Chapter 2

I woke up with a gasp.

My bedroom. Sunlight streamed through the window. My old "Code Monkeys" poster on the wall.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Tiffany: "Morning, sleepyhead! Big news at assembly today! ;)"

My heart hammered.

This was the day. The day Brad Thompson would announce his "End of the World" party.

I wasn't dead.

I was back.

High school senior, Alex. Aspiring software developer.

Alive.

The memories of the future, of my death, were vivid, sickening. Sarah' s face. The knife.

I got out of bed, my legs shaky.

At school, the assembly hall buzzed. Brad, charismatic as ever, took the stage.

"Alright, class of whenever!" he boomed, a grin splitting his face. "To celebrate our impending freedom, or doom, depending on your grades, I'm throwing the party to end all parties! This Saturday. My parents' lake house. Be there, or be square!"

Cheers erupted.

I looked for Tiffany. She was with the cheerleaders, squealing, already planning her outfit.

I found Sarah by her locker.

"Sarah," I said, my voice hoarse.

She turned. Her eyes. There was something different. A flicker.

"Alex," she said, her voice too calm. "Heard about the party?"

"Yeah," I said. "We can't go."

She smiled, a small, knowing smile that sent a chill down my spine.

"Oh, I think we can, Alex. I think we must."

My blood ran cold.

She knew.

She was reborn too.

"Sarah, you remember what happened?" I whispered, horrified.

"Every detail," she said, her eyes glinting. "And this time, I'm going to be by Brad's side. No matter what."

My stomach twisted. This wasn't the Sarah I knew. Or, maybe it was the Sarah I never truly knew.

"The punch, Sarah. The raid. People's lives were ruined."

"Minor setbacks," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "This time, I'll be prepared. We'll be prepared."

She leaned closer. "In fact, Alex, you could help. Keep Tiffany busy. She was always a distraction."

I stared at her, speechless.

The obsession hadn't faded with death and rebirth. It had intensified.

It was no longer just a crush. It was her entire purpose.

My objective was clear: survive. And this time, make sure justice found the right people.

But Sarah... Sarah was a new, terrifying variable.

An ally from the past, now a potential enemy with the same knowledge.

And a far more dangerous agenda.