But for that she needed rest, plenty of it. Nothing replenished spirit force like sleep—well, that and consuming spirit liquid. With none of the latter at hand, she'd resort to the next best option: closing her eyes and entering dreamland.
As the painkiller finally took effect, drowsiness set in. A glance at her watch and the darkness outside confirmed it was already quite late. Finishing her hot chocolate to soothe her grumbling stomach, she decided to head to bed.
Though not to sleep, just yet. Placing her phone right beside her, she waited for the call she knew would come—one she anticipated with a mixture of sadness and excitement.
Despite her nervousness, as the minutes ticked by, her eyelids grew heavier. Just as she felt herself dozing off, her phone sprang to life, the ringtone the one that was reserved for her brother - the theme song from Chip 'n Dale, a cartoon they had loved as children.
She immediately perked up, hastily reaching for the phone and swiping to answer.
"Rose? It's me, Ethan."
Hearing his voice after so many years unleashed emotions she had long thought dead. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she had to bite her lips to stifle a sob.
"Rose? Can you hear me?" His already worried voice grew even more tense.
He was alive. Her big brother was truly alive.
"Yes," she replied curtly, masking the tremor in her voice.
Until now, her rebirth and return in time had seemed surreal—like resetting to a save point in a game for another attempt. But now, the full implications of her return hit her. All those who had died were still alive. The horrors she'd experienced hadn't happened yet. There was still time to prevent them.
"Rose, are you alright? Did you see the news?"
Just as in her past life, Ethan called the moment he learned about the portals, worried for his little sister's well-being.
"Yes," she answered simply.
"Stay indoors for now. I'll book a flight back to you as soon as possible. Don't go outside until then. No one really knows what's happening—it's dangerous."
In the background, she heard cars honking. He was likely already on his way to the airport.
She hesitated, unsure how to respond. Part of her wanted to tell him she knew what was happening, that she was safe, that she had a plan. But would he believe her? Even to herself, it sounded insane. And even if he did, would it help their situation?
In her past life, she had broken down crying over the phone, the terror from her realm experience still fresh. She'd accused him of abandoning her for this trip with his friend. Ironically, she ended up deserting him first. As he rushed back to her side, she fled with her neighbors, too scared to stay home alone. It took several months for them to reunite. By then, her brother had braved a realm himself, gaining telekinesis. Wracked with guilt, he'd devoted himself to protecting her—until he lost his life on a mission.
What if she acted differently this time? She feared her decision could have fatal consequences. Sticking to her original actions might ensure her brother's safety in a few months' time. But could she be certain?
Just as she opened her mouth to respond, she considered her changed ability. What if there were more differences between her past life and this one? What if something happened to her brother despite her precautions? Wouldn't it be better to face the challenges together?
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone on this trip. I shouldn't have left you alone..." he continued, his voice thick with remorse. "I'll be with you soon. Please, just hold on until I'm by your side, okay?"
His pleading voice tugged at her heartstrings.
"Ethan, I'm alright. Don't worry about me." she responded, unable to be harsh to the brother she had thought lost forever. "Please look after yourself on your way back. I'll wait here for you."
She heard him gasp on the other end, probably surprised by his sister's docile demeanor. Usually, they butted heads with each other. Most of the time, it was because of Rose's rebellious behavior, which even her usually indulgent elder brother couldn't endure at times. Now she understood how difficult it must have been for him, fulfilling all the family roles - being both parents and brother at the same time.
"If - and I'm saying just if - you don't find me at our house," she added, carefully choosing each word, "please stay there and wait for me. I'll always come home, no matter what happens."
A heavy silence hung between them for a moment. Rose could almost hear the gears turning in Ethan's head as he processed her words.
"Rose... what do you mean by that?" His voice was low, cautious. "What aren't you telling me?"
She sighed, realizing she might have said too much. "No, nothing like that. I just... I have a feeling things are going to change quickly. I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll always come back to you."
"You're scaring me, Rosie," Ethan said, using her childhood nickname. "Please, just promise me you'll stay put until I get there."
Rose closed her eyes, fighting back tears. For now, she simply wanted to prevent him from panicking and doing anything rash, so she agreed. "Mm. I'll wait for you. Let me know once you've booked your flight."
"Okay, I will," Ethan replied, his voice tinged with relief. "I love you, Rosie. Stay safe."
"I love you too, big brother," Rose whispered, her throat tight with emotion, ending the call. She stared at her phone for a long moment, guilt gnawing at her for the white lie she had told him. But she couldn't let tomorrow's opportunity slip away.
With her eyes rimmed red from unshed tears, she turned off the light. Soon, exhaustion pulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep.