Chapter 2: Racing Against Time

The cold wind lashed against my face as I ran down the street, my mind still spinning from the impossible reality I found myself in. November 23rd. The day before the end. Less than 24 hours before the outbreak. I had a plan—well, the start of one—but everything felt overwhelming. I knew what was coming, but how could I stop an apocalypse?

People were everywhere, going about their mundane routines. A group of teenagers laughed as they passed me, sipping on oversized drinks. A couple was walking their dog, the woman smiling brightly while the man scrolled through his phone. All of them were blissfully unaware that their lives would soon be torn apart. They'd be screaming in terror in just a few hours.

I shook my head, trying to force the horrific images out of my mind. Now wasn't the time for despair. I had been given this chance—a second life—and I wasn't going to waste it. First thing's first: Mia.

She lived on the other side of town, about a 20-minute walk from my apartment. I needed to get to her before everything went to hell. I couldn't let her die again. My sister was my anchor, the one person who kept me going when things got unbearable during the outbreak. Losing her the first time was my breaking point, and I swore I wouldn't let that happen again. But this time, I had the upper hand.

Or at least, I hoped I did.

I quickened my pace, navigating through the streets I knew like the back of my hand. The buildings around me felt too familiar, as if they were mocking me with their stillness, their normalcy. There was a tightness in my chest that only grew as I neared Mia's apartment building. My mind was racing, filled with all the things I needed to do, all the ways I could prepare for the chaos that was about to erupt.

Plan, survive, protect Mia. That's all that mattered now.

I arrived at the building and slammed the buzzer for her apartment. My heart pounded, half-expecting her not to answer, half-expecting this to be a cruel joke that would unravel at any moment.

"Hello?" Her voice crackled through the intercom, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Mia, it's me. Let me in. It's urgent," I said, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

There was a pause on the other end. "Jake? What's wrong?"

"Just—just let me in, okay? I'll explain everything when I'm inside."

Another pause. "Okay, okay. Hold on." A buzz, and the door clicked open.

I rushed inside and sprinted up the stairs to her third-floor apartment. My mind was running faster than my legs. How was I going to explain this? How could I tell her what was about to happen without sounding like a complete lunatic?

When I reached her door, she was already standing there, concern etched on her face. She looked just like I remembered—dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, eyes wide with worry, wearing her favorite oversized hoodie.

"Jake, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, stepping aside to let me in.

I hesitated for a moment. How could I tell her that the world was about to end? That she had less than 24 hours before everything would descend into madness? I swallowed hard and closed the door behind me.

"Mia, I need you to listen to me," I said, my voice low but urgent. "Something terrible is going to happen. Tomorrow. The world… it's going to change, and we need to be ready."

She blinked at me, confusion clouding her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "I don't know how to explain this without sounding insane, but you have to believe me. There's going to be an outbreak—a virus that turns people into… into monsters. Zombies. It's going to happen tomorrow, and I need you to trust me. We have to prepare."

Her face paled, and she let out a nervous laugh. "Zombies? Jake, this isn't funny."

"I'm not joking, Mia." I grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at me. "I've been through it already. I died. But somehow, I've been given a second chance, and I'm not going to let you die this time. We have less than 24 hours to get ready."

She stared at me, wide-eyed, the weight of my words finally sinking in. "You… you really believe this, don't you?"

"I don't just believe it. I know it." I let go of her and paced the room, my mind buzzing with what we needed to do next. "We need supplies. Food, water, weapons—anything that can help us survive. We can't stay here when it starts. The cities will fall first."

Mia stood frozen, her mind clearly trying to process what I was saying. "But… but how? How do you know all this?"

I stopped pacing and turned to face her, my expression grim. "Because I've lived it. I've seen everything. The outbreak. The destruction. The death." My voice cracked. "I watched you die, Mia. I can't go through that again."

Her eyes softened, and she took a step toward me. "Jake…"

Before she could say more, I heard something outside the window—a loud crash followed by shouting. I rushed over and looked down at the street. A car had veered off the road, smashing into a lamppost. People were gathering around, but my blood ran cold when I saw the driver stumble out, his movements jerky and unnatural.

"No. It's too early," I whispered. The outbreak wasn't supposed to start until tomorrow.

"What is it?" Mia asked, coming up behind me.

I pointed to the street below. "It's already happening."

The driver's head snapped toward the bystanders, and before anyone could react, he lunged, grabbing a woman by the throat. Screams filled the air as chaos erupted. I watched in horror as the infection began to spread right before my eyes.

I turned to Mia, my face pale. "We need to go. Now."

She didn't hesitate this time. We grabbed what little supplies she had—water bottles, some food, a few tools—and bolted out of the apartment. My mind was racing. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The outbreak had started early. But why?

We hit the street and were immediately hit with the sounds of panic. People were running in every direction, trying to escape the madness. The infected were spreading fast, their numbers growing with every passing minute.

I grabbed Mia's hand and pulled her close. "We're going to the outskirts. Away from the city. It'll be safer there."

She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "Where can we go? We don't have a car."

"We'll figure it out. Just stay close to me."

We started running, weaving through the chaos, trying to avoid the infected. My heart pounded in my chest as I fought to keep my thoughts clear. We needed to get out of the city, but without a car, it was going to be nearly impossible.

Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the street behind us, and we were thrown to the ground. I shielded Mia with my body, my ears ringing from the blast. When I looked up, I saw the fire spreading, consuming everything in its path.

The infected weren't the only threat. The world was burning.

I pulled Mia to her feet, my mind racing. We had to keep moving. We had to survive.

But as we ran through the chaos, one question gnawed at me.

Why had the outbreak started early?

And more importantly… who or what had caused it?