Theo started to feel very cold, and the wood that was burning was running out. He needed to choose something to burn soon.
'I have the impression I saw a sledgehammer yesterday...'
With that in mind, he went back to the laundry area.
Now with the day brighter, even though the weather was overcast with clouds and heavy snow, it became easier for him to see.
There were two washing machines and a sink, as well as a cabinet, laundry baskets, and a wooden table in the center.
In the cabinet near the washing machine on the right, he remembered that was where he thought he had seen the sledgehammer.
After opening the cabinet, he chuckled softly and murmured: "Haha, it really was a sledgehammer, I didn't see it wrong yesterday."
The sledgehammer had a wooden handle. About 50 cm long. The head of the sledgehammer was larger than his hand, and he saw [10KG] written on it.
Holding the sledgehammer with his right hand, he brought it to the living room and went to the bedroom on the left side, and when he reached the wall, he calculated.
'It must be here.'
Dragging the double bed, Theo took the sledgehammer with both hands and, from the side, began to hammer the wall.
*POW! POW! POW!*
In the first three strikes, a hole was made in the thick masonry and concrete wall.
He continued until he started to open a hole large enough to see the other side.
What he saw was: a room with a single bed, and the bed was right in the way.
Not caring about the debris falling onto the bed, he kept hammering until he opened a hole large enough for him to pass through. He stored the sledgehammer in his inventory.
Entering the room, crawling under the debris on the single bed, he got off the bed.
After cleaning his knees and hands, he looked around.
There was nothing useful in the room.
Opening the bedroom door and stepping out, he found himself in a hallway wide enough for three people to squeeze side by side.
Across from the room, there was another door. He opened it, and it was a room with a double bed.
Inside was what you'd expect in a couple's bedroom, but it had been evacuated.
In fact, there were some pieces of clothing scattered on the floor.
'These people fled in a hurry.' Theo thought.
Just to be sure, he opened the wardrobes, but yes, they were empty.
He went to the next room.
Nothing was found in the rooms except for two blankets and four smelly pillows... But he took the pillowcases and put them in his inventory anyway.
Going to the entrance hall door, he broke into a wide grin.
Protected by glass, near the entrance hall, there was a wine cellar.
It was like a display of the apartment owner's finest wines.
Some were missing, probably the most expensive ones that were taken, but there were still 31 bottles of wine left.
'Lucky.' Theo thought and, without wasting time, grabbed the sledgehammer and broke the glass with a single swing.
*Bang!*
*SHATTER!*
After the glass was broken, he stepped in and started grabbing the wines and storing them in his inventory. The good thing about storing in the inventory was that, even when stacked, they didn't shake or risk falling, even if he placed one bottle on top of another, which he did to save space.
After leaving the cellar, he went back to searching the apartment but found nothing that could be used.
'Next.'
**
**
Six apartments in total, besides spoiled food and moldy bedding, he only got lucky finding 4 sealed 20-liter water jugs.
'Should I try my luck on the lower floors?' Theo wondered.
It was cold, and he was getting tired more easily, so he gave up. Not to mention he started feeling hungry.
Obviously, breaking walls left and right would make him hungry.
After choosing flammable wood, he returned to the first apartment.
Dropping the wood on the floor, he repeated the process to set fire to the wood inside the toilet bowl.
After stopping breaking walls, his body started to cool down again, and the cold hit hard.
Only when the fire started to grow high did he feel less cold.
Thinking a bit, he grabbed a bottle of wine.
He had found a corkscrew and used it to open the bottle.
*Pop! Ssshhh…*
With the sound of opening, he sniffed and saw it hadn't gone bad.
'As expected, it's not cheap wine.' Theo thought.
He didn't know anything about wine, but he knew cheap wines could turn into vinegar, believe me, he'd tasted it...
He didn't know if expensive wine, if not stored properly, also turned into vinegar, but it seemed he got lucky with the first bottle he picked.
Setting it on the floor, he grabbed the water bottle Violet had given him and went to the kitchen sink. Opening it slightly, he tilted the water bottle toward the drain, and as the water slowly trickled out, he took the chance to wash his hands with a soap bar he took from his inventory. It was something he found in one of the bathrooms earlier.
The only reason he dared to waste water like this was because he had found 4 jugs of 20 liters of water. Each jug should last about 10 days or more, depending on how much he conserved.
Well, he planned to clean himself up a bit later. If it was as he imagined, the lower floors probably had water jugs too. It was something normal to have.
When he finished washing his hands and a fork, almost all the water in the bottle was used. That just showed how dirty his hands were.
With clean hands, he opened a can of sardines, using the fork he had washed.
With clean hands and a clean fork, he finally felt like he was eating in a more decent way.
**
**
On the cruise ship, the snow had piled up considerably.
Violet gathered everyone and spoke of her intention to leave.
At first, opinions were split evenly, half believing the snow would soon stop falling, while the other half wasn't so hopeful.
"I'm not here to debate. I'm taking my sister out of this place. Whoever wants to can follow us, but feel free to stay if you wish. I won't force anyone," Violet said in a cold tone.
Usually accustomed to her cold and indifferent tone, but now that she wanted to do something many of them didn't, they began to antagonize her in their minds, some even muttering under their breath about how cruel and selfish she was, etc.
Some of those speaking ill of her were even people she had saved.
Mia was saddened to see this, but Violet, even hearing it, didn't care.
"I'm going with Sister Violet!" Sara was the first to raise her hand: "I also feel we don't have much hope if we stay. I don't want to take the chance and end up frozen to death with everyone on this ship."
When they heard Sara's words, the number of those against leaving decreased, and even the voices that had been antagonizing Violet quieted down.
"I'm going too."
"Me too!"
Little by little, more than half decided to go with her, but in the end, a third still wanted to stay.
The most important resources were divided according to each person's merit. After doing so, Violet's group began to leave.
"Are you sure you're going?" Max asked Linda.
Looking at him with sadness but undisguised anger upon seeing Viviane by his side, she didn't even bother to respond and started walking away with a backpack on her shoulders.
"Don't worry about her, I'm here with you~" Viviane said softly in his ear.
In truth, if it weren't for Max's special ability to keep his body warm, which was very useful in the cold, she wouldn't have chosen to be with him or lowered herself to the point of becoming as submissive as possible, inflating his fragile male ego.
She knew very well how to handle men, especially men like Max, who were possessive and liked docile, dependent women. She made a point of showing how much she needed him, how much he could 'protect her.'
Max thought, convincing himself he made the right choice: 'She's much better than Linda. That bitch, I bet deep down she always despised me!'
...
Violet began leading the group outside. Her feet were bare, as it made it easier for her to use her ability through her feet.
Whenever she stepped on the snow, an ice path was created, strong enough not to crack under their weight.
Gradually, she led them toward a building visible in the distance, a building about 30 stories tall. Only a building that large could accommodate so many people.
Everyone behind her carried large loads, whether winter clothing or bedding. Of course, there was also food and water. They had prepared as much as possible.