CHAPTER FOUR

I stood in front of the door with my heart pounding, wondering who could possibly be looking for me at this hour. The knocking had caught me off guard, and after everything I had been through in my previous life, I had learned that unexpected visitors were not always good news.

I slowly reached for the handle and opened the door just enough to see who was outside.

The moment I saw him, my eyes widened.

It was the man from the stores.

The same man who had been watching me while I bought supplies. I remembered noticing him standing at a distance, observing me as I moved from one aisle to another. I had been too busy worrying about the apocalypse to pay much attention to him, but I had noticed his eyes following me.

And now he was standing outside my house.

With a dog.

The animal stood beside him, large and alert, its thick fur making it look well suited for the cold weather. It looked at me with curious eyes while its owner kept his attention on me.

My first instinct was to shut the door.

I immediately began pushing it closed, but the man raised his hand.

Wait.

I froze for a second.

I mean no harm, he said quickly. Please, just listen to me.

I stared at him, my hand still gripping the door handle. I was not about to let a stranger walk into my house simply because he claimed to mean no harm. I had already made the mistake of trusting people in my previous life, and I had paid for it with my life.

What do you want? I asked cautiously.

He seemed to notice how uncomfortable I was because he took a small step backward, giving me more space.

I believe what you said at the stores. About the world freezing.

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

Then I felt a little of the tension leave my shoulders. At least he had not come here to laugh at me or accuse me of being crazy. Someone had finally listened to what I was saying, even if I still had no idea why he had followed me home.

I was relieved, but not enough to trust him.

Why? I asked.

He glanced at the dog beside him before looking back at me.

Because of the way you were acting. You were not shopping like someone preparing for a normal emergency. You were buying things as though you knew exactly what was coming. You kept warning people, and you looked genuinely frightened when they laughed at you. I do not think someone would behave that way for no reason.

I swallowed.

He had noticed more than I expected.

I am Vaelric Thorne, he continued, gesturing toward the dog. And this is Storm.

Storm moved closer to him, wagging his tail slightly.

I looked at the animal again. Despite my nervousness, I could not help noticing how beautiful he was. His fur was thick, and he looked strong enough to help with certain tasks around the house.

Vaelric continued speaking before I could ask another question.

I have experience with repairs and survival preparations. I can help you reinforce your doors and windows, move those supplies you bought, and prepare your house for the cold. If there is anything you need to build, I can help with that too. Storm can also be useful. He is trained, and he listens well.

I looked past him at the supplies stacked inside my house. I had already started organizing everything, but there was still so much to do. Two days sounded like enough time when I first woke up, but now every minute seemed precious.

Having another pair of hands would make a difference.

A part of me wanted to believe him. He had come all this way because he believed my warning, and he was offering to help me prepare instead of dismissing me like everyone else.

But the other part of me kept reminding me that a friendly face did not automatically mean a good person.

I folded my arms across my chest.

So, what is in it for you?

Vaelric did not look offended by the question. Instead, he let out a quiet breath and glanced down at Storm.

Honestly, I need somewhere to stay.

I raised an eyebrow.

What?

I do not have enough time to prepare properly for something like this, he explained. I have some supplies, but not enough to survive what you described. I was planning to make other arrangements, but after seeing how much you bought, I realized you might actually know what you are talking about. If you allow me to stay here, I can help you prepare the house. I will contribute whatever supplies I have, and I will do my share of the work.

I studied his face, searching for signs that he was lying.

He did not seem desperate enough to force his way inside, and he had not tried to hide the fact that he needed something from me. Still, letting a stranger into my home was a risk.

But I needed help, and I could not afford to waste time arguing with myself.

Fine, I finally said, stepping aside. You can come in.

Thank you, he replied.

Vaelric entered with Storm following closely behind him. The dog paused at the entrance, sniffed the floor, and then walked beside his owner into the living room.

I shut the door and locked it before turning to face them.

Let me make something clear, I told him. I do not know you, and I am not someone who trusts people easily. If you try anything strange, I will ask you to leave.

That is fair, he replied.

His calm response surprised me. I had expected him to complain or ask why I was treating him like a criminal, but he seemed to understand my caution.

He looked around the house, taking in the bags of groceries, the bottles of water, and the other supplies I had arranged near the wall.

You have bought quite a lot, he observed.

Not enough, I replied.

He nodded slowly before turning toward me.

There is something I want to ask you, Anwen.

I stiffened when I heard my name.

How did he know it?

Then I remembered that I had probably said it somewhere while shopping, or perhaps he had seen it on something I carried. I could not be sure.

How do you know my name? I asked.

He pointed toward the shopping bag I had placed on a nearby table. My name was written on a small receipt attached to it.

I followed his gesture and felt slightly embarrassed.

Right.

Vaelric looked at me again, his expression becoming more serious.

How do you know all this is going to happen?

My stomach tightened.

I knew that question would come eventually, but I had not expected him to ask it so soon.

You seem very certain about something nobody else believes. You have been warning strangers, buying supplies, and preparing your house as if you have already seen what is coming. So tell me, how do you know?

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Was I supposed to tell him the truth? How could I possibly explain that I had already lived through the apocalypse, that I had died in the freezing cold, and that I had somehow returned to the past?

He would think I was insane.

I do not know, I answered, avoiding his eyes. I just have a feeling about what is coming.

Vaelric stared at me for a few seconds.

A feeling?

Yes.

You expect me to believe that you are risking your money and spending all your time preparing because of a feeling?

I pressed my lips together.

I know it sounds strange, but that is all I can tell you right now.

He seemed unconvinced, but he did not push the matter. Instead, he nodded and asked me to show him what I had already done.

We spent the next hour discussing how to prepare the house. Vaelric examined the doors and windows, pointing out places where cold air could enter. He suggested using insulation materials around the gaps, reinforcing the weakest parts of the entrance, and arranging one room as a warmer shelter where we could spend most of our time if the heating failed.

I listened carefully and showed him the supplies I had bought.

Together, we moved the food into the appropriate storage areas, stacked the bottled water, and organized the medicine and emergency equipment. Vaelric was practical and efficient, and I soon realized that I had made the right decision by allowing him to help. He did not waste time complaining or asking unnecessary questions. Whenever he noticed a problem, he suggested a solution.

Storm stayed close to us, occasionally wandering around the room before returning to Vaelric’s side.

For the first time since waking up in my second life, I felt as though I was not carrying the entire burden alone.

It was a strange feeling, and I did not entirely trust it.

We were in the middle of moving a heavy box away from the doorway when the front door suddenly swung open.

I turned sharply.

Lucan.

He stood in the entrance, his hand still on the door, but he stopped when he saw Vaelric standing beside me. His eyes moved from the stranger to Storm, then back to me.

For few seconds, he said nothing.

Then his expression changed.

Anwen, what is going on here? Who is this man, and why is he in your house?

I slowly straightened, wiping my hands against my trousers.

What does it look like? I asked coldly.

Lucan frowned as though he had not expected that response.

Excuse me?

You heard me.

His gaze moved around the room, taking in the supplies stacked along the wall.

What are all these things? Why have you bought so much food and water? And who is this man?

I was already tired of his questions.

He is someone helping me prepare for what is coming, I replied.

Before Lucan could respond, Vaelric spoke.

Anwen told me something terrible is about to happen. She believes the world is going to freeze, so she is stockpiling supplies and preparing her house. I came because I believe her, and I offered to help.

My head snapped toward him.

Why would he tell Lucan that?

Lucan stared at Vaelric, then slowly turned back to me.

The world is going to freeze?

I said nothing.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and for a moment, I wondered what was going through his mind.

Then he nodded.

Okay. If that is what you believe, I will move in too. There is no reason for me to stay somewhere else if something dangerous is coming.

My fingers curled into my palms.

Of course.

Lucan would never miss an opportunity to benefit from something I had worked hard to prepare.

Then he asked another question.

Does Mireya know about this?

I looked at him without answering.

I did not want to talk about Mireya. I did not want to hear her name, and I certainly did not want to discuss my preparations with him standing in my house.

Lucan seemed to notice my silence, but he did not press me further.

All right. I will come back later, he said, turning toward the door. We need to discuss this properly.

He walked out, leaving the door open for a moment before closing it behind him.

I stood completely still until I heard his footsteps fade away.

Then I turned to Vaelric.

Why did you tell him?

Vaelric looked at me in surprise.

Tell him what?

About the apocalypse! I snapped. Why would you tell my boyfriend everything I am doing? You do not even know him!

He frowned slightly.

Is he not your boyfriend? Why should he not know?

I stared at him, unable to believe what I had just heard.

Then I let out a frustrated laugh and ran both hands through my hair.

Okay, okay! You want to know everything, right? You want to know how I know what is coming and why I am acting like this?

Vaelric’s expression became serious.

Yes.

I took a shaky breath, feeling as though I was about to jump off a cliff.

I was reborn.

He blinked.

Wait. You were reborn?

Yes, I whispered. I died in my previous life, Vaelric. I lived through the apocalypse once before, and I remember everything that happened.

His face changed as he tried to understand what I had just told him.

I looked away, my eyes burning with tears I had been trying so hard to hold back.

In my past life, Lucan and my best friend, Mireya, betrayed me. When the cold became unbearable, they threw me out of my own house. I begged them not to do it, but they did not care. They left me outside to freeze to death while they kept the supplies I had gathered.

My voice broke.

I died hating them. I died wishing I could return and make them pay for what they did to me.

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then Vaelric stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.

I stiffened in surprise, but he did not let go immediately. His embrace was gentle, not demanding anything from me, and for some reason, that made the tears I had been holding back finally spill over.

I am sorry, Anwen, he murmured. I am so sorry you went through that.

I closed my eyes, standing in his arms as the memories flooded back.

It was the first time I had told someone the truth about my death.

And for the first time since I had returned to this life, I did not have to pretend that I was fine.