diff --git a/scripts/UI/DeathScreen.cs b/scripts/UI/DeathScreen.cs
index 31f0d2a..e8dfd05 100644
--- a/scripts/UI/DeathScreen.cs
+++ b/scripts/UI/DeathScreen.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using Godot;
 using Mr.BrickAdventures;
 using Mr.BrickAdventures.Autoloads;
 using Mr.BrickAdventures.scripts.Resources;
+using Mr.BrickAdventures.scripts.State;
 
 namespace Mr.BrickAdventures.scripts.UI;
 
@@ -20,18 +21,35 @@ public partial class DeathScreen : Control
     public override void _Ready()
     {
         _gameManager = GetNode<GameManager>(Constants.GameManagerPath);
-        SetLabels();
+
+        // Subscribe to lives changed event for reactive updates
+        EventBus.Instance.LivesChanged += OnLivesChanged;
+    }
+
+    public override void _ExitTree()
+    {
+        if (EventBus.Instance != null)
+        {
+            EventBus.Instance.LivesChanged -= OnLivesChanged;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void OnLivesChanged(int lives)
+    {
+        // Update the label when lives change
+        LivesLeftLabel.Text = $" x {lives}";
     }
 
     private void SetLabels()
     {
-        if (_gameManager == null) return;
-
         if (CurrentLevel != null)
         {
             CurrentLevelLabel.Text = CurrentLevel.LevelName;
         }
-        LivesLeftLabel.Text = $" x {_gameManager.GetLives()}";
+
+        // Read current lives from store
+        var lives = GameStateStore.Instance?.Player.Lives ?? 0;
+        LivesLeftLabel.Text = $" x {lives}";
     }
 
     private void SetupTimer()
@@ -66,7 +84,8 @@ public partial class DeathScreen : Control
 
     private void OnTimeout()
     {
-        if (_gameManager == null || _gameManager.GetLives() == 0) return;
+        var lives = GameStateStore.Instance?.Player.Lives ?? 0;
+        if (lives == 0) return;
 
         GetTree().ReloadCurrentScene();
     }