CHAPTER 2: THREE YEARS TO LIVE

Lena did not sleep.

How could she sleep when she knew exact date world would end?

August 9, 2026. Three years, two months, twenty-eight days from today. She counted it hundred times staring at ceiling. Three years to prepare. Three years to become someone who would not die on bridge.

Headline still glowed on phone screen in dark.

MYSTERIOUS FEVER REPORTED IN QUEENS - DOCTORS BAFFLED - 3 CASES ISOLATED.

In past life, she scrolled past it. Laughed with roommate Maya about it. Just flu. Government said stay calm.

Maya died second wave. Choking blood in kitchen while Lena held her helpless.

Lena stood. Legs shook, but mind was razor sharp. Survivor mind earned after three years hell.

First rule learned in apocalypse: no one will save you except you.

She pulled notebook from college. Flipped to blank page and wrote big capitals.

REBORN PLAN - BEFORE APOCALYPSE.

Three columns.

MONEY. SUPPLIES. ETHAN.

Money. Old life, she was broke. Freelance designer making three thousand a month, rent two thousand. No savings. In apocalypse, money became useless paper burning in streets. Before apocalypse, money was power. Could buy guns, food, bunker, land.

She knew things from future. Knew which stocks would crash 2024. Knew which vaccine companies would fail. Knew Bitcoin would spike 2024 then crash 2025. Never paid attention to lottery. But knew enough to profit if careful.

She opened laptop, cracked screen. Logged into bank, fingers shaking. Balance: $842.16.

Not enough to survive end. Not enough for one good gun.

Need start small. Sell everything not needed. Looked around apartment. Clothes, old camera worth two hundred, guitar never learned, designer bags bought sale trying feel rich.

Sell all. Become minimal. Survival needs only.

Second column. SUPPLIES.

She wrote fast, messy, urgent, almost unreadable.

Water filter, canned food for 5 years, rice, antibiotics, guns, ammo, solar panels, gas masks, first aid kits, vitamins, seeds, knives, backpacks, thermal clothes, fuel, batteries, radio, water tanks.

And location. Could not stay Manhattan. Manhattan became death trap. Bridges blown by military to stop spread. Subways flooded with infected. Streets filled fire and raiders. Need land. Upstate. Far from city. High ground. Well water and forest. She remembered place Ethan once mentioned, hunting lodge family owned in Catskills. Abandoned years. Stone walls. Safe. Hidden from world.

She would find it. Buy it if possible.

Third column. ETHAN.

Pen stopped over name. Ink bled.

Ethan Cross.

CEO Cross Industries. Thirty-two. Billionaire. Magazine cover. Dominant, ruthless, untouchable, cold to everyone. Old timeline, never met him until world ended. He was at charity gala 2023 she waitressed for extra cash. He didn't look at her. Looked through her like glass.

This timeline, she knew everything about him intimately. Birthday April 7, peanut allergy, scar left shoulder from car accident at twelve, mother died cancer when fifteen, hatred for father who cheated. Learned all during three years together, at night, in makeshift bunker bed, whispering stories to stay alive and human when world outside dead.

But now, to him, she was nobody. Girl tiny apartment with $842.

How make billionaire fall in love before world ends so he will believe world is ending? How?

She had to become someone worthy standing next to him. Not weak Lena crying over rent. Strong Lena. Brave Lena. Lena who survived three years apocalypse and killed infected bare hands to protect him.

Phone rang. Loud, making jump, drop pen floor.

Unknown number. New York code.

She answered, voice hoarse.

"Is this Lena Carter?" Man voice, professional crisp.

"Yes? Speaking."

"This is Cross Industries recruitment. You applied junior designer position three weeks ago online. Mr. Cross office would like invite for interview tomorrow 9 AM at Cross Tower. Floor 42. Bring portfolio."

Lena froze. Heart stopped then hammered wild.

She applied? Yes. Three weeks ago. Old life before death. Forgot completely. Applied hundred places desperate.

Cross Industries. Ethan empire.

Tomorrow. 9 AM.

She would see Ethan tomorrow. Three years earlier than before. Alive. In expensive suit. Not covered blood and ash on bridge dying.

Hands shook so hard phone almost fell.

"Hello? Miss Carter? Still there? Want slot? Many candidates."

"Yes," whispered, then louder, forcing strength into voice learned in apocalypse, survivor voice. "Yes, will be there. 9 AM. Thank you very much for call."

Hung up. Phone clattered to desk loud.

She looked reflection in dark window. Hair messy, eyes red, wearing old t-shirt stain front.

No. Not like this. Not if she wanted him to see her, really see her soul.

She needed become someone else in twelve hours. Complete transformation.

She opened closet. Pulled only blazer owned. Black. Cheap but clean. Only good thing she had.

She would wash hair now. Borrow makeup from Maya next door. Iron blazer perfectly. Look like woman who knew future and wasn't afraid to face end.

She would walk into Cross Tower tomorrow and look Ethan Cross in eye and make him remember soul even if mind didn't. Make heart recognize hers.

Because she died in his arms once. Watched him die with her on bridge.

Refused let happen again, not ever in any life.

She picked pen again and under ETHAN wrote one line, pressing hard paper tore.

Make him believe me. Make him love me again. Save him this time no matter cost.

Outside, sirens wailed far Queens. First fever cases taken hospital ambulances fast. No one knew what meant yet.

But she knew. Remembered every siren before end of everything.

Three years. Only three years left now.

Clock started now and she would not waste single second again ever in this life. She closed notebook tight. Her decision was final and absolute forever. She would turn tiny savings into fortress. She would make Ethan Cross notice her tomorrow morning interview. And she would rewrite their ending together completely. No more dying alone in cold ash and endless fear. Only fighting and living and loving again forever together this time with him always and safely protected together.

To be continued...