The Beast World Resets

Chapter 1

Colette stood in her room, carefully laying out her belongings on the bed. Everything needed to be just right. She double-checked her list one more time, mentally ticking off each item as she inspected it.

"Three main outfits—check. Three spares—check. Charger, power bank—check. Seven pairs of undies—check. Multi-functional Swiss knife, sewing kit, snacks, first aid kit—all check."

Satisfied, she neatly packed everything into her suitcase and snapped it shut. Just as she was about to drag the luggage to the door, her phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket, a smile already forming as she saw the caller ID.

"Hello, Mommy!" she answered cheerfully.

"Hi, sweetheart!" Her mother's familiar voice brought a wave of warmth. "Have you packed everything? Are you still planning to make it to the family gathering next Saturday?"

Colette smiled, picturing the annual gathering at her grandparents' estate. The hunting competition was a tradition she never missed. "Yes, Mom. The event's only for three days, so I'll fly to Grammy's as soon as it's over. Can't let everyone think they have a chance to win this year, can I? I never lose, Mommy."

She could almost see her mother rolling her eyes on the other end of the line. "Just be careful out there, okay?"

"Always am," Colette said with a grin.

"Bring souvenirs!" she heard Cameron, her second brother, shout in the background.

"Sure! I'll find a girl who can handle you and bring her as your souvenir," Colette shot back playfully.

"Burn!" her eldest brother, Carton, laughed.

"Ha. Ha." Cameron's sarcastic reply came through.

"I've got to go, Mommy," Colette said, still smiling. "Where's Daddy?"

"I thought you were about to leave."

"Not before I say hi to Daddy. You know how he is."

"He's on another call with your uncle right now," her mother replied.

"Oh, okay. Tell him I said hi and that I'll see you all next week."

"Will do. Love you, Monkey."

"Love you too, Mommy," Colette said softly before hanging up.

With her goodbyes said, Colette quickly booked an Uber to take her to the hotel she had reserved months ago. This would be her first time attending Coachella, and she was brimming with excitement. Not only was she thrilled to see the performances, but she was also looking forward to the food and the whole festival atmosphere.

Determined to beat the infamous traffic, she arranged to arrive at the hotel by noon, even if it meant paying extra for early check-in. Her friends had agreed to meet her there, as they all lived in different parts of the city and had booked separate rides.

The ride to the hotel was uneventful. Colette let herself relax, staring out the window at the passing scenery. She absentmindedly hummed along to the radio while scrolling through her phone, checking out the festival's lineup one last time. Her excitement grew with each passing mile, the anticipation of the days ahead making her heart race a little faster.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Uber pulled up to the hotel. Colette spotted her friends just arriving and felt a wave of happiness wash over her. She quickly grabbed her luggage, thanking the driver and tipping him extra before heading toward the hotel entrance.

"Colette!" One of her friends waved excitedly as she stepped out of the car.

Colette waved back, hurrying to join them. She was so focused on reuniting with her friends that she almost didn't notice the change underfoot. Her next step landed not on solid pavement, but on something soft and yielding. She glanced down, startled to see grass where concrete should have been. Confused, she looked up—and froze.