Part 1The Last Month of Chloe Hart

Everyone noticed that I stopped chasing after Liam Vance.

Including Liam himself.

After school, he stopped me, his face cold.

"I'm only going to explain what happened that day once. Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"Sarah got cornered by some drunk guys. I went to help her."

"I forgot to tell you. That was my bad."

That day was his birthday.

He was off playing hero for Sarah, while I was left stranded at the amusement park for the entire day.

Turns out, Liam thought I was just throwing a tantrum about it.

I shook my head lightly. "It's okay."

Then, under his darkening gaze, I quietly walked past him and left.

He didn't know that because he abandoned me again that day, the System declared my mission a failure.

In one month, I will be "erased" and sent back to the real world.

And this body will be returned to its original owner.

* * *

When the amusement park staff reminded me for the third time that they were closing, the System sighed.

"Chloe, go home."

"Liam isn't coming. He's with Sarah right now. He's completely forgotten that he promised to meet you here."

I stomped my aching feet, picked up the cake box, and turned to leave.

"Okay."

The excitement I felt this morning had been ground down to nothing.

All that was left was a strange calmness.

Even when the System announced my failure.

"One month from now, you will be in a car accident."

"This is the penalty for failing the mission."

"While you are critically injured and in a coma, I will send you back to your original world. As for this body, the original Chloe Hart will take over again."

The System vanished after delivering the news.

I pulled out my phone to call an Uber, only to realize the battery was dead.

A second later, the screen went black.

I didn't have any cash on me for a cab.

Resigned, I started walking home along the highway.

Even though failing the mission was expected, a profound exhaustion seeped into my bones.

Every step felt incredibly heavy.