LOGINALICE'S POV “This is unbelievable. I mean I knew there was more to you but I didn't know it'd be this.” John said, shaking his head. Then he looked at me. “So you remember what will happen in the future?”“Most of it. But things are already changing. The first mutations were not supposed to happen this early.”He looked toward the hospital. “That's why you weren't surprised when I told you about the patients.”“Exactly.”“What about the system?”My eyes widened slightly. “How do you know about that?”“Because you've been looking at something that isn't there every time those messages appear. I noticed it when we were together before.”I hesitated.Then I nodded. “I have something called the Apocalypse Survival System. It gives me missions, information, and survival points. It also helps me develop abilities.”“Abilities?”I raised my right hand.A faint blue light flickered beneath my skin.John's eyes narrowed.I quickly lowered my hand. “That's what you saw at the restaurant.”He l
ALICE'S POV “What's her condition? Dr. Hannah Moore.”[STATUS: CRITICAL.][INJURY DETECTED.][EXPOSURE TO MUTATED ENERGY: CONFIRMED.]I slowly lowered my hand.She had already been exposed.“Can she survive?”[INSUFFICIENT DATA.]“System, I need more information.”[MISSION UNLOCKED.][MAIN MISSION: RESCUE DR. HANNAH MOORE.][OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND SECURE THE SURVIVOR.][TIME LIMIT: 12 HOURS.][FAILURE PENALTY: SURVIVOR WILL BE LOST.][SUCCESS REWARD: +100 SURVIVAL POINTS.]I stared at the notification.Twelve hours?That was barely enough time to get there and back, especially if the situation at the hospital was as bad as John had described.But I couldn't ignore it.Dr. Hannah was important. I needed her skills, and I wasn't going to let someone who could help save lives die when I had the chance to prevent it.Still, I couldn't rush into a hospital full of infected people without a plan.I needed to prepare.Then I checked my gun and ammunition.I also packed the crowbar.If I was
ALICE'S POVI stared at the system screen.[EMERGENCY INFORMATION UPDATE.][ABNORMAL MUTATION ACTIVITY DETECTED.][ORIGINAL TIMELINE: FIRST MUTATION EVENT EXPECTED IN 26 DAYS.][CURRENT TIMELINE: FIRST MUTATION EVENT DETECTED.][WARNING: TIMELINE DEVIATION CONFIRMED.]My blood ran cold.Twenty-six days early?I gasped.Oh no.This couldn't be happening.The first signs of the apocalypse weren't supposed to appear until much later. I remembered the first reports of strange attacks, the hospitals filling up with infected people, and the government trying to convince everyone that it was just a dangerous new virus.But that was supposed to happen when the apocalypse began.Not now.Not twenty-six days before the date I remembered.“Alice? Are you still there?” John asked.I swallowed. “I'm here.”“You sound worried.”“John, those people you mentioned... where exactly are they?”“St. Mary's General Hospital. Why?”“Have they been quarantined?”“Not completely. The hospital released a shor
ALICE'S POV“We're here for you and your baby.”My blood turned cold.I stared at the main entrance, unable to move for a few seconds.How did they know about my baby?I tightened my grip on the phone.“John?”“I'm here, Alice. What's going on?”“I'm going to have to call you back.”“Wait... What's...happ”I didn't wait for him to finish before I ended the call. I glanced toward the bag where I had kept my gun.I rushed to collect my gun and checked the magazine. I had never wanted to use it, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from protecting myself.I grabbed it, removed the safety and pointed it towards the entrance.I had to be brave now more than ever. I didn't come this far to die or lose my baby before the apocalypse even got to start fully.These people had come to my fortress, threatened my baby, and expected me to sit quietly until they took me away.Not happening.Not when I've developed this new amazing power. They no longer have an idea what they're getting into.I m
ALICE'S POV“Miss, are you sure you're okay?”I looked up and met the taxi driver's eyes through the rearview mirror.He had asked me that question three times already.“I'm fine,” I replied.He didn't look convinced, but he returned his attention to the road.I leaned back in my seat and tried to calm my breathing.My hands were still shaking.I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened at the restaurant. One moment, Luke was holding my arm. The next, he was flying across the room.I had done that.I had actually sent a grown man flying without even touching him.And I had no idea how to control it.My eyes moved to the system screen floating in front of me.[NEW POWER UNLOCKED: FORCE PULSE – LEVEL 1][CURRENT SURVIVAL POINTS: 146][POWER COST: 25 SURVIVAL POINTS PER USE][WARNING: UNCONTROLLED USE MAY HARM HOST OR SPECIAL LIFEFORM]I swallowed.Twenty-five survival points per use.That wasn't even my biggest problem.The system had said my baby's connection had increased to fou
Alice's POV I stood outside the restaurant for a few more seconds, staring through the glass.Luke sat at the table near the back. Caroline sat close to him, closer than a best friend should. They looked comfortable. Too comfortable. Like they had been sitting together like that for a long time.My hand tightened on the strap of my bag. The baby gave a small kick, as if it could feel the anger rising in my chest.I took a slow breath and pushed the door open.The little bell above the door rang. A few people glanced up, then went back to their food. I walked straight to their table.Luke stood up the moment he saw me. A wide, relieved smile spread across his face.“Alice. You came.”Caroline smiled too, soft and sweet, the same smile she used to give me when we were still calling each other best friends.“Hey,” she said. “You look… different. Good different. Maybe it's the... clothes.”I pulled out the chair across from them and sat down without smiling.“Hi.”Luke sat back down. His







