Rebirth in the Apocalypse: Third Time's a Charm



"I know you humans have a saying; 'third time's a charm', but you don't need to take it so literally," came the voice. Wu Bai Hee sat up in the middle of the orchard and turned toward the voice.

"I am sorry," she said, "I didn't expect this to happen."

"Mmm," hummed a beautiful woman coming through the trees. "I don't imagine most people expect to die when they do." The woman looked young, no more than in her 20s. She had long brown hair that was braided around her head like a tiara and wore a long green dress that danced across the grass beneath her feet. She looked and sounded like the softness of spring.

"I can do better," promised Wu Bai Hee as she stood up and curtsied to the Goddess before her. The other woman tipped her head in acknowledgment as she fiddled with the basket of flowers in her arms.

"I am sure that you can do better," repeated the Goddess, "But it comes down to whether or not I want to give you a third chance."

"As you said, the third time's a charm. I will do what needs to be done, I promise." Desperate, Wu Bai Hee dropped to her knee and rested her forehead on the grass in front of the Goddess's feet. "As long as I can go back even earlier before he meets Li Dai Lu, everything will be fine."

There was a pause, even the air itself seemed to pause for a moment. "He met Li Dai Lu?" the Goddess asked slowly. "What about the other three?"

"What other three?" asked Wu Bai Hee confused. "Do you mean Liu Yu Zeng, Chen Zi Han and Wang Chao? Are they really that important?"

"My dear, dear human, you have no idea how important they are." The Goddess gently laid her hand on Wu Bai Hee's shoulder, encouraging her to stand up. "I will be more than happy to send you back, let you have another chance. But this time, instead of focusing only on Liu Wei, I want you to try and get all four of them on your side."

"My powers don't seem to work on them though," said Wu Bai Hee dejectedly.

"There is more than one way to manipulate a man," smiled the Goddess. "I'll see what I can give you. But you need to remember, you need all four of the men on your side."

"So you'll put me back in time before they even meet Li Dai Lu?" asked Wu Bi Hee smiling at the Goddess in front of her.

"No," said the Goddess with a smile. "I'll return you to the moment you died. I need you to take the men away from Li Dai Lu, I need you to completely crush her, mind, body, and spirit. The best way is for you to have those men on your side. Do you understand me?"

"Not really," admitted Wu Bai Hee. "But I will do as you ask."

"That's my child. May you go with the blessing of this Goddess to rid the world of the evil that walks amongst you."  With a wave of her hand, Wu Bai Hee disappeared from the apple orchard and from the Goddess.

"Li Dai Lu… Li Dai Lu, you thought that I wouldn't find you. But I did. I found you and once again I will crush you beneath my heel like the scum that you are."  Turning around, the Goddess walked away, not caring that the once vibrant grass under her feet turned brown and shriveled as she passed.

"I will shatter you over and over again as many times as I need to. And those men of yours were always your biggest weakness."

-----

Wu Bai Hee sucked in a deep breath of air as she sat up from where she lay crumpled on the floor of the study inside Liu Wei's mansion. Resting her arms on her knees, she hung her head and continued to take in deep breaths until her heart slowed down. She did it. She came back for a third time, and this time she would be better prepared.

Taking a few more steadying breaths, she made her way to her feet and slipped out of the door and into her own room. She needed time to collect herself before she confronted the men.

----

"Liu Wei!" I screamed as I stormed into the mansion. I didn't care if I wasn't welcomed, I had the worst dream ever and I needed to see him. "Liu Wei!!"

"I'm here, Sweetheart," said Liu Wei as he came walking down the stairs. I studied him up and down making sure that nothing was wrong. Hurrying to his side, I threw myself in his arms.

Burying my face in his neck, I inhaled the smell that was uniquely him. "You scared me," I whimpered as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I didn't care if it wasn't appropriate or if his grandfather didn't approve, I needed him as close to me as I possibly could.  "I dreamt that you died," I whispered against his neck. "I didn't even think I had fallen asleep. But it was a horrible dream. I need to kill Wu Bai Hee."

"I'm sorry Sweetheart, I promise you that I am completely fine," he murmured to me as he walked us over to the couch so he could sit down. "And I already killed her," he continued as he started running his hand down my hair. Shuddering I just nodded my head at his words.

"I need to burn this place down," I admitted. "I won't be satisfied until I do."

"You do whatever it is that you need to do," he reassured me as he continued the stroke me. I was sure that his grandfather was yelling something in the background, but I wasn't in a place where I really wanted to listen to him.

"You sure you are okay?"

"I am perfectly fine," he promised with a gentle kiss to my forehead. "But I think it is time to get going."

"I couldn't agree more," cut in Liu Yu Zeng. "Let's get going home."

"But you've never been to the ranch," laughed Liu Wei from under me.

"Wherever Li Dai Lu is, is home," the other man said with a shrug, and I couldn't agree more. Wherever the guys were was home. Simple as that.