She woke up gasping.
Her lungs burned as if she had been running, as if she had been screaming when she died.
And she was as she experienced death for the eight time.
Her hand shot out blindly, fingers scrabbling over the nightstand until they closed around her phone. She unlocked it with shaking hands, her breath too fast, too shallow.
The date stared back at her JUNE 17, 2030
She froze.
She stared in silence, her heartbeat drowning out her surrounds. Then she rose and her bare feet striking the floor as she hurried to the bathroom.
She brushed her teeth forcefully, her movements automatic as she stared at her reflection. The girl in the mirror appeared unchanged: younger, unscarred, alive.
She turned on the shower.
The moment the water hit her skin, her legs gave out.
She slid down the tiled wall, hugging her knees as hot water streamed over her shoulders. Her breathing faltered, then gave way to sobs.
"Why me…" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rush of water. "Why again?"
Images slammed into her without mercy.
Her family screaming.
She recalled hands tearing into flesh, the sensation as vivid as if it were happening now. Her little brother's screams cut through the memory, his face twisted in terror as he was taken.
Her mother's lifeless eyes.
The sound of bones breaking.
"I don't know if I can do this anymore," she whispered, pressing her forehead to her knees.
The memories wouldn't stop. Every life had been a different nightmare. She remained there until the water cooled and her sobs faded into something raw and hollow.
She steadied herself against the wall as she stood.
She wiped her face, straightened her posture, and stared at the tiled wall as if seeking reassurance.
"This life," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest,
"Will be the last time." She exhaled running her fingers through her hair and how many times have you said that one Jules.
"I'll get it right," she vowed, her knuckles turning white from gripping the bedroom door as her mind raced with possibilities. This time, they will live longer, and she will keep them safe.
Downstairs, the house smelled like breakfast.
The clinking of cutlery and the low murmur of conversation filled the dining room. Her family sat around the table like how it begins every time she wakes alive, warm, whole.
She took her seat without a word and they noticed the difference immediately.
She barely touched her food, her gaze moving from face to face as if trying to memorize each one. Every ordinary gesture seemed fragile, as though it might vanish at any moment.
Her mother frowned. "Are you feeling alright?"
She nodded automatically, her attention already elsewhere. She watched her father pour coffee.
She observed her brother Kaelith swing his legs beneath the chair.
She saw her other brother, Tavian, argue over the last piece of toast which caused tears to run down her face.
"Hey," her younger brother Jorin said, leaning toward her. "Are you crying, OMG you're so weird but are you okay?"
She opened her mouth to answer as she wiped her face and then froze.
A sharp tone rang in her ears.
DING.
[Trial Period Ended.]
[Global Base System Initialization Complete.][Host Identified.]
The sound was so clear it cut through the room like glass.
Her vision blurred, and glowing text appeared in the air before her eyes.
Her breath caught.
Her younger brother Jorin frowned. "Why are you staring like that?"
She pushed her chair back, the sound of wood scraping against tile startling everyone.
"I...I'm fine," she said quickly, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I just don't feel well... I think I'll lie down."
Her mother started to stand. "Do you want..."
"No," she replied, swallowing before continuing. "I'll be alright. I just need some rest."
They watched her with concern as she left, her heart pounding with every step.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Silence.
The glowing text was still there.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why now?"
The screen shifted.
[System Notice:]Initialization required prolonged synchronization with host soul data.
[Previous lives: Incomplete compatibility.]
[Current Cycle: Synchronization achieved.]
A new line appeared beneath it.
She clenched her hands into fists.
"So you're telling me," she said slowly, "you could have helped me… and you watched me die eight times."
[System Clarification:]System was inactive in prior cycles. Current activation: first full deployment.
Her chest tightened.
"And now"
[Primary Directive:
Assist host in construction of a high-tier survival base. Objective: maximize long-term survival probability.
A new window unfolded.
[ONE- TIME Beginner Starter Pack Granted.]
Unlimited storage slots
Private base land allocation
Fertile farmland
Freshwater stream
Natural pond
Livestock-suitable terrain
One residential cabin
[Countdown Initiated.]
[Time Until Global Catastrophe: 90 Days.]
Her breath stilled.
Ninety days.
Three months.
Not long, but longer than she'd ever had before.
She sat on the edge of her bed, grounding herself as the reality settled in. "So this is my chance," she whispered.
[Objective Updated.]
Primary Goal: Construct an impregnable survival base.
Secondary Goal: Preserve designated individuals.
"Last time," she said quietly. "No more mistakes."
Her hands trembled, but this time, not from fear.
Images flickered through her mind again: collapsed buildings, chaotic streets, her family vanishing one by one.
The screen dimmed.
She lay back against the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Three months.
She would gather supplies.
She would move her family.
She would build a base strong enough to outlast the end of the world.
And this time
She would live to see it.