However, like before, she didn't rush to make any judgment.
Whether she was hallucinating or everything was a setup was yet to be known.
Maybe she didn't die, the Ravencroft family found her, and now they are trying to mislead her by manipulating her mind, so that they could dig out her superpower crystal again.
Yet it didn't explain why she was feeling physical pain. Even if they manipulate her, she will only feel mental pain, not physical pain.
Suspicion and uncertainty crept into Ivy's eyes.
The mother raised her hand to slap Ivy, but Ivy caught her wrist mid-air.
"Don't," she said coldly. "Try that again, and you won't get your hand back."
The room froze. For a brief moment, silence stretched thick between them.
"Ivy... what's gotten into you?" Isla's father's brow furrowed.
Ivy stared at him with hatred.
Hypocritical b*stard. Magnus Ravencroft.
Did he truly think she had forgotten what he had done to her 8 years ago?
Magnus flinched, seeing the deep malice in Ivy's eyes.
When does the innocent and timid Ivy transform into a bloodthirsty killer?
If looks could kill, he would have scattered in fragments of an atom's size.
"Let's leave. Give her the time to figure out everything before punishing her," Magnus said, staring into Ivy's eyes.
His eyes were telling Ivy to behave before he lost his temper.
Isla and her mother didn't argue; Ivy's crazed look scared them.
Once they left, Ivy looked around and found a mirror. With hesitant steps, Ivy reached the mirror and stared at her reflection.
Disbelief and surprise flashed in her eyes.
"How.... no... why do I look so young?" Ivy muttered, pinching her cheeks.
A terrifying possibility occurred to her.
"Have I been reborn? Back to the time when the apocalypse was still about to arrive?" The mere thought brought delight to Ivy.
It took her 15 minutes to adjust to the realization.
"So...I still haven't lost them...not yet..." She muttered.
If that was true...
Ivy's heart leapt with joy. However, her joy was interrupted by the roar of a zombie, followed by the panicked voice,
"Hide! Hide! The zombies are here again!"
Huh?
"Again? What is the date?" Ivy muttered as she looked around her room. The calendar caught her attention.
She covered the distance with a frown on her face and picked it up.
"8th May 2140?"
Disappointment and sadness flooded her senses.
Even though she had traveled back in time, she was still 3 months late.
The apocalypse arrived on Earth on 10 February 2140.
Though she had traveled back 10 years, there wasn't much she could do.
Humans already know the cruel heart lurking underneath their kind's skin and refuse to show any mercy to anyone.
Ivy closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"No...now isn't the time to be disappointed. I have been reborn to this date...there must be some reason, right? There has to be! Otherwise, why would I be reborn on this specific date?"
The more Ivy thought, the more logical the argument felt. Ivy sat on the bed, recalling all the events that would take place in the first year of the apocalypse.
Her fingers tapped against her knees.
She tried to recall any strange events mentioned.
Suddenly, her eyes opened, and she remembered a peculiar event.
8th May 2140...
An internet user had claimed he had seen a strange light nearing the Brimstone Mountain.
In her previous life, Ivy was angered by Isla's unreasonable request and Isla's parents backing her.
She had run away and happened to stumble in the Brimstone Mountains. There she had found a ring.
The ring was made of unknown black metal and had a blood red rhinestone. It gave off ominous yet mysterious vibes.
The tempted Ivy had picked it up from the box. When she returned home, Magnus and Isla's mother had made Isla apologize and even swore to never be biased.
For the next few days, they even made Isla and Damian do all the work.
Ivy was thrilled.
On the 4th day, though, they asked Ivy to hand the ring to Damian.
What had they said at the time?
"Ivy, this ring is cursed. It originates from China. It contains a lot of Yin. According to the celestial masters, females have Yin, and excess Yin could lead to a complete collapse of the soul.
But men, especially those with strong Yang bodies, can suppress its influence. So be a good girl and give it to Damian for his safety... and yours."
At the time, she had hesitated—deep down, she had felt something was wrong. The ring didn't feel cursed.
However, she was proven wrong.