Apocalypse Park

"I think... my boyfriend might want to kill me." The McDonald's was packed with parents and their children this Sunday afternoon. The children's playground was filled with the sound of laughter and high-pitched shrieks as kids slid down the slides. In such a lively setting, it was hard for Amanda to take her friend's words seriously. "Don't be ridiculous! Even if you two had a fight, there's no need to paint him as some kind of monster," Amanda, chubby and cheerful, laughed as she scolded her friend. After a moment, she raised an eyebrow, hesitating slightly. "You don't hit each other when you argue, right?" Across from her sat a woman in her mid-twenties. Her features were striking, but in this bustling, international metropolis, she wasn’t exactly an uncommon beauty. What really drew attention were her large, slightly upturned eyes. The light amber hue of her irises gave them a cat-like gleam, reminiscent of a feline just waking in the early morning. Emma shook her head, not saying anything more. It was no wonder Amanda didn’t believe her. Even Emma felt absurd saying it out loud. It was probably just the lack of sleep these past few days, making her anxious and jittery. She took a couple of sips of her soda, trying to relax her expression, and half-jokingly said, "If the cops ever come asking about who I might have pissed off—" "Get out of here!" Amanda's teasing tone immediately dispelled the fleeting concern that had clouded her face moments before. She waved her hand with a grin. "Seriously, though, you're being spoiled and don't even realize it! Tell me, what flaws does Ethan even have?" Emma had heard it all before, countless times. The words drifted past her ears like a breeze, not registering at all. At that moment, her eyes caught something outside the window, and her jaw tightened. She quickly lowered her head, taking a bite of her burger as if to hide. Just as she bit into the bun, the bustling entrance of the McDonald's fell silent for a few seconds. The light at the door dimmed as a tall man walked in, unhurried. Several customers in line instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path for him. His tailored charcoal-gray shirt, with the signature Armani fitted waist design, exuded an understated yet unmistakable elegance from every seam. His dark, perfectly pressed trousers were free of any creases, as if they were always kept in pristine condition. Coupled with his rare nine-head-tall proportions and striking good looks, Ethan looked like he had just stepped off the pages of a high-fashion magazine. No wonder people were turning their heads to look at him as he walked into a McDonald's. As he took his seat, a subtle hint of Davidoff Cool Water cologne filled the air. "Why are you eating fast food again?" He nodded politely at Amanda, then affectionately ruffled Emma's hair, his Patek Philippe watch glinting as it got lost in her dark locks. "I was planning to take you to that Japanese restaurant tonight." "I was just hungry when I passed by here, so..." Emma forced a smile, avoiding Ethan's gaze as she picked up a fry and popped it into her mouth. Her long hair slipped from her shoulders, hiding her expression. Amanda was right. Ethan had no flaws. He was like a man straight out of a romantic drama. After just a few months of dating, Ethan had quickly won over all her friends and even her more skeptical colleagues with his impeccable manners-and of course, Emma herself. But it wasn’t just his manners. His looks, his wealth, his personality-everything was perfect. He was everything a woman could ever dream of. Everyone said she was incredibly lucky. When this relationship first started, Emma could hardly believe her luck. Every morning back then, she woke up with a smile, ready to face a brand new world Ethan had brought her into. Until it became harder and harder to smile. Suddenly, Amanda’s enthusiastic voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "I've kept Emma with me all day, so I won't take up any more of your private time! She just told me she's a bit tired, so why don't you two head home?" Emma was snapped back to reality. Ethan's voice was warm, as always, laced with a polite smile. "Let us give you a ride. It’s too hot out." Amanda, ever the carefree spirit, laughed. "Oh, I won’t say no to that! It really is too hot today. I was only outside for a bit and I’m already sweating all over." Even her shirt was still damp. Since she wasn't really hungry, and seeing that her friend had finished eating, Emma stood up, naturally following Ethan and Amanda out of the McDonald's. Outside, the heat wave that had been baking the streets all afternoon hit them like a wall. It was already October, but the scorching summer heat showed no signs of relenting, still firmly gripping the city. The people on the street, sweltering in the oppressive heat, either held up umbrellas or wiped sweat from their brows. Everyone looked uncomfortable-it was unbearably hot, hotter than it had ever been, even in midsummer! Amanda hated the heat, and after just a few steps, she was already sweating profusely, constantly wiping her forehead. Emma could feel her own hair sticking to the back of her neck. The sticky, uncomfortable feeling was unbearable, so she asked, "Where did you park the car?" Ethan nodded toward a spot not far away, his skin smooth and dry, not a hint of sweat in sight. "Just up ahead," he said, his posture as elegant and composed as ever. "I've told you many times, it’s inconvenient without a car. Now that you’ve got your license, do you want to buy one?" Amanda immediately exclaimed in admiration, "You’re planning to buy Emma a car? You really are the perfect boyfriend! When it was my birthday, my boyfriend only gave me a teddy bear." Emma hummed and nodded noncommittally, her mind elsewhere. Luckily, Amanda was chatty, and with her babbling to Ethan, he didn't seem to notice Emma's distraction. Three months ago, after countless requests from Ethan, Emma finally gave in to the sweetness and agreed to move in with him. She packed things up, canceled her lease, and moved into his penthouse. Friends and colleagues who visited her new home were green with envy. As soon as they stepped out the door, they pulled her aside, showering her with advice: "Emma, you need to hold on to a guy like this!" "Does Ethan have any brothers? Single friends? Don’t forget to introduce me to one!" "You should talk to him about marriage soon." Her friends’ excited voices still echoed in her ears. The excitement and anticipation she felt back then were ten times what they felt. But after living together for a while, the intelligence she had dulled from being in love slowly began to return. She started to notice little details in their everyday life. Now, Emma couldn't quite put her finger on why, but... She was starting to feel afraid of Ethan. After seeing Amanda off, Ethan restarted the car, and it smoothly merged into the traffic. About twenty minutes later, they were home. Ethan's apartment was in the most expensive part of the city. It was only built two years ago, and every tile represented a lifestyle Emma could never have imagined before. Now, she was almost getting used to this new life-if it weren't for the ever-growing shadow of doubt in her heart. The penthouse occupied the entire 38th floor. As the private elevator dinged and the doors opened, the two of them stepped into the living room. Sensing the elevator's movement, the lights in the living room gradually lit up with a soft glow." I bought some soda today. Do you want a can?" Emma put down her bag and walked toward the kitchen, trying to keep her heart from racing. She smiled at Ethan as if everything was normal. She was sure her expression was flawless. Ethan walked over, still wearing that gentle smile. "Sure, anything you buy is great." Anything you buy is great? She couldn't pinpoint when exactly, but at some point, those sweet, novel-like compliments started to make Emma uncomfortable-almost embarrassed. Do people really talk like this in real life? Not knowing how to respond, she quickly handed him the soda. As soon as he popped the tab, the drink fizzed, the bubbles rushing out with a hiss. Maybe to make her happy, Ethan took a long swig, downing almost half the can in one go. Emma hid herself behind the open fridge door, tensing up, her ears straining to catch any sound. The room was quiet for half a minute. Second after second passed, until Ethan finally broke the silence with a laugh. "What are you looking for in there?" Emma's heart sank straight into her stomach. She shut the fridge door and glanced at Ethan nonchalantly. No reaction. A freshly opened, ice-cold, carbonated Coke went down Ethan's throat, but he didn't even feel the slightest urge to burp, as if it had been poured into a pool of stagnant, black water. "Nothing, I just wanted to see if there were any snacks," she said with a forced smile. They had been living together for three months, and she had never seen Ethan burp. It wasn't just burping-coughing, sneezing, farting, sweating-all those things that might be a bit unseemly but that everyone does from time to time-Emma had never seen Ethan do any of them. Come to think of it, she wasn’t even sure if she’d ever seen him go to the bathroom. "You didn’t eat much earlier. How about going out for dinner tonight?", Ethan took her hands and kissed her on the neck. Goosebumps immediately rose on Emma's back. "No need, I'm too lazy to move. Besides, I want to go to bed early tonight; I have to get up early tomorrow." "In that case, I'll cook for you. I'll make some salmon, "Ethan said with a smile. Emma hurriedly nodded. Ethan's cooking skills, like everything else about him, were perfect and flawless. After they finished the meticulously prepared dinner, the sun outside the glass wall of the living room was gradually setting. The sky darkened little by little until it was finally replaced by night and starlight. "The global heatwave and drought have persisted for 104 days now..." After clearing the dishes, Emma pretended to be very interested in the news on TV, trying to avoid any eye contact with Ethan. "Following the heat-related deaths in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, cases of heatstroke deaths have now been reported in our country. Experts are warning... " She could feel Ethan approaching and sitting down next to her. The sofa sank deeply. Even though she didn’t turn around, she could clearly feel that Ethan wasn’t watching the TV. His gaze was fixed on her back-not with the usual tenderness, but with a kind of raw, naked... As if a snake was staring at a frog.