Apocalypse Rebirth

Rebirth in the storm

Darkness

It was the last thing kim taehyung remembered

The cold, rotting hands of a mutated zombie had pierced through his chest, twisting and tearing as he gasped for breath, the overwhelming stench of blood and decay filled his nose, his own heartbeat slowing drowning beneath the monstrous growls of the creature surrounding him.

He had fought for ten years, he had fought to survive in the hellish ruins of the world, but in the end... It didn't matter.

Because he had lost..

AND NOW ---

Taehyung's eyes shot open His breath came in rapid gasps, his body jolting as if still caught in the moment of his death. But instead of the putrid scent of blood and corpses, he smelled something familiar—lavender and fresh linen. The soft warmth of a blanket wrapped around him, sunlight filtering through curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor.

Wait. Sunlight? A bed?

His eyes darted around. He knew this place. The spacious room with pastel blue walls, the large bookshelf stuffed with fantasy novels, the neatly arranged study desk by the window. His old bedroom.

His breathing stilled.

He knew this place.

Because it had burned down when the apocalypse started.

His fingers clenched the bedsheet, his pulse hammering in his ears. Slowly, cautiously, he turned his head toward the full-length mirror across the room. His reflection stared back—younger, unscarred, alive.

And that’s when it hit him.

He had been reborn.

He scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping in his rush to the mirror, hands flying to his face. His features were smooth, untouched by the brutal years of survival. He looked eighteen. Exactly one year before the apocalypse began.

He exhaled sharply, gripping the mirror’s frame to steady himself. His memories weren’t wrong. He had died. He had spent a decade fighting in a world overrun by mutated zombies. He had lost everything, everyone.

But now—he had a second chance.

His heart pounded wildly. He knew what was coming. The outbreak. The chaos. The fall of civilization.

And this time, he wouldn’t just survive.

He would win.

Taehyung sucked in a shaky breath, his fingers trembling against the mirror’s surface. The memories of his death still clung to him—pain, fear, regret. He had fought until the very end, but it hadn’t been enough.

Now, fate had thrown him back one year before the apocalypse.

His lips parted as he whispered, “This… isn’t a dream.”

He could feel the warmth of the sunlight, the cool wooden floor beneath his bare feet, the steady rhythm of his living heartbeat. Every sense screamed at him—this was real.

He clenched his fists, determination settling in his chest.

If he had truly been given a second chance, then he wouldn’t waste it.

He would prepare. He would survive. And this time, he would never let himself be weak.

A knock on the door made him flinch.

“Taehyung, you awake?” A familiar deep voice called.

His breath caught in his throat.

That voice. Jeon Jungkook.

The doorknob twisted, and before Taehyung could react, the door swung open.

There he stood—Jeon Jungkook, the eldest of the Jeon brothers.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly intimidating, Jungkook leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. His sharp, dark eyes scanned Taehyung’s face before narrowing slightly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

You have no idea, Taehyung thought, his heartbeat pounding.

Seeing Jungkook again—alive, unharmed, untouched by the horrors of the apocalypse—sent a wave of emotions crashing over him. He had lost so many people, but Jungkook… Jungkook had been one of the strongest.

One of the few Taehyung had trusted.

“Are you okay?” Jungkook’s voice softened as he stepped closer. His gaze darkened with concern, his towering figure almost suffocating.

Taehyung swallowed hard, willing his emotions into check. He couldn’t act suspicious. Not yet.

“I… I just had a weird dream,” he mumbled, forcing a small smile. “That’s all.”

Jungkook didn’t look convinced. His eyes studied Taehyung’s face, as if searching for a lie.

Then, before Taehyung could react, Jungkook leaned in, trapping him against the mirror.

Taehyung stiffened. “W-What are you doing?”

Jungkook tilted his head, his breath ghosting over Taehyung’s ear. “I don’t know… you seem different today.” His tone dropped lower, teasing. “Did my baby brother finally start seeing me in a new light?”

Taehyung’s face burned. What the hell was this?!

Jungkook had always been a protective figure in his past life—strong, reliable, someone Taehyung could depend on. But this… this was not how he remembered him!

Was Jungkook always this bold?

Taehyung shoved at his chest, ignoring the solid muscles beneath his fingers. “G-Get away from me, you weirdo.”

Jungkook chuckled, stepping back, but his smirk remained. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”

Taehyung scowled. “It’s too early for your teasing.”

A sudden voice interrupted them.

“If you two are done flirting, can I come in?”

Taehyung’s stomach dropped.

Because standing at the doorway was Jeon Jungguk, the second brother.

Compared to Jungkook’s mature and composed demeanor, Jungguk was playful and mischievous—and a menace.

Dressed in a loose shirt and sweatpants, his arms stretched lazily above his head as he smirked. His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement, but Taehyung knew that look too well.

Jungguk was up to something.

Before Taehyung could react, Jungguk suddenly ran forward—straight into his room.

“Yah—Jungguk!” Taehyung shouted, but it was too late.

Jungguk had already jumped onto his bed, rolling into his blankets like it was his own.

“I missed this,” Jungguk sighed dramatically, rubbing his cheek against Taehyung’s pillow. “Your bed is so much comfier than mine.”

Taehyung clenched his fists. “Get out.”

“Nope.”

Jungkook shook his head with a sigh, but there was clear amusement in his eyes. “He’s been waiting for you to wake up just so he could annoy you.”

“Obviously,” Taehyung muttered under his breath. Some things never change.

In his past life, Jungguk had been just as insufferable. Always sneaking into his space, irritating him for fun, watching him when he thought Taehyung wouldn’t notice. He had never taken it seriously before, but now…

Now he knew the truth.

Jungguk had been obsessed with him.

A shiver ran down Taehyung’s spine, but before he could dwell on it—

A third voice cut through the room.

“All of you are too loud.”

Taehyung’s breath hitched.

Because at the doorway, standing with his arms crossed and an irritated frown, was Jeon Jae-hyun—the third brother.

Unlike his brothers, Jae-hyun wasn’t playful or teasing. He was reserved, cold, and logical. Always buried in books, always distant.

But Taehyung knew better.

Because Jae-hyun had been the most dangerous of them all.

Jae-hyun didn’t show his emotions easily, but when he did…

They were obsessive.