Chapter 1003  A Billion Deaths

Rudy handed the shopping bag to Jessica as he continued his research on her laptop. Dinner preparations were underway in the kitchen, where Jessica and Rebecca teamed up to make a meal. As Rudy delved into the research on Jessica's laptop, the aroma of dinner wafted through the house as Jessica and Rebecca worked together in the kitchen, preparing a meal for the family. The clinking of utensils and the hum of conversation created a warm atmosphere, a stark contrast to the gravity of the information Rudy was uncovering.

The screen displayed a stark reality—nearly 10% of the world's population had perished in the initial monster attack, a devastating toll that surpassed 800 million lives lost. Rudy's heart sank, the weight of those numbers settling heavily on his shoulders. Each digit seemed to carry the weight of a lost soul, a faceless casualty of a world gone awry.

Amidst the grim statistics, one haunting fear lingered in Rudy's mind — one person's absence echoed louder than the rest— the uncertainty surrounding Elise's fate. He knew he had encountered everyone from his past worldline except her.

A haunting worry lingered, fueled by the uncertainty of her fate in the wake of the monster attacks.

A sense of urgency compelled Rudy to search for any clues about Elise, a task made difficult by her absence from social media. The absence of updates left him in the dark, amplifying the anxiety that gripped his heart. He couldn't rest easy until he uncovered any traces of her existence.

he clattering of dinner preparations continued in the background as Rudy's eyes remained glued to the laptop screen, desperately seeking information about Elise amidst the aftermath of a world forever changed.

As Rudy delved into the depths of the web, he stumbled upon a website claiming to contain the names of all the victims from the past five years. A mixture of trepidation and determination swirled within him as he hesitantly initiated the download, the anticipation growing with each passing moment.

The list, a digital record of lives lost and altered, took its time to manifest on Jessica's laptop. Rudy watched the progress bar inch forward, the weight of the impending information palpable. When the download finally completed, Rudy cautiously opened the list, revealing a staggering amount of data that threatened to overwhelm the laptop's capacity.

The very application Jessica had used for her project was now tasked with handling the extensive list of victims. An unforeseen consequence unfolded—the laptop froze in response to the sheer volume of information. A momentary panic gripped Rudy as he grappled with the prospect of the app crashing, potentially jeopardizing Jessica's project.

Rudy resisted the urge to immediately inform Jessica about the situation, convinced he could resolve it on his own. Drawing on the experience of an adult in a younger body, he navigated the complexities of the digital realm with a mixture of patience and determination.

"Have you saved your project?" Rudy inquired, his tone calm but underlined with concern.

Jessica turned around, her expression curious. "Yes, I have. Why do you ask? Did you do anything?"

"No, I was just asking as a safety measure," Rudy reassured, masking the internal tension. His mind, however, churned with the realization that even with the project saved, the open tab could still pose a risk. The delicate balance between the importance of the victim list and preserving Jessica's project set the stage for a test of Rudy's patience and technological finesse.

The precarious situation unfolded as Rudy faced the escalating risk of a potential virus lurking within the downloaded file. He understood the inherent dangers of obtaining information from unfamiliar sources, especially in the digital landscape. However, the urgency to uncover any trace of Elise overshadowed the cautionary alarms ringing in his mind.

Realizing the looming threat, Rudy took immediate action to mitigate potential damage. He disconnected Jessica's laptop from the internet, severing any potential ties to external networks. With a deep breath, he initiated a force restart, hoping to reset the system and cleanse it of any potential malicious entities.

As the laptop booted up once more, Rudy opted to open the downloaded file in a different application—one that primarily operated offline, minimizing the risk of further complications. Though the process still demanded a few tense minutes, the file eventually unveiled its contents: a vast compilation of names, representing the lives affected by the tumultuous events of the past five years.

Time was of the essence for Rudy. Seeking an expedited search, he pressed Ctrl + F, activating the find function, and typed the letters 'El'. The page swiftly responded, redirecting to entries that incorporated the specified sequence—whether at the beginning, middle, or end of each name.

Faced with the limitations of the lagging system, Rudy grappled with the decision to abbreviate the search. The urgency of the moment clashed with the necessity to avoid a potential system freeze. Each keystroke held the weight of Rudy's hopes and fears as he navigated the labyrinth of names, desperately seeking any trace of Elise within the colossal data set.

The list, a somber catalog of lives lost, offered only fragmented details about the victims—names, last names, ages, and the stark year of their demise. Rudy's quest for information, particularly concerning Elise, intensified as he meticulously scrolled through the extensive document.

His gaze darted across the screen, scanning each name for the elusive combination of last name, age, and, most crucially, the year of death. The absence of locality information heightened the challenge, leaving Rudy to sift through a sea of possibilities.

As he meticulously scanned the entries, his eyes caught the name 'Eleanor,' a name he recognized as belonging to Eric's mother. However, the commonality of names meant that numerous individuals shared identical names, even last names and ages. Rudy exercised caution, refraining from hasty assumptions or premature conclusions.

Continuing his relentless search, Rudy eventually reached the section of names with 'Elise.' A surge of anticipation and trepidation filled him as he combed through the entries, seeking crucial details like last names and ages. The year of death served as a vital puzzle piece in calculating the age of each Elise listed.

Rudy's eyes widened, making him unable to blink. He held his breath as he read the Elise List.

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