Chapter 1

Before Christmas Eve, a black python suddenly slithered into our residential community.

At first, everyone assumed it had escaped due to poor oversight at the zoo and paid no mind.

But the very next day, a massive snake plague swept across the entire city.

The rabid venomous snakes could not be wounded or killed. They devoured human flesh raw to reproduce, leaving bleached bones scattered throughout every street and alley.

I spent every last penny I had to charter a helicopter. I racked my brain trying to bring my sister, Wren Sullivan, back to my hometown's basement to take shelter.

Wren, however, threatened me with her life, forcing me to bring her boyfriend along as well.

There was not enough space on the helicopter, so I turned down her demand.

She called me cold and selfish. Then, while I was off guard, she knocked me unconscious, boarded the helicopter with her boyfriend, and left me behind.

I was thrown into the sewer by her, left to become food for thousands of black snakes.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to ten days before the snake plague broke out.

Wren was looking at me with obvious displeasure. "Nova, I'm staying in the city for Christmas Eve with my boyfriend. Just go back to our hometown by yourself. Don't be so selfish."

I hid the hatred burning in my eyes. "Fine, have it your way."

*****

One moment, I was trapped in a stinking, freezing sewer, and the next, I found myself in a warm, air-conditioned room. The sudden shift jolted me back to my senses.

The realization crashed over me. I really had time-traveled.

Not caring about the clerk's shocked expression, I snatched my bank card right out of her hand.

The clerk gave me a mocking look. "Are you buying this or not? It's the end of the year, and I'm busy."

I gripped my bank card tightly and stared at her coldly. "This amulet was supposed to be a Christmas gift for my sister, but she just died in a car accident. Why would I buy a gift for someone who's already dead?"

I grabbed my bag and walked out without looking back.

An ungrateful girl like her didn't deserve an amulet from me.

As soon as I stepped out of the jewelry store, my phone started blowing up with texts from my sister, Wren Sullivan.

Wren: [Nova, I want two amulets. Seriously, if you don't buy them, I'm going to cause trouble.]

She spammed me with dozens of messages. I just blocked her without a second thought.

She called me up right away, her tone full of attitude. "Nova, why'd you block me? It's just two amulets. Seriously, are you that cheap? This is my lucky year. If you keep this up, I'm not going back home with you."

I let out a cold laugh. It was just like my previous life around.

She said it was her lucky year, and the amulets would keep her lucky all year.

I didn't even hesitate. I bought her an amulet worth six grand.

But she just had to have two and wanted options to swap them out.

She wore me down with her whining, so I finally gave in and bought the pair.

But the very next day, that extra amulet was hanging around the neck of her boyfriend, Henry Crawford.

I'd never liked that loser. He wasn't even five feet seven, had no place to live, no car, and not even a real job. With a scowl, I told Wren to get the amulet back.

But she just snapped at me, accusing me of looking down on people and threatening to cut ties with me.

I must've lost my mind, thinking about how we'd always relied on each other growing up, so I didn't cut her off right away.

When the snake apocalypse broke out, venomous snakes were everywhere. I spent every penny I had to get a helicopter through a friend, desperately urging Wren to break things off with Henry and escape with me back to our hometown.

But instead, Wren and Henry knocked me out cold and dumped me straight into the sewer.

The place was pitch-black and damp, and within seconds, hundreds, maybe thousands, of black snakes came slithering out.

They wrapped themselves around me, squeezing so hard that every bone in my body snapped.

In that cramped sewer, I became the only feast those black snakes had.

As I was suffocating, I struggled desperately, clinging to the hope that Wren was just playing a cruel joke on me, imagining she'd come back for me.

But Wren and Henry had already flown off in the helicopter, hiding out in our hometown basement.

While I was dying, they were lounging around, eating the food I made, drinking my booze, and watching movies without a care in the world without a shred of guilt.

Right before I died, hatred burned in my heart. If I ever got another shot at messing with them, I would rip them apart, bone by bone.

With that thought, I dropped my gaze, masking the overwhelming hatred burning in my eyes.

"Wren, honestly, there's something I've never told you. I'm deep in debt with loan sharks. Going back home is just my way to lay low and avoid them," I said.