Chapter 4: The First of Many

The countdown was relentless. Three months seemed like plenty of time at first, but now, with each passing second, Serena felt the weight of urgency pressing against her chest.

She had spent the last week stockpiling supplies, expanding her portal storage, and testing the limits of her invisibility. But survival wasn't a solo act—not in this world, and definitely not in the one that was coming. If she was going to stand a chance, she needed allies. The right ones.

And she knew exactly where to start.

Zane Calloway.

He had been the strategist in their past life, the one who always had a plan when everything went to hell. He was sharp, calculated, and a natural leader. If there was anyone Serena needed by her side, it was him.

She glanced at the small notepad where she had written down the addresses of the people she had to find. Zane's apartment was twenty minutes away.

Serena stepped into a dark alley, took a deep breath, and activated her portal. The swirling void opened before her, and with one step, she vanished.

---

Meeting Zane

Zane had already started preparing. Serena found him in his apartment, surrounded by maps, weapons, and supplies.

The moment she stepped into the room, he was on guard. His sharp gray eyes locked onto her, his stance tense. "Who are you?" he demanded, holding a knife at his side, ready to throw.

Serena smirked. "Come on, Zane. I know you remember me."

For a moment, his expression didn't change. Then, his eyes widened slightly, recognition flashing across his face.

"No way," he muttered. "Serena?"

She nodded.

Zane took a deep breath, running a hand through his dark hair. "So it's not just me," he murmured. "You remember too."

"Yeah," Serena confirmed. "And I'm not wasting time. We have three months. We need to build our team, gather supplies, and get ahead before everything turns to chaos."

Zane nodded, his mind already working. "Who's next?"

Serena grinned. "Kiera Monroe."

---

Meeting Kiera

Three days gone.

Kiera Monroe was a fighter—literally. In their past life, she had survived longer than most because she was ruthless in combat. With her fire manipulation, she had burned through hordes of the infected, making her one of the strongest assets to the group.

Finding her wasn't hard. She was exactly where Serena remembered—at an underground fight club, taking down opponents twice her size.

Serena and Zane watched from the sidelines as Kiera delivered a knockout punch, flames flickering at her fingertips. She won the match effortlessly, wiping the sweat from her brow as she turned to grab her things.

"She's gonna be fun to convince," Zane muttered.

Serena smirked. "Watch and learn."

She stepped forward, calling out, "Kiera!"

The redhead turned, her green eyes narrowing. "Do I know you?"

"Not yet," Serena replied. "But you will."

Five minutes later, after proving they all shared the same memories, Kiera was on board.

"Finally," she said, cracking her knuckles. "I was waiting for something to happen."

"Good," Serena said. "Because we're just getting started."

---

Meeting Damien

Another three days gone.

Damien Wolfe had been the fastest in their past life—literally. His super speed and enhanced reflexes made him an unstoppable force. Serena found him in an abandoned warehouse, testing his limits.

As soon as he saw them approach, he was gone in a blur, reappearing behind them. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

Serena sighed. "Do I have to do this every time?"

Ten minutes later, after another round of "We're all reborn, the apocalypse is coming," Damien was convinced.

"Man," he muttered, stretching his arms. "I thought I was going crazy. Good to know I'm not alone."

"You never were," Serena said. "And you won't be this time."

---

Meeting the Twins

Another three days.

The last stop for now was the hardest.

Leo and Lila Graves were only ten years old, but their powers were terrifying. In their past life, they had been orphans, struggling to survive on their own. This time, Serena wasn't going to let that happen.

Finding them wasn't easy. She and the others scoured the city, tracking down the exact orphanage where they had been last time. But when they got there—

They were gone.

Serena's stomach clenched. "No. This isn't right."

Zane placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll find them."

They searched for hours, moving from abandoned buildings to homeless shelters. Then, finally—

A small hand reached out from the shadows.

Leo's voice was barely a whisper. "Serena?"

She turned, locking eyes with the little boy. Lila was beside him, gripping his sleeve.

Serena crouched down, her voice soft but firm. "It's okay. We're here now."

Lila hesitated before stepping forward. "You came back for us?"

Serena smiled. "Always."

---

With the team coming together, Serena knew one thing—

They had a long road ahead.

But this time, they were ready.