chapter 1: The Day the world fell

Chapter 1: The Day the World Fell

Serena couldn't remember the exact moment the world had begun to crumble. It happened in pieces, tiny cracks forming in the facade of society. But the virus, the one that spread like wildfire, had been the final blow.

She'd watched it unfold in real-time, horrified, as her friends, family, and coworkers all vanished into the chaos. Then, it was her turn. Betrayed by the people she trusted most—her best friend and boyfriend—Serena had been left to die alone. They'd taken her food, her weapons, and shut her out of the shelter she'd created for them all. She had fought to survive, but the pain and the zombies were too much.

When she finally died, the only thought that crossed her mind was one of regret. She hadn't prepared for this. She hadn't seen the signs, hadn't been ready for the betrayal. Then, the darkness took over.

The next thing she knew, Serena was awake again. The pain, the zombies, the betrayal—all of it was gone. She was back. But it wasn't the same world she remembered. She was three months before the outbreak.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she sat up on the cold floor of her apartment, gasping for air. The quiet was overwhelming. The sun was barely rising outside the window, the orange glow spilling over the edge of the horizon. It was early, too early for her to make sense of what had just happened.

"Am I dreaming?" Serena whispered to herself, rubbing her eyes.

The ache in her chest had not faded. The sting of betrayal, the wounds, all of it remained. But now, she was awake. Back in time, with a chance to change everything.

Her first instinct was to panic. She wanted to scream, to shout for someone to explain how this was possible. But instead, she stayed still, absorbing the reality of it. Her apartment was the same—nothing had changed. But she had changed. She had a new understanding of what was to come.

Serena stood up slowly, her legs shaky as she took her first steps toward the door. The world outside was still the same, untouched, alive with possibility. It was too early for people to know the horrors that awaited them. They had no idea.

She had three months—three months to prepare for the apocalypse, three months to take back everything that was taken from her.

The first stop was simple: her weapons. She knew exactly where she had kept them. It was an old trick her father had taught her, a trick she would need if she was going to survive. The key to the apartment was still in her pocket, the faint imprint of it against her skin reminding her that she had a plan.

She wasn't going to make the same mistakes again. She wasn't going to trust people who weren't worthy of her trust. She wasn't going to wait around for betrayal to strike again.

Her first task was to build her defenses. Serena had learned a lot in her previous life, and now she knew exactly what she needed to do. Stockpiling food, water, and supplies was just the beginning. Creating a safe haven, a place where she could survive when the world came crashing down, was her next step. She would not go down without a fight.

But there was another part of her plan, something far darker than any of that. Revenge.

The people who had betrayed her would suffer. The ones who watched her die, knowing what they did, would pay. They wouldn't get away with it again.

Serena's eyes narrowed as the memories flooded her mind. She had been weak before. But not this time. Not again.

The next few days passed quickly. She moved like a shadow, collecting resources, working in the shadows, and laying low. She knew that getting her revenge would take time, but the first part of her plan was almost ready.

But there was something she didn't account for.

Every time she went out, she saw familiar faces, people who were still alive, still unaware of what was coming. Her old life had been full of friends, laughter, and the normal problems of any young woman. Now, it was all strange. But what terrified her the most was how everyone was still so... normal. The world didn't know. Not yet.

Serena walked through the crowded street, a strange sense of deja vu crawling over her. She'd seen this scene before, she realized, but it was from a different perspective. Her heart was heavy with the weight of the coming storm. It was coming, she could feel it.

The virus. The end. And when it came, she would be ready. But this time, she would also be prepared for the betrayal. She would be stronger, smarter, and ready to face the ones who left her to die.

The world might be on the brink of destruction, but she was going to survive. She wasn't going to let history repeat itself.

She was going to make sure of it.