Rebirth Before the End: The World Restarts With Us

e her phone buzzed again-an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. It didn't take a

ze even a crumb of sympathy from her, she'd have lost. With a decisive swip

htly, even in her dreams, a faint trace of unease still clinging to her features. Kaelira gently check

tinue her usual routine of prepping meals-at least not without drawing attention. But when she took a bite of he

rricade and frosted glass stickers had ensured that no one could see into her space

y sprouted-and she carefully cut them into chunks. After coating the cut ends with wood ash, she planted them in the

n onions, lettuce, and spinach-fresh vegetables that could be harvested

of accomplishment. A quiet victory in a world that seemed to be falling apart at the seams. As long as she took care of the plants, she would have fresh

followed by a voice calling her name: "Kaelira! Kaelira!" The tone was unf

love to cook. Can yo

ent plea. "We'll pay double

t the friend request. We'l

than it should have. "I mean, we're all frien

h the walls, growing louder and more offensive with each passing moment. The s

ed to the door, flinging it open with a furious swing. The blade was in he

r?" she demanded,

Kaelira would cave in-after all, they knew her feelings for Marcus. They assumed she

and afternoon, they had been desperate for something to eat. All they

r secret stockpiles of food, much of it destined to expire before she could finish it. They

s. Without warning, she swung the knife at them, the sharp blade slicing through the air. They scattered in

osty as the storm outside. "Get lost," she said, her vo

heir composure, insults began to fly, their frustration b

hell should I feed you?" She raised the knife threateningly, her words cuttin

ght, she'd killed, and she'd seen humanity at its worst. The men, now

," one of them stammered. "An

it to you. Do you think I don't know what you say behind my back?" She stepped closer, her voice dripping with disd

assment, their faces burnin

od on the side. Eating a free meal and acting all high and mighty-how cheap. If he bothers me again, I'll

abandon their pride. And Kaelira, knife in hand and with the wild glint in her eyes, looked

ion. "We'll see," one of them finally s

d the knife. She plunged it into the wall with a forceful thud,

g on the sofa, her face pale with fear. The girl was on the edge of tears, clearly shak

gently, crouching beside the girl. "Tho

dropped. But then, she heard a faint growl from Livia's sto

her head. "Where's my brother?" she

ira made her way to the kitchen, returning shortly with

darting to Kaelira as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. She seeme

he was a child who had clearly been through too much. Kaelira gently ran her

y, curling up on the sofa. Despite he

e messages. One caught her attention-Marcus. It was a m

vorite among his peers. With his social skills, he had a knack for keeping peo

ou can come and get them if yo

posted it. A petite, bubbly accounting student from

tream of hungry people showing up at her door, taking whatever they could get their hands on.

o join the conversation, sending a simple

message, offering $20 in exch

g flooded. This wasn't just a bad storm-it was a superstorm, one that would go do

n overtaking her. Kaelira gently covered her with

knock on

iv

there stood the man from apartment 1801, drenched from the downpou

so much she almost choked. I gave her some medicine, and her fever's

, stepped inside and checked Livi

ira answered wi

st night, and my apartment's empty. With the hurricane hitting, I doubt it'll stop anytime soon, and I ne

urprise. "You're goi