Doomsday Rewind: My Ex Gets What's Coming

My fiance, Leo Parker, cheated on me with my best friend, Jessica Thorne. When the apocalypse hit, they threw me out to be torn apart by zombies.

After I was reborn, I spent every last dollar I saved for Leo to build up a stash of supplies.

When the zombie outbreak happened again, I finally got to sit back and watch the two of them face the consequences they deserved.

…

"No! Don't!"

I jolted upright in bed, cold sweat soaking through my pajamas.

A tearing pain ripped through my limbs, as if dozens of sharp teeth were gnawing into my flesh. I looked down at my arms and saw that they were completely intact, without a single mark.

Yet the agony of being eaten alive felt so real I could hear my bones crunch and taste the coppery tang of my own blood.

"Chloe? Babe, did you have another nightmare?"

Leo came out of the bathroom with his hair still damp, worry all over his face. He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for my cheek.

I pulled back on instinct, dodging his hand.

"I'm fine," I said, even though my voice shook.

Leo frowned. "You don't look okay. Are you stressed at work? Do you want me to come with you to the doctor?"

The doctor? I almost laughed.

What doctor could fix the trauma of being torn apart by zombies? What doctor could fix the despair of being shoved toward death by the person I loved most?

Leo suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. The remodeling contractor is coming by today to sign the contract. Make sure you have the 150 thousand dollars ready. We can't put off remodeling our future home."

150 thousand dollars?

The number blared in my head like an alarm. I turned toward the phone on the nightstand on autopilot.

October 30th, 2064. 8:17 am.

My stomach dropped.

The date, the time, Leo's words, even the look on his face, were exactly the same as that day burned into my memory.

October 30th, 2064, was the day before the zombie outbreak. It was also the day Leo used "remodeling our future home" as an excuse to bleed my savings dry.

The remodeling was a scam. The contractor was in on it. The second I transferred the money, they'd help him drain it.

"Chloe? Are you even listening?" Leo asked, impatience creeping into his voice.

I forced myself to breathe and looked him over.

His hair was perfectly styled. His eyes were warm and charming. His face looked like it belonged in an ad. Three years ago, I'd fallen for it completely and honestly thought I'd found real love.

Now I knew what was underneath. He was rotten.

Memories of my past life came rushing back all at once.

After the zombie outbreak hit, we were trapped in the apartment.

Our food and water ran out fast, and Leo finally showed who he really was. He admitted he was sleeping with Jessica, and then he turned around and blamed me for everything.

"If you hadn't been so damn stubborn about that remodeling, we'd have had money for food.

"Why don't you go out and find some food? You could be useful for once.

"You're nothing but a burden. All you do is drag us down!"

In the end, when the zombie horde broke through the building's barricades, Leo shoved me outside without hesitation, using me as bait to buy time for himself and Jessica to escape.

I'd never forget the sound of the door slamming behind me. I'd never forget Leo's last words through the narrow crack.

"Thank you for your sacrifice, Chloe."

"Babe?"

Leo waved a hand in front of my eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I drew a slow breath and swallowed the surge of rage trying to climb up my throat.

Now wasn't the time. I had a second chance, and I knew what was coming. I was going to make that bastard pay.

I forced a smile. "I'm fine. I was just a little nervous. 150 thousand dollars isn't exactly pocket change."

A flicker of satisfaction flashed in Leo's eyes, then he slipped back into his usual sweet act.

He leaned in like he meant to kiss me. "Don't worry. This is our future. Once the remodeling is done, we'll have the perfect home."

I swallowed the nausea and let him press a light kiss to my forehead.

I pushed down the urge to kill him and kept my voice gentle. "Go on. Take care of what you need to, sweetheart. I'll handle the remodeling contract."

Leo gave a satisfied little nod and grabbed his suit jacket.

He paused at the door. "Oh, right. Jessica texted you last night. She said she wants a look at our new place. Don't forget to reply."

Jessica was my best friend, my bridesmaid, and the person I trusted most. She was also the bitch who split up my inheritance with Leo after I died.

"Okay, I'll get back to her."

With the door shut, I was finally all alone in the bedroom.

I stood up slowly and went to the mirror.

The woman staring back at me had long hair, soft eyes, and a gentle face. She still looked like Chloe Covey, the fool who'd given up everything for love.

But that Chloe was already dead. She'd died torn apart by zombies because the person she loved most had betrayed her.

The Chloe standing here now was the one who'd crawled back from hell.

I suppressed my urge to kill and feigned gentleness as I said to Leo, "Dear, you go ahead and attend to your tasks. I'll handle the remodeling contract."