Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 64

The successive meteorite strikes had thrown the town of Lu’er into a state of panic.
Although the town wasn’t large, it had a high occupancy rate. Many residents knew that tonight would feature the most spectacular meteor shower in recent years. Even after the announcement that the meteor shower would become a meteor storm, it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for stargazing.
Lu’er Town had no skyscrapers or neon lights, making it an excellent spot for nighttime stargazing. Even though it wasn’t the best viewing point for the meteor shower, many people planned to watch it from their terraces while drinking beer and chatting.
However, these meteorites served as a harsh wake-up call, striking fear into everyone’s hearts.
The once peaceful town descended into chaos.
Some people abandoned their tasks and rushed home immediately. Others hurriedly called their family members, while some ran into the nearest cafes or restaurants to switch the TV to a news channel.
The television was broadcasting the latest news about the meteorites, which had been airing for some time.
Besides the meteorites that landed near Lu’er Town, meteorites had also fallen in the central and southern regions over the past hour.
The meteorites varied in size. Some were as small as pebbles, destroying umbrellas and tables at a cafe. Others, the size of fists, struck tall buildings, creating holes in the walls and destroying entire offices.
One meteorite, about half a meter in diameter—the largest of this event—landed in a forest between the central and northern regions, its burning fragments destroying the entire area.
Fortunately, this was an uninhabited area, so there were no casualties.
…
So far, the most casualties occurred in L City, where a meteorite about thirty centimeters in diameter struck an overpass, destroying several cars and part of the bridge. The collapsing concrete crushed the cars below, resulting in severe casualties.
The news then showed aerial footage from a helicopter, revealing the destroyed section of the overpass. A massive, blackened hole emitted black smoke, while cars piled up in a chain-reaction crash behind the impact site. In this incident, the rear-end collisions were considered lucky; those hit directly by the meteorite did not survive.
Throughout the country, around a dozen meteorites struck within an hour, mostly concentrated in the central and western regions.
Overall, the number of falling meteorites wasn’t high. Most cities and towns in the central region were unharmed, as seven or eight meteorites landed in uninhabited areas.
Although the meteorites had temporarily stopped falling, authorities urgently advised people to seek shelter. Based on monitoring and expert predictions, tonight’s meteor storm at 9 PM could turn into a meteorite shower. They also recommended halting all flights, ship routes, and public transportation, advising travelers to find shelter where they were.
In an apartment, someone angrily smashed a remote control.
“First, it’s a meteor shower, then a meteor storm, and now it’s a meteorite shower! Which of these damned experts knows what they’re talking about?”
“Stop yelling! Honey, hurry and pack up. Everyone in this building is heading to the nearby subway station to shelter!”
…
Someone called their child.
“Sweetie, stay at school. Mommy is coming to pick you up!”
“It’s okay, the teacher said there’s a basement in the school. We’re all going there to take shelter!”
“Alright, sweetie, go to the basement first. I’ll call you when I get there! We’re going to your grandpa’s house; his villa has a basement!”
…
In big cities, information spread quickly. Everyone was scrambling to find shelter—especially those who had witnessed the meteorites up close.
Some, thinking ahead, rushed into supermarkets to quickly buy food and water.
Those originally shopping in the supermarket, unaware of the news, stared in confusion at the panic buyers. It didn’t take long before they joined in, their faces filled with anxiety.
Traffic accidents piled up on the streets. Some roads became heavily congested with constant shouting and honking. Passengers in stalled taxis chose to get out and head for the subway instead.
The subway station was even more crowded. Some people, who were already alone, decided to stay in the station, thinking that arriving early meant they could secure a more comfortable spot.
In contrast to the panicking public, firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel were all mobilized. The meteorite strikes had caused fires and injuries, leading to the cancellation of all leaves and a return to duty for everyone. Medical staff in hospitals were busy transferring patients, especially those in high-rise buildings, to basements and underground parking lots.
In Lu’er Town, people gathered in cafes and restaurants to watch the news. The close-knit community members started discussing what to do next. Most were anxious and needed advice or comfort from those around them. The suddenness of the meteorites had caught everyone off guard, and the news s of the devastation in other areas only heightened their fear and panic.
Some were at a loss, while others, quick to respond and decisive, suggested going to a nearby underground bomb shelter that could accommodate everyone in town. The idea was met with mixed reactions. Some agreed, prioritizing safety, especially since the news advised immediate evacuation. Others were reluctant, arguing that the old bomb shelter, likely empty and uncomfortable, was not a better option than staying in their own homes, many of which had basements.
Regardless, the suggestion prompted action. People called their families, some rushed to the supermarket to stock up on food and water, and the once peaceful town turned chaotic.
Yu Xi slowly brought the truck to a stop in the villa’s driveway. She saw Yu Qi rush out of the house. As she approached the truck, her steps faltered, and her expression turned to one of shock.
As soon as Yu Xi got out of the truck, Yu Qi hugged her tightly, examining her from head to toe as if checking for injuries.
“I’m fine—” Yu Xi almost called her “Mom” but swallowed the word, “Sis, why didn’t you go to the basement?”
“How could I go there and relax when you two weren’t back yet?” Yu Qi said, glancing at the truck’s rear end, “Those second round of meteorites landed pretty close. Did you run into them on the way back?”
Ya Tong jumped out of the truck and closed the door. “How did you know?”
Yu Qi pointed to the back of the truck. The three of them looked and saw that a small part of the truck’s rear top corner was missing, as if something had gouged it out.
The missing part was surrounded by charred edges, indicating that it had been grazed by a meteorite fragment. Fortunately, the fragment was very small, and the explosion it caused was only about as powerful as a hand grenade, allowing the truck’s rear to remain intact.
The evidence was clear, leaving Yu Xi no chance to lie and reassure Yu Qi that they hadn’t encountered the meteorite.
She could only change the subject. “Let’s go inside first!”
Ya Tong glanced at the truck and asked Yu Xi, “Aren’t we going to unload? Some things might have gotten burnt, but most should be fine.”
Yu Xi: …
The items were already in her spatial storage; there was nothing left in the truck to unload.
Yu Qi understood and patted Ya Tong’s shoulder. “We’ll worry about the supplies later. Safety comes first. Let’s get to the basement.”
Ya Tong: …
Yu Xi suggested that they check the villa one more time before heading to the basement, locking doors and windows since the villa might not get hit directly by a meteorite and shouldn’t be left unattended.
Ya Tong, looking serious, nodded and immediately ran upstairs.
Yu Qi glanced at her sister in surprise. Ya Tong was actually following Yu Xi’s instructions so readily?
Pretending not to notice Yu Qi’s look, Yu Xi quickly went to a door behind the kitchen that connected to the garage and stored the nearly new SUV in her spatial storage, just in case a meteorite hit the garage.
Once the SUV was in the transportation storage space, it visually appeared to overlap with the truck already there, which was quite magical.
She then locked the door connecting the garage to the villa and returned to the living room just as Ya Tong came running downstairs.
“Come look at this!” Yu Qi was standing in the dining room, where a small TV was on. “A large meteorite hit the overpass in L City, not far from our apartment…”
The screen showed scenes of meteorite disaster sites across the country, with footage from on-site ers and aerial shots from helicopters, covering both urban and rural areas.
Footage of the heavily damaged overpass in L City due to the meteorite strike, along with s of significant casualties, continued to air. Experts, with solemn expressions, warned that the meteor shower at 9 PM would turn into a meteorite storm and advised everyone to take shelter immediately.
The three of them watched the familiar streets and buildings in silence. Just yesterday, they had been in that area, and now it was a disaster site…
“The news channel has been broadcasting live updates on meteorite-related incidents, rescue efforts, and the timing of meteorite landings,” Yu Qi said as she flipped through other channels, all showing the same footage. “All the other channels are rebroadcasting this one.”
Ya Tong frowned, “Even at a time like this, there are still so many people outside, and helicopters are still flying…”
“Because most places haven’t seen any meteorites yet. Look at these city interviews; some people are even celebrating in the streets, saying it’s the end of the world, so there’s no need to go to work. They’re planning to party instead…”
Yu Qi shook her head, “Living in peace for so long has made them foolish. If the apocalypse really comes, they’ll regret it…”
Ya Tong sighed, turned to the room, and grabbed the luggage bags for herself and Yu Qi, then picked up Yu Xi’s bag from the floor. “Let’s go. We’ll take these things down first, and later, if we can, we’ll move the supplies from the truck into the villa. We’ll get as much as we can.”
As they were about to head to the backyard, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ya Tong frowned. Who would be visiting at a time like this?
She took a handgun from her travel bag, handed the other bags to Yu Xi, and walked to the front door, calling out coldly, “Who is it?” in the local language.
“Hi, it’s great that someone’s home. We’re from the villa next door. We saw you drive up and wanted to ask about the situation outside,” came a young woman’s voice.
Ya Tong motioned for Yu Qi and Yu Xi to stay back and out of sight. She flipped the safety off the gun and concealed it in her hand before opening the door halfway.
Standing outside was a woman in her thirties, with two tall men in the yard behind her. When Ya Tong opened the door, they looked over.
“Hi, thank you for opening the door. I’m Sunny. Did you just come back from town? What’s it like there now?”
“I don’t know. We left before the meteorites started falling. You can watch the news for updates.”
“Thank you. We’re here on vacation and aren’t familiar with the area. We were planning to drive into town for party supplies, but given the situation, it might not be safe?”
“You can decide after watching the news. Sorry, we have things to do and can’t give you much advice.”
Ya Tong’s answers were cautious to avoid any future trouble. Despite her easygoing nature, she was well aware of the necessity to be cautious, especially in a country where everyone could carry firearms.
The woman seemed disappointed but smiled at Ya Tong before turning back to her companions. The three of them left the villa yard, and the two men glanced at the truck parked at the gate as they walked by.
Ya Tong frowned as she closed the door and re-engaged the gun’s safety, tucking it into the back of her waistband.
She intended to grab some blankets from the living room to take downstairs, but she noticed that two large and three small sofas had been reduced to one large and one small sofa. The large TV was also missing.
Ya Tong: …?
Yu Qi quickly came up and hugged her. “Let’s go, let’s get to the basement.”
The three of them locked the back door of the villa and made their way to the basement through the vertical shaft in the backyard.
Yu Qi, being the last to enter, took care of closing and locking the two doors. It was her villa, so she knew every corner and explained some key points to Ya Tong as she secured the doors.
Ya Tong’s face had been growing paler since entering the first vertical shaft. She had a mild case of claustrophobia, and the thought of being underground in a confined space made her feel suffocated.
Yu Qi, aware of her friend’s condition, patted her on the back when she saw her hesitating at the entrance to the second vertical shaft. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Ya Tong replied, knowing that the current situation didn’t allow for hesitation. Faced with life and death, she had to overcome her fear. “Just a minor issue, it’ll pass.”
Yu Qi smiled reassuringly at her.
In the living space at the bottom of the vertical shaft, warm yellow lights were already on. Yu Xi had arrived first and turned on the lights in the living room, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise dark and oppressive underground space, which eased Ya Tong’s anxiety a bit.
“Sis, I’m going to take a shower first!” Yu Xi called from below. With the water and electricity still working, she wanted to take advantage of it while she could.
Yu Qi responded affirmatively.
Seeing the warm light below, Ya Tong hesitated before asking, “So, what Yu Xi said about dying and being reborn… is it true?”
“Yes,” Yu Qi replied. “I know it sounds unreal and completely overturns everything we’ve known, but it’s happening. We managed to leave L City safely because she knew about the disaster in advance due to her rebirth.”
“I scolded her today, thinking she was just causing trouble again…” Ya Tong said, rubbing her forehead.
Yu Qi could guess why Ya Tong had scolded her. When she woke up and found her friend and sister had gone to town, she knew Ya Tong would freak out at the quantity of food Yu Xi had ordered.
Honestly, if Yu Xi hadn’t demonstrated the reality of her spatial storage, Yu Qi wouldn’t have believed the rebirth story alone.
Yu Qi chuckled, “You scolded her. So what? We’ve scolded her plenty over the past two years. She used to get into so much trouble that I couldn’t control her at all. Only you could somewhat keep her in check.”
“You don’t understand. This is different. She used to deserve the scolding when she did wrong. But this time, she did nothing wrong…” Ya Tong said, reflecting on how Yu Xi didn’t even retort or get angry this time. “She’s completely different now…”
Realizing the change in Yu Xi made her heart ache.
A troublesome kid can be frustrating, but a suddenly well-behaved one can be heartbreaking.
Ya Tong sighed in frustration. “Let’s organize things down here first. Let her rest a bit. I’ll go up and move the supplies from the truck into the villa.”
With so much food, even if they couldn’t eat it all, they couldn’t just leave it. Yet, something about the supplies bothered her…
It wasn’t until she descended the second vertical shaft and entered the living space that she realized what she had overlooked.
What happened to the supplies in the truck?
They had left L City with the truck fully loaded. When she and Yu Xi went to town to pick up food, she hadn’t looked closely at the back of the truck, but she had seen the boxes. If the original supplies hadn’t been removed, how did the new boxes fit in?
If the original supplies had been taken out, how did one person manage it? And she hadn’t seen those supplies in the villa. They couldn’t have all been moved to the basement, could they?
Also, the living room sofas and TV were missing, and the kitchen seemed emptier with many appliances and even the refrigerator gone…
All these questions halted abruptly when Ya Tong saw the newly arranged and fully furnished living space.
She stepped down the last rung of the ladder and touched the L-shaped fabric sofa with trembling hands—it was real…
The TV was real…
The refrigerator was not only real but fully stocked with a variety of frozen and refrigerated foods, fruits, milk, and drinks.
Even if they could have brought the food down, what about the sofa? An L-shaped sofa wouldn’t even fit through the bomb shelter door…
Ya Tong closed the refrigerator door, took a step back, and took a deep breath to calm herself, then closed her eyes, muttering, “It’s just an illusion…”
When she opened her eyes again, the refrigerator, sofa, coffee table, and all the other furnishings were still there.
Cold sweat broke out on Ya Tong’s back as she instinctively reached into her pocket for a cigarette, only to remember she couldn’t smoke in the bomb shelter.
“Actually, there’s something else Yu Xi didn’t tell you besides the rebirth…” Yu Qi stepped forward and patted her friend’s shoulder.