Levana's eyes shot open, her breathing ragged and frantic. The room, bathed in the dim glow of a single bedside lamp, seemed to press in on her from all sides. The oppressive warmth of the night hung heavy in the air, but her skin was clammy with a cold sweat, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat.
The apartment was eerily silent, the only sound a rhythmic thumping of her own heartbeat reverberating through her ears.
Her thin pajamas clung to her damp body as she struggled to steady her breaths. The familiar but strange surroundings came into focus as her black eyes, wide with confusion, darted around the room.
The space was a paradox—luxurious yet simple, a blend of opulence and understated elegance that spoke of both comfort and restraint.
Sunlight filtered through the large sliding door, casting a golden hue across the room and illuminating the delicate play of shadows on the floor. The scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass wafted in from the outside, a nostalgic reminder of a time before the world had been ravaged by catastrophe.
Levana slowly lifted her trembling hands to her face, feeling the smooth, unblemished skin that seemed like polished jade under the morning light. Her hands were pristine, unmarred by the harsh reality she remembered—a stark contrast to the rough, scarred hands that had been a testament to her struggles and survival.
"This can't be a dream," Levana murmured, her voice barely a whisper as she stared blankly at the vibrant greenery outside. Her gaze drifted to the bedside table, where her old cell phone lay. She reached for it with unsteady fingers, turning it on with a sense of trepidation.
The screen lit up, revealing the time—quarter to seven in the morning. Her eyes skimmed the date displayed on the phone.
**April 13, Year 4013.**
A surge of disbelief and elation washed over her. The tears came suddenly, spilling over as laughter bubbled up from deep within. She had been given a second chance—a miraculous return to the days before the apocalypse that had torn her life apart. The knowledge of what lay ahead should have been a curse, but instead, it felt like a precious gift.
As the tears subsided and her laughter turned to quiet sobs, Levana wiped her face with the back of her hand.
The reality of her situation settled in with a weighty gravity. The clock was ticking, and she had one hundred and thirteen days to prepare before the world would descend into chaos.
With determination, Levana stood up, her sweat-slicked skin still feeling clammy. She made her way to the bathroom, where she shed her damp pajamas and stepped into the shower.
As Levana stood under the cascading water of the shower, she felt the cool droplets cleanse more than just her skin. The water, though refreshing, seemed to wash away not just the sweat of her restless night but also the last remnants of the life she had left behind.
Each drop was a symbol of renewal, each rinses a shedding of old scars and old fears. The soothing cascade was a stark contrast to the harsh realities she had endured, offering her a brief respite from the weight of her new reality.
After drying off and donning her simple attire, Levana settled back onto her bed. The white shirt and black pants, though plain, felt like a canvas upon which she would paint her new life.
Her room, now bathed in the early morning light, seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for her next move. The sun's rays filtered through the sliding door, casting gentle shadows that danced across the walls, reminding her of the calm before the storm that was to come.
She gazed at the serene, unassuming room, its tranquility a stark contrast to the chaotic world she had known.
The sun's warmth on her face was a bittersweet reminder of a time when the world was whole when the apocalypse was just a distant rumor rather than a grim certainty.
It was a cruel twist of fate that the world she had fought so hard to survive was now an ephemeral dream, a chance to start over with a new purpose.
Levana's thoughts turned inward as she sat in contemplative silence. The weight of the upcoming apocalypse loomed large, a shadow cast over her newly restored life.
The enormity of the task ahead was daunting. She had only one hundred and thirteen days—just over three months—to prepare for a calamity that had once seemed insurmountable.
The enormity of her task felt like a mountain she must scale, each step a battle against the encroaching darkness.
The losses she had endured in her previous life haunted her thoughts like specters. Her younger sister's death had been a devastating blow, a wound that had never truly healed. The memory of her sister, once vibrant and full of life, now a mindless predator, was a constant ache in her heart.
The twin's transformation into a zombie had been a cruel twist of fate, a reminder of the fragility of life in a world gone mad. The betrayal of her lover, who had torn away the last thread of family she had clung to, had been the final blow, leaving her isolated and broken.
In those final moments before her self-destruction, Levana had felt a profound sense of finality. The explosive end had seemed like a release, an escape from a world that had lost all semblance of sanity.
But now, given this miraculous chance to return to the past, she was faced with an opportunity to rewrite her destiny.