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Chapter Two: Threads of a New Day
Brooklyn, New York – 7:18 AM
ALEX P.O.V
After breakfast, I stepped out of the house and onto the quiet street.
The morning air carried the faint chill of early autumn—sharp yet refreshing. Everything felt unreal, like walking through a dream I couldn't fully wake from.
The front door opened behind me.
Soft footsteps approached.
I turned.
Janet stepped out, looking absolutely stunning in her uniform.
The Masters School's signature attire suited her perfectly: a crisp white blouse tucked neatly into a navy pleated skirt, a fitted blazer with the silver emblem resting over her heart, knee-high socks framing her long legs, and polished black shoes that clicked softly against the porch. Her hair, tied in a soft ponytail, highlighted her delicate features. Even without makeup, she radiated a natural, effortless beauty.
I blinked. For a moment, I just stared.
"W-what?" she asked softly, her cheeks warming under my gaze. "Do I look weird?"
"Not even close," I replied—quiet, but firm enough to feel like a promise.
Her blush deepened, lips curling into a shy smile.
Then another familiar voice cut through the morning.
"Alex! Wait up!"
Mia. My stepsister.
She came running down the steps, her schoolbag bouncing at her side. Even in her Stuyvesant uniform, she carried that same teasing, confident grace—white blouse tucked into a charcoal pleated skirt, blazer hugging her waist, and that usual mischievous glint in her emerald eyes.
"You're leaving without me?" she said, slightly breathless, a playful frown tugging at her lips.
I smirked.
"Not leaving. Just… standing."
Mia's frown deepened, though the sparkle in her eyes never faded.
"Since when do you walk instead of run to school?"
"Since I decided to start going early," I said.
Janet giggled softly beside me.
Mia rolled her eyes, then fell into step at my side.
"Whatever you say, big brother."
Her tone was casual, but the weight behind it—familiarity, challenge, and a subtle closeness—was impossible to miss. She made it sound like we were doing something secret.
Janet glanced between us, her smile faltering for a split second as she processed Mia's energy. I didn't blame her. From the outside, Mia's teasing boldness could feel like a storm you weren't prepared for.
"So," Mia said, swinging her bag lightly, "are you walking all the way with us?"
I shook my head.
"Just part of the way. Janet, right?"
She nodded, adjusting her bag strap.
Normally, Diana drove them to school in her Mini Cooper. I never joined because I usually woke up late after staying up coding. But the car had broken down, so we were taking public transport—though I normally always took the train anyway.
Janet attended The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. Mia and I went to Stuyvesant.
Janet only came home on weekends; Mia and I came home every day.
"This feels weird," Mia said, looking mischievous.
"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely puzzled. Everything had felt weird since I woke up.
"This—" She gestured between us. "You walking to school with us."
"You never walk to school," I countered, trying to tease her, even though I understood what she meant.
"Yeah right, Sherlock," she snorted cutely.
"I think what she's trying to say," Janet cut in gently, "is that you've never gone with us before. So it feels strange."
"Whatever. I just don't want people seeing me step out of a Mini Cooper at school. God, I hate that car."
Janet burst out laughing.
I turned to look at her—and stopped breathing.
She looked beautiful. Like an actual angel.
Her eyes sparkled as she laughed, the corners crinkling softly. It wasn't just a smile; it was a whole feeling—warm, bright, grounding, and somehow uplifting all at once.
A strange hollowness opened in my chest, not unpleasant but startling, like the drop of a rollercoaster. My earlier thoughts—plans, strategies, ways to dominate the apocalypse—evaporated.
My heart thudded, suddenly fragile.
Oh.
A dumb, simple word, but it held a universe of realization.
I was… smitten.
A foolish word, but perfect. I felt struck—bowled over. The sun, which I hadn't even acknowledged a second ago, suddenly felt brighter, warmer, like it was shining just for this moment.
A part of my mind tried to intervene. Alex, she's your sister for god's sake. It's just a laugh.
But it didn't matter. I was already memorizing the curve of her cheek, the stray strand of hair near her ear, the way she brushed it aside. I was collecting moments I didn't want to lose.
Why didn't I notice her in my past life? She'd always been beautiful, but I never felt anything for her—or for Mia. Only Diana. And sure, that made sense. Diana was a mature, stunning woman. A literal milf. E-cups that should be illegal. I could've drowned in them.
She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen—before the apocalypse anyway. Celebrities didn't count; they hid behind makeup. Diana was perfect with or without it.
Honestly, it was normal for teenage boys to fall for older women. We had a teacher, Miss Rose—a gorgeous blonde with massive jugs—and almost every guy crushed on her, including me.
"You look beautiful," I blurted out.
Fuck.
Why did I say that? Especially with Mia right here?
Janet's laughter paused. She stared at me.
Mia smirked, leaning close. "Careful, Alex. She's glowing today. Don't make her blush too hard before the subway."
But I heard the jealousy in her voice.
"Thanks," Janet whispered, cheeks pink.
Her laugh floated between us, soft and warm.
I felt something settle quietly in my chest—their energy, their trust, their presence.
I glanced at Mia. She was biting her lip cutely. I couldn't resist reaching over to ruffle her hair. She was adorable like this… though she would become dangerously unhinged in the apocalypse, especially after I left with Brandon and Amanda.
Seeing both Janet and Mia here—soft, alive, innocent—it made me question myself as a man. How did I ignore my own family for that backstabbing bitch Amanda? It made me want to hit myself.
I'm not screwing up my second chance.
I regressed for a reason. I don't know what it is, and I don't care. All that matters now is surviving the apocalypse. Preparing. Even though six months seems like a lot of time, I need to start now.
The three of us walked down the Brooklyn streets together—Janet radiant in her Masters uniform, Mia teasing and close, and me… trying to act calm, normal.
But inside, I felt the stirrings of tension—a quiet sense that nothing about this morning was ordinary.
The subway entrance came into view.
Janet exhaled softly.
Mia nudged me playfully.
And I felt the threads of a new day—of possibilities, dangers, and quiet storms—tighten around us.
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