The fist punched straight through the metal door like it was made of wet cardboard.
I screamed.
Ren screamed.
Even Ruhan muttered something that definitely wasn't rated PG-13.
The door bent inward with a horrible metallic screech, the hinges tearing like a horror movie sound effect.
"Nope," I said immediately, grabbing my grocery bag like it was a weapon. "Absolutely not. I refuse. Send me back to my breakup. I will date Kabir again. I will date astrology boys. I will date men who say 'bruh' in bed. ANYTHING BUT THIS."
"Stay behind me," Ruhan ordered, stepping forward like a human shield.
The second fist punched again.
This time the door flew off its frame and clattered across the floor.
A figure stepped through the smoke and dust.
Ren grabbed my sleeve and whispered the three words that should NEVER be said in a situation like this:
"That's not good."
No kidding, kid.
The man standing in the doorway looked… wrong.
Not zombie-wrong.
Not monster-wrong.
Just… timeline-wrong.
Like someone tried to Photoshop him into reality but forgot to smooth the edges.
His eyes locked on Ren.
"Target identified."
My soul left my body.
Ruhan didn't hesitate.
He lunged forward, slammed his elbow into the man's jaw, and they crashed into the wall like they were auditioning for a live-action anime fight.
Ren yanked my hand.
"Mom, MOVE!"
"Oh great—NOW you get clingy and call me Mom when we're literally about to DIE?!?"
We sprinted through a hallway that definitely didn't exist five minutes ago.
Because apparently the safehouse was bigger on the inside.
Of course it was.
At this point, reality could tell me it was running on Windows XP and I'd believe it.
We burst into another room — a narrow corridor with glowing cracks in the walls.
"What is THAT?" I yelled, pointing at the cracks.
"Timeline bleed!" Ren shouted. "Don't touch it!"
"Timeline WHAT—"
A blinding blue flash split the air behind us.
Ruhan stumbled into the hallway, blood on his brow.
"Go!" he barked, grabbing Ren with one arm and my wrist with the other. "This way—"
A shadow loomed behind him.
"Ruhan!" I shrieked.
He spun, blocked another punch, shoved the attacker back, and slammed his hand against a panel on the wall.
A door appeared out of thin air.
"Inside!" he shouted.
I didn't think. I just ran. Ren dove in.
Ruhan followed last, slammed the door shut, and locked it.
For a moment—just one tiny, blessed moment—there was silence.
I gasped for breath, pressing a hand to my chest.
"Okay. Okay. That was—holy shit. HOLY SHIT. I am going to die a virgin. This is how it happens. This is my autobiography. 'She lived. She tried. She ran. She died untouched.'"
Ruhan shot me a look that could melt steel.
"You're not dying," he said firmly.
I pointed at the door.
"THAT MAN DISAGREES."
Ren tugged my sleeve.
"Mom," he said calmly, "breathing exercises."
"WHAT EXERCISES WOULD YOU LIKE?? I HAVE EXACTLY NONE."
Ruhan knelt in front of Ren, checking him for injuries.
His hands shook.
Shook.
That did something to me.
Something tight and warm and terrifying.
I looked away immediately.
"Okay," I said shakily. "Someone explain. No quantum physics. I didn't pass math in 9th grade."
Ren sighed.
"Collectors can track timeline anomalies. When you synced earlier, you lit up like a Diwali decoration."
"EXCUSE ME???"
Ruhan added, "They weren't here for me. They weren't here for Ren. They were here for you."
I clutched my grocery bag harder.
"WHY WOULD ANYONE COME FOR ME??? I AM JUST A GIRL WITH ANXIETY AND AN OVEN THAT DOESN'T HEAT EVENLY!"
Ruhan opened his mouth to answer—
—and the door behind us rattled.
We all froze.
A familiar, extremely annoying voice shouted:
"Arya? ARYA? OPEN THE DOOR!"
I narrowed my eyes.
No.
No way.
Ren groaned.
"Oh no. It's him."
Ruhan closed his eyes like he was praying for patience.
I unlocked the door.
Kabir practically fell inside.
My cheating ex.
Hair messy.
Face pale.
Breathing hard.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" he screamed. "WHY ARE MEN IN BLACK CHASING YOU? WHO IS THIS HOT GUY? WHY IS THIS CHILD CALLING YOU MOM?!?"
I blinked slowly.
"Well. Look who survived."
Kabir gaped at Ren.
"You can't just—take someone's child, Arya!"
Ren blinked at him.
"Uncle Red Flag," he said sweetly, "I am literally from another timeline. Please stop embarrassing yourself."
Kabir sputtered.
"RED FLAG???"
Ruhan stepped forward, full menacing height and presence.
Kabir stepped back so fast he tripped over his own legs.
"Who—who are you?" he squeaked.
"Her partner," Ruhan said calmly.
I choked on air.
Ren beamed.
Kabir froze.
"Since WHEN?!" Kabir shrieked.
I opened my mouth.
The worst possible answer came out:
"Since always???"
Kabir turned purple.
"YOU DUMP ME ON MONDAY AND HAVE A MAN AND CHILD BY TUESDAY?!"
"LISTEN," I hissed. "I DIDN'T PLAN THIS—"
Ren grabbed Kabir's wrist, tugging urgently.
Kabir stumbled forward, completely unprepared.
"Uncle Red Flag, MOVE!" Ren cried. "They're coming!"
Kabir frowned.
"Who's coming?"
The entire wall behind him SHOOK.
"OH MY GOD," I yelled, "EVERYONE MOVE, THE MEN IN BLACK WANT TO KILL MY ALTERNATE SELF AND MAYBE ALSO MY EX BECAUSE HE'S ANNOYING!"
Kabir shrieked.
"WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL ME???"
Ruhan picked me up around the waist.
Literally lifted me like I weighed nothing.
I screamed.
Ren pulled Kabir again.
Kabir shrieked louder.
The wall exploded inward.
A Collector stepped in.
Ruhan yelled—
"RUN!"
And we ran.
Again.
Because apparently that is now my entire life.