CHAPTER FIVE

By the time evening arrived, Vaelric and I had finally finished preparing the house. I was exhausted, my arms ached from moving supplies around, and my clothes were dusty from all the work we had done, but I could not remember the last time I had felt so relieved.

For the first time since waking up in my second life, I could look around my home without feeling that I had forgotten something important. The food had been organized, the bottled water was stored safely, and the medicine and emergency supplies were kept in a place where we could reach them quickly. We had checked the doors and windows, sealed the gaps we could find, and arranged the room we planned to use if the temperature became unbearable. Vaelric had also brought some additional materials from his own place, including tools and supplies that would help us strengthen the house further.

We had done everything we reasonably could with the time and resources available to us.

I stood in the middle of the living room and looked around, allowing myself a small smile. I knew the apocalypse would not be easy, but at least we were no longer unprepared. With the supplies we had gathered and the work we had completed, I was confident that we had a good chance of surviving.

Vaelric came into the living room after checking the back door one last time. Storm followed him, his tail moving happily as he approached us.

Everything is secured for tonight, Vaelric said. We can continue with the remaining work tomorrow, depending on what happens.

I nodded. That sounds good.

He looked at me for a moment before smiling faintly. You should get some rest. You have barely sat down all day.

I wanted to argue that he had been working just as hard, but I was too tired to pretend otherwise. I sank onto the couch and stretched my legs, letting out a long breath.

I think I could sleep for two days straight, I admitted.

He chuckled softly. Then you should make the most of tonight.

As the evening grew darker, I showed him where he would sleep. I had only one bedroom available for myself, so I told him he could use the couch in the living room. It was not the most comfortable arrangement, but we had more important things to worry about than sleeping in luxury.

I hope you do not mind sleeping here, I told him, pointing at the couch.

Not at all. I have slept in worse places, he replied, setting his belongings beside it.

After that, I turned my attention to Storm. The dog had been following Vaelric everywhere, and I did not want him wandering around the house during the night. I showed Vaelric a suitable corner where we could place a blanket for him, away from the coldest part of the room and close enough that he could remain near his owner.

I brought over an old blanket and spread it neatly on the floor. Storm watched me with his head tilted slightly, as though he was trying to understand what I was doing.

There you go, handsome, I said, crouching beside him. This is your bed for tonight.

Storm sniffed the blanket, turned around once, and settled down. I could not help smiling at the sight.

He is going to like you, Vaelric said from behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder. How do you know?

Because he does not usually settle down beside someone he has just met this quickly.

I laughed quietly and returned my attention to the dog. I rubbed his head and scratched behind his ears, feeling him lean into my hand. For a few minutes, I forgot about the apocalypse and the people who had betrayed me. There was something comforting about being around an animal that expected nothing from me except a little kindness.

Goodnight, Storm, I whispered before standing up.

Vaelric wished me goodnight as well, and I headed into my bedroom. After locking the door, I changed into something comfortable and climbed into bed. My body was exhausted, but my mind kept wandering back to everything that had happened since I woke up two days earlier.

I had died once already, and now I was being given another chance to survive the same disaster. This time, I had supplies, a prepared home, and someone who was willing to help me. I knew there were still dangers ahead, but I felt more prepared than I had ever been in my previous life.

Eventually, sleep took over.

The next morning, a tremendous crash jolted me awake.

I sat up so quickly that my head spun. For a moment, I had no idea what had happened. Then another heavy impact struck the ceiling, making the entire house tremble.

What was that?

I threw off the blanket and rushed out of my bedroom. Vaelric was already standing in the living room, looking toward the ceiling with a startled expression. Storm was on his feet, barking loudly at the front door.

Did you hear that? I asked, although the question was unnecessary.

Yes, Vaelric replied. Something just hit the roof.

Before either of us could say anything else, another loud bang echoed above us. A strange scraping sound followed, as though something heavy was sliding across the roof.

We exchanged a worried glance before moving toward the front door. Vaelric opened it carefully, and we stepped outside to see what was happening.

The moment I looked up, I froze.

Ice was falling from the sky.

For several seconds, I could only stare. Large pieces of ice were crashing onto the roof, the ground, and the surrounding houses. Smaller fragments scattered across the pavement, bouncing against one another as more continued to fall. The air was already becoming painfully cold, and the sky above us looked unusually dark.

What is this? I whispered.

Vaelric stood beside me, equally stunned by the sight. He lifted his arm to shield his face as a piece of ice struck the ground near his feet.

We need to get inside, he said firmly.

I barely heard him. My mind was racing as I watched another chunk of ice hit the roof.

This was not how I remembered the apocalypse.

In my previous life, everything had started with the cold. The temperature had dropped so drastically that people struggled to remain warm, and the world had slowly become an icy graveyard. I remembered the freezing nights, the shortage of supplies, and the desperate attempts people made to survive.

But I had never seen ice falling from the sky like this.

Not once.

Why is this happening? I muttered, stepping backward toward the door.

Vaelric looked at me. What do you mean?

I shook my head, unable to explain it. Nothing. We need to get inside.

We hurried back into the house, closing and locking the door behind us. Storm followed, barking as Vaelric checked that the entrance was secure. I stood near the window, watching the ice continue to fall outside.

My confidence from the previous night was beginning to disappear.

I had been so certain that knowing the future would give me an advantage. I had prepared for the disaster I remembered, but what if the disaster was changing? What if the events of this life were no longer going to follow the same pattern?

Before I could think further, someone knocked on the door.

I turned toward it, my stomach tightening.

Vaelric moved closer, but I reached the door first and looked through the small opening before unlocking it. The moment I saw the two people standing outside, my expression hardened.

Lucan and Mireya.

Of course they had come.

I opened the door just enough for them to enter, and they quickly stepped inside, brushing ice fragments from their clothes. Lucan looked around the house before turning toward me.

I did not fully believe you when you said something like this was going to happen, he admitted, glancing toward the window. But now that I have seen it for myself, I understand that you were serious. I am going to stay here with you.

His gaze shifted to Vaelric.

And this man you still have not told me anything about.

I folded my arms. I did not invite you here, Lucan.

He ignored my comment and continued looking around as though he were already deciding where to put his belongings.

Mireya stepped forward with a small smile that did not reach her eyes.

Hi, Anwen.

I looked at her for a moment, remembering the woman who had once been my closest friend and who had later watched me suffer without lifting a finger to help.

Hello, Mireya, I replied coldly. I hope you are comfortable standing there because we have work to do.

Her smile faltered slightly, but she said nothing.

I turned toward the others and took a deep breath. Since they were already here, I was not going to waste time arguing about it. Whether I liked their presence or not, there was still too much to do, and the falling ice had made one thing clear: our preparations might not be enough.

Nobody was going to sit around doing nothing while the house was being battered by ice.

Vaelric had brought additional building supplies, and we needed to use them to reinforce the roof before the impacts became worse. I looked toward the ceiling, listening as another piece of ice struck it with a heavy thud.

Then I turned to Vaelric.

I am going up to the roof to see how we can strengthen it with the materials you brought. We need to make sure it can withstand whatever comes next.

Vaelric’s expression immediately changed.

Anwen, wait. We need to think this through first.

But I was already moving toward the supplies, determined to protect the only place I had left to call home.

Because if the ice kept falling like this, the roof might not hold for long.