From Mockery to Pleas in the Apocalypse

On my very first day back with my obscenely wealthy biological family, I maxed out the million dollar compensation card my mother gave me.

Cinda, the fake daughter who had lived my life, doubled over in laughter looking at the mountain of rice, flour, and cooking oil piled in the courtyard.

Are you trying to turn the estate into a wholesale warehouse? The Sinclair mansion isn't a refugee camp.

My biological brother, Preston, kicked over a box of MREs I had just unloaded.

"You really can't teach trash to be classy. You get a little bit of cash and instantly buy this garbage. You country hicks have zero vision!"

My biological parents stared at me with ice cold expressions and froze my supplementary credit card on the spot.

"If we knew you were going to be this much of an embarrassment, we never would have brought you back!"

In this life, I didn't bother explaining myself.

I simply reached down and quietly fed a piece of premium Wagyu beef to the golden retriever sitting by my feet.

Sure enough, the dog's inner voice echoed perfectly in my mind.

[Eat up while you can. The apocalyptic rainstorm hits in exactly three days. This entire stuck up neighborhood is going to drown in mud!]

I patted my pocket, feeling the crisp deed to an abandoned mansion up in the hills.

Let's see if they are still laughing three days from now.

"Are you doing this just to spite Mom and Dad?" Cinda pointed at the boxes of instant ramen at my feet, looking absolutely heartbroken.

"I know you resent us since you just got back. But you shouldn't degrade yourself like this, and you definitely shouldn't drag the Sinclair family's reputation down into the mud."

"These things smell awful. How could you bring them inside?"

Preston pointed a finger right in my face and yelled.

"Riley, do you think we mistreated you? You purposely blew a million bucks on cheap junk just to make us the laughingstock of the city's elite!"

Eleanor's eyebrows were pinched together in deep disgust.

There wasn't a single trace of joy in her eyes upon finding her biological daughter. There was only bitter resentment.

"If we knew you were going to be this humiliating, we would have left you out in the sticks! Alfred, cut off her card immediately."

My father, Winston, glared at me with pure disdain, not even wanting to look at me for another second.

In this life, I didn't try to desperately explain myself like I did in my past life.

I didn't warn them about the apocalyptic floods coming in three days.

I crouched down and fed another piece of meat to Buster, the golden retriever rubbing against my leg.

He swallowed the Wagyu whole and wagged his tail in absolute bliss.

[Oh man, this beef is insane! Gotta eat the good stuff now. The world ends in three days.]

[These idiots are still obsessed with acting rich. Pretty soon they won't even have warm shit to eat.]

Buster bared his teeth, growling at Cinda and Preston.

[These people run their mouths too much. You want me to bite them right now to help you vent, Mom?]

I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Good boy, ignore them."

I couldn't let Buster get beaten to death and eaten by the Sinclairs like he did in my past life.

Cinda sneered.

"Wow, what a lovely mood you're in. Are you really that starved for affection since moving to the city?"

"Calling a dumb animal your son? Doesn't that make Mom and Dad the animal's grandparents, and Preston the dog's uncle?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the Sinclairs' faces turned livid.

I shot her a sideways glance.

"You? You aren't even qualified to be Buster's family."

Cinda's face went pale. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She looked at our parents with overwhelming grievance.

Winston stormed forward and slapped me hard across the face.

"You ungrateful brat! You just got back and you're already turning this house upside down!"

"You have absolutely zero manners. You are a complete disgrace to the Sinclair name!"

Eleanor pulled Cinda into a protective hug, looking at me with nothing but bitter disappointment.

"Cinda has been an angel since she was a little girl. We never had to worry about her. You should learn from her on how a proper young lady from a prestigious family behaves."

"Learn what? How to act like a pathetic, manipulative hypocrite?"

Winston exploded in rage.

"You dare talk back! Security! Throw Riley and all her garbage out onto the street right now!"

Several heavily built bodyguards stepped forward, ready to grab me.

I took a step back.

"Don't touch me. I know how to walk."

The guards roughly tossed the emergency supplies I bought out the front doors.

Preston stood in the doorway, a cold sneer on his face.

"Cinda is the only treasure of this family. If you bully her, you deserve to get kicked out!"

Cinda smiled, looking incredibly smug.

"Please don't do anything reckless, sister."

"I hope you and your precious junk can survive out there on your own. Don't come crawling back to drag us down."

I ignored her venomous taunts.

I pulled out my phone and ordered five of the largest moving trucks available.

In less than ten minutes, the trucks pulled up to the Sinclair estate gates.

I directed the drivers to load up every single box of supplies from the courtyard.

The destination was the abandoned mansion complex at the very top of the mountain.

It was a failed real estate project Winston threw at me like a scrap of charity just to pacify me.

Once everything was loaded, I looked back at the family of four standing on the marble steps. I flashed them the brightest, most radiant smile.

"Thank you for letting me go. See you never."

The Sinclairs looked at me like I was a psychiatric patient.

"Did she lose her mind? She just got kicked out and she's smiling?"

"Thank god we got rid of her, otherwise she really would have ruined our reputation in the high society circles!"

"Driver, stop right up ahead at that unfinished mansion."

The place was desolate. It didn't even have proper doors or windows, but the elevation was incredibly high.

When the biblical floods hit in three days, this would be the absolute safest spot in the entire city.

I stared at the mountain of cardboard boxes on the concrete floor, but my brows furrowed.

This amount of supplies was barely enough to survive a standard natural disaster.

To outlast months of apocalyptic extreme freezing temperatures and endless rain, it wasn't even close to enough.

Thankfully, before they froze my supplementary card, I managed to withdraw the remaining seven hundred thousand dollars in cash.

I took Buster back down the mountain for round two of a massive shopping spree.

However, after hitting three major wholesale club stores, I came up completely empty handed.

"Sorry miss, we aren't selling rice or flour to individuals today."

"Apologies, all our canned goods and MREs are out of stock. The warehouse is empty."

"The boss said we aren't taking any customers right now. Try somewhere else."

Refusing to give up, I tried placing orders online. The apps either showed system errors or claimed they were doing inventory checks. Every single order was canceled without exception.

A heavy sense of dread settled in my stomach.

In my past life, hoarding supplies before the apocalypse was incredibly easy. As long as you had the cash, no one cared how much you bought.

But in this life, I was hitting brick walls at every turn.

Why was this happening?

Did someone else know the storm was coming?

[It's that evil witch Cinda playing tricks again!]

Buster's inner voice practically growled with rage.

[She used the Sinclair family's connections to blacklist you with every major supplier in the city! She wants to watch you starve to death on the streets!]

Buster suddenly pivoted, barking aggressively at a spot down the street.

[The bitch who bullied my mom actually showed up! Watch me bite her face off!]

A flashy red sports car slowly pulled up to the curb.

It was Cinda.

"Sister, it's so late and you still haven't gone home. Oh my, are you really homeless now?"

She looked at my empty shopping carts, feigning shock.

"Couldn't buy anything? Are you out of money? Do you want your little sister to lend you a few bucks?"

Preston, who was sitting in the driver's seat, let out a harsh laugh.

"Why would she go home? Let me make this clear, Riley. As long as the Sinclairs are in power, you won't be able to buy a single grain of rice in this city! I want to see exactly how long you and your pile of garbage can survive!"

"This is what happens when you disrespect our family!"

The look in his eyes was identical to the look he gave me in my past life when he shoved me toward that pack of violent men.

In my past life, the floodwaters trapped everyone.

I told them I could understand animals. I told them I knew where a safe shelter was, and where we could find clean food.

They didn't believe me. They called me a lunatic.

Cinda had smiled and said, "Since sister is so capable, why don't you go out and trade yourself for some food for us?"

Then they literally sold me to a filthy, overweight creep in the neighboring mansion for a single box of expired canned beans.

Buster was beaten to death by them and boiled into a pot of dog meat stew.

All because Cinda mentioned she was craving fresh meat.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the violent hatred boiling in my chest.

Buster sensed my rising anxiety.

[Don't be scared, Mom! Do you really think your son is a pushover?]

[In these streets, I am a very respected guy!]

With that, Buster trotted right into the middle of the empty street and let out a piercing, dominant howl.

"Awooooo!"

In less than five minutes, exactly ninety nine stray dogs poured out from every alleyway and side street!

There was a husky missing half its tail, a one eyed poodle, a scarred pitbull.

My mind instantly exploded with a chorus of canine voices.

[The boss's mom is our mom!]

[Who dares to bully her? I just sharpened my teeth!]

Buster strutted to the front of the pack, looking like an absolute warlord.

[If the big stores won't sell to our mom, we'll find those hidden mom and pop shops in the back alleys!]

[Also, if you see those two Sinclair brats, bite them until they bleed!]

[Yes, Boss!]

Ninety nine dogs barked their agreement, the sound echoing like thunder.

I looked at my brand new Stray Dog Scavenger Squad and my eyes welled up with tears.

"You are the best son ever. Let's go shopping!"

Buster took the lead, perfectly avoiding all the upscale commercial districts controlled by the Sinclair family.

We dove deep into the rundown industrial zones and forgotten neighborhoods.

A Shiba Inu missing half an ear led me to a wholesale grain distributor hidden deep in a labyrinth of alleyways.

[This boss is a good guy. He used to feed me sausages. His warehouse is packed!]

Without hesitating, I bought out the owner's entire inventory. Five thousand pounds of rice, three thousand pounds of flour, and dozens of industrial barrels of cooking oil.

A chubby Corgi led me to a meat canning factory that was on the verge of bankruptcy.

[Mom, the labels are ugly, but it's one hundred percent real meat inside! I sniffed it, it's amazing!]

I waved my hand and bought ten thousand cans of beef stew and five thousand cans of preserved fruit.

For the entire afternoon, guided by my loyal pack, I went on an absolute spending spree.

I bought pallets of MREs, emergency rations, gallons of purified water, extreme weather arctic gear, and even crates of medical alcohol and antibiotics.

Every time I made a purchase, I had the moving trucks deliver it straight to the abandoned mountain mansion.

By the end of it, the cash in my bag was practically gone.

But it still wasn't enough. The unfinished mansion was completely exposed to the elements. It would never hold up against the extreme cold and floods.

I walked into a high end security door and window dealership.

The owner took one look at my casual clothes and practically ignored me.

I let out a cold laugh and slammed the premium Sinclair Corporation executive access card Winston had given me onto the glass counter.

"I am Riley Sinclair. The eldest daughter of the Sinclair family."

"My father is building a private apocalypse bunker up on the mountain. We need maximum grade bulletproof glass and reinforced steel vault doors."

"Send the entire bill directly to the Sinclair Corporation's finance department."

It would be a crime not to fleece the Sinclairs while I still could.

The owner's eyes practically turned into dollar signs.

"Rest assured, miss! My materials are military grade!"

"Move fast. I need everything installed by tonight. If you delay my father's project, your business will be ruined."

The owner nodded frantically and immediately rallied his best construction crew.

Using the exact same tactic, I financed three heavy duty diesel generators, dozens of tons of fuel, and a complete solar powered central heating system.

All night long, the abandoned mansion blazed with floodlights.

The construction crew worked with frantic energy. Bulletproof glass was slotted into the frames. Thick steel vault doors were welded shut.

Top tier insulation panels were bolted to the concrete walls, and a smart climate control system was wired throughout the entire property.

It wasn't until early the next morning that all the renovations were finalized.

After the crew packed up and left, I locked the final biometric steel door.

The massive room was lined with perfectly organized crates of food and supplies. The air was comfortably warm.

Buster sprawled out on a plush wool rug, rolling around in pure comfort.

This impenetrable fortress filled me with an overwhelming sense of security.

Just as I was about to boil a pot of ramen to reward myself, a violent pounding echoed from the front gates.

I frowned and walked over to the security monitors.

Outside stood several men in official uniforms holding clipboards.

"Listen up inside! We are from the City Planning Department!"

"This unfinished property is classified as an illegal structure. We are preparing it for explosive demolition!"

"You have ten minutes to evacuate the premises!"

I froze completely.

Demolition?

In my past life, this building stood tall for years. Why was it suddenly being torn down?

My mind went completely blank. My phone buzzed.

It was Cinda.

"Riley, do you hear the commotion outside?"

"Are you surprised? Are you shocked?"

I stared dead at the security monitors, gritting my teeth.

"You did this?"

Cinda's laughter was piercing and arrogant.

"That ugly ruined building was such an eyesore on the mountain. I just acted a little spoiled and Daddy pulled some strings to move the demolition date up."

"You love hoarding trash so much, right? Then you can get buried under the rubble with all your garbage!"

"So what if you are the biological daughter? I am still the one Mom and Dad love the most!"

I trembled with sheer rage.

Buster's tail slapped the ground anxiously.

[There are a lot of people outside!]

[The bad guys are trying to tear Mom's house down! We haven't even eaten those meat cans yet!]

I looked down through the bulletproof window.

On the winding mountain road, three massive yellow excavators were roaring up the incline.

Trailing right behind them was that familiar red sports car.

Preston waved his hand, signaling the demolition crew to start tearing the walls down.

"You can't let them do this!"

I rushed to the control panel, preparing to activate the newly installed high voltage electric perimeter fence.

"Final warning! If you don't come out, we are bringing the house down with you inside!"

I kept my hand hovering over the kill switch, my palms slick with cold sweat.

If I triggered the electric grid now, it would become a massive legal incident. I might be dragged off to jail before the storm even hit.

But if I backed down, all the supplies I spent my life savings on would be crushed!

Weighing my options, I pulled open the heavy steel vault door.

"Stop right there!"

Buster charged out right beside me, barking aggressively at the massive construction vehicles.

Preston curled his lip in disgust.

"Let me spell it out for you, Riley. This house is coming down today! No one can stop it!"

Cinda doubled over in laughter.

"A stupid woman and a dumb animal trying to stop heavy machinery? Pathetic!"

She lifted her chin at the crew foreman.

"What are you waiting for? Tear it down! If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

I threw my arms wide, planting my body directly in front of the building.

The massive steel claw of the excavator swung upward, whistling through the air, ready to crash down on my roof!

[Mom, watch out!]

Suddenly, an apocalyptic clap of thunder shattered the sky directly above us!

The sky, which had only been slightly overcast, instantly turned as pitch black as midnight.

The very next second, torrential rain mixed with jagged chunks of hail smashed into the earth.

Cinda, wearing a designer slip dress, shrieked as the freezing ice hit her skin.

"Preston, it's freezing! I'm getting soaked, I need to go home and take a hot bath!"

The construction crew immediately started panicking.

"Boss, the rain is too heavy! Zero visibility. We can't operate the rigs safely!"

"Yeah, the mountain roads are going to wash out. This is a massive landslide risk!"

The foreman looked up at the terrifying, unnatural weather and immediately backed out.

"Mr. Sinclair, Miss Sinclair, these conditions are extremely unsafe. We are pulling out! Safety first!"

Preston scowled at the torrential downpour, but had no choice but to grab Cinda and jump back into his sports car.

Standing in the absolute downpour, soaked to the bone, I actually smiled.

Buster spun around in circles, completely thrilled.

[The storm came early! The apocalypse is here!]

Preston slammed the gas pedal, his sports car skidding dangerously on the muddy mountain road, nearly crashing through the guardrail.

He managed to stabilize it and sped recklessly down the mountain.

I watched their taillights disappear into the wall of rain, a cold smirk crossing my lips.

Run. Run back down to your luxurious mansion in the lowest elevation valley in the city.

This rain isn't something a hot bath is going to fix.

The rain poured down in Biblical sheets, as if the heavens had been ripped wide open.

In just two hours, the outside world became entirely unrecognizable.

The winding mountain roads were swallowed by churning mud, and the city below was completely lost in a thick, gray fog.

I turned around and walked back into my warm, secure bunker.

The climate control system kept the interior at a perfect, cozy seventy five degrees.

I pulled out a box of self heating hotpot from the supply stacks and sliced up a massive slab of premium steak.

The spicy red broth bubbled and popped, filling the room with an incredibly mouthwatering aroma.

Buster laid beside me, gnawing on a massive three pound beef bone, his tail wagging like a helicopter blade.

I leaned back comfortably into the plush sofa and opened the Sinclair family group chat on my phone.

The chat was already exploding in pure panic.