The sound of a cheap alarm clock shattered the silence.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
My eyes snapped open. The ceiling above me wasn't unfamiliar—a white-painted room that I used to live in for the first 20 years of my life. Well, I mean, for this second life, it was already 28 years since I was reborn. Still, I am not so sure if this is the same world as my previous life because even this world looks exactly like my last life's world. Still, there is a little bit of difference in history like the name of an important person, the name of the place, or the history timeline other than that everything progressing in the same direction but there is one wrong thing.
Sam: "Who Am I…."
it is the question I have asked myself my whole life because even though I know the world I don't know who I was once.
Sam: "never mind, it doesn't matter anymore and today is the day"
I get up from my bed and get myself ready for breakfast today is the end of the year my entire family comes to my parent's house we used to live together with we were kids in the Upper East Side Manhattan New York City I am the oldest and younger sibling is Michael and Eve Barlow and we stay here ever since Christmas Eve until today and tomorrow they plan to get back to there place but I don't think thing will go as they plan….
Michael: "Good morning, Sam. You cooking again today?"
Sam: Grinning as he flips through a recipe book "Yeah, you know it. I didn't spend all that money learning from the best just to take a day off. What, not impressed yet?"
Michael: Laughs, leaning against the counter "Impressed? Damn right, I'm impressed. Yesterday's steak? Easily the best I've had in my life."
Michael is a 24-year-old young man who recently graduated from Harvard Medical School, a significant accomplishment that reflects his hard work, dedication, and passion for medicine. He is set to begin his career as a resident doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital next week.
Eve: Entering the kitchen, stretching and yawning "Morning, you two. Smells good already."
Sam: "It's called preparation. You should try it sometime."
Eve: (Rolls her eyes playfully) "Whatever, Gordon Camsay. By the way, I'm heading out to pick up Ann. We've got plans—girl stuff, you know. But don't worry, I'll be back before dinner. Wouldn't want to miss your five-star masterpiece."
Michael: (Chiming in, smirking) "Yeah, better hurry back. Sam might finally serve something subpar, and we'll need a witness."
Eve: (Grinning as she heads for the door) "I'll hold you to that!"
Eve is the lovely 20-year-old younger sister of Sam and Michael. With her brave spirit, lively personality, and great sense of humor, she brings warmth and energy to everyone around her. Though she's a student at Harvard Law School, her focus is less on boasting about her achievements and more on being there for her family and friends. She decided to pursue law after being inspired by her best friend, Anne, and is driven by a sense of purpose and loyalty rather than ambition for academic prestige.
Sam: "Right but don't even be late today because I prepared the best dinner I ever did I know you don't wanna miss it right?"
Eve: "Oh yeah I loved that steak yesterday do the dishes even better today? How am I gonna miss that I see you around then I go now bye"
then she slammed the door leaving me and Mike stand there dizzy morning
Sam: "Mike, are you gonna help me prepare the ingredients?"
Michael: "All alright today is the last day of my peaceful life I gonna help you with everything you need"
We started the day like any typical family in a quiet UES neighborhood. Mike and I went to the supermarket to pick up what we needed, and afterward, we headed home to prepare breakfast for ourselves, Mike, and our parents.
"Mom, Dad, how are you today?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen.
Nate, always the jokester, chuckled and replied, "I'm good, but can you not go home and just live with us? Hahaha."
Kate, always warm and supportive, smiled as she set the table. "You should give me the recipe sometime. I love your food. I didn't know it was this good."
Mr. Nate and Mrs. Kate Barlow are my new parents. Both 65 years old, they are a successful couple who would be right at home in any rich neighborhood. Both of them are well-respected doctors with illustrious careers, though they retired eight years ago. Despite their high status, they've always been kind and down-to-earth, making me feel at home in a place I never imagined would feel so familiar.
Sam: "I did anything for you Mom thanking you for supporting me when I was young"
Kate: " OH, sweetheart I love you!"
when I was young I was quite one of the weird kids who acted like being processed by a demon because my knowledge should not exist in the baby or kid and often said to others about seeing the weird thing if not for their continued support me teaching me a lot of things I might not have lived a happy life I do today.
But as I grew up the worry grew as well because I saw the things that others did not as ghosts or anything paranormal but looked more natural like I saw the flow of something that the human mind can't process some time I saw the river and I percept time differently or anything weird like I saw who gonna get lucky hmm… I mean real lucky like surviving a terrible accident or winning the lotto but I couldn't control what I saw it must be a superpower that I reincarnation with but it was so useless and unreliable that it was hard to live with it other people who knew me though that I was got some weird Mental illness.
Otherwise, the thing is not all bad because the knowledge that I have can easily make me rich I invested a few thousand bucks from a part-time job and my savings into the thing that gonna be a trend at the right time and always make maximum profit and never lose even a cent I even get on the Time magazine 2 years ago as The most successful investor that ever exists and I already turn into billionaire when I was 18 and then when I am 26 being top 10 richest individuals in the world as a full-time investor my "predicted" is just go that far.
With everything I did, I worked a few hours a day I learned many things like my cooking skills and other stuff that might be necessary for survival because one thing that I always saw Up in the sky on the cloud was a huge clock that ran countdown it was showing up to me 4 years ago and that counted down for something it is gonna end when midnight today I not sure what gonna happen but I remember from the knowledge that I have the thing in the sky similar to some Korean novel that my last life have read before I hope it does not happen like that novel.
Everything proceeded as usual when my sister came back, accompanied by her childhood friend from next door, Ann Lee. Ann, always brilliant and composed, was the reason my scatterbrained sister had managed to secure a spot at Harvard Law School. With her father often away on business trips, Ann had become like part of our family. Mr. Lee, ever gracious and dependable, had been an invaluable ally—especially during that stressful ordeal with my international banking issues. Taking care of his daughter felt like the least we could do, and Ann, as always, blended seamlessly into our lives.
Eve: (Taking a bite of the Beef Wellington, her eyes lighting up) "Wow, Sam! This is way better than the one I had at that fancy restaurant downtown."
Sam: (Grinning proudly) "Of course it is. The chef at that restaurant gave me his secret recipe. I might have paid a little extra for it, but it was worth every—"
Eve: (Waving her hands frantically) "Wait, no! Don't even start. I don't want to hear how much you spent. Let me just enjoy the food in peace!"
Michael: (Chuckling as he cuts into his portion) "Come on, Eve. You're eating like royalty because of him. A little number-crunching wouldn't kill you."
Eve: (Rolls her eyes but smiles) "Still, I'd rather not know. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to Sam's spending habits."
Ann: (Laughing softly, watching the siblings banter) "Honestly, Eve's right. Sam, you really go above and beyond for everything."
Sam: (Shrugs, pretending to look offended) "What can I say? Only the best for my family... and our guest, of course."
Eve: (With a teasing grin) "Oh, now you're just showing off!"
Michael: (Laughs along, raising his glass) "Here's to Sam—master chef and the only reason we're eating like this tonight!"
Eve, Ann, and Michael: (Raising their glasses in unison) "To Sam!"
Sam: (Smiling genuinely, his voice softer) "Thanks, guys. That means a lot. Let's dig in."
Dinner was supposed to be a time for laughter and catching up, and on the surface, that's exactly what was happening. My family shared stories about their lives, their plans, and the little moments that made them smile. Ann laughed along, her voice light despite the occasional nervous glance she cast my way.
But I couldn't focus. My hands were clammy, my heart raced, and the ticking clock on the wall felt louder with each passing second.
11:00 PM.
Less than an hour remained.
I clenched my fists under the table, the weight of my knowledge suffocating me. Could I trust my instincts this time? Was it worth throwing their world into chaos before the real storm hit?
Finally, I couldn't hold it in anymore.
Sam: "Everyone, listen to me!", my voice sharper than I intended as I stood abruptly.
The room fell silent, all eyes on me. My dad set his fork down with a slight frown, and Ann's smile faltered. Even Eve and Michael, mid-banter, froze to stare at me.
Sam: "I need you all to hear me out,", forcing my tone to steady. "Something's coming. Something... catastrophic. I think the world is about to end."
A heavy silence followed.
Nate: (Sighing, his tone calm but laced with concern) "Sam, son, take a breath. No one is going to hurt you. You're safe here, okay? Let's not get carried away."
Kate: (Her eyes wide and glassy, her voice trembling) "What are you talking about, sweetie? What's wrong? Please, just talk to us."
Their reactions hit me like a gut punch. Eve and Michael exchanged wary glances, avoiding looking directly at me. Ann paled, gripping her napkin so tightly her knuckles turned white.
'This is a disaster,' I thought, frustration and fear boiling under my skin. 'Why is it so hard for humans to believe the truth when it stares them in the face?'
I slammed my phone onto the table. The sound made everyone flinch.
Sam: "I'm serious," I said firmly. "We have less than half an hour to get ready. Monsters are coming—real, bloodthirsty monsters—and we need to be prepared to fight. I've already done most of the work. The house is fortified. Weapons are ready. But you all need to get your heads in the game, now."
Kate: (Her voice breaking as she clutched Dad's arm) "What... what did you do, Sam? What's going on?"
Ann: (Her breathing quickens, her words barely above a whisper) "This... this can't be happening. Monsters? That's... no, that's not possible."
Eve: (Snapping out of her daze, her tone defensive) "Sam, what are you talking about? This isn't funny!"
Michael: (Leaning forward, frowning) "Is this some kind of joke? Because if it is, it's a really bad one."
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "It's not a joke. It's not a delusion. It's the truth. I've been preparing for years, and I need you all to trust me now."
They stared at me, their faces a mix of disbelief, fear, and growing panic.
Nate: (Softly, like he was trying to soothe me) "Sam, we love you. Whatever you're going through, we'll help you, okay? But you have to calm down."
I clenched my fists, meeting his gaze. "I don't need calm. I need action. Just... trust me, please. When midnight hits, you'll understand everything. Until then, stay close and get ready."
The tension in the room was suffocating, but I refused to back down. Whether they believed me or not didn't matter. What mattered was that they were ready when the chaos began.
I pulled out my phone and activated the protective systems I had set up throughout the house. I spent over 10 billion USD on this, a project I had carefully orchestrated when I convinced my entire family to take a month-long trip to Thailand last year.
As soon as I activated the systems, the walls began to shift and transform into Tungsten-Alloyed Steel. The windows became reinforced with the same material, and the doors followed suit. Everything connected to the outside was now impervious to intrusion. The monitor descended into the dining room, displaying a 360-degree view of the area outside the house.
Even the 20-foot-long wall that held the family photos flipped open, revealing an arsenal of weapons—everything from large guns to massive swords, knives, and spears. My house had now transformed into the safest place on Earth, capable of withstanding even an atomic bomb.
I turned to my family, offering a relieved smile to reassure them. "Don't worry, guys. Everyone is safe now."
And then, as the clock ticked closer to midnight—11:55 PM, December 31, 2024—
everyone screamed.