Chapter 2: Second Chance
"The instinct to survive is human nature itself."
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Alan found himself in a daze, his mind struggling to process the abrupt and contrasting change that had just occurred. It took him a moment to regain his bearings and come back to reality, his thoughts interrupted by the familiar sound of a school bell.
The sound reverberated through the hallways, triggering a flood of memories in Alan's mind. It had been years since he last heard that bell, back when he was a physics teacher at Mount Vernon High in suburban New York.
The memories rushed back, reminding him of the life he had before the Alien invasion.
His gaze shifted, scanning the classroom he found himself in. The room seemed engraved in his memory, each desk and blackboard a reminder of the students he had taught. But there was something off, something that couldn't possibly be true.
A voice broke through the haze of his thoughts, a voice he recognized all too well. "Mr. D, are you alright?"
Alan's heart skipped a beat as he turned to face the source of the voice.
It was Daniel Judge, the youngest member of his squad who had died in his arms just moments ago. The confusion and disbelief overwhelmed him.
How was Daniel here, alive and standing before him?
The rectangular digital clock on the table caught Alan's attention, and he quickly focused on the date displayed.
[13.00; June 6, 2030].
The realization hit him like a lightning bolt. He had been rewarded with a chance to travel back in time, three years into the past. The implications of this were staggering.
"Three years," Alan muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "This means... she..."
His thoughts trailed off as a familiar figure occupied his mind. The one person he longed to see again, the reason he fought so fiercely in the deadly game.
Without wasting another moment, Alan dashed out of the classroom, leaving behind a bewildered Daniel and a classroom full of curious students.
The streets outside were bustling with activity, with pedestrians filling the sidewalks and cars rushing by. Everything seemed "normal" on the surface, but the enormous starship that loomed in the sky reminded Alan of the impending threat that loomed over Earth.
In fact, similar sights could be witnessed in the 100 largest cities in the world.
Four years ago, all these enormous starships suddenly appeared out of nowhere and had been hovering in the sky ever since. With their advent, panic, and chaos began to set in worldwide.
The fall of the stock market, public upheavals, and societal chaos forced various governments across the globe to take extreme measures to deal with the emergency. Martial law was declared, and eventually, after a few months, order was restored as people started to return to their daily lives.
Humans had adapted to their new reality, but the scars of the invasion still lingered and everyone knew nothing will ever be the same.
Alan had covered several miles, his breath growing heavier with each step. The physical exertion reminded him that he had returned to his former, "normal" body. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he paused to catch his breath, his eyes fixating on the imposing pyramid-shaped metal structure that dominated New York Central Park.
This was the very place where the infamous Apocalypse Game would be held, constructed by the aliens on their first year of arrival. Everything was accurate, apparent, and precisely the same as what it was in his memory.
Alan briefly glanced at the people he passed by and inwardly lamented. Even though everything seemed to have returned to normal, he knew this calm would soon turn to chaos once again. He remembered that in 2030, this year, the government would announce a shocking policy that rocked society as a whole.
Throughout the years of the Apocalypse Game, the toll of casualties had been immense. Soldiers, scientists, and individuals chosen for their survival skills had fallen, leaving a scarcity of experienced individuals.
Desperate to replenish their ranks, the government had resorted to randomly summoning citizens to participate in the deadly game. It was a lottery that encompassed everyone aged 17 to 40, an unsettling reality that society would later dub the "apocalypse games lottery." Alan knew that his name would be among those chosen.
However, on this day, in this moment, those concerns were temporarily set aside. Determination etched into his features, Alan pushed himself to run another mile until he finally reached his destination--a grand, white-painted building that stood before him.
"Bellevue Hospital..." Alan heaved a sigh. "I didn't expect to ever come back to this place." Alan walked through the hospital corridors, his steps echoing in his ears. His heart was beating fast, very fast. If he really went back in time by three years, he was about to see her again.
"Room 2603", Alan muttered as he stopped in his tracks.
The number was etched in his mind, a room he had visited countless times.
As Alan reached the door, he paused for a moment to collect himself. His heart pounded in his chest, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door, revealing a small hospital room.
"Daddy!"
The lovely sound of a girl sounded in the air as Alan opened the hospital room door.
His four-year-old daughter, Arria D Angelo was lying on a hospital bed. She immediately became excited and energetic when she saw Alan. Alan quickly filled with a rush of emotions as he crossed the room, He enveloped Arria in a warm, gentle hug, cherishing this precious moment.
Given a second chance to see his loved one.