Chapter 1: The Cure that couldn't save me

“I did it!” My voice echoed through the laboratory. “Jake, I finally did it!”

I rushed toward my husband and threw my arms around him.

For once, he didn't pull away or complain about my stained lab coat.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes!” I grabbed his hand. “Come and see.”

I dragged him toward the rabbit cages, barely able to contain my excitement.

“Look.” I pointed at the monitoring screen.

“The vaccinated rabbits aren't developing symptoms. I exposed them to contaminated blood, but the virus couldn't establish an infection. Their viral load dropped rapidly, and their immune response is suppressing the replication.”

Jake stared at the results. “So…”

“We have a vaccine.”

His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

I nodded, laughing through my tears. “Yes.”

He pulled me into his arms and spun me around. “We're saved, Valerie! We're actually saved!”

I laughed against his shoulder.

Months of sleepless nights had finally paid off. I had sacrificed almost everything to find a way to stop the virus.

Even Zeph.

My childhood friend had died protecting Jake and me when the infected breached our compound.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

I looked toward the temperature-controlled chamber where three precious doses waited.

One for me, Jake and the third for replication.

For the first time since the apocalypse began, I allowed myself to imagine a future.

Then Jake smiled and said “I've been preparing something too.”

I looked at him.

“A surprise for you.” He pulled a black cloth from his pocket. “I need to blindfold you first.”

I laughed. “Why?”

“Because it's a surprise.”

I glanced toward the vaccine chamber. “We should take the vaccine first.”

“We will.” He took my hand. “Just trust me.”

Those words would haunt me for the remaining minutes of my life.

I let him blindfold me and led me away from the laboratory, his fingers wrapped around mine.

For a few precious seconds, I forgot about the infected outside. I was simply a wife following the man she loved.

Then—

BANG! Something slammed into the back of my head and pain exploded through my skull, my knees buckled.

“Jake?” I cried.

but I heard him laugh and I heard another voice, a female voice before everything went black.

—

A woman's giggle dragged me out of the darkness.

I frowned, struggling to open my eyes.

Another giggle followed, accompanied by a low moan.

What was that sound?

My head throbbed as I slowly lifted my eyelids towards the noise. For a moment, everything appeared blurry.

Then my heart stopped. A woman was effortlessly riding Jake's erect dick while he was groaning and ravaging her pointed nipples.

I stared at them, unable to breathe. I tried to get up but I couldn't move.. I was chained hands and feet to a wheelchair.

“Jake?” I whispered. I swallowed hard and tried again.

“Jake!” This time, he turned. Instead of remorse, he sighed in irritation.

My gaze shifted to the woman on his lap. She slowly turned toward me, a smug smile spreading across her face.

Jasmine Stewart.. Jake's cousin, the one we couldn't find after we lost Zeph.

“Oh, darling,” she purred, brushing her fingers across Jake's chest. “Your genius wife is awake.”

My chest tightened.

I tried to sit up, but the chains bit into my flesh and the wheel chair moved a bit.

“Jake…” My voice cracked. “What the hell is this?”

“Celebration darling. We are celebrating the end of our suffering.”

He lifted Jasmine off his lap and positioned her well and started pumping deep into her until they both orgasmed before me.

“Have you ever seen me enjoy sex like this with you?” He finally asked me..

“I've had to endure your fat body for over a year and just when I thought of divorcing your fat ass, this monstrous disease surfaced but now I see that it's actually a blessing in disguise.”

“What are you even saying Jakes, we loved each other.”

“No, darling.. I've only loved Jasmine all my life.” He planted a kiss on Jasmine's forehead.

“But she's your cousin.”

They both laughed at my naiveness and without a word, as they took turns injecting the vaccine into each other's veins.

Then my eyes widened as Jake came towards me.

“Do you know what I'm going to do now? Take out this trash and take what's mine.. Everything here is my payment for being with your bloated ass for a year and a month.”

He unlocked my wheelchair. Fear rushed through me.

“What are you doing?”

He pushed me toward the exit.

“Taking out trash..” Jasmine laughed behind him.

“Jake, stop!” I begged but he kept going.

The reinforced doors Lazach Research world opened and cold air struck my face.

Beyond the compound lay the ruined world. Burned buildings, abandoned cars, blood-stained roads and infected creatures wandering outside.

“No.” I grabbed the wheels.

“Jake, please… I'll make more vaccines,” I begged. “We can share them. I won't interfere with you and Jasmine. Just give me the remaining dose.”

He stopped. For one desperate moment, I thought he might change his mind

Instead, he smiled.

“You still don't understand. I detest you Valerie. Even if this apocalypse didn't happen, I would have still kicked your ass out of my life and I planned on doing it on our anniversary.”

Jasmine opened the gate and Jake pushed me with all his strength.

The wheel chair rolled down the street and stopped as it hit a decaying body.

The infected immediately turned toward the sound, their snarls filled the air.

“Noooooo…” I screamed

The gate slammed shut and they stood behind the bars of my company watching and waiting for me to vanish from their world.

The first infected lunged at me.

I screamed until my voice broke and kicked but it was useless.

Claws tore into my flesh.

And as darkness swallowed me, I finally understood... The apocalypse hadn't killed me, trust had.

My last thought as I breathed my last was a promise. If I ever got another chance, I would never make the same mistake again.

Then everything went silent for a moment.

Until a cold voice echoed inside my head.

[Death confirmed.]

[Apocalypse Reset System activated.]

[Time reversal confirmed.]