All Chapters of REBORN 30 DAYS BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

The photograph had been taken from a high angle near the loading docks of the regional commercial wholesale depot. It was a clear, wide shot of me standing beside a flatbed pallet jack loaded with sixty-pound sacks of grain, sealed cases of industrial water purification tablets, and heavy plastic drums of medical-grade antiseptic.By 7:00 AM, the image had spread beyond the closed student chat groups and landed on the front page of a regional news forum.«“Local Student Hoarding Bulk Medical and Food Supplies Amid Growing Mental Health Concerns”»The caption beneath the viral image carried a sharp, judgmental tone:«“While local food banks report seasonal inventory shortages and rural clinics face supply delays, university senior Mira Vance has reportedly spent tens of thousands of dollars buying up essential survival goods from regional commercial suppliers. Former classmates and close friends have expressed deep concern over her erratic behavior and growing isolation.”»The comment

The crowd of forty-odd students parted like water around a keel, stepping aside to leave a clear line of sight between the stone archway where I stood and the wide granite steps of the administration building. The air was crisp, carrying the dry, bitter smell of dead oak leaves and the faint metallic tang of cold exhaust from the avenue behind me.The reporter, a woman in a tailored camel-hair coat, hurried toward me with a microphone wrapped in black foam. Her heels clicked sharply against the flagstones, while her cameraman followed two paces behind, the heavy rig on his shoulder swaying as he adjusted the focus."Ms. Vance!" she called, her voice pitched in that sharp, practiced register designed to carry over the surrounding noise. "I'm Sarah Lin from Local News 8. Can you comment on the allegations regarding your recent bulk purchases of restricted industrial chemicals and medical supplies? Are you currently receiving treatment for a psychological condition, as your representativ