Chapter 53: Crazy for Phoenix

In the frigid grip of the snowstorm, the 25th building was a cauldron of desperation and chaos. The revelation that Phoenix had a well-stocked home, in stark contrast to the collective misery, ignited a storm of emotions among the residents. Annie's strategic move to share Phoenix's living conditions in the group chat, corroborated by Iris, was like adding fuel to the already burning fire of resentment and envy.

The residents, shivering in their cold, dark homes, were incredulous at the thought of someone amongst them living in comfort and abundance while they faced hunger and despair. The idea that Phoenix might have anticipated the disaster and prepared without warning them was unbearable. They felt betrayed and believed he owed them, overlooking the improbability that anyone would have believed such a prediction had Phoenix shared it.

Alexander, already a menacing presence within the building, saw the unfolding events as an opportunity. His grudge against Phoenix, intensified by a previous altercation, was further fueled by the revelation of Phoenix's resources. He saw a chance to seek revenge and acquire desperately needed supplies.

The group chat turned into an arena of moral outrage, desperate pleas, and outright threats. The residents, united in their anger, demanded that Phoenix share his resources. Some appealed to a sense of community, others recalled past favors, and a few resorted to blackmail or intimidation. Each message was a testament to their desperation and the disintegration of social order in the face of survival.

Meanwhile, Phoenix watched this spectacle with a mixture of amusement and disdain. Having once extended kindness to these same neighbors in another life, only to be brutally betrayed and consumed, he harbored no illusions about their intentions. This wasn't just about survival; it was also about revenge, an opportunity to toy with those who had once turned against him so ruthlessly. His responses in the group chat were calculated – a blend of indifference and provocation, designed to heighten their desperation and frustration.

To them, Phoenix had become the villain, hoarding life-saving resources while refusing to share. The irony wasn't lost on Phoenix; these were the same people who, in another timeline, had savagely attacked him for his supplies. Now, they were the ones begging and bargaining, with some women even offering themselves in exchange for shelter and food. The offers ranged from heartbreakingly desperate to shamelessly opportunistic, reflecting the collapse of societal norms and the primal urge to survive at any cost.

Phoenix, comfortably sipping his wine and savoring foie gras, observed the unfolding chaos with a detached coolness. The desperate pleas for help, the offers of self-sacrifice, and the threats were merely background noise to him. He had witnessed the true face of humanity in these desperate times, leaving him jaded and unfeeling. His focus remained solely on his survival and the execution of his carefully plotted revenge.

In the building, tensions escalated dangerously. The collective desperation and anger were a ticking time bomb, and Phoenix, at the center of this brewing storm, remained unaffected. He was a solitary figure amidst the turmoil, determined to outlast and outplay those who had once wronged him.

In this harsh, post-apocalyptic world where survival was the only rule, Phoenix had chosen his path – one marked by isolation and cold retribution. The lines between victim and villain, right and wrong, had blurred into obscurity. In the end, it was every person for themselves, and Phoenix was no exception to this ruthless rule of survival.