When the apocalypse arrived, the zombie outbreak began. I sat comfortably in the cool, old, abandoned Cold War bunker, watching the people who had bullied me in school now turning on each other like dogs fighting over scraps. The sight filled me with satisfaction, so I sent them a picture of me enjoying a warm bowl of chicken soup while my dogs, Max and Bella, happily gnawed on steaks. “Want some?” I asked, posting it in our class group chat. I watched their threats turn into desperate pleas, and all I responded with was: “Idiots. Keep dreaming.” 1 October 21, 2021 It’s been three days since the zombie outbreak, and the stable order at Ridgewood High School was already beginning to crumble. On the first day, the school had frantically called us all into the designated safe house, giving us a brief sense of safety. They provided us with a week’s worth of food. But human nature is unpredictable. Some students stole extra food to secure their own survival, and as supplies dwindled, the tension rose. Soon, our connection to the outside world was completely cut off, and fear began to dominate everyone’s minds. What started as solidarity quickly gave way to a breakdown in humanity. Fights broke out over how much food someone had eaten, and today was no different. “Let Chloe go outside. She’s brave enough to handle it, right?” Vanessa Gray’s voice pierced the room, just loud enough for everyone to hear. All eyes turned to me. “Yeah, Chloe’s dad was a weirdo, right? Bet she’s not scared of this kind of stuff.” “She’s tall, too. Maybe she could carry back a lot of supplies.” The whispers around me grew louder. They all stared at me like I was their ticket to salvation, speaking so casually, yet their eyes were filled with threat. They must’ve forgotten I’m just a girl. Before I could react, someone shoved me toward the door, pretending to cheer me on, “You got this!” I glanced outside at the zombie horde, then back at the people inside. They stood there, expressionless, more terrifying than the undead. They pushed me out the door as I fought to stay, the noise attracting the attention of nearby zombies. They stumbled toward me, and the people behind me locked the door tight. Through the crack in the door, I saw Vanessa smirking at me. Her face was gleeful as I took hesitant steps toward the zombies… 2 The sharp pain woke me up suddenly, and I jumped to my feet. The entire class turned to look at me, some stifling their laughter. “Chloe Reed! What are you doing?!” The voice of my English teacher cut through the confusion still lingering from the dream, and I realized I was back in the classroom. Was it all just a dream? That sickeningly familiar voice from the side interrupted my thoughts, dripping with sarcasm, “Maybe Chloe’s dad sent her a message from the afterlife. Isn’t he dead?” The whole class burst into laughter. “Enough! Chloe, take your book and go stand at the back of the room!” Mrs. Miller slammed her desk to regain control. I quietly grabbed my things and moved to the back of the classroom. My mind was still racing, trying to process that dream. If it was just a dream, why did it feel so real? The sensation of the zombies biting me still lingered in my hand. As soon as class ended, I rushed to the bathroom, pulling out my phone to search the internet for anything about zombies. Sure enough, I found a video. In it, a man stumbled toward the camera. His body was covered in blood, his face barely recognizable. His skin was veined with black and green. I knew immediately—he wasn’t human anymore. He was a zombie. Exactly like in my dream. I wasn’t dreaming at all. I had been reborn. I quickly checked the date on my phone: September 28, 202
There was still a month before the zombie outbreak. I had one month to find a safe place. Bang bang bang! The door to the bathroom rattled as someone banged on it. “Chloe, hurry up!” It was Vanessa. I clenched my fists, remembering everything she did in my past life. She was more than capable of it all. I forced myself to stay calm. It wasn’t the right time yet. I stepped out of the stall, facing her and her two lackeys. Vanessa smacked me across the face without hesitation, her voice dripping with cold disdain, “Move faster next time!” “You were in there forever. Did a ghost drag you down?” her sidekick, Ashley, sneered. “Why would she be scared? Maybe she inherited her dad’s psychic powers,” Vanessa added, her mocking smile twisting her face. They only said I wasn’t afraid because my dad used to tell fortunes. My mom died when I was young, so it was just my dad and me. I never felt ashamed of what he did for a living, but I learned early on to avoid the subject around my classmates. Then my dad died of stomach cancer, and Vanessa, pretending to care, came to my house with the principal, Mrs. Miller, in tow. When I returned to school, I became the target of their jokes. They didn’t care that I was now an orphan. To them, it was just fun. Vanessa led the charge. During gym, they threw balls at me. Once one person started, the rest followed. They even poured toilet water into my water bottle. They smeared glue on my chair, wrote disgusting things on my desk. Every time I tried to get help, the bullying only got worse. Some people suffer in silence. I was one of those people. I ignored them and walked out of the bathroom. Their filthy insults grew louder behind me. I went straight to Mrs. Miller’s office. “Mrs. Miller, I’ve been feeling really off lately. I’d like to take a few days off.” My voice shook slightly. I knew exactly why I was trembling. In my last life, I ended up dead because of them. I wasn’t about to let that happen again. Mrs. Miller noticed the red mark on my face, probably assuming I was self-harming. She quickly signed the leave form, granting me a week off, and told me to take time to relax. I took the slip, thanked her, and walked out of the school. There was no way I was going back to that nightmare of a class. 3 Everyone knew Vanessa was bullying me, but no one ever stepped in to help. I wasn’t some saint. I just wanted to get as far away from them as possible. Their survival wasn’t my concern. I walked out of the school gates and called for a taxi to take me home. My dad may have been an eccentric fortune teller, but he had helped countless wealthy executives. These people were all generous with their money. Over the years, my dad had saved up a small fortune for me. When I got home, I pulled out the two savings books he’d given me before he passed away. One was the dowry he’d been putting aside for me, and the other was a hefty life insurance policy he had taken out, which would pay me $10 million after his death. Together, the two accounts amounted to $17 million. At his funeral, all kinds of people came to pay their respects. Many of them owed their success to my father’s guidance. Seeing I was now alone, they decided to band together and set up an education fund for me. At first, I didn’t want to accept the money, but they insisted. Now, I was grateful. They’d given me $300,000. I looked around at the modest house. It wasn’t big, but it was in the heart of Ridgewood, so it was worth a fortune. A city center home was no longer safe. I had to sell it and find somewhere safer. I quickly contacted a real estate agency and asked them to sell the house within three days, even if it meant lowering the price. Next up was finding a safe place to lay low. 4 I took out my phone and searched for homes in the rural areas outside the city. I figured the farther I was from people, the fewer zombies there would be. While browsing listings, I stumbled upon something interesting: an old abandoned Cold War bunker was up for sale. I didn’t hesitate. I decided to buy it immediately. It was huge, naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and way cheaper than any small suburban house! I contacted the seller and told him I wanted to buy it on the spot. I needed to inspect it immediately. To avoid raising suspicion, I lied, saying I wanted to convert it into a weekend retreat and asked him to keep it a secret. He seemed convinced by my enthusiasm and assured me no one else would find out. We quickly signed the contract. With 29 days left until the outbreak, I had found my safe house. Now, I just needed to fill it with supplies. For the next two days, I worked non-stop, furnishing my new bunker. Paranoia set in, so I made sure to contact the largest construction market in the next city and gave them strict instructions. I replaced the bunker’s entrance with the best security doors available—three layers thick. I hired workers to build a two-story house inside the bunker, to be completed within 10 days, with the finest materials available. The foreman gave me a confused look, so I lied again, telling him I was building a private luxury hotel to ensure my guests’ privacy. I paid him so well that he didn’t ask any more questions. He just shook his head and said, “Rich people sure know how to have fun.” In my past life, I died early, so I didn’t know how long the apocalypse would last. To make sure I survived this time, I started stockpiling supplies like crazy. I ordered 50 solar-powered batteries in case the power went out. Cooking was another issue, so I bought 100 gas canisters and a stove. To be safe, I bought 50 boxes of charcoal. While the bunker was being renovated, I focused on buying essential supplies, self-defense items, and things to pass the time. Sitting in my room, I made a list of everything I needed. Toilet paper runs out faster than you think, so I ordered 2,000 rolls. 200 boxes of tampons, too. Since I wouldn’t be going out once the zombies arrived, I bought five sets of pajamas for each season. I stocked up on underwear, laundry detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, face wash, and skincare products, enough to last me three years. Satisfied with my list, I finally fell asleep, planning to head to the wholesale market first thing in the morning. 5 On the third day after my rebirth, I woke up and immediately checked the time on my phone. I was still paranoid that this might all be a dream. Seeing the date reassured me. I quickly got dressed and headed to the wholesale market. On my way, I stopped by my favorite breakfast place. I ordered my usual, savoring the taste. Who knew when I’d be able to enjoy something like this again? At the market, I bought everything on my list, instructing the merchants to deliver everything in a week. The owner’s face lit up at my large order, smiling from ear to ear. After I finished shopping, I got a call from the real estate agent. “Hello, Ms. Reed. I’m happy to inform you that we’ve found a buyer for your house.” “Can they pay in full?” I asked, getting straight to the point. I knew the house would sell quickly, but what I needed was cash. The agent’s voice was practically buzzing with excitement. “Yes, the buyer can pay the full amount upfront.” I sighed in relief. “Great. You handle the rest. I’ll move out within the week.” As soon as I hung up, my phone buzzed with a new text. The message was from an unknown number: “Chloe, don’t think you can escape just because you’re taking a break. I know where you live. You better come back soon. Without you, we don’t have anyone to pick on.” I didn’t need to guess. It was Vanessa. My body tensed with fear, my hand trembling as I held the phone. Vanessa always knew how to get under my skin. She said she knew my address, and for now, I had nowhere to hide. Remembering the school’s so-called “safe house” from my past life, I had an idea. I’d be back in a few days. Two days later, I had finalized the sale of my house. With that settled, I checked into a hotel for the time being and returned to school with some of my belongings. As expected, Vanessa “welcomed” me with one of her signature moves—garbage raining down on me as soon as I walked through the door. No one in the class helped. In fact, they found it amusing. They laughed, mocking my disheveled appearance. I clenched my fists and held it together. Their reckoning was coming, and soon. I made my way to my desk. Just before the bell rang, I picked up my backpack and walked out of the classroom. I knew they’d go and tell the teacher, but I didn’t care. I headed straight to the so-called “safe house,” which was really just the school auditorium. In my last life, this auditorium had been set up by emergency responders as a temporary shelter before they left to assist others. Only 80 of us survived in this very hall. I remembered how some of the teachers, desperate to reunite with their families, left and turned into zombies on the way home. Others stayed to help maintain order, working with the military. Flashes of those memories played in my mind. This was the place where they shoved me into the horde. I opened my backpack and pulled out ten hidden cameras I had purchased, discreetly setting them up in different corners of the auditorium. Once they were all in place, I left the school, satisfied. Just as I stepped outside, I got a call from the foreman handling the bunker renovations. He informed me that everything was done to my specifications and the place was spotless, ready for my inspection. I paid them well, so the work was done quickly and efficiently. I couldn’t help but think, Money really does solve everything. I called the manager at the wholesale market, letting him know they could deliver my supplies the next day. He practically jumped at the opportunity and assured me it would all be delivered on time. Next on my list was more furniture shopping. I headed to the furniture store and bought plenty of soft furnishings—top-quality sofas, beds, everything. Since the $1.2 million from the house sale was now in my account, I had no problem splurging on what I needed. Afterward, I stopped by an electronics store and bought two laptops, three tablets, and fifty portable chargers. Feeling accomplished, I took a cab straight to the bunker. As I stepped into the bunker, I marveled at the work. Money really can buy anything. I was beyond pleased with the results. I even gave each worker an extra $1,000 as a bonus. They seemed surprised and insisted they were just doing their job. Before they left, I couldn’t resist giving them a small warning. “Hey, with the pandemic and everything going on, it might be a good idea to stock up on some essentials. I heard the next town over is seeing a resurgence of cases.” I said it casually, looking off in the distance like it was no big deal. I couldn’t save everyone. In my last life, I died because of people. This time, I was saving myself. After the renovation crew left, the deliveries from the wholesale and furniture stores arrived. I used the same cover story to explain the massive amount of supplies being delivered, and no one questioned me. Once everything was inside and organized, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. 6 With 10 days left until the zombie outbreak, I knew it was time to stock up on long-lasting supplies. Fresh produce could wait until later. As I headed down the hill, I noticed two small dogs trailing behind me, their tails wagging excitedly. Looking at their playful, curious faces, I thought maybe adopting them would be a good idea. It might add a bit of joy to this otherwise grim existence. I called them over, and the little ones ran right up to me—one black, one white. They were so small I could easily carry one in each hand. After settling them into their new home, I headed straight to the largest market in town. This market had everything—whatever you could think of in terms of food and essentials, they had it. And the best part? No one cared how much you bought. It was exactly what I needed. I bought 50 cases of instant noodles, 100 cases of soda, 10 cases each of various canned goods, 100 bags of rice, 50 jugs of cooking oil, 10 cases of dehydrated vegetables, 20 bottles of each type of seasoning, plus tons of flour, pasta, and peanuts. Then came the fun part—snacks. I grabbed 20 bags each of almond milk, black sesame paste, milk, and yogurt. For treats, I loaded up on chocolate, nuts, sunflower seeds, chips, jerky, dried beef, and fruit snacks, ten cases of each. Of course, I couldn’t forget the dogs. I ordered 50 large bags of dog food, 20 cans of puppy formula, and 5 cases of other dog treats. I watched in satisfaction as the vendors loaded everything onto two large trucks. I instructed the drivers to head straight to the bunker. Fortunately, my cover story worked, and no one questioned the enormous order. Once everything was delivered, I felt a sense of calm. The supplies were all safely inside, and the bunker doors were tightly shut. As a final precaution, I decided to install additional cameras outside, just in case anything unexpected happened. With everything finally in order, I lay down on the bed and took a deep breath, finally able to relax. While the power and internet were still working, I signed up for every streaming service I could and downloaded all my favorite shows, along with ones I hadn’t watched yet, onto my laptops, tablets, and USB drives. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—it was Vanessa. I answered the call with a blank expression. The moment I answered, I heard her mocking laughter, like she was showing off to someone. “See? I told you she wouldn’t dare ignore me.” I stayed silent. Her voice grew even more smug. “Chloe, did you forget the message I sent you? You forget what it feels like to get your ass beat?” I listened quietly, clenching my fist, but kept my cool. It wasn’t time yet. I needed to wait until they were truly desperate before I struck back. When I didn’t respond, Vanessa grew frustrated. “You think you can just stay quiet? Don’t forget, I’ve got dirt on you, b****!” That was it. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Vanessa, have you forgotten you’re 18 now? Everything you’ve done is a criminal offense. One call to the cops and you’re done.” My voice was cold and steady. 7 Vanessa had repeated a grade. She should’ve been a senior by now, but because of her terrible grades, she was held back. To save face, she took a year off, so now, at 18, she was still a freshman. Hearing my words, Vanessa stammered a bit but quickly raised her voice to save face. “You think you’re so tough? You don’t know who you’re messing with! I’ll post your photos in the group chat!” “Do it,” I challenged. “We’ll meet at the police station after that.” I hung up before she could respond. She wouldn’t post the photos. Bullies like her were all bark and no bite when it came to facing real consequences. She understood the reality of her being 18 now. She was scared, and I knew she wouldn’t follow through. The photos Vanessa had were from when she and her gang dragged me into the bathroom, beat me, tore off my clothes, and took the most humiliating pictures they could. Back then, I was too afraid to fight back. I was alone, no family to turn to. But with the zombie outbreak on the horizon, fear was a thing of the past. Thinking back to that day, I couldn’t help but cry. Sensing my distress, the two little dogs came over, gently licking my face. Their presence calmed me, and I quickly fell asleep. The next day, I woke up knowing it was time for my final round of shopping. I returned to the market and bought a whole cow, two pigs, thirty chickens, twenty ducks, and an assortment of frozen fish and seafood. When the butcher delivered everything, I stocked my two massive freezers to the brim, feeling completely satisfied. Now, all that was left to do was wait. 8 On the second day in the bunker, with just five days left until the outbreak, I got a call from Mrs. Miller, my homeroom teacher. I hesitated but decided to answer. Her voice was gentle, cautious. “Chloe, are you feeling any better?” I could tell she was worried about my emotional state. Rubbing my nose, I responded, “I’m doing much better, but I’d like to take another week off. I’ll study from home.” She quickly jumped in. “No, no, Chloe. I’m not worried about your grades. I care more about how you’re feeling. It’s okay to take a break and focus on yourself.” Her concern hit me hard, and my throat tightened with emotion. Since my dad’s death, no one had shown this kind of care for me. My relatives kept their distance, worried I’d become a burden. With a slight sniffle, I replied, “Thank you, Mrs. Miller. I’ll work on taking care of myself.” She sighed in relief, her voice soft. “Good. Just rest at home, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll let you go now.” “Wait!” I blurted out before she could hang up. “What is it?” I hesitated. “Mrs. Miller, with everything going on, it might be a good idea to stock up on food. Just in case.” She chuckled lightly. “I’ll take your advice, Chloe. Thank you.” After we hung up, I turned my attention to the remaining cameras I hadn’t yet installed. Even with the reinforced doors, you could never be too careful. I decided to place them at the front entrance, so I could keep an eye on anything—or anyone—approaching. The little dogs followed closely as I stepped outside to install the cameras. Once the cameras were set up, I did another inventory check of my supplies. And that’s when I realized—I hadn’t stocked up on water. I nearly panicked at the oversight. Looking around the empty landscape, I wondered if it was possible to dig a well. I immediately called the same foreman who had helped with the bunker, asking him about it. He assured me it was doable and would only take a day. With time running out, I offered him extra money to get the job done as quickly as possible. Three hours later, the crew arrived with their equipment. The foreman smiled as he set up. “This won’t take long, but it’s going to be loud.” I waved off his concerns. “Don’t worry about the noise. I’m in a hurry, just get it done.” The team quickly got to work, and I stood by, watching. I couldn’t help but feel a strange fascination with the machinery. It wasn’t just boys who found this stuff cool—girls could too. Max and Bella, however, were terrified of the noise and ran inside to hide. By 11:30 that night, water started flowing from the well. I couldn’t help but laugh in relief. The foreman even placed stones around the well and installed a proper cover for me. I tipped him generously, and with a grin, he waved and left. Once he was gone, I settled into life in the bunker. Today, steak. Tomorrow, lamb. I was living the life. But as time passed, fear crept back in. Even though I had survived the last zombie massacre, I couldn’t shake the dread that came with knowing what was about to happen. 9 The day before the zombie outbreak, a video titled “Real-Life Train to Busan” suddenly trended online. But within less than a minute, it was taken down. I knew this was the government’s way of trying to keep the public calm. My hands started to tremble, and a cold chill ran through my body. Sensing that something was wrong, the two little pups came over and nuzzled my hands. Their warmth slowly brought me back to reality. I opened the feed from the cameras I had set up in the school’s safe house, just to check if anyone had entered yet, and what I saw made my stomach turn. It was evening, during study hall, and Vanessa and a senior boy walked into the school auditorium. I knew this boy all too well. In my previous life, he was the one who shoved me out into the crowd of zombies. I could never forget his face. But what made it worse was that I remembered this boy, Jason, had a girlfriend. His girlfriend knew Vanessa too. They used to be in the same grade, but Vanessa got held back and was now two years behind them. As soon as they stepped into the auditorium, Jason pinned Vanessa against the door, and they immediately started making out. The spot where they were standing happened to be right in front of one of the hidden cameras I’d installed. Their movements became more heated, and soon, the sounds coming from the camera were disgusting. I almost gagged. I’d always known Vanessa was vile, but I didn’t expect this. Doing something this repulsive, in the school, no less. Despite my nausea, I kept the camera rolling, recording the whole thing. Then, I heard their conversation. Vanessa, breathless, asked, “Did you… did you tell that b**** yet?” Jason, sounding greedy and impatient, replied, “Her family’s rich. I’m keeping her around for that.” They continued their sleazy activities, but the noise finally stopped. Vanessa, lying in Jason’s arms, let out a satisfied sigh, “Good. I was worried you actually had feelings for her.” Jason kissed her, clearly irritated, “No way. She doesn’t have your body, and she’s stuck up. It’s only because she’s loaded. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother with her.” Listening to their whispers made me feel sick all over again. I edited the video, making sure to capture all the worst parts. To destroy someone, death wasn’t enough. Letting them die would be too easy. With 12 hours left until the outbreak, I sat comfortably on my bed, watching the news. At the 10-hour mark, reports came in from the neighboring city. Zombies were starting to emerge from hiding, but our town was still quiet. With 8 hours remaining, every student and teacher at Ridgewood High received a video on their phones—everyone except Vanessa, Jason, and their friends. At the 6-hour mark, Vanessa arrived at school. Her classmates gave her dirty looks, and people whispered as she walked by, pointing and smirking. By the 5-hour mark, Vanessa was fuming. “Who the hell filmed this?!” That’s when she got a text: Vanessa, enjoying yourself? At the 4-hour mark, the principal stormed into our classroom, his face red with anger. “Vanessa Gray! Get to my office! And call your parents—now!” By the 3-hour mark, Vanessa found Jason in the auditorium, panicked, “Jason, what do we do?” Jason snapped at her, his face twisted with annoyance. “Why the hell are you here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?” Vanessa, seeing his reaction, became furious. “Jason! You sure enjoyed yourself when we were doing it! Now you’re turning on me?” Their argument grew louder and more heated. Then, Jason’s girlfriend, Madison, walked over, her face twisted in a mocking smile. “So this is the trash you’ve been with? Pathetic.” Her words weren’t outright vicious, but they dripped with humiliation. Vanessa’s face turned pale, then red with rage. With only 1 hour until the outbreak, a man in hiking gear appeared on a street in the city center. His movements were slow and jerky as he stumbled toward the nearest person. 10 At first, no one noticed him. Until… he staggered toward a girl at the bus stop, listening to music while waiting for her ride, and bit into her neck. That’s when people saw his face. His eyes were clouded, with no pupils, just pale blue sclera. His skin was marbled with dark, bulging veins. He let out a horrifying scream, his teeth jagged like chainsaw blades, sending people running in all directions. He tore into the girl’s neck, ripping and swallowing chunks of her flesh. Many people fled, but a few reckless ones stayed behind to record it on their phones. His body, now rejuvenated from feeding, moved faster. He sprinted toward one of the bystanders, sinking his teeth into the man’s skull. Meanwhile, the girl he had attacked earlier, now a bloody, exposed skeleton, started to stir. She shouldn’t have been able to move—yet she did. The zombie outbreak had officially begun. I sat in my safe house, watching everything unfold through multiple perspectives on my phone. 11 At the same time, back at the school, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence, bringing Vanessa and Jason’s argument to an abrupt halt. On the field, people who had collapsed moments before were rising again. Their movements were slow, but they marched in unison, heading toward the crowded classrooms. I switched to the camera feed from inside the auditorium. The school reacted quickly, moving some of the students and staff into the safe house. Among those evacuated were, of course, Vanessa and her lackeys, along with Jason. I scanned the faces on the camera, seeing the same people as in my previous life, except for one new face—a classmate of mine who, like me, had been a victim of Vanessa’s bullying. Chills ran down my spine. It hit me: my rebirth hadn’t changed anything. I may have escaped my fate, but now someone else was paying the price. Just like last time, the school distributed what little food they had to the survivors in the auditorium, telling them to wait for rescue. I couldn’t bear to watch as some of the teachers, desperate to see their families one last time, tried to leave the safe house. Some stayed behind to help, while others ran, only to meet their doom. This time, I wasn’t going to sit back and suffer. I had the power to protect myself, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else decide my fate.
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