The count down begins

Chapter 3

Three months.

That was all the time I had left before the world fell apart.

I stood in the middle of my new house, staring at the workers installing the final security system. The walls were reinforced, the windows protected, and the main gate strengthened with heavy steel.

It still wasn't enough.

In my previous life, I had learned that even the strongest shelter could become a prison if the person inside made the wrong decisions.

This time, I would make sure that didn't happen.

"Miss Elena, we've finished the gate," the contractor called.

I walked over to inspect it. The metal was thick, and the locking system was more secure than before.

"Good. Please make sure the water storage and backup electricity are ready before the end of the week."

He nodded. "We'll finish everything on schedule."

After he left, I checked my notebook.

Food. Water. Medicine. Batteries. Fuel. Clothes.

I crossed off the items I had already purchased.

My savings were shrinking quickly, but I wasn't worried. Money would become nearly useless once the outbreak spread.

What mattered was what I could secure before then.

My phone rang.

I glanced at the screen.

Dad.

I almost ignored the call, but then I remembered something important.

In my previous life, my father had been one of the people who watched silently as I was thrown outside the shelter.

He hadn't stopped them.

He hadn't even called my name.

Yet now, with three months left before the apocalypse, he was still the same father who expected me to obey him.

I answered.

"Elena, where are you?" he demanded.

"I'm busy. Is something wrong?"

"Your mother says you've been spending too much money lately. What exactly are you doing?"

I closed my notebook.

"I'm making some investments."

"Investments?" He scoffed. "You should be thinking about your future instead of wasting money on unnecessary things."

I nearly laughed.

My future?

I was trying to secure one.

"Don't worry, Dad. I know what I'm doing."

There was a brief silence.

"Come home this evening. We need to talk."

Before I could respond, he ended the call.

I stared at my phone.

In my previous life, I would have rushed home the moment he called.

Not anymore.

Still, refusing him immediately would only attract unnecessary attention. I needed to keep them from becoming suspicious until my preparations were complete.

So that evening, I went home.

Maya was sitting on the sofa when I entered. Adrian sat beside her, scrolling through his phone.

The sight of them together made my stomach tighten.

I remembered the way he had held her behind the shelter gates while I begged for my life.

I remembered her smile.

For one terrible moment, I wanted to expose them both.

But what would that accomplish?

The apocalypse was coming. I had more important things to worry about than confronting two people who would eventually reveal their true colors.

"Elena!" Maya called brightly. "You're finally home."

I forced myself to smile.

"I'm here."

Adrian looked up.

"Hey. I've been trying to reach you."

"Really? I must have been busy."

His expression changed slightly.

Before, I would have rushed to sit beside him. I would have asked why he called and apologized for missing it.

Now, I walked past him and sat in a chair opposite them.

My stepmother emerged from the kitchen.

"There you are. Your father has been waiting."

My father entered a moment later, holding a document.

"Sit down. We need to discuss something important."

I sat quietly.

He placed the document on the table.

"Your sister has been looking for a suitable apartment. I think you should help her with the payment."

I looked at Maya.

She lowered her eyes, pretending to be embarrassed.

"I don't want to trouble you, Elena," she said softly. "But I really like the place."

Of course she did.

Maya had always been good at making other people pay for the things she wanted.

In my previous life, I would have agreed without hesitation.

This time, I picked up the document and glanced at the price.

It was expensive.

Far more expensive than anything Maya needed.

"Why can't she pay for it herself?" I asked.

The room fell silent.

My father frowned.

"What did you say?"

"I asked why she can't pay for it herself."

Maya's eyes widened.

"It's okay, Dad. I shouldn't have asked."

She looked down, acting hurt.

My stepmother immediately came to her defense.

"Elena, why are you behaving like this? You're sisters. You should help each other."

I placed the document on the table.

"I'm sorry, but I have my own expenses."

My father slapped his hand against the table.

"Since when did you become so selfish?"

I stared at him.

Selfish.

The word almost made me smile.

These people expected me to sacrifice everything for them, yet when I needed them most, they would sacrifice me without a second thought.

"I have responsibilities too," I replied calmly.

Without waiting for another argument, I stood.

"Excuse me. I have somewhere to be."

"Elena!" my father shouted.

I kept walking.

For the first time in my life, I didn't turn around when he called my name.

Outside, I took a deep breath.

My hands were trembling, but not from fear.

It was strange how difficult it felt to say no to people who had spent years making me believe I owed them everything.

But I had done it.

And I would keep doing it.

My phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number appeared on the screen.

Unknown: I heard you're buying a property outside the city. Is that true?

I stopped walking.

Who was asking?

I hadn't told anyone about the shelter except the workers, and they had been paid to keep the project confidential.

Another message arrived.

Unknown: Be careful, Elena. The world is about to change.

My blood ran cold.

I read the message again.

The world was about to change.

I already knew that.

But how could a stranger possibly know?

I immediately called the number.

It was switched off.

I stared at the screen, my heart beating faster.

For the first time since my rebirth, I felt a new kind of fear.

What if I wasn't the only person who knew something was coming?

I looked toward the road.

Cars passed. People laughed. Shops remained open.

Everything appeared normal.

But somewhere out there, someone knew enough about my preparations to contact me.

I returned to my car and locked the doors.

Then I opened my notebook and wrote a new sentence beneath my survival rules.

Never assume I'm the only one who knows the future.

The countdown had begun.

And perhaps I wasn't the only person preparing for the end.