Surviving the Apocalypse

Hanna Storm crept through the alley, following the 4 other members of her scavenger team that snuck into the city and looted the buildings that the zombies no longer cared about. The supplies of food that scavenger teams like hers, the only thing preventing their Camp of 500 people from starving in a world that seemed to have turned against them. The last 5 years had been hell on Earth, the Zombies just the first rung of what the survivors faced as a scorching summer that brought severe drought was unleashed just weeks later. As if that wasn't bad enough, at the beginning of fall winter struck early with a ferocity that would leave many to freeze to death because of the lack of shelter and ability for the Camps to prepare. Storm after storm slammed their part of the world, snow accumulating to 20 feet in places that usually never saw more than a few inches a year. Spring brought no relief from the floods the snow caused, entire sections of farmland reduced to swamps that took months to become usable again, just in time for the process to repeat itself for 3 brutal years. Hanna shook her head to clear the stray thoughts as they crept along silently as fast as they dared, aware that even the slightest noise would draw the attention of the swarms that surrounded them. Because of the dangers, they crossed open roads one at a time, their weapons always covering each other in the event that someone was caught unaware as they dashed across the open road. She waited her turn, covering each person as they crossed before they stopped and did the same from the opposite side. Hanna was halfway across when disaster struck, one of her people sending a display of objects crashing to the ground well within the hearing range if two different swarms to her left and right. The screech from both directions was clear as a bell in the quiet of the city streets before she looked at the others. "RUN!" She yelled as she began sprinting behind them herself as the zombies began running to the sound of the crash and her yell. The caution from just a few minutes ago gone out the window as they made a beeline for the fence that would stop them and the gate that would allow her team the breathing room they needed to escape from them. The only obstacle, half a mile of open field that they had to sprint across as fast as they could. Hanna was barely 20 yards in front of the zombies when the first member of her team with a speed ability got to the fence and opened the gate. Her step brother James stood there with his gun drawn dropping the ones behind her as she grabbed a grenade and lobbed it behind her after pulling the pin. She didn't slow as the team made it through one by one, none of them stopping as James slammed the gate shut and clasped the lock in front of her. "Finally taking out the trash, you won't drag us down anymore." he sneered as she drew her sword and pulled a cord. "Let me through." she demanded dropping her pack with a smile. "Not a chance, you are useless with no abilities." he said as he turned to run and follow the others while Hanna kept battling the zombies that were trying to kill her now. She only saw the blinding flash of the explosion, didn't feel it at all before she wondered what was happening as it seemed to stretch longer and longer. 'Resurrection system activated. Total survival time: 8,507 days. Total time counted prior to catastrophic event: 6,569 days. Total time after: 1,938 days. You have earned 8.5 days for time survived prior, and 19.4 days from time survived after. Total time earned: 27.9 days. 'Power detected: Questeward system will be usable upon rebirth. Do you wish to proceed with resurrection?' it asked with only options for yes and no. She selected yes, suddenly finding herself waking up in her dorm room the morning of her graduation from the military academy. 'Quest system activated. New Quest: Purchase securable location to create Survivors Camp. New Quest: Secure funding for Survivor Camp. New Quest: Recruit 40 people to found Survivors Camp prior to beginning of Apocalypse. New Quest: Secure Survivors Camp.' it began pinging her mind with quest after quest as she realized she now had a countdown timer to the minute that it considered it the apocalypse. First however, she knew she had to get through today. Her father's wife and children as well as the rest of her family conveniently forgetting she existed today, when she had to be tapped out of formation by a family member. A stupid tradition she had requested to skip as her mother had died years earlier, her father 6 months prior. A request that had been denied as her evil step mother had assured them that she would be attending today. It was just before her 18th birthday, as well as the day her emancipation from her stepmother had been approved by the courts, as they had documented multiple instances of her trying to access the trust fund that her inheritance had been placed in. In her past life, Hanna had given them one last chance after this day, her loyalty to what her father had wanted overriding her own desires. This time however, she listed the expensive house for sale before she had even begun graduation, knowing a few days after the apocalypse it would be burnt to the ground anyway. She knew her stepmother and stepbrothers wouldn't return until 3 days before anyway, far too late this time around as her emancipation paperwork cleared the hurdle of her stepmothers guardianship over her. So she got ready for her ceremony, determined to show these i***t people just who her stepmother was this time around. At 1900 hours, she stood in the same spot she had assumed at the head of her graduating class, her honors and merits on full display. Not one single person had touched her since the ceremony began, the last time she had slunk away when no one was watching. All to save her stepmother the humiliation of not having come. This time, she stood perfectly at attention as required, the officers seeing her as they performed the final ceremony of farewell before they received assignments. General Michael Harrison himself stormed over to where she was, demanding to know why she was still standing there even after the banquet had finished. "This Cadet was never tapped out sir. No family has arrived so far as I am aware sir." she answered formally as her Drill Sergeant approached surprised as well. "Why did you not request to not participate Cadet?" the General demanded. "I did sir, Drill Sergeant Hayes said he spoke with my stepmother who assured him she would be present. He denied my request despite my objection sir." she answered without emotion as he turned to look at the Drill Sergeant. "Sir, Mrs. Storm assured me multiple times she would be attending for this important ceremony and wished her daughter to participate." Drill Sergeant Hayes said defending himself. "She is not my mother Drill Sergeant, and as I said when I objected, her desire is to embarrass and humiliate me." Hanna replied evenly to him as the General cleared his throat. "Drill Sergeant, we will discuss this issue at a later time. As you have missed the ceremony Cadet, it is my honor on behalf of the President to grant you the rank of Colonel. You will receive your assignment 3 days after your 18th birthday." General Harrison said saluting her which she returned with precision. "Thank you sir." she said before returning to attention. "Dismissed Colonel." he said before she turned and walked away without even addressing the Drill Sergeant who had made her stand there for nearly 10 hours. The next morning she arrived to the house she knew would be empty except for the things her father had left for her, Clarise unable to remove anything from it without her permission as it had all been left to her. 'New power detected: Personal Storage Space. New Quest: Pack belongings from house prior to sell. Reward: 1 square foot of storage space per ¥1,000 value of items packed.' her system said just before it began a two hour countdown for her to take everything she could. Hanna didn't hesitate as she began in the entry, everything within a few feet of her disappearing as her quest tracker displayed the value of everything she packed. Her parents had gathered unique antiquities that held extreme value, the system accounting for it as it appeared in her storage space. She loaded an entire cabinet into her space when she touched it, the value including everything that was inside it as well. She smiled as she knew it would only speed her up, as she wouldn't have to unload every single thing. Room after room was left barren, her gaze missing nothing as she packed every item from every nook and cranny of the massive house. She even went into the basement and loaded all of the broken items and junk her father and grandfather had built up in their man cave, things that she had no desire to take other than the fact that her system repaired the broken items automatically and gave her credit for the full value of what each item was. Just before the timer stopped she finished packing the last of the vehicles into her storage space, the gate opening to admit two cars that she knew didn't belong to her stepmother. As she watched and loaded the last of the items she was taking into her space, the only thing left being her small car that she had kept in the garage. She noticed that the sign on the front car was from the realtor she had hired to sell the property, already showing interested clients the spectacular views and architecture that made up the house that had stood for 500 years. "I think you will find this is exactly what you are looking for to start your new family. 8 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and more property than most know what to do with." Samantha Tate said to her buyers before realizing that Hanna was there as well. "Ah, Miss Storm, I wasn't expecting you." "No worries Ms. Tate, I was actually just leaving. I hope you find the estate to your liking." she said to the buyers who were clearly excited. "Would you mind giving us a tour yourself, perhaps giving us some personal context of what the house meant to your family?" the woman asked looking at Hanna who nodded. That evening the people had submitted a cash offer on the house for ¥35,000,000, which was ¥5,000,000 more than what she had been asking. Because it was owned free and clear, the Escrow was almost instantly completed on her part. The County had no issue transferring the deed with her copy of the emancipation papers she had been given by the courts. At 1900 that night, her system alerted her that the ¥35,000,000 was now in her account. The reward was instant as it showed she still had time to gain more, her system doubling the amount she had available to ¥70,000,000.