My Cruel Family's Cold Apocalypse

The agony of freezing to death jolted me awake. I blinked, realizing I was in the back of an Uber.

Rolling down the window, I felt the cool air on my face and finally came to my senses. I was reborn.

The weather was pleasant, deceptively mild. There was only a week left until the end of the world.

Today was the day I returned to Pennsylvania, one week before the Extreme Cold Apocalypse was set to arrive.

This time, I gave the Uber driver a new destination. A short while later, I was dragging my luggage into a nondescript motel.

However, I'd already called home from the airport, so my mother knew I was back. Not showing up would make her suspicious.

After settling in, I went home carrying only a shoulder bag. I told them I was just in town for a business trip and had to leave soon, but wanted to stop by for a quick visit. I added that a colleague was waiting for me downstairs.

My "colleague," of course, was a man I'd hired for this very purpose.

My mother glanced out the window and saw the tall, burly man leaning against a car. Her wariness was immediate, and her tone became much more polite.

“It’s so rare for you to be home. Why don’t you stay for a meal? Chloe, dear, could you pop out and get some groceries?” my mother instructed.

Chloe nudged Mason with her foot, then clutched her stomach and whined, “Oh, but I’m in my early pregnancy! Mom, I’m carrying your grandson. The doctor said I need to rest.”

“I can’t carry heavy things, you know!”

My mother’s concern for Chloe was instantaneous. “My mistake, I forgot! Mason, you go!”

Mason was glued to his computer, engrossed in a game. He had no intention of moving.

I feigned surprise. “Chloe, you’re pregnant? That’s wonderful news! In that case, Mom, don’t cook! Let me treat everyone to a big meal at the best steakhouse in town to celebrate!”

That steakhouse was the most expensive restaurant in the area. As expected, the lure of a free, fancy meal was too much for my mother and Chloe to resist. After a few token protests, they were dragging a reluctant Mason out the door.

I told them to head over first, claiming I’d already made a reservation. I’d meet them there after my colleague and I wrapped up our business.

Of course, they didn’t doubt me for a second and hurried off toward the restaurant.

Once they were gone, I pulled the pinhole cameras I’d bought from my bag and began installing them in hidden corners of the apartment.

As a former top engineering student, I knew my way around electronics. I took a wrench from my bag and got to work on the central heating system and the water heater, tampering with a few key components.

My sabotage ensured they would run normally for exactly six more days before suffering a catastrophic, irreversible hardware failure.

When the time came, every heating device in this apartment would die.

Later, I joined them for dinner at the steakhouse and found my mother had also invited Mr. Davies. Her excuse was that he was such a good neighbor, practically family, so he had to be there for our little celebration.