Reborn: I Won't Save Them Again

The last thing Liana Hart heard was her mother’s voice. “Don’t waste the food.” Liana stared at the half-empty bottle of water trembling in her hands. Outside the apartment, someone was screaming. A gunshot cracked through the ruined street, then another. The electricity had been gone for eleven days. The water had stopped three days ago. Liana hadn’t eaten a proper meal in two. Yet her family had taken everything—the rice, the canned food, the medicine, even the bottled water she had hidden beneath the bed. Everything. For the past three months she had prepared for this moment. She had worked until her hands turned rough, skipped meals, and sold her jewelry. Every peso she earned had gone toward keeping her family alive. But when the food grew scarce, they decided there wasn’t enough for everyone. And somehow, Liana was the easiest person to sacrifice. “Mom…” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I’m hungry too.” Her mother avoided her eyes. “Your brother needs more food. He’s been sick.” Liana looked toward Marcus. Her older brother sat comfortably on the sofa, finishing the last piece of canned meat. He didn’t even glance at her. “But I bought those supplies,” she said. Marcus scoffed. “And we’re family. Isn’t that what you always say?” Family. That word had ruined her life. She remembered every time she had given Marcus money, every overtime shift she had taken because her parents needed something, every time she had told herself it was okay because they were family. She had believed that if she sacrificed enough, they would protect her when she needed them. She had been wrong. A violent pounding suddenly shook the apartment door. Everyone froze. Someone outside screamed, “OPEN THE DOOR!” Liana’s heart slammed against her ribs. The infected? Raiders? She didn’t know. Her father grabbed Marcus at once. “Back room. Now.” “What about Liana?” her mother whispered. Silence. Liana stared at them—her own family, the people she had spent her entire life protecting. Her father finally spoke. “There’s no time.” He opened the back window. Marcus climbed through first. Her mother followed. Liana rushed toward them. “Wait!” She grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mom, please!” Her mother pulled away. “I’m sorry.” Then they left. Liana stood frozen as the pounding at the front door grew louder. She looked at the empty food shelves, the empty water containers, the empty apartment. Then she laughed—a broken, bitter sound. “Family…” The door exploded inward. Liana’s world went dark. --- Pain was the first thing she felt. Then sunlight. Liana’s eyes opened. She gasped and sat upright, heart pounding violently. The ruined apartment was gone. There was no blood, no screaming, no broken windows, no smell of smoke. Instead, sunlight poured through white curtains. A familiar ceiling stared back at her. She slowly looked around. Her bedroom. Her old bedroom—the room she hadn’t seen in years. Her hands began to tremble. “No…” She grabbed her phone from the bedside table. The screen lit up. June 14. Liana stared at the date. Her breathing stopped. June 14. Exactly three months before the apocalypse. She stumbled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom mirror. A young woman stared back at her—twenty-five years old, healthy, alive. No scars. No blood. Liana touched her face, then her lips, then her chest. Her heart was beating. She was alive. A laugh escaped her, then the tears came. She remembered everything: the apocalypse, her family’s betrayal, her death. But now she had something she hadn’t possessed before. Time. Three months. Ninety days. Liana wiped the tears from her face. Her reflection looked different now. The desperate woman who had died for her family was gone. Her phone suddenly vibrated. A message from her mother appeared. **Mom:** Don’t forget to send Marcus money today. He needs it. Liana stared at the message for several seconds. In her previous life, she would have transferred the money immediately. This time, she deleted it. Then she whispered, “I’m sorry, Mom. But I’m not dying for you again.” A strange notification suddenly appeared on her phone. [Survival System activated.] Liana froze. A second message followed. [Congratulations, Host. You have been granted one second chance.] Then— [Beginner Storage Space unlocked.] Liana stared at the words. For the first time since waking up, she smiled. The apocalypse was coming. But this time… she would be ready.