Rebirth Before the End: The World Restarts With Us

ce. Kaelira handed the stranger $200 in gratitude for his heroic act, saving her while defying

osing the door, she warned, "There's a hurricane coming. It mig

building. Large, heavy raindrops began to fall. By the time she stepped off the elevator, wiping rai

er the impatient one, looked irritated, while Tessa, looking

snapped, irritation lacing his t

abandonment, the cold, uncaring eyes as she was ripped apart by those she h

pulate her and take her power, but Kaelira was done being the victim.

d Marcus had vanished, replaced with cold detachment. H

y party?" Marcus asked, clearly tr

We hardly kno

ve known each other for

cut him off, her words shar

ile, finally spoke up. "Hi, Kaelira," she said swee

cold. "I don't know yo

rcus's birthday," she cooed. "We thought it would be nice to c

tion to her eighth-floor apartment-it was nothing mo

"Are you deaf? I already told you-we don't know e

ed closer, his fists clenched. "Kael

ep trying to drag me into your life. What's the

flushed with

cutting through the tension. "You think you can

was something calculating behind it. "That pendant you

ndant out between them, her fingers lightl

amed with greed. "Yes, I lov

und and crushed it under her heel, the sharp crack of breaking g

of the insult hit her. Marcus's fury reach

who you're messing

look, forcing a strained smile, her voice tinged with persistence. "Kaelira, the thing is... we came to celebrate Ma

ef, crossing her arms. "What's you

g as she shot back, "Get out.

d down the hallway, leavin

th cold and hot weather. She would need them to survive the bitter cold. The wind howled fiercely outside, and the sky hung heavy with dark clouds, as if the heavens themselves were bracing for the storm. Inside, Kaelira moved with practiced precision.

ra busied herself in the kitchen, her movem

and the thick richness of spaghetti bolognese as it simmered to perfection. The cheese for the macaroni and cheese

the darkest moments. Kaelira was determined to make sure she would have food to last. The kitchen was a flurry of activity-chicken Alfredo on the stove, beef tacos being assembled, the lasagna nearly ready to go int

ntage of the situation to cook these flavorful dishes. She knew that once the s

shower, she collapsed into bed, exhausted but content. The storm was still raging outside, but she had done what she could. She kn

ng from the next room. She groggily checked the time and wa

ricane, thrilled by the unexpected break from work and school. Others were sharing footage of the da

essing regret. "I thought I had more time!" one message read, another followed with "The shelves are empty! There's no produce left!" The realization hit them all at once: the storm was c

ts sharp whine coming from the unit next door. Her brow furrowed in confusion. The building had three units per

irst, there had been a fragile peace-everyone huddled together in the empty units. But as the days wore on and food dwindled, the air had shifted. Tensions rose, and the des

of letting history repeat itself. If anyone dared to break into her apart

ched laugh that sounded almost out of place amidst the storm's fur

side of the wall stood a young man, casually dressed, drilling into the apartment's wall

e evident. "It's you?" she asked, her