Chapter 2 – The Day Everything Ended

The next morning, Sandra woke up early and prepared for university. She was a second-year student, while her younger sister, Sophie, was a freshman, but despite being part of the same family, their lives were completely different.

At the breakfast table, their parents sat beside Sophie, asking about her classes and praising her excellent grades. Sandra ate quietly at the other end of the table, listening as though she were a stranger living in their house.

“Dad, my first class starts early today,” Sophie said, smiling as she finished her breakfast. “Could I have some extra money for a taxi? I don't want to arrive late and miss anything important.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” her father replied, immediately taking his wallet from his pocket. He placed several bills in Sophie's hand and smiled proudly. “Take a taxi, and if you need more money, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Dad!” Sophie said, hugging him. “You're always so good to me.”

Her mother smiled and fixed Sophie's hair. “Make sure you eat lunch, darling, and call us when your classes are finished. I'll prepare your favorite dinner tonight.”

“Mom, Dad, could I have some extra money too? I need to buy a few things for my classes,” Sandra hesitated.

Her father's face darkened. “Hmp! What are you going to buy this time? Another useless book? You spend your time reading those ridiculous stories instead of improving your grades!”

“Be thankful that we're still paying your tuition despite your terrible grades!” her mother interrupted. “Other parents would have stopped wasting money on a daughter who never makes them proud.”

Sophie watched her with a grin before picking up her handbag. “Yes, Sandra, don't be so greedy. Mom and Dad already spend so much money on you, even though you barely get good grades.”

Sandra finished her breakfast, carried her plate to the kitchen, and returned to collect her bag. Her parents continued talking to Sophie without asking whether Sandra was ready for school or how she planned to get there.

When the taxi arrived, Sophie stood up and kissed her mother's cheek. “I'm leaving now! I'll call you later.”

“Take care, sweetheart!” her mother replied, following Sophie to the door. Her father waved as Sophie entered the taxi, and both of them watched the vehicle leave with happy smiles.

Sandra hurried outside before the taxi disappeared around the corner. “Sophie, wait! Could I ride with you to the university?”

Sophie looked at her sister and grinned. “No, Sandra. I don't want to share a taxi today, so find your own way there.”

“But we're going to the same university,” Sandra said, holding her bag tightly.

“I said no,” Sophie replied, closing the taxi door.

The taxi drove away, leaving Sandra alone on the road. She glanced back at the house, but her parents had already returned inside without even looking toward her.

Sandra walked for almost thirty minutes before reaching the bus stop, and by the time she arrived at the university, her first class had already started. She hurried into the classroom, hoping the professor would allow her to take her seat without making a scene.

“Miss Johnson, you're late again,” Professor Harrison said coldly, stopping his lecture. “Is arriving on time too difficult for you?”

“I'm sorry, Sir,” Sandra replied. “I had to walk to the bus stop, and the bus arrived late.”

“Your personal problems are not my concern,” he answered. “Go to your seat and try to keep up with the lesson.”

Vanessa laughed from the side of the classroom. “Maybe she stopped to read another one of her silly books.”

Bianca Reyes smiled at her. “What else would you expect from a boring bookworm? She probably thinks zombies and aliens are more interesting than real life.”

Mark Davis leaned back in his chair. “Maybe she wants an alien boyfriend because no normal man would choose her.”

The students around them laughed, while Sandra kept her head down and walked toward the back of the room. She wanted to defend herself, but she was afraid the professor would punish her for interrupting the class.

As she passed Vanessa's desk, Vanessa stretched her foot into the aisle. Sandra tripped and fell hard onto the floor, scattering her books and papers.

“Oops!” Vanessa exclaimed, pretending to be surprised. “You should watch where you're going.”

Bianca burst out laughing, and Mark joined her. Several students turned around to watch Sandra collect her belongings, but nobody offered to help her.

Sandra stood up. Her palms hurt from the fall, but she quickly returned to her seat, trying not to cry in front of everyone.

At the end of the class, Professor Harrison called her forward. “Your grades are among the lowest in this subject, Sandra, so I am giving you one final chance. You must submit a special essay project before the university closes today.”

Sandra looked worried. “Sir, may I submit it tomorrow morning? I want to do proper research and make sure the essay is good.”

“No. If you cannot submit it today, I will have no choice but to fail you.”

Sandra nodded and left the classroom. She knew she was not as intelligent as Sophie, but she wanted to pass her subjects and prove that she could accomplish something through hard work.

She went straight to the university library and searched for books related to her assignment. She spent hours reading, taking notes, and writing her essay, refusing to give up even when her eyes became tired.

By the time she finished, the library was almost empty. The librarian approached her table and frowned when she saw the papers scattered across it.

“The library is closing,” the librarian said. “You need to leave now.”

“I'm sorry, ma'am. I've finished my essay,” Sandra replied, quickly placing her papers inside a folder. “I'll clean my table and leave immediately.”

After packing her belongings, Sandra hurried toward the faculty office to submit her work. The hallway was quiet, and most of the university staff had already gone home.

As she approached the faculty office, she heard voices coming from inside. Sandra stopped when she recognized Vanessa, Bianca, and Mark talking near a cabinet filled with examination papers.

“Are these all the questions for tomorrow's examination?” Bianca asked nervously.

Vanessa held a stack of papers and smiled. “Yes. We'll memorize the answers tonight, then return everything before anyone discovers they're missing.”

Mark looked toward the hallway. “Hurry up. If we're caught stealing examination papers, we could be expelled.”

“Stop worrying,” Vanessa replied. “Our families has connections, and nobody will dare punish us.”

Sandra stepped backward in surprise, accidentally knocking a metal container off a nearby shelf. The loud crash made the three students turn toward the doorway.

“Who's there?” Mark shouted as he rushed outside.

Sandra froze when Vanessa spotted her. “Sandra? What are you doing here?”

“I-I came to submit my essay,” Sandra explained nervously. “I didn't mean to see anything. Please don't worry because I won't tell anyone.”

Bianca hurried toward her. “How can we believe you? If you report us, we'll lose everything.”

“Please, I promise I won't say anything,” Sandra begged. “I only want to go home.”

Vanessa grabbed her arm. “We're not taking any chances. You shouldn't have been here in the first place.”

Mark seized Sandra's other arm, and the three students dragged her down a narrow staircase beneath the university library. Sandra struggled to escape, but they were stronger than her, and nobody was around to hear her cries.

“Please let me go!” she shouted. “I won't tell anyone about the examination papers. I swear!”

They ignored her and pushed her into an abandoned basement. Mark took her phone while Bianca threw her bag onto the floor, and Vanessa stepped outside before locking the heavy door.

“Enjoy your night here, Sandra,” Vanessa said through the narrow opening. “Perhaps next time you'll learn to mind your own business.”

“Wait! I have asthma!” Sandra cried, rushing toward the door. “Please don't leave me here. I need my inhaler!”

But the three students walked away without answering. Sandra heard their footsteps disappear, followed by the sound of a distant door closing.

She searched desperately through her bag, but her inhaler was missing. Her breathing became difficult, and she began pounding on the locked door with both hands.

“Help! Somebody, please help me!” Sandra shouted. “I can't breathe! Please open the door!”

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks as she thought about her lonely life.

Sandra struggled to take another breath, but her lungs seemed unable to draw in enough air. She reached for the locked door, hoping someone would hear her, but her fingers barely touched the cold surface before her strength began to fade.

“Please... somebody...” she whispered, her voice growing weaker. Her hand fell to the floor, and her eyes slowly closed as her body sank onto the cold ground.

Her apocalypse novel lay beneath her, its cover pressed against her chest as she curled up beside it.

Then everything turned black.