While the world starved and froze, Ethan Cross was living better than ever.
His fortress maintained a steady 72°F year-round, thanks to top-tier insulation and a mountain of fuel.
He didn't have to do anything now—Just enjoy life.
TV? Dead.Most livestreams had shut down. Even the bikini streamers had vanished—no one was dancing in tank tops at -100°F.
If someone did, Ethan would raise his beer and salute:
"Respect. That's a real one."
He opened his personal dimension.In the electronics section? Shelves of PS5s, Switches, Xboxes—hundreds of units, brand new and unopened.
Thousands of game cartridges and discs.
He grabbed a fresh PS5, plugged it into his 100-inch Sony flat screen, and fired up Bayonetta 3.
Nearby, other titles waited: Elden Ring, The Witcher 3, Sekiro, Civilization, Cities: Skylines…
With no more work and no more fake pleasantries, this was better than life before the apocalypse.
Wearing pajamas, chewing snacks, and playing games—Ethan was in paradise.
Then his phone buzzed.
A notification from the building's community group.
He opened it.
@Ethan, came the message,"The roads are buried. Grab your tools. Come help clear the snow!"
It was from Grandma Linda—self-proclaimed queen of the council.
She'd already been demanding volunteers all morning. No one responded.
So now she was going after him.
Ethan glanced outside.The snow had buried the entire first floor.
Ten feet deep.
And it wasn't stopping.
You'd have to be insane to try and shovel that.
He replied:
"Step outside for five minutes and you'll freeze solid. Let's wait until it stops snowing."
Others chimed in:
"It's -80°F. We'll get frostbite out there."
"We don't even have proper gear. This isn't Minnesota."
Linda exploded:
"That attitude is disgraceful! This isn't for me—it's for ALL OF YOU!"
"You're young, you're strong, and you're HIDING?"
Then came the ultimatum:
"Ethan, I'm ORDERING you—as a council representative—to go shovel snow!"
"This is an emergency. Obey the council!"
"Resisting is resisting authority—and you'll be held accountable!"
The chat went silent.
No one dared speak.No one wanted to be blacklisted after the crisis.
But everyone was hoping—praying—that Ethan would push back.
And he did.
With a grin.
He scrolled the chat history.
Linda had only tagged the compliant, the quiet—the easy targets.
Not a single word to the rich kids. The tough guys.
He typed:
"You're right, Linda. Since it's so important, you should lead the way."
"Funny how you only tag the easy targets."
"Where's your message to James Caldwell or Derek Morgan?"
"Oh right. You don't have the spine."
The chat lit up:
"YES! Finally someone said it!"
"Yeah, why not tag the rich kids?"
Everyone knew the names.
James from 6B? Local construction kingpin.Derek from 8A? Son of a city councilman.
And Linda?
She never touched them.
Ethan had ripped off her mask.
Linda lost it.
She fired off a barrage of voice messages:
"Shoveling is civic duty! Some people are so SELFISH!"
"You don't want to help? Fine. Others will!"
"I didn't single anyone out—stop twisting my words!"
"Keep this up and I'll REPORT you!"
Ethan burst out laughing.
You think the cops are still coming?
Some residents panicked.They picked up tools and actually went outside.
But Ethan?
He didn't move an inch.
He replied:
"Good luck with that. I'm not going anywhere."
"This snow won't stop for months. Clear it yourself—or wait for spring."