Reborn: I Have 72 Hours Before The Apocalypse

Cynthia

I stared into the full-length mirror and I couldn't breathe.

The dress was bright pink. Shiny satin. It was cutting into my skin. It clung to every part of my body I hate the most. My love handles. My round stomach. My thick thighs. I am ninety-five kilograms now.

I hated what I saw.

My breasts were full and the dress pressed tight against them, flattening them to my chest.

"Oh my God, Cynthia, stop fidgeting! You look so stunning!" Shae said behind me.

I turned my head and saw Shae Collins in the mirror. My best friend since I was six years old. She was wearing a sleek dark blue gown that flowed over her thin body like water. She looked perfect. She always looks perfect.

She brought me this pink dress this morning. She wrapped it in gold paper and said it was her special birthday gift for me. She insisted it would look better on me than anything else I had picked to wear.

"I don't know, Shae," I whispered. My hands were hovering over my stomach, trying to cover it. "It's so tight. I feel like everyone can see everything. I wanted to wear the dark green A-line dress. It's looser and won't show my curves as much as this one does."

"Green? For your twenty-fifth birthday? No way," Shae said. She put her slim hands on my shoulders and squeezed. "Trust me, bestie. That green dress makes you look like a tent. No shape or appeal. This pink one shows your curves! It gives you shape! Robb is going to love it."

I swallowed hard. My throat was tight.

“I want him to love it. He's not been sleeping in our room lately. He's mostly out in the guest room.”

Shae sighed.

“What man wouldn't leave a woman who's boring?” She asked in a soft voice.

I frowned as I turned to face her fully.

“You know what I mean, bestie. A man will leave his woman if she is no longer exciting and sexy. That's why I bought you this dress. So you can revive the spark in your relationship with Robb.”

She patted my shoulder tenderly and I nodded.

Two years ago, my parents died. Their car brakes failed on a mountain road. Police said it was an accident. After they died, I fell into a black hole. I couldn't get out. I started eating to fill the empty feeling in my chest. I ate and ate and I couldn't stop. Therapy didn't work. Diets didn't work. I went from sixty-five kilos to ninety-five kilos in less than a year.

Through all of it, Shae stayed. She came to the funeral. She brought me food as many times as I needed to eat to forget my sorrows. She told me she loved me no matter my size and that she will always be my bestie.

So I believed her. She was the only person who I've known for most of my life.

"Okay," I said quietly. "If you say I look good."

"I KNOW you look good! Come on, everyone is waiting downstairs for you!" she said, grabbing my hand.

I followed her down the grand staircase. The whole main hall of my estate was decorated. My father built this house. He called it Miles Estate. He also built a secret vault under the west wing. Steel doors, two years of food, water, air filters, medicine. Only two people know the code to open it.

Me and Daniel MacPherson.

Daniel owns the biggest private security company in America. He is thirty-two, ex-Special Forces. I know him as the grumpy big guy who never smiles.

My dad hired him three years ago to build the vault. My dad used to talk about Daniel MacPherson a lot. He said he was a loyal guy and would always be on our family's side.

"Cynthia, if anything ever happens, you call Daniel. He watches this house. He watches you. He will feel guilty if anything happens and he can't save you.”

This was around when Robb and I were getting married. I knew i didn't need anyone else as long as the man I loved was with me. I was head over heels in love with Robb.

I haven't called Daniel since my parents died. I didn't need him. I had Robb and Shae.

As I walked down the stairs, I looked at the party. I didn't know most of the people. There were rich women with fake smiles, men in suits talking about stocks, young models laughing near the bar. They were not my friends. They were Evelyn Kennedy's friends and Robb's friends from Genesis Biotech.

There was even a glowing banner near the stage that said: _GENESIS BIOTECH - ENGINEERING TOMORROW'S CLIMATE._

Genesis. Robb's family company. Dr. Croft Kennedy owns it. Robb's father.

My mother had a file about Genesis before she died. I found it in my dad's old chemistry desk in his study. The file was labeled _GENESIS RAIN PROJECT - DANGER, pH 1.0 -

My mom taught chemistry before she married my dad. My dad taught me too. He taught me how to neutralize acid with base. How to make antidote. I know pH 1.0 is not rain. pH 1.0 is pure acid. It burns skin and melts bone. And two weeks after my mom found that file, my parents had that accident.

I didn't trust Genesis Biotech, but I believed Robb and I lived our lives outside of whatever his parents were doing at Genesis. My parents left me their own millions and their own businesses. Robb was mostly running them.

At the bottom of the stairs, Evelyn Kennedy was waiting near the champagne fountain. She wore a silver dress. Her face is beautiful but cold.

Her eyes moved down my pink dress. Her lips pressed into a thin, disgusted line.

"Look at you," she said in a low, sharp voice so only I could hear over the music. "Did you really think that dress was appropriate for a girl your size?"

My face burned. "Evelyn, I—"

"Be quiet," she cut me off. "This room is full of important people. Board members from Genesis Biotech, investors, politicians. Do not embarrass my son tonight. Do not stand near the buffet. It is unsightly. Keep your mouth shut unless someone speaks to you directly. Try to act like a proper wife for once."

I bowed my head. My eyes filled with tears. "Yes, Evelyn."

"Good. Now go stand by the archway and smile," she said and walked away.

I stood by the marble archway. I felt exposed. Like everyone was staring at my pink dress. I looked around for Robb. He didn't even come to my room to wish me a happy birthday today. He said his meeting ran late and he slept in the guest room.

I was alone. Then one person came straight to me, fast.

"Girl, you look hot, okay? Don't listen to that witch of a mother in law."

It was Chloe Hart. My assistant and friend.

Chloe is plus-size like me, loud mouth, wears a bright red jumpsuit and doesn't care what anyone thinks.

"Chloe," I whispered and grabbed her hand. "Thank you."

"If anyone talks shit about my girl in her own house, I'm gonna punch them," Chloe said, glaring at Evelyn.

"Where is your husband? I haven't seen him."

"I don't know," I said.

Halfway through the night, the music stopped. A chime rang.

Evelyn stood on the center stage with a microphone.

"Everyone, please gather around," Evelyn announced with a fake smile.

"It is time to celebrate my lovely daughter-in-law's twenty-fifth birthday. And here is my son, Robb, with a very special gift for her."

The crowd clapped as Robb Kennedy finally walked into the hall from the side terrace, holding a long velvet box.

He is twenty-eight, handsome, tall, and has a lazy smile. Every girl used to be jealous that he was mine.

I felt a tiny spark of hope. Maybe he really had a gift.

Robb walked up to me, smiling warmly. He handed me the box. The cameras from the company were filming.

"Happy birthday, Cynthia," he said softly, loud enough for the microphone to pick up.

My hands trembled as I opened the box.

Inside were six big amber glass bottles filled with blue pills. The label read: _Genesis Ultra-Burn: Clinical Strength Weight Loss & Appetite Suppressant. A Dr. Croft Kennedy Formula._

A ripple of whispers ran through the crowd. Someone in the back giggled. Then another person laughed. My face turned bright red. My hands started shaking so hard the box shook too.

Robb put his hand on my arm. His touch felt gentle to everyone watching.

"You know I love you, Cynthia, and that's why I'm doing this," Robb said in a smooth, caring voice, leaning close so the whole front row could hear.

"If I love you, I have to be honest and help you. You know you are fat, and honestly, it's starting to get really disgusting. I can't even stand sleeping in the same bedroom with you anymore. And because I'm your husband, it's my duty to help you get out of this fat phase if you're ever going to be attractive to me again."

I froze. I held the heavy box. Tears pooled in my eyes but I couldn't let them fall.

Shae stepped forward from the crowd, with a sweet, pitying smile. She hugged Robb tightly, pressing against his chest.

"You're such a good husband to my best friend, Robb," Shae said softly. "Thank you for loving Cynthia despite how she is. I knew she made the right choice picking you. No one would ever love her the way she is, Cynthia — just him."

Chloe looked at me, furious. Her fists were clenched as she whispered to me through gritted teeth.

"Are they fucking serious right now? In your own house? On your birthday?"

Shae turned to me and rubbed my arm like she was comforting me.

"He's right, Cynthia. He really is. It's because he loves you that he's doing this."

I looked at my husband. I looked at my best friend. The guests started clapping. They thought it was romantic.

They thought he was helping me.