The Blizzard's Grave, Choosing Not to Drive

The holidays were approaching, but the weather was insane. It had been snowing non-stop for an entire month.

My bestie, Skylar, was dead set on going back to the remote, backwoods mountains to meet her deadbeat boyfriend's family. I was terrified for her safety and tried everything to stop her, but she wouldn't listen to a word I said.

Even my fianc, Gavin, who grew up with me, was worried about her. He actually forced me to drive them all the way up there in the middle of a blizzard.

Three days in, the snow completely blocked the only road out of the village. The power went out, and the water pipes froze solid.

We tried to call for help, but the signal was dead.

Luckily, I had packed a ton of food, and the locals usually stocked up for winter. If we had been careful, we could have survived until spring.

But Gideon's familyDSkylar's boyfriendDstarted acting like I was a parasite eating their food. They tried to force me to become Gideon's side chick to 'earn my keep.'

I fought back with everything I had. In the end, they dragged me out into the wasteland and buried me alive in the snow to freeze to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the exact moment Skylar was begging me to go to the mountains.

01

"Jade, what the hell are you staring at? I told you to drive Skylar to Gideon's hometown. If you don't, our engagement is off."

My fianc, Gavin, shoved my shoulder, his voice dripping with threats.

Skylar stood beside him, looking at me with those pathetic, expectant puppy-dog eyes.

The horrors of my past life flashed before me like a movie. I suddenly realized I had been reborn.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

"I'm not going, Gavin. If you want to be the hero, drive them yourself. Leave me out of it."

Hearing this, Skylar's eyes filled with tears instantly. She looked at Gavin, playing the victim.

"Gavin, please don't fight because of me. Jade, it's okay. I'll go by myself. I don't want to force you."

I watched her act and felt a wave of disgust. I wanted to laugh.

In my last life, after I died, Skylar conned my parents into giving her their entire inheritance. She sent them to Gideon's village to 'work the land,' which was just a death sentence.

Meanwhile, she brought Gideon's trashy family into my house to live like royalty. My fianc just stood by and let it happen.

My parents ended up starving to death in the middle of nowhere.

"Fine by me. I didn't want to go anyway."

Skylar was so shocked she actually forgot to keep crying. She couldn't understand why I was being so blunt.

After all, I used to pay for everything in her life, including her boyfriend's expenses.

But it was exactly that kindness that made her resent me. She thought I was looking down on her, so she dragged my entire family into hell.

"Jade, how can you be so cold-blooded? It's just a small favor!"

Gideon hadn't even said a word, yet Gavin, the ultimate simp, was already barking at me.

I sneered. "Fine, I'm cold-blooded. Go drive them yourself then. Are we done?"

Gavin's face twisted in rage, his jaw tight. He pointed a finger at me, his eyes looking like he wanted to rip me apart.

"Jade, you better not regret this. When I get back, we're done for good."

I looked at him coldly. Why would I regret you going to your own funeral?

Skylar saw Gavin's support and couldn't hide a smug little smile.

Gideon, on the other hand, looked uneasy. He kept his head down, probably plotting something.

Skylar turned to me, her voice dripping with fake sincerity. "Jade, you know you're my best friend in the world."

Suddenly, her eyes sparkled with greed. "Jade, can I have your red Ferrari? I really love it. Just think of it as compensation for not driving us there, okay?"

I smirked.

"Sure. If you love it that much, take it. I even put some gifts in the trunk for you."

In my last life, she had begged to borrow it to show off to Gideon's family.

Back then, I worried about the mountain roads and gave her a heavy-duty Range Rover instead.

She spent the whole trip complaining to Gideon about how 'cheap' I was for not giving her the sports car.

I laughed internally. She'd find out soon enough that a Ferrari can't carry supplies and will bottom out on the first dirt road.

02

In my memory, Skylar was always a quiet, introverted girl. After her parents died, Gavin's family took her in. She was basically his sister.

The Millers were strict with her, so I felt sorry for her. I gave her everything I had without a second thought.

Later, she worked hard to charm my parents. I thought she just wanted love, so I shared my parents' affection with her.

In my last life, my parents actually blamed me for being 'cold' because I didn't go with her. I wasn't trying to be mean; I just saw that Gideon was a total scumbag and didn't want her to ruin her life.

Gideon used to hit on me whenever Skylar wasn't looking. But she never believed me. Even when I showed her recordings, she claimed I forged them to frame him.

My thoughts snapped back to the present as I walked into my house. I saw my parents and my eyes welled up.

"Sweetie, you're home!"

My mom ran over to hug me, completely ignoring Skylar who had followed me in.

Skylar awkwardly pulled back her hand and looked at my dad pitiably. "Uncle"

Usually, they treated her like a second daughter. But this time, my dad didn't even look at her.

I noticed something was off. Could it be that my parents were reborn too?

My dad is a big guy, six feet tall and built like a tank. He usually has that serious 'CEO' vibe, but right now, he was crying like a baby.

"My baby girl, you suffered so much. It's all our fault." He sobbed, pulling me into a crushing hug.

In my last life, even when I was being buried in that freezing snow, I didn't cry.

But in my parents' arms, I lost it. "Dad, Mom, I missed you so much."

Skylar stood there looking confused. "Uncle, Auntie, what's going on?"

My mom gave Skylar a look of pure hatred.

I stepped in front of my mom quickly. "Mom, I gave Skylar my Ferrari. She's going to Gideon's hometown tomorrow."

My parents immediately understood the hidden meaning.

My mom lifted her chin, looking at Skylar with total disdain.

"Skylar, I have to say, you're getting older and you really don't know how to dress yourself. Martha, go grab those designer outfits I bought at the auction last month for Miss Skylar."

I knew those clothes. They were all thin silk and laceDtotally useless for a blizzard.

03

Skylar's lips curved into a sweet smile, but I saw the calculation in her eyes. "Uncle, Auntie, I actually have a favor to ask. Could you guys come to Gideon's hometown with us?"

My parents froze. They clearly hadn't expected her to be this shameless.

"Skylar, we aren't even blood-related. If anyone should go, it's the Millers."

My mom's voice was full of disgust. My dad frowned and took a step back like she was contagious.

Skylar didn't expect this reaction. Her eyes turned red and tears started rolling. "Auntie, you know how they treat me at the Miller house. They don't care about me."

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Gavin's parents, the Millers, walked in.

Mrs. Miller was fuming. "Skylar! How have we mistreated you? Have we ever let you go hungry or cold?"

Gavin followed them in. Hearing his mom scold Skylar, he immediately got defensive. "Mom, Dad, you've never given us any real love!"

Mr. Miller's face turned purple with rage. He kicked Gavin right in the back of his knees, forcing him to hit the floor. "You ungrateful brat!"

Mr. Miller looked at my parents with deep shame. "Sir, Madam, we came here to apologize. It's all our fault for causing you so much trouble."

I was confused. The Millers were usually very arrogant intellectuals. Why were they being so humble?

Mr. Miller dragged Gavin in front of my parents and forced him to stay on his knees. He apologized sincerely and officially called off the engagement.

Skylar knelt down next to Gavin, crying and begging. "Uncle, Auntie, blame me! It's all my fault. Don't be mad at Gavin."

Gavin hugged Skylar, his gaze defiant. "Mom, Dad, this is the last time I call you that. Don't expect me to take care of you when you're old!"

With that, he and Skylar walked out of the house without looking back.

There were five of us left in the room. We looked at each other and realized instantlyDwe were all reborn.

From the Millers, I learned what happened in the other timeline. After Skylar brought Gideon's parents to our city, she manipulated Gavin.

Gavin actually turned his own parents over to Gideon's family. They were treated like slaves and endured horrific abuse.

The Millers were proud people; they couldn't handle the shame and eventually took their own lives.

04

The next day, Skylar was ready to leave.

I pretended to be generous and handed over the keys to my red Ferrari. I even stuffed the tiny trunk with beautifully wrapped gift boxes.

The boxes were huge, taking up all the space, but they were filled with useless trinkets. They wouldn't provide a single calorie of warmth in the winter.

Skylar looked at me with fake gratitude.

Before getting in, she even 'borrowed' the diamond necklace from my neck.

I let her. She had no idea the necklace had a GPS tracker and a tiny microphone hidden inside. Wherever she went, I'd be watching.

Skylar, I hope you make it out of that hellhole alive, because I want to be the one to end you.

Back inside, I sat down with the four elders. We had to be serious.

Even though we were in the city, we knew the disaster was coming. We had to prep.

In the last life, the snow lasted three months. After the snow, a plague hit. It took years for things to get back to normal.

Through the camera, I watched them arrive at Gideon's village.

As soon as they pulled up to the gate, Gideon's mother blocked the way. She looked mean as hell. "Skylar, right? Gideon said you're an orphan. If you want to enter this family, you need to show respect. Kneel and kowtow three times."

Skylar turned pale. She looked at Gideon for help, sobbing his name.

Gideon just stood there, cold and indifferent. I could see the excitement in his eyesDhe was enjoying her humiliation.

Skylar turned to Gavin. He was her last hope.

Gavin lost it. His face was red, his eyes bulging. "What century is this? This is insane!" He charged at the Gideon family, swinging his fists.

Chaos broke out.

Gavin was strong, but Gideon had a dozen cousins there. In minutes, Gavin was a bloody mess, his eyes swollen shut.

The village men held him down. "Watch closely, city boy!"

Skylar was shaking like a leaf. Under the pressure of the mob, she bit her lip and slowly knelt in the dirt, performing the humiliating ritual.

Watching from my screen, I felt a surge of pure joy.

"Sweetie, dinner's ready!"

I cheered and ran to the dining room. We had a steaming hot pot readyDpremium beef, fresh veggies, the works.

I even posted a photo of our feast on social media. The caption read: "Nothing beats hot pot on a cold night."

I knew exactly what Skylar and Gavin were eating: gritty cornmeal and cold scraps, while Gideon's family feasted on the supplies they brought.

A few minutes later, Skylar saw my post. She immediately messaged me, crying about Gideon's behavior.

I sneered and sent back the same logic she used on me before: "Skylar, he's just testing you. He loves you so much, he would never actually hurt you."

She was silent for a long time. Finally, she replied: "You're right. It's just a test."

I rolled my eyes. A simp is one thing, but a toxic simp deserves everything coming to her.

For the next few days, I ignored them. Without the clean water and supplies I usually provided, they were trapped in those mountains.

But just when I thought everything was going according to plan, my phone rang. It was Skylar.

I stared at the screen, confused. I checked the calendar.

In my last life, the signal should have been cut off by now because of the snow. What changed?

I answered with trembling fingers. Skylar's voice was sugary sweet. "Jade, Gideon's family and I are outside your villa. Open the door, it's freezing out here."

I quickly pulled up the security feed. My heart stopped. Skylar, Gideon, and about a dozen of his thuggish relatives were crowded at my front gate.