, regardless of the current state of his health.
The following morning, Phoenix, still groggy from sleep, reached for his phone. It had become his routine to check the chat groups and forums for updates on the outside world, finding some twisted pleasure in the contrast between his secure existence and the struggles of others in the harsh cold. This disparity brought him a perverse sense of satisfaction, alleviating the boredom and solitude he occasionally felt.
His phone revealed messages from Mira and Iris, both of whom had previously displayed pride and dignity. Now, in the face of disaster, they had cast aside their self-respect in a bid for survival.
Mira was apologetic, renouncing her past behavior and seeking Phoenix's forgiveness. She expressed a newfound realization of his worth and a desire to be with him. It seemed the disaster had stripped her of her former haughtiness.
Phoenix scoffed at her change of heart. In his eyes, Mira was the type to inflate her value, akin to a woman demanding an exorbitant dowry for an ordinary marriage. He saw through her act and responded with a dismissive quip, comparing her to an undesirable but thirst-quenching rotten pear.
Iris's approach was more brazen, sending selfies with suggestive poses, ready to exploit her sexuality for a chance at safety. Phoenix, unimpressed, criticized her lack of appeal and dismissed her attempts.
Both women, having glimpsed the comforts of Phoenix's home, were ready to abandon all propriety to gain entry. But Phoenix's home was his fortress, secured against any and all threats, including the desperate advances of Mira and Iris.
Enraged by Phoenix's rejection, the women vented their frustrations, even considering extreme measures. Mira, in particular, was determined to claim Phoenix's home as her own, by force if necessary. Her resolve was such that she would even consider violence against Phoenix to secure her survival.
With their relationship fractured, Mira approached Iris with a proposal to unite against Phoenix. She was incensed that he would watch them suffer while he lived in luxury. They agreed that Phoenix's home was wasted on him and plotted to take it from him, by deceit or theft if necessary.
The situation highlighted the drastic lengths to which people would go to survive. The post-apocalyptic world had turned neighbors into adversaries and had driven the desperate to contemplate acts they would have never considered before. In this new era, humanity's basest instincts were laid bare, with survival at any cost becoming the overriding imperative.