Chapter 25 - Extreme Heat

Gathering everyone for a meeting, Zach and the others started talking about the current situation of the base. Though there was still snow in the surroundings and was still giving them cold temperatures, they also started feeling the heat coming from the sun. Everyone was surprised after waking up and saw water inside their houses which everyone then realized why it happened. 

"If this heat continues to rise then I bet all this snow will melt at the end of the day. We should prepare for the water to rise. That's all I have to say for now. Go back to your houses first and see if there were changes. Edward, Bob, Jackson, and Thomas. Come with me." Zach said before calling out some of the professionals in the base as they had something to discuss. 

Inside Zach's house, Edward the architect, Bob the carpenter, and the newly added Jackson and Thomas who were engineers were brainstorming together in the living room after Zach asked them if it was possible to build a building enough for everyone to stay if there will be a time that when the water will become abnormally high. 

"If it is only a five to seven-floor building, then I guess it would be doable." Jackson suddenly said while looking at the others as they were asked if they could build a tall building without the help of any construction vehicles. 

"That is right. However, I am more inclined to limit it to five floors since the materials we were using are limited. If we have the right materials like cement and other things then I think it can add up to seven floors." Thomas also voiced out his idea even though he didn't know what Zach was up to asking about such a thing. 

"Hmmm. Can you list all the materials that you need? I will decide after seeing them. Write them all down. I'll get outside real quick to see the situation." Zach said after hearing their thoughts about it hoping that everything was inside his inventory since it was also for their own good. 

With that, Jackson, Thomas, Edward, and even Bob started doing what they were told seeing Zach had already gone outside leaving them four to do the task. Despite doubting it, they still do their best thinking that there might be a reason for it. 

Meanwhile, Zach could now be found outside walking while observing the people who were looking after their houses as the water rose up again. Now that it came to this, he felt the need to finally move on to the next survival project that he had and was an alternative solution that he had if there was a flood in the future. 

Since the system still hasn't given him what he wanted, then Zach felt like he needed something to do about it so he would no longer rattle when it really happened which is completely probable. He then just greeted everyone and asked if they were alright and only headed back inside the house after half an hour. 

Looking at the list that the four professionals had written down, Zach's eyes continued moving as he was also looking at his inventory to see if he had everything down to the smallest materials that they needed. After some time, a faint smile then appeared on his face thinking just how lucky he was to ransack the huge hardware back in the city. 

"I think I have all of them. Good. We will immediately proceed with this project as soon as the snow completely melts. You must be wondering why I was adamant about building such a thing but I'll tell you now that it was a preparation when a flood will happen. I think from the calamities that have happened before, I highly guess that flood is possible. So, you can now go and tell everyone else that it is a matter of great importance." Zach then said and he could tell that everyone was surprised by his words but he didn't talk anymore and just told them to start making plans already. 

Following that, the base then started bustling with noise again after the four men started calling all the men inside the base and told them about the new project that Zach had ordered. Even the four knew how big and time-consuming it was since everyone here didn't have the skills to help but it was still doable as they learned them with they started working.

No one complained a thing after Edward and the others told them the reason why Zach wanted to build it. Everyone thought that it was really plausible for a flood to happen sooner or later so they all wanted to do it since aside from they had nothing to offer to repay the gracefulness of Zach, it was also something for their safety. 

Meanwhile, Zach himself was no longer in the base seeing him walking outside together with Jenny while carrying a bag of guns. It was now for their gun practice again but looking closely, the atmosphere seemed too awkward as no one was talking as they walked. 

Arriving at their usual spot, Zach and Jenny felt conflicted seeing that there was already water forming on the ground so they looked at each other before sighing as they continued walking and finally found a place to rest. They, however, didn't immediately start practicing as they looked horizon appreciating the beauty of the sun. 

"You were already good at using guns. Should we really still practice every day?" Suddenly, Jenny broke the silence and said bluntly while looking at Zach. Throughout the days that they were practicing, Zach's improvement really was off the charts as he could now use not just handguns and snipers, but also shotguns and rifles. 

"That's right, and it was all thanks to you." Zach replied as he looked at Jenny with a smile and before she could say something, he already took the first move and pushed them down on the snow. Looking at her face, he smiled softly before printing her lips with his. 

Meanwhile, Jenny didn't react for a while, but her eyes suddenly changed as she pushed Zach to the side and made herself on top of him. She breathed heavily before leaning closer to Zach and giving him a peck on his lips. 

"Hey, kid. You really thought that you could always trick this old lady? You're so naïve to think about dominating me." Jenny said with a smile as she felt satisfied this time after showing him who really was the adult and in charge of everything. 

"Is that so?" Zach replied with a smile he got up and embraced Jenny's waist in his arms and pulled closer to him. The distance between them was so close that they could hear and feel each other's breathing and they remained silent and stayed in position for the time being. 

"However, what I really know is that between the two of us, you're the one who is lacking with experience." Zach followed before kissing her lips passionately all the while moving his hands on her back until they reached her ample ass and they chose to stay there. 

After some time, Zach and Jenny could be embracing each other as they let themselves bathe in the rising heat of the sun without saying anything and only got up after getting Vanessa's call saying that it was now time for lunch, and with that, the two leave the area while holding hands as they headed back to the base. 

Time quickly passed by and it was now dark. Normally, the weather should have already dropped low but this time everyone has already taken their coats off as they could now feel the heat directly. They don't know how it was possible but they accepted things like nothing since what does feeling hot even at night compared to what was happening to the world for the past months. 

Meanwhile, everyone was still wide awake at this time however it was not because they chose to but they didn't have a choice since the water level was now almost reaching their knees. In just one day, the snow in the area has gotten thinner and will completely melt by tomorrow if the temperature doesn't drop. 

As they could not do anything about it, some of them were now staying inside their house specifically on their bed or on their tables which were still not reached by the water while some were doing their best if they could do something about it seeing them busy walking around. 

Zach, knowing that they couldn't do anything about the water level rising, told everyone to return to their houses and stay vigilant on the changes thinking that it might get dangerous when it reached a certain level and the fact that they might get sick staying on the water for too long. 

Second turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours. When the time pointed at exactly midnight, everyone was now already on their roofs after the water had risen to such a high level. Despite being in a safe place, everyone was feeling uncomfortable as the heat was something to be concerned about seeing them sweating a lot. 

While some of them were already sleeping despite their situation, Zach was still wide awake as he continued to monitor the water as he felt like it was not the right time to take a rest. He then just looked at his family seeing them sleeping uncomfortably before sighing deeply. 

Exactly 2 am in the morning, Zach finally took out his radio ready to call everyone upon seeing the water level have now reached the level of their roof. He pressed a particular button and then woke them up since what was happening now was alarming because aside from its high level, he could also tell that it was moving.

 One by one, the people who were sleeping woke up from their slumber and were immediately surprised upon seeing the water level. Each then felt a sense of panic but Zach told them to remain calm and also told them to get ready if an abnormal situation happened. 

After that, everyone's eyes were opened as they stared at the water all the time and continued to stay awake until sunrise and that was when everyone started panicking as the water had already reached the roofs of their houses seeing them now holding on to something in order not to get caught by the current. 

"Everyone!! Just hold on to the edge of your house!! No matter what happened, do not get caught by the current!!" Zach shouted but he was not that worried since the surroundings were mostly shining yellow. He thought that what they needed was just to remain in place and hope that the water would no longer rise any higher. 

However, contrary to what they expected, the water had completely risen to an unimaginable level when noon came. Everyone was pushed and forced to leave the base as they could no longer hold on to something but fortunately, Zach was very quick-witted as he already distributed life jackets before the water started rising. 

"Zoey, don't let go of my hand. The same with you, Hannah." Zach said at the two of them before looking at his mother as they were now holding onto a large tree together with the seven kids, Adam, and Eve. His face was very serious at the moment as they had already travelled quite a distance from the base. 

Looking at his back, Zach checked on the survivors who were also lucky to have caught something. His eyes stare specifically at Jenny who is also holding onto a tree together with Max, Rose, Anna, and Carl. He couldn't help but feel worried about those who were unfortunate to have followed the current. 

"I hope they were fine." Zach said before looking ahead of him as he activated the system's ability all this time wanting to see from the distance if there was something that coming. Truthfully speaking, the current was not that strong but it was something that they should not neglect either. 

Following that, Zach and everyone remained in their position as they faced the continuous rising of the water. No food and no water. All their mind were completely focused on surviving and their safety that they forgot about unnecessary things seeing their eyes always looking at what was ahead of them.