Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Lost Hope

Since the official end of the world changed nothing at all, the world continued as usual.

This particular morning, the storm slowed down after two long and chilly weeks. The skies remained heavy with gray clouds, but the howling winds had died down, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. This fragile calm was enough for people to muster the courage to step outside. Hunger and desperation drove them, even though their bodies were weak, their instincts were sharper than ever. They had no choice.

The streets, buried under layers of snow and ice, were no longer the bustling roads they once were. Now, they were treacherous paths littered with debris, broken cars, and the remains of a once-thriving world.

People emerged from their homes, bundled in whatever clothing they could find to shield themselves from the freezing cold. Scarves wrapped tightly around pale faces, gloves riddled with holes, and boots held together with duct tape were their armor against the brutal winter.

Their destination was clear – stores, supermarkets, or warehouses, all those nearby places where supplies might still be available. Food, warm clothes, and anything that could help stave off the biting cold were all they sought. But what they found were barren shelves and empty aisles, stripped clean during the early days of the disaster. What little remained was either spoiled or frozen solid, yet even that didn’t stop them from scavenging.

The grocery stores, once overflowing with fresh produce and neatly stocked shelves, were now barren wastelands. Their doors hung off broken hinges, windows were shattered. People rifled through the remnants, digging through expired cans, half-eaten bags of chips, and crumpled packages of instant noodles. Some argued over a piece of bread that had long since gone stale, while others silently scavenged, their hollow eyes darting nervously as if expecting someone to snatch their meager findings.

If one paused to observe, they would see the true cost of the past two and half months etched into every face. The relentless disasters had drained the world of its former vitality, leaving behind pale, gaunt figures whose clothes hung off their bodies like loose rags.

At this point, a proper meal had become a luxury for these common people, and bathing had become a rarity. The smell of unwashed bodies mingled with the dampness of the rain-soaked air, creating a stench that no one even noticed anymore – it had become just another part of their grim reality.

Children clung to their parents, their once-bright faces were now dull and streaked with dirt. Their small hands trembled as they held out empty cans or cracked bowls, hoping for scraps. The elderly shuffled slowly, their frail bodies barely able to withstand the cold.

A man in his forties, who might have been mistaken for someone twenty years older, crouched by a dumpster, rummaging through rotten vegetables and moldy bread. He found a bruised apple and cradled it like a treasure before biting into it without hesitation.

Among these people, some looked extra unhealthy while there were some who looked better compared to others. This difference is all due to the Shadow Rain. Those who got wet in the rain and failed to accept the DNA alterations, their health was slowly deteriorating, forcing them toward the future of becoming a zombie.

A woman in her twenties sat slumped against a wall, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her hands were trembling as she tried to eat a piece of bread, but it kept slipping from her weakened grasp. Beside her, a man whispered words of encouragement, but the hollow look in her eyes said she had already given up.

Whereas, the ones whose bodies passed the DNA alterations, they were looking better despite the lack of food and chilling cold because their superpowers were slowly healing their bodies. However, since the power was busy healing the body, it was also getting easily exhausted and weak since it was still at initial stage. This meant that even though these people would unlock superpowers in near future, their powers would be weak.

A young boy, no older than twelve, leaned heavily on his older sister as they trudged toward what was once a bakery. His sister’s sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, her shoulders tense as if bracing for an attack. Despite their visible exhaustion, there was a determination in her step, a defiance against the grim world around her. Her power was healing her body, but it was also weakening her in ways she didn’t fully understand. She knew she had to stay strong for her brother, even if it meant pushing herself to the brink.

Inside an abandoned clothing store, a group of survivors rummaged through the scattered piles of garments. They grabbed sweaters, coats, and scarves, layering themselves against the relentless cold. One man found a child’s jacket and hesitated for a moment before stuffing it into his bag. He glanced around nervously, avoiding the glares of the others. Desperation made thieves of them all, and the unspoken rule was clear – survival came first.

The rain, though light now, still dripped through cracks in the ceilings and soaked into the walls. It served as a constant reminder of the disaster that had upended their lives. The Shadow Rain had not only brought destruction but had divided humanity into two groups: those who would succumb to its curse and those who might rise above it.

A man staggered out of a convenience store, clutching a pack of instant ramen. His face was gaunt, his body trembling, but there was a flicker of relief in his expression. Behind him, a woman cursed as she found nothing but empty shelves. She kicked over a stack of cans, the clattering echoing down the deserted street.

“I just need something for my baby,” she muttered, tears streaming down her face. The baby in her arms whimpered weakly, its cries more a whisper than a wail. She sank to her knees, clutching the child to her chest, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

The hope for humanity’s survival – it was lost!