The knock grew even more violent, and I ran into the living room to see Janice sitting alone, still reserved, but a hint of anxiety evident in her facial expression.
"Janice, where is Alice?!" I asked, nervousness evident in my voice.
"She went outside to check who was knocking," Janice said, her usual reserved tone laced with worry.
Suddenly, the knocking ceased, and Alice returned.
"There's no one outside. Who in the world kept knocking? Maybe it was just a prank from some teenagers," Alice said, annoyance evident in her tone.
I glanced at the clock: 6:01 P.M., December 24th, 2025.
I released a quick sigh of relief and hugged Alice tightly.
"I'm glad you're okay," I said, relief and anxiety evident in my voice.
She hugged me back.
Had I finally survived the predicament? I smiled, as if I'd just won an impossible gamble. Or so I thought... Janice suddenly grabbed me tightly and pulled me behind her.
"What's the matter?" I asked, looking at Janice curiously.
"I can hear something... upstairs. It sounds like something—or someone—is coming down," Janice said, her reserved nature faltering.
I paid attention and listened closely. She was right. A looming sense of dread washed over me.
"Fuck..." I muttered.
"Stay calm, you two," Janice said, her usual reserved tone tinged with anxiety.
"They still haven't given up! I didn't know they'd be so bold, so willing to kill me... Grab anything you can use to protect yourselves—quickly!" I yelled authoritatively, my voice shaking with anxiety. "We're going to run!" I added.
"I'm ready; my pocketknife is right here," Janice said, her ever-cautious tone reserved but laced with anxiety.
"Wait! Let me find something!" Alice said, looking around.
"QUICK!" I yelled, nervousness evident in my voice.
I was determined to survive, and I wouldn't let them involve my friends. It was 3 vs. 1 now.
"Guys! Let's go! I found a kitchen knife—" Alice's words were cut short by a gunshot. She collapsed, a bullet in the back of her head.
"Alice..." I whispered, shock and anxiety overwhelming me.
Janice's reserved nature shattered at her friend's death. She was too shocked to speak.
Suddenly, a figure's silhouette appeared, closing in on the living room.
I froze.
After a few seconds, the masked figure from my "previous" dreams stood before us.
I looked at them, then at Alice's dead body.
"Why did you kill her?!" I asked, hatred and nervousness in my voice.
"Didn't I say... I would steal everything from you, just as you stole everything from me?" The masked figure's voice was calm yet menacing.
"Who is this person, Elara?" Janice asked, hatred barely concealed beneath her calm exterior.
"Janice, I'll explain later. I'll see you in the next 'dream'," I said, confidence and determination masking my anxiety. I looked at Alice's corpse one last time, then back at the masked figure.
"Kill me," I said confidently. "I'll make sure you pay for this." My tone was cold, resolute.
"What are you doing?!" Janice screamed, her reserved nature finally breaking.
Ignoring her pleas, I focused on the masked figure.
"Let me remind you, something will change in the next loop," the masked figure said calmly, coldly.
"Wha—" I was shocked. How did the killer know about the "dreams"?
"Who are you really?!" I yelled.
Janice grabbed me. "Let's get out of here!" she yelled. But I pushed her aside, sending her to her knees.
"I'm sorry, Janice. But I can't run anymore. Especially not when this bastard has involved a friend of mine!" My voice was full of resolve. "It's all my fault. I got overconfident, didn't consider this might happen. I'm sorry I involved you two, hoping for a better chance of survival. I used you both, and I failed. I failed to protect you, as I swore I would. I failed myself." My voice was remorseful, full of regret. "But rest assured... I'll tell you everything... in the next dream!"
Janice, too shocked to speak or stand, her resolute nature faltering for the first time, was utterly confused.
Janice's Internal Monologue: "So, that's why Elara has been acting so strangely... What does she mean about a dream... and who is this mysterious figure?"
I looked back at the killer.
"How do you know about the dre—" Before I could finish, the figure shot me in the head.
"Three thousand times more," the masked figure said.
I fell to the ground. All I heard were Janice's screams and the faint sound of Christmas carols.
Internal Monologue: What... does... he mean by that... three thousand—
My consciousness faded, and I descended into darkness.