Time ticked by.
The soft sound of the ocean waves grew fainter and fainter.
Looking at Hope, who had long since fallen asleep in his seat, the woman's lips curved into an affectionate smile.
She parked beside a charging station by the road.
After plugging the car in, she got back inside.
She locked the doors, then slowly closed her eyes.
The fatigue from hours of driving quickly drew her into sleep.
A sudden patter of rain woke her.
At the sight of the fat raindrops striking the windshield, her face went pale.
This is bad!
Her last escape had taught her a lesson she would never forget.
Never travel in the rain!
As global temperatures rose, extreme weather had become increasingly common.
You never knew whether the rain in front of you would turn into a hurricane!
"Damn it!"
The woman cursed under her breath and quickly buckled her seat belt. "Hope! Wake up! We have to go!"
Hope groggily opened his eyes in the passenger seat.
The moment he saw the raindrops on the windshield, he snapped fully awake.
A flicker of terror flashed deep in his eyes.
The scene from not long ago resurfaced in his mind.
Amid torrential rain, a man had been struck squarely by a utility pole toppled by the wind. He had fallen into water more than ten centimeters deep and never answered his family's calls again...
"Hope! Put your seat belt on!" a shrill shout came from beside him. "The wind isn't strong yet. We have to hurry to the next city!"
Coming back to his senses, Hope grew serious and quickly fastened his seat belt.
"The charger..." Hope pointed out the window, raising his voice to remind her.
The woman gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, then turned, opened