I was a little worried.
All the neighbouring houses were empty. Dead silent. Like ghosts had already taken them.
Theo's parents weren't here either. He called them—
"We'll be there in a minute," they said.
That should've comforted us. It didn't.
I stood in front of my house, swallowed by tension.
Then the front gate creaked open.
There they were—my parents. Alive. Safe.
"Mom! Dad!" I ran up and hugged them like I hadn't seen them in years.
"You're safe, thank god," they said.
"Can we come inside?" Jace asked politely.
"Of course," my mom smiled.
Everyone entered—except Theo, who chose to wait outside for his parents. I nodded at him, grateful for the silent understanding.
Inside felt warm. Almost too warm.
"I'll head to my room for a minute," I said.
I wanted to breathe. I wanted to believe this timeline would be different.
But then—
A faint scream.
Soft. Wet.
I stepped into the hallway. My heart slowed. My hands shook.
There—my parents' bedroom.
Blood. On the doorknob.
No… no, please not again…
I opened the door.
Red. Everywhere. On the walls, on the ceiling. The mattress soaked through.
Drag marks.
Leading under the bed.
I couldn't breathe. I crouched, shaking, and peeked under—
And screamed.
Their bodies—cut into pieces, limbs bent wrong, necks snapped like twigs.
No faces. Just meat.
Then—gunshots. From downstairs.
I ran, heart pounding in my ears.
What I saw froze me.
Ryn. Jace. Theo.
All stabbed. All lying on the floor, lifeless, blood pooling beneath them.
A shape stood over them. Grinning.
I grabbed Kai's revolver and fired.
Bang. Right between the eyes.
But another one stabbed me from behind. A knife in my ribs.
I collapsed.
Lumi.
Yuki.
The people in the bus.
Kai's family.
All dead.
One by one, falling like dominos.
I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.
But somehow, I laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA—"
Like a man gone mad.
If I die here… I'll wake up again.
I'll run straight for my home next time.
Let Lumi and Yuki go alone. We were safe before when we reunited with Jace and Theo. It can work again.
As the world faded, I smiled through tears.
I can still save them.
Then a voice.
Like knives dragging across my brain.
"Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting."
Repeating. Screaming.
"PUNISHMENT TIME."
Then—
"STOP OR I'LL SHOOT!"
I blinked.
I was back in the car. Driving. Night again.
My breath caught. My hands trembled. My parents—
They were already dead.
Tears spilled.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
I screamed from the core of my soul.
Jace slammed the brakes, panicking.
"ASH! WHAT HAPPENED!?"
Lumi started crying beside me, startled and scared. The car doors opened. Everyone was out.
Theo rushed to me. "What's wrong!?"
"They're… they're dead…" I stammered.
"Who?" Jace asked, eyes narrowing.
"Kai," Theo called. "Come here."
Kai approached. "Ash, talk to me. Who's dead?"
My mouth moved. But no words came out. Just choking sobs.
Jace, Theo, and Kai shared a look.
I was sent into the bus with Yuki.
I sat quietly.
Still crying.
Knowing I was too late.