Riley rubbed his temples, trying to piece together the scattered bits of information from the day. Jolima had been marked for death, just as the others before him. The pattern was unmistakable now: those who saw the statue would die by dawn. It was only a matter of time before the next villager was chosen. Riley knew that he and Eleanor couldn't wait for that to happen—they had to act. Tomorrow, they would confront the priest. But tonight, he needed to rest.
Then his thoughts shifted to the river. Jolima's body, now carried away by the current, filled his mind. Had he found the loophole? By pushing the old man's body beyond the boundary of the village, had he managed to break the endless cycle of death? Would this act be the key to freeing them from the time loop? The idea gnawed at him, offering a fragile glimmer of hope. But Riley knew better than to jump to conclusions. There were too many unknowns about the nature of the loop itself.
