Pain.
It was the only thing I could feel.
Teeth tearing into my flesh. My screams swallowed by the night. The metallic scent of blood filled the air as the zombies devoured me without mercy.
So this is how I die…
Abandoned. Betrayed. Forgotten.
Darkness slowly consumed my vision.
And then—
Silence.
I gasped.
My eyes flew open.
The ceiling above me was familiar.
White.
Clean.
Untouched by blood.
I shot up from the bed, breathing heavily. My hands flew to my shoulder.
No wound.
No bite.
No blood.
"What…?" My voice trembled.
I looked around.
My room.
My old room.
The one I had before the apocalypse.
Before Kevin betrayed me.
Before my parents died.
My heart pounded wildly as I grabbed my phone from the bedside table.
The date.
Three months.
Three months before the outbreak.
"This… this isn't possible."
Tears filled my eyes—not from fear this time, but from realization.
I was back.
Back before everything was destroyed.
Back before I chose Kevin over my parents.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
Kevin.
Chelsea.
This time… I won't be your fool.
I rushed out of my room, my legs shaking. In the living room, I saw them—
Mom.
Dad.
Alive.
Arguing softly over breakfast like they always did.
The sight shattered something inside me.
"Mom… Dad…" My voice cracked.
They turned to look at me, confused.
"Mia? Why are you crying this early?" Mom asked, walking toward me.
I ran into her arms.
They were warm.
Alive.
Real.
I clenched my fists.
This time, I won't let you die.
This time, I won't trust Kevin.
This time—
I'll be ready for the apocalypse.
And when the world falls apart again…
I won't be the girl left behind.
I'll be the one they fear.