Chapter 4

Hazel Sinclair

The first thing I did the next morning was drive to the property I had purchased outside the city. I had barely slept after returning home, but exhaustion was the least of my worries.

In my previous life, this was the period when I was still completely unaware of what was coming. I was busy worrying about Daniel, trying to keep Samantha happy, and working hard because I believed the future would continue as normal. I had no idea that in a matter of weeks, the world I knew would disappear. This time, I had no intention of wasting even a single day.

The property was larger than I needed, surrounded by enough land to keep curious neighbors away.

There was no large house on it, only an old structure that I planned to demolish. What mattered to me was the land underneath it. The location was elevated, away from the busiest parts of the city, and there was a natural water source nearby. More importantly, nobody who knew me would ever think I would choose such a place to hide.

I had already hired a private construction company through one of the companies I had secretly created. I gave them strict instructions about what I wanted, but I never told them the real reason. As far as they knew, I was building a private underground facility for long-term storage and security.

The bunker had to be strong enough to survive the freezing temperatures, power failures, food shortages, and desperate people who would eventually start searching for supplies.

I stood beside the architect and studied the plans while he explained the structure. “The underground level will have reinforced concrete walls, separate bedrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, storage rooms, a medical room, and an emergency exit. The ventilation system will be independent, and we can install multiple generators.”

“Add another emergency exit,” I said, pointing at the drawing. “And I want the entrances reinforced with steel.”

He looked at me for a moment before nodding. “That will increase the cost.”

“I don't care about the cost.” The words came out without hesitation.

Money was no longer my problem now.

Survival was.

I also ordered a private water filtration system, several large underground tanks, batteries, backup generators, fuel storage, freezers, refrigerators, communication equipment, security cameras, and an independent internet system. I wanted everything separated into different rooms so that if one section became damaged, the entire bunker would not become useless.

The food storage room was one of the largest areas.

I also ordered seeds because if the apocalypse lasted longer than expected, I wanted the ability to grow some of my own food.

The workers thought I was paranoid.

I knew I was preparing for the end of the world.

For the next several days, my life became a cycle of meetings, deliveries, phone calls, and construction inspections. I barely returned home except to change clothes and sleep for a few hours. And I knew for sure, Daniel spent those days in Samantha's skirt.

Each time he would randomly text that he will be running home late, he was so foolish. Didn't even realize I was barely home.

I was genuinely busy saving my own skin.

At first, nobody paid attention.

Then the trucks started arriving.

One morning, I was standing outside the property when a large delivery truck pulled up carrying several industrial generators. I watched the workers unload them when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“What exactly are you doing here?”

I turned around and saw Daniel standing several feet away.

My stomach tightened for a moment, but I quickly pushed the feeling aside.

He was still the same Daniel I remembered from my previous life. Handsome, confident, and completely unaware that the woman standing in front of him had already watched him choose another woman and leave her to die.

“I bought this property,” I replied calmly.

Daniel frowned. “For what?”

“To build something.” I said.

“What?” He scoffed.

“A bunker.” I simply answered without further explanation.

He stared at me as though I had just told him I planned to live on the moon.

“A bunker? How childish,” he repeated, laughing.

I didn't answer.

He walked closer and looked around at the trucks, workers, and piles of construction material. “Hazel, what is wrong with you? You suddenly started spending money like crazy on junk instead of finishing paying my mortgage, and now you're building an underground bunker?”

“I can afford it.” I clenched my fists.

“That isn't the point.” He pointed.

“It is to me.” I said, as I put my hands in my pocket.

Daniel shook his head. “Are you actually worried about those stupid rumors about the weather?”

I looked at him carefully.

The rumors had already started circulating. Scientists were warning about strange changes in global temperatures, but most people weren't taking them seriously. News channels were calling the unusual weather temporary. Social media was filled with jokes about an incoming ice age.

In my previous life, I had laughed at those warnings too, but not anymore.

“You should be worried,” I told him.

He smiled. “About what?”

“The future. ” I said, while making sure I had enough stock.

Daniel chuckled. “You really have changed.”

“Yes,” I replied. "Isn't that why we are here on earth? To evolve, to change and be the same stupid person forever."

I wanted to tell him exactly how much.

I wanted to tell him that one day he would stand outside this very bunker begging me to open the door.

But I kept quiet. There was no reason to warn him, he was just as arrogant and selfish. So I let him laugh.

The workers continued building while Daniel watched with disbelief. Eventually, he left, still shaking his head.

I watched his car disappear down the road.

Then I turned back toward the construction site.

“Make sure the doors are strong enough to withstand forced entry,” I told the supervisor.

He nodded.

I had learned one thing from my previous life. The cold would not be the only thing trying to kill us.

People would be worse.

A few days later, the rumors became more serious.

Temperatures had dropped unexpectedly in several countries. Some cities reported unusual snowfall. Flights were being delayed because of extreme weather, and supermarkets were beginning to experience shortages of certain products.

People started talking, but they still didn't believe.

I did.

That was why I doubled my orders. I got more everything...every stock.

I even bought several vehicles and had them modified for difficult terrain. One would remain inside the bunker, while the others would be hidden in separate locations in case I ever needed to leave.

My mother eventually noticed the changes.

She called me one evening.

“Hazel, your spending is becoming ridiculous,” she said the moment I answered.

I leaned back in my chair. “I'm fine, Mom.”

“Daniel told me you're building some kind of bunker.”

“I am.” I said flatly.

“Why?” She sounded like she was one second from calling the psychiatrist.

“Because I want one.” I said, biting on an apple.

She sighed loudly. “You're wasting your money.”

I almost laughed, "Mom, it's my money."

In my previous life, she had been one of the people who refused to open the shelter door for me.

Now she was worried about how I spent my money.

“You don't have to understand,” I said quietly.

“I'm your mother. Of course I have to understand. What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing.” I said.

“You've become strange since your birthday.” She sounded concerned.

I looked down at the documents on my desk.

She had no idea that I had died once already.

She had no idea I remembered her voice telling me there was no room for me.

She had no idea that the daughter she remembered was already dead.

“I just learned to think about myself,” I replied.

There was silence on the other end.

“I'll talk to you later,” I said before ending the call.

I thought that would be the end of it.

It wasn't.

The next afternoon, I went into the city to purchase more medical supplies. As I walked out of the store, I heard laughter from across the parking lot.

Samantha was standing there with two of her friends.

When she saw me, her smile widened. “Hazel! What are you doing here?”

“Shopping.” I said, avoiding her.

“For your bunker?”She stated mockingly.

Her friends laughed along with her.

I ignored them and continued walking toward my car.

Samantha followed me. “You know everyone is talking about you, right?”

I stopped. “What are they saying?”

“That you've lost your mind.” Her voice sounded so sweet, you'd almost believe she cares.

She smiled sweetly, the same fake smile she had worn before the apocalypse.

“People think you're preparing for some imaginary disaster.” She shook her head. “You really believe the world is going to freeze? I don't believe it.”

"Weather you believe it or not, that's not my problem." I couldn't help but glare at her. My blood was boiling at the second.

Her smile faded slightly.

For a moment, she stared at me. Then she laughed again, but there was uncertainty in her eyes. “You've become weird, Hazel.”

I got into my car and drove away.

That evening, while I was inspecting the bunker, I heard raised voices outside the property.

I walked toward the entrance and saw several people gathered near the road.

One of the construction workers had apparently told them about the bunker.

Among them was a man I recognized from the neighborhood.

He was laughing loudly.

“This girl thinks she's going to survive the end of the world underground!”

Another man laughed. “Maybe she thinks zombies are coming.”

I ignored them and continued walking.

Then someone shouted, “Hey, Hazel! Are you planning to live down there with canned beans for the rest of your life?”

The group burst into laughter.

I stopped. Before I could respond, another voice came from behind them.

“What's so funny?” A deep husky voice echoed. I knew that voice. The only thing that would send shivers down my spine.

Everyone turned only to see Ethan Ford stood near the gate.

He was dressed simply, his hands in the pockets of his jacket, but there was something intimidating about the way he looked at the crowd. He was no ordinary man. He was definitely someone powerful or maybe that's just how he carried himself.

One of the men scoffed. “We're just joking.”

“Then find something else to joke about,” Ethan replied coldly.

The man laughed. “You believe her nonsense?”

Ethan looked at the construction site before turning his attention back to him.

“I believe she has a reason for doing it.” He said.

“You're actually taking her seriously?” One of the men stammered.

“Yes.” His answer was simple.

The laughter stopped, I stared at him.

Why did he care?

Ethan walked toward me and lowered his voice. “You should probably finish the security system before people become more curious.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You believe me?”

“I don't know what you know,” he replied. “But I know you're not wasting this much money for no reason.”

I studied his face, there was no mockery in his expression.

“You're the first person who hasn't called me crazy,” I said.

Ethan gave a faint smile, walked closer till we were inches apart. “Maybe you're not.”

His eyes trailed down to my lips then stared into my eyes like he was searching my soul.

My heart kept racing. Gosh, he was insanely handsome.

Before I could ask what he meant, he turned and walked away.

I watched him leave, a strange feeling settling in my chest.

“For some reason, I have a feeling that he knows something about the coming apocalypse too." I muttered under my breath.