chapter 1

Nyx pov

“Run! It’s coming! Everyone, get inside!” I screamed, my voice tearing through my throat as I ran, I felt like my lungs were about to give out, but I didn’t dare slow down, the wave was coming.

A monstrous wall of water raced toward us, swallowing everything in its path, large buildings were ripped apart and swept away as if they were nothing more than pieces of paper, cars were tossed through the streets, crashing into one another as people screamed and ran for their lives, within seconds, the sky turned dark, the violent ocean wind slammed against my face, carrying dust, debris, and the deafening roar of the approaching water.

“Zac! Jeent! Hurry!” They were already ahead of me, sprinting toward the AquaVault, “Faster!” Zac yelled, glancing back, “If that wave reaches us, it’s over!” “I’m trying!” My legs were aching badly, but I forced myself to keep running, the AquaVault was only a short distance away now, if we could get inside, we would be safe.

Then I heard it, a baby crying, my head snapped toward the sound, there, in the middle of the chaos, was a tiny baby lying on the wet ground, crying helplessly as terrified people rushed past her, someone nearly stepped on her arm before continuing without even looking back, my heart clenched.

I looked ahead, Zac and Jeent were almost at the AquaVault, then I looked at the baby, the wave was getting closer, I knew I should keep running, but I couldn't leave her, “Damn it!” I turned around and sprinted back.

I dropped to my knees, scooped the baby into my arms, and held her tightly against my chest, “It's okay, it's okay, I've got you,” she was still crying, her tiny body trembling against mine.

I turned and ran back toward the AquaVault, “Zac! Jeent! Wait for me!” They were already at the entrance, “Open the door!” I watched Zac reach the control panel, for a brief moment, relief flooded through me, then—

BANG!

The massive glass door slammed shut, I stopped dead, my heart dropped, “What?” I rushed forward, clutching the baby against my chest, “Zac!” I slammed my fist against the glass, “Open the door!”

Zac stood on the other side, Jeent was beside him, they simply stared at me, “What are you doing?” I shouted, my voice trembling, “Open the damn door!” I hit the glass again, “Zac!”

The two of them exchanged a glance, then Zac slowly turned his face away, my blood ran cold, “No…” I pressed my palm against the glass, staring at him in disbelief, “You can't do this.”

The baby whimpered in my arms, behind me, the roar of the flood grew louder, I looked over my shoulder, the enormous wave was almost here, then I turned back to Zac, “Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking, “Open the door.”

He finally looked at me, there was no panic in his eyes, no guilt, only hesitation, then Jeent stepped closer to him and whispered something I couldn't hear, Zac's expression hardened.

The locks on the AquaVault clicked, one after another, the door was completely sealed, my entire body went numb, “You're leaving me outside?” Zac didn't answer, I stared at the man I'd trusted with my life, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Then the first wave crashed into the street, BOOM! Water exploded around me, I stumbled backward, tightening my arms around the baby as the current slammed into my legs, “ZAC!” I screamed his name, he didn't move, the water rose to my waist, then my chest, I kept my eyes on him through the reinforced glass.

But then, Zac suddenly grinned, wrapping his arms around Jeent's waist.

“What…” I stared at them through the glass, confusion flickering across my face.

Jeent smiled, leaned forward, and kissed him on the cheek before capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. Zac kissed her back without hesitation, his arms tightening around her as they embraced.

For a moment, I simply stared, unable to process what I was seeing. Then the truth hit me like a slap across the face.

They were lovers.

The two people I'd trusted with my life, the same people I'd been willing to sacrifice everything for, were having an affair behind my back. And now, they were standing safely inside the AquaVault, kissing as though they hadn't just condemned me to death.

“You… you bastard!” I screamed, pounding my fists against the glass, but my voice was swallowed by the approaching flood. “Zac! How could you do this to me?”

He didn't even look at me.

A violent current suddenly slammed into my body, knocking me off balance. Before I could recover, the water surged over my head, swallowing me whole. I tightened my arms around the baby, desperately trying to keep her above the surface, but the current was merciless, dragging us farther away from the AquaVault.

I kicked my legs and fought against the water, my lungs already burning as I struggled to find the surface. The baby cried weakly against my chest, her tiny hands clutching at my clothes. I tried to lift her higher, desperate to keep her from drowning, but the force of the flood was too strong.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. All around me, the water churned violently, carrying broken furniture, shattered glass, and enormous chunks of debris that slammed against my body.

Please… somebody, help us! But there was no one coming.

My arms began to weaken, my chest tightening as I fought to draw a breath. I tried to hold on to the baby, refusing to let go even as the current twisted my body in every direction. I'd risked my life to save her, and I couldn't bear the thought of failing her now.

Then, suddenly, something sharp pierced my abdomen.

A blinding pain exploded through my stomach, tearing a scream from my throat. My eyes widened as I looked down, only to see a metal rod jutting through my abdomen, its jagged end protruding from my body.

For a moment, I couldn't comprehend what had happened. I could only stare at the rod as excruciating pain spread through me, my blood mixing with the murky water.

My fingers loosened around the baby as my strength began to fade. I tried to reach for her, tried to pull her back against my chest, but my arms no longer obeyed me.

No… the baby…

My vision blurred, and the world around me began to fade. The last thing I felt was the merciless current dragging me away, while the faces of Zac and Jeent flashed through my mind.

I had sacrificed my life for people who never deserved it.

My eyelids grew heavy, my body growing numb as darkness crept into the edges of my vision. I wanted to live. I wanted to make them pay for what they'd done to me.

Within seconds, the flood swept across the earth, devouring everything in its path.

Beeeeeeep!

The sound pierced through my darkness, making me blink as I inhaled sharply. I jolted upright, my breathing ragged as I tried to calm my racing heart. The rhythmic beeping of a medical monitor filled the room, while the pungent smell of antiseptic burned through my nostrils.

I turned sharply and realized I was in a hospital.

Fuck, I survived?

My hands immediately went to my abdomen, searching for the wound, but there was no pain, only the bandages wrapped around my legs.

I stared at my stomach in disbelief. Had I really survived the flood? I clearly remembered the metal rod piercing through my abdomen, the unbearable pain, and the water swallowing me whole.

Then I remembered Zac and Jeent.

My expression darkened as the memory of their betrayal resurfaced. Those bastards had watched me drown while kissing each other behind the reinforced glass.

“Fuck!” I cursed, clenching my fists.

My head suddenly throbbed, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to make sense of everything. When I opened them, my gaze landed on a calendar sitting on the shelf beside my bed.

March 29. I froze. “Wait… March?”

I stared at the date, confusion washing over me. The apocalypse had already happened, so why was the calendar showing a date from months before the disaster?

My eyes darted around the hospital room, and suddenly, everything became familiar. The furniture, the curtains, even the bedside cabinet brought back memories.

I recognized this place. This was the hospital where I'd been admitted after accidentally running into a car.

My heart began to pound as the realization hit me.

I'd been reborn sixty days before the apocalypse!