《Blood on the Cat's Ear》


 Chapter 1 - School Days

    The sky was a dark orange as the sun set behind the mountains surrounding the town, it was nearing the end of the school year and the end of Shiro''s school life. As she approached her house the mail man drove off on his bike, Shiro opened the mail box, it was the weekly paper.


    "The body of a young girl with long white hair has been found in the west river, currently there is no information about the death or the identity of the girl. "


    Shiro threw the paper on the kitchen table after entering her house and went to sleep.


    The next day on her way to school she ran into her rather timid friend with short black hair and dark purple eye''s who was around 5''9ft, Ena. Her uniform was a typical black and white outfit with a medium length skirt. Usually Shiro saw Ena walking by herself whenever she would run into her but today she was with a guy Shiro recognised from their class, Robert.


    "Aren''t you usually alone?" Shiro waved to Ena.


    "Huh?, umm, yeah. Sorry you startled me a bit."


    "Sorry¡­"


    "I fell and twisted my ankle while walking. Robert offered to help me to School."


    Ena appeared to be walking fine despite what she had just said but Shiro let it slide, knowing how shy Ena could be about the strangest of things.


    "Shiro, right?" Robert walked up to Shiro.


    "Yeah¡­"


    He looked almost too old to be attending a high school, even in their final year. His hair was dark orange and spiky, his eyes a dark brown and was around the same height as Ena. The men''s uniform was a similarly typical black and white suit.


    "Do you mind if I hang around with you guys today?"


    "That''s fine, there''s really no reason for me to say no is there now¡­"Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Shiro was confused about the formality of Robert''s question. But why did he all of a sudden want to hang out with her and Ena in the last weeks of school? Shiro chose to ignore the weird timing and the formal approach of asking to hang out with someone.


    At the gate of the School the three met up with Kurono, a guy who had only entered the school a couple of years ago but had managed to be the only person Shiro had ever had an attraction towards, but like most people she kept this secret and planned to ask him out after graduation. He was around 6''4ft, his hair was an extremely dark shade of brown, enough so that most people thought it was black, and his eyes were ocean blue.


    Shiro explained Robert''s weirdly formal question to Kurono.


    "What a strange person, as if he would be denied the ability to hang out with any of us. All the groups in our school are relatively friendly to each other."


    Shiro silently nodded her head in agreement.


    "We had better head to class now¡­"


    The two caught up to Ena and Robert as they were walking down the school''s run down wooden hallways. As they entered the classroom it immediately became apparent something wasn''t right.


    "Where is she!?"


    "We haven''t had an absence from anyone all year!!"


    The class was missing a student, usually this would be a common occurrence but there hadn''t been an absence from anyone at all this year. Why would this girl have taken a day off this close to the end of the year? Shiro decided to walk out of the class to find answers.


    The cicadas were crying even louder than usual, the weather was swelteringly hot. Shiro approached the missing girl''s house that was around five blocks from the school, nobody was home. She tried to turn the gold plated door knob but as expected it was locked


    "Guess I have to do this the hard way." She whispered to herself.


    Crack the wooden door broke open after she kicked it down. An empty plate had been left on the living room coffee table. Shiro approached the girls bedroom, as the door came into view Shiro noticed a red stain on the carpet floor outside the room. She swung the door open, inside was nothing¡­ The room was a typical high school girls room, but something still felt off to Shiro. She looked into the drawers of the girl''s desk next to her bed, inside a book, the only thing written in it was a diary entry on the first page.


    "Get the key to the basement."


    There was a myth in the school that the basement that had an entrance on the east side of the school used to be a prison during the early days of racial segregation and that any who would enter would be cursed to slowly fade away as they exited the school on their final day. This had of course been proven false, cleaners would often go down there to get equipment, some of which would get help from students depending on behaviour, no one had ever faded away during graduation and there never was a prison in this town. What was this girl after by going down to the basement?


    "So this is where you went."


    Shiro slightly jumped at the voice of Kurono, who had entered the room.


    "We all know something is off about this, right?"


    "Yeah, the first absence of the school year happening this close to the end of it, not to mention what it appears you''ve found."


    "If she''s not at her own home and left a single note in a book about going to the basement¡­"


    "Then she''s probably gone to the basement. Let''s go."


    Kurono grabbed Shiro by the wrist, they ran down the street through the hot air and to the school.


    "Over here!" One of the students of a younger year had found a key near the entrance to the basement.


    "The keys are out of the basement¡­" Shiro felt a slight chill run down her spine.


    "That can''t be a good thing. The only way she could drop it outside is if she threw it out or¡­"


    "Was snatched and dropped the key."


    "This could be dangerous, we should leave it until tomorrow in case there is danger."


    Kurono turned around to see Ena and Robert running towards them through the miraged school yard, an exhausted expression on Ena''s face.

 Chapter 2 - Bloodwater

    ¡°The key was left outside the basement?¡±


    Ena seemed to be scared of the reason for this, and yet she said that they should try and go in today.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if going in when there could be a threat to our lives is smart¡­¡± Shiro coldly replied to Ena


    ¡°I¡­I know, b-but what about that girl..? What if she is being attacked o-or something l-like that¡­ We should help her¡­ just in case.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still against it, but¡­¡± Shiro turned around to see behind her a large group of students from her class.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay out here in case something does happen, and because I still don¡¯t trust it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, Kurono¡­¡±


    Shiro turned to the basement and pulled the handle, but it was locked. The door was only able to be locked from the outside due to damage on the inside from termites.


    ¡°Something¡¯s really not right¡­¡±


    Shiro grabbed out the key and unlocked the door. The stench of cleaning liquid came into the outside air, leading everyone else Shiro slowly walked down the stairs, as they approached the bottom she spotted a petite girl lying against the wall.


    ¡°Did she fall asleep?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, what was she thinking?¡±


    The voices of Shiro¡¯s classmates echoed through the room.


    Shiro looked back behind her. ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    There was a red stain on the bottom stair, the room no longer only smelt of cleaning equipment.


    ¡°Is that¡­ BLOOD!!?¡± One of the classmates screamed in fear and ran up the stairs.


    ¡°Surely not¡­ right?¡± All of a sudden they were filled with fear, but Shiro started to walk towards the girl closely followed by a couple of her classmates. The girl had fully come into view but something was severely wrong. The middle of the girl''s body appeared to be stitched together.


    ¡°Run¡­¡± Shiro heard one of the girls'' voices trembling as the stitches on the body slowly started coming undone from top to bottom, blood started to leak out, the girl''s brain fell onto the ground in front of Shiro. There were screams from the class, as the middle stitch came undone a large creature emerged from the body. It looked like an eel, its eye¡¯s were completely white, and its entire body covered in scars and blood from the girl. The girl''s bones had appeared to impale it, but it was still moving. It jumped out at Shiro, attempting to bite her face off but just as it began moving Kurono jumped down and pulled her away from the thing. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°EVERYONE RUN!!¡± Multiple people were shouting this out, Kurono and Shiro ran to first stair, behind them was a guy who had been top of all athletic activities in there year, as he was running towards the exit the creature managed to catch up to him, his arm was bitten clean off, as he ran through the door Kurono and Shiro slammed it shut and looked it. The creature eventually stopped, presumably from the girl''s bones impaling it.


    ¡°What the fuck was that..?¡± There was fear in everyone¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to make it¡­¡± It was the athletic student, where his arm would have been was leaking blood, he would die of blood loss soon.


    ¡°Just bury me in that flower field on the mountain, arg fuck!, the one down the road from here¡­¡± There were tears in his eyes as his consciousness slowly faded away.


    Some were left in shock, others were crying, mourning the loss of the two students, some threw up or passed out at what they had just seen. Ena appeared to be completely frozen from shock, nobody talked for the next half an hour until¡­


    ¡°They¡¯re dead¡­ they¡¯re just gone¡­ h-how did this-'''' One of the girls in the class began speaking, her voice shaking as she was wiping away tears. ¡°Why did she¡­ something must have¡­ how¡­ no¡­ I-I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    The next day no one showed up at school aside from Shiro, Ena, Kurono and Robert.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense, what was that thing? How was her body stitched up like that?¡± Shiro started speaking


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there was a red stain outside her bedroom?¡± Robert asked Shiro.


    ¡°What if she was murdered then taken to the basement and the note was meant to make it look like she went there herself?¡± Kurono interjected.


    ¡°W-was the key put there by the m-murderer to lure us into b-being k-killed?¡± Ena¡¯s voice was cracking with every word she said and her face had a terrified expression painted on it.


    ¡°But none of this explains the eel thing and how the stitches came undone as we approached it, is there even an explanation for something this bizarre?¡±


    ¡°Shiro? You seem rather unaffected by this.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not the most emotive of people, Robert. Even if something does really get to her, the most you¡¯ll see is a slight smile or a few tears and even that¡¯s quite rare.¡± Kurono defended Shiro.


    ¡°Still who was the girl who was murdered?¡± Robert started talking again.


    ¡°Emilia, she was a decently popular girl with the guys in our school, sporty, smart and helpful to almost anyone she could be of use to.¡± Kurono responded.


    ¡°So who or whatever did this was trying to capture the attention of as many people as possible¡­ Wait, something else feels off, I understand most not coming to school but why isn¡¯t anyone else here, surely the school has one or two people in it aside from us who would come even after what just happened.¡± Shiro saw Ena start to go pale in response to what she had just said.


    ¡°Ena?¡±


    ¡°I feel sick¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late anyway, we should head home for today¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk with you and Ena.¡± Kurono grabbed his bag off his desk.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you three if I come across anything!¡± Robert yelled out as he headed the opposite direction to the three.


    ¡°Just hang in there, Ena, we''re almost at your place.¡± Shiro saw Ena¡¯s house at the edge of the mirage.


    ¡°Should we stay with her in case she gets worse?¡±


    ¡°That probably would be best.¡±


    The three of them entered into Ena¡¯s small two story home and laid her down in her bed.


    ¡°Th-there¡¯s another r-room, but it only h-has Cough a-a two person b-bed¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, we¡¯re going to be fine.¡±


    Kurono and Shiro closed Ena¡¯s door and switched the light off.


    ¡°Were you serious about the bed?¡± Shiro tilted her head at Kurono.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the kind of person who would be too bothered about it, plus it¡¯s not like anything¡¯s going to happen.¡± She felt slightly disappointed by that last statement.


    ¡°Goodnight¡± They said to each other and drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 3 - Trauma

    ¡°More information has become public about the girl who was found in the lake, after DNA samples had been taken she was found to be a relation of the Tachibana family, anyone with more information or relations to the Tachibana family are urged to contact authorities.¡±


    The newspaper had been reporting on the same case as it had the day before yesterday.


    ¡°Why¡­ Why¡­ did you¡­?¡± Ren had been a close friend of Emilia¡¯s since they had started attending school. He had only just arrived at his house, the paper being about a girl¡¯s death was not helping his mental state at all. He had been directly behind Shiro when she was approaching Emilia''s body, after everything that happened he was left dumbfounded. His main question was just, why¡­.? And why hadn¡¯t she said anything about the basement to anyone? He was lost in his thoughts, trying to hold back tears all the while trying to figure why any of this happened, he didn¡¯t even want to think about that creature.


    ¡°Ren?¡± His 10 year old little sister with black hair up in pigtails and dark brown eyes, Rin had entered the room and had begun making herself a bowl of cereal. ¡°You look worried.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, there¡¯s nothing going on, Rin.¡± Ren didn¡¯t want to traumatise her with the news of Emilia¡¯s death since she had also been friends with her and was still just a little girl. ¡°I need to go out and get some fresh air. I might be a while.¡±


    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll try and make lunch before you get home.¡±


    ¡°Thanks Rin.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t planned on going outside just for a breath of fresh air, this was merely an excuse for what he had been planning to do since he woke up.


    Again, today was scorching hot, the cicadas wouldn¡¯t stop their loud cries, the sound of the leaves rustling made Ren feel unsettled as he approached the small single story house of his late friend. There had to be information inside that would give him a clearer image of the situation. A plate that had been left on the living room coffee table caught Ren¡¯s attention, upon closer inspection he found a small crack through the middle of the plate. He picked the plate up but it fell apart in his hand, where the crack had been was covered in a red stain. He continued on until he reached the door to her room, his head became filled with fear as he saw a bigger red stain on the carpet outside.


    ¡°W-was she already d-dead?¡± He mumbled to himself in a shaky voice


    He entered the room, there were remnants of her short blonde hair on the desk next to her bed, he looked into the desks drawer, inside was a book the only thing written being


    ¡°Get the key to the basement.¡±


    He looked around some more, inside her wardrobe was a wet looking uniform, as he grabbed it, it became apparent that what was dripping from the uniform was blood. He grabbed the uniform and held it close, covering himself in blood in the process, and fell to his knees crying.


    The road seemed to stretch out forever, all the buildings surrounding Ren were shaking furiously in the mirage caused by this heat. He ran through the living room, straight into his bedroom, changed out of his bloodied clothing and put Emilia¡¯s uniform into his cupboard. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Ren? I have lunch ready.¡± Rin poked her head into the room.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a second.¡±


    They had the lunch Rin had prepared for them, Ren¡¯s crying early made it taste salty but he didn¡¯t say anything. After lunch Ren decided to call some of Emilia¡¯s other friends, they all agreed that they should meet up later and hold a memorial for her and the other student on the mountain. Ren decided to have a nap before meeting up with them.


    As he approached the mountain he saw a familiar figure.


    ¡°E-Emilia!¡± His eyes started to water. ¡°I thought you were gone forever, I love you!¡±


    Emilia started to walk towards him slowly, eventually she jumped at him and kissed him but something was wrong¡­ her lips felt lifeless¡­ she backed away from Ren¡­ There were stitches down the middle of her body again, they started to come undone.


    ¡°REN!¡± He heard the voice of his little sister coming up behind him, the eel creature growing in size as it exited the insides of Emilia launched at her and took the top of her body off, the thing turned around and flicked itself onto Ren¡¯s face.


    ¡°AHHHHHH!!!!¡± He awoke in his bed breathing heavily.


    ¡°Ren? Are you sure you¡¯re ok?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just a bad dream¡­¡± Ren started to become fearful of everything around him as the dream settled in.


    ¡°...Don¡¯t worry Rin, we''ll be ok.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be ok, I¡¯ll save us¡­ Don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°Ren? You¡¯re starting to scare me.¡± Rin started to laugh nervously.


    ¡°I can¡­ If I¡­ I got it!¡± Ren rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a lighter out of the drawer.


    ¡°REN!!! What are you-!?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to live in fear, it can¡¯t get to us if it can¡¯t get in¡­ It can¡¯t get in if fire surrounds the house!¡±


    ¡°REN! NO! YOU¡¯LL BURN THE HOUSE DOWN!!¡± Rin shrieked in terror as Ren threw the lighter to the ground. The flames caught onto Rin¡¯s skirt, eventually reaching her skin.


    ¡°R-Rin¡­? w-what did I just¡­?¡± The world around Ren seemed to freeze as he watched his little sister slowly burn in front of him, too shocked to even attempt moving to save her. A plank from the roof above him eventually snapped, falling into his neck, completely impaling him, his consciousness faded as he heard an explosion from one of the gas canisters that had been left in the backyard.


    ¡°Is he late?¡± The others had already arrived at the mountain, two students had been sent to collect the bodies that were to be buried.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that his house?¡± The fire was visible from the mountain.


    ¡°We better leave him out for now, he¡¯ll be able to pay her a visit after that fire is sorted out.¡±


    They could see the silhouettes of the two bringing up the bodies. After the bodies had been buried they surrounded the graves, joining hands and stood in silence. On their way home a group of students walked past Ren¡¯s house.


    ¡°I-isn¡¯t that..¡± His body was visible underneath the debris of the house.


    ¡°How the fuck¡­ I think we should take him too.¡±


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that his sister?¡± Her body was burnt so much so that it was almost unrecognisable.


    ¡°Something really bad happened here¡­¡± As they were leaving the house to go back to the mountain they saw a familiar figure.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking them to the mountain, right? I¡¯ve got a better idea. A way for you to not fear for your lives.¡±


    The sun set slowly into the night sky.

 Chapter 4 - Suicide Party

    ¡°G-good morning.¡± Ena saw Shiro and Kurono walk out of the bedroom as she was cooking pancakes.


    ¡°Morning Ena.¡± They both replied to her in the same low tone at the same time.


    ¡°You a-actually slept in the same bed¡­¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened.¡± They both replied in the same tone as before, slightly blushing.


    ¡°That was probably the best sleep I¡¯ve had though¡­¡± Shiro¡¯s voice was even quieter than usual.


    ¡°U-uh, It¡¯s Friday today, right?¡± Kurono Changed the topic and started talking to Shiro.


    ¡°Yeah, we should check if anyone went to school today¡­¡±


    ¡°If not then something¡¯s even more wrong than we initially thought.¡±


    After they eat their breakfast the three left Ena¡¯s place and headed towards the school.


    ¡°Ummm¡­ g-guys¡­ Isn¡¯t that Ren¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he the guy who was close friends with that girl in the basement¡­?¡± Shiro¡¯s face was even more serious than usual as she turned and asked this to Ena.


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    ¡°This could be bad¡­ Ena, Kurono continue on to the school, I¡¯ll check things here and report to you when I get to the school.¡±


    Shiro ran to the house, which was now nothing more than a pile of debris. Ren¡¯s was left on the front lawn.


    ¡°Someone tried to move the body¡­¡± She looked around the side of where the house had been. A small, now completely black covered in ash skeleton was around the side.


    ¡°Is this, his little sister¡­?¡± The body had also been moved from its initial resting spot.


    Shiro dug through some more debris, some of the boards near where Ren¡¯s bedroom had been were covered in bloodstains, at first Shiro was suspicious that Ren could¡¯ve been the murderer but after closer inspection she saw a stain on the bottom side of a sheet that had barely survived, not a bloodstain but tear stains. Shiro had had brief interactions with Ren before and he didn¡¯t strike her as the kind of person who would kill someone close to him, especially Emilia. She decided to go to Emilia¡¯s house again, the book was left open on the desk, black hair, Ren¡¯s hair was on the book, he must have visited before the house fire. Shiro opened the closet, a pool of blood was underneath where Emilia¡¯s clothes were hung up. But there were no clothes on the side with the pool of blood, everything had been pushed over to one side of the closet, none were bloodstained. Shiro thought about it for a minute, then it clicked, Ren must have gone into Emilia¡¯s house to investigate what really happened and found a uniform that was covered in blood and then taken it home, but how did the house fire happen? She went back to Ren¡¯s place, after pushing away some debris she found a lighter on the ground where the kitchen floor had been, there was no doubt in her mind one of them burnt it down, presumably Ren.


    ¡°I have to get to the others¡­¡± Shiro sprinted through the miraged streets down to the school.


    ¡°Wha-...?¡± She froze. Outside on the school gates was a student impaled in the sharp fence


    ¡°SHIRO! Over here!¡± Kurono yelled out to Shiro, she walked slowly down the hallway to the classroom, it was filled with bodies of students, impaled by glass on the side windows. She entered the class.


    ¡°I-I-I¡­ What happened¡­¡± Shiro was in shock, the classroom was filled with her classmates'' lifeless bodies, Robert was hanging in between a corner on the roofs rafters, but something was even stranger.


    ¡°Ren¡¯s¡­¡± On the front desk a sharp plank of wood had been stabbed through Ren¡¯s body.


    ¡°Shiro¡­?¡±


    ¡°Kurono, I went to Ren¡¯s house¡­ His body was there¡­¡±


    {Tick, tick. tick, tick, tick.}


    Shiro''s heartbeat began getting louder, the world around her seemed to start spinning, her head started to hurt, her eyes began to water, her vision was blurry, the ticking of the clock became louder and louder.


    ¡°Sh-shiro..?¡± Ena grabbed Shiro¡¯s shoulder and started to shake her.


    {Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick}.


    Her body was moving side to side from Ena¡¯s pushes, the world was still spinning.


    {Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.}


    ¡°Shiro! Stay awake! What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Kurono¡¯s voice echoed throughout the room.


    {TICK, TICK, TICK, TICK.}


    The world around them started to flash, blue, then black, then grey. It continued on for a couple of minutes.


    {TICK, TICK, TI-}


    The world stopped for a second, Shiro let out a massive sigh.


    ¡°What the fuck¡­¡± Shiro looked around the room, the bodies were now being swarmed by flies, some had completely rotted away.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°We need to leave.¡± Kurono grabbed Ena and Shiro¡¯s wrists and ran with them to the school yard.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± Kurono was still trying to catch his breath.


    ¡°What¡¯s the date..?¡± Shiro went to the nearest mailbox. Inside was a newspaper the heading read.


    ¡°Girl found in lake, confirmed to be 17 years of age.¡±


    Shiro looked down to the date, it was published the day before New Years.


    ¡°I-isn¡¯t New Years a-a month away?¡± Ena looked down at the paper.


    ¡°Yes¡­ We need to figure this out before we figure out the suicides¡­ Kurono, any ideas?¡±


    ¡°I live nearby, let¡¯s go on the news channel and confirm what¡¯s happening.¡±


    The cicadas were at their loudest today although heat was more bearable than it had been previously. After turning the television on it was confirmed, today was New Years Eve.


    The three sat in the living room waiting until the New Year, lost in thought and trapped in terror at all that had just happened. Ena was shaking, panicking but there was no calming her down.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even get to graduate¡­¡± Shiro broke the silence.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Kurono turned his head back to the TV.


    ¡°Before the countdown starts we have a guest star: Kokoro Utau!¡±


    Kokoro had been a popular artist since Shiro started high school, it appeared tonight she was playing her biggest hit, ¡®Blood Love¡¯ before the fireworks were launched near the mountains on the outskirts of the City where the event was being held. Her eyes were always covered by a red face mask that was slightly to big for her and a black cap that was always tilted downwards so you could only just make out her shirt brown hair, her costume was a bit out there tonight with bird wings on her back.


    ¡°A bit of a tasteless song to play if they knew what was happening here, but I like the song so I¡¯m not going to get too upset about it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right about both¡­¡± Shiro turned her head to the TV as the song started. No instruments were present in the opening lines.


    [I just want your


    Blood! Blood! Blood love!


    I was feeling my


    Love! Love! Love less!


    I need your


    Touch! Touch! Touch now!


    I just want your blood]


    The song was known for starting off as a punk song that led into a slower acoustic section after the second chorus that eventually became a big room house track for the final section.


    [Give me some of you


    Give me enough to satisfy until the end of the night


    Show me a world that I want


    I know you want my


    (Love! Love!) Don¡¯t fight the darkened dove


    Crash into me, my world collides with yours


    (Touch! Touch!) Is this your first love?


    I just want a taste of that sweetness inside you


    Just give me your (Blood! Blood!)


    I need your]


    The crowd had started to sing along as Kokoro jumped around the stage, playing her guitar and singing, the only backing tracks being that of the backing vocals.


    [I just want your


    Blood! Blood! Blood love!


    I was feeling my


    Love! Love! Love less!


    I need your


    Touch! Touch! Touch now!


    I just want your blood]


    The stage lights faded to black, a brief pause before they once again lit up the stage, Kokoro appeared to have switched the electric guitar out for an acoustic and sat down on an amp.


    [I started to fall


    Felt like I was losing it all


    A dark summer night


    Cicadas crying


    I saw a light


    A taste, a call of the night


    A dark desire in the heart


    (Blood, Blood, Blood love)


    I want your touch


    I was feeling my love-


    I just want your-]


    The song built up, the music stopped and it was just Kokoro singing.


    [I just want your


    Blood, Blood, Blood love!


    I was feeling my


    Love, Love, Love less!


    I need your


    Touch, Touch, Touch now!


    I just want your blood]


    The song started to build again, the next verse would lead into the final chorus.


    [I want your love


    I want you blood


    Spread it along the halls


    Taste it in my walls


    I was feeling my love less


    Now I feel a craving


    A feeling


    I wished for¡­]


    The world around Shiro had started to go into a shade of white, the song reached its final chorus as it dropped.


    [I just want your


    Blood, Blood, Blood love!


    I was feeling my


    Love, Love, Love less!


    I need your


    Touch, Touch, Touch now!


    I just want your blood¡­]


    After finishing Kokoro suddenly felt ill.


    The timer began the countdown to New Years.


    {TICK, TICK, TICK.}


    5, 4, 3, 2, 1.


    The counter reached the end, the cameras circled the city fireworks.


    Shiro¡¯s world was now completely covered in white.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we missing people¡­?¡±


    ¡°SHIRO!¡± She heard Kurono scream as her consciousness faded.

 Chapter 5 - Re:Re

    Shiro awoke in her bed, her lips were salty, the taste of tears. She threw up at the memory of what had just happened.


    ¡°How did I..?¡± She realised that the last place she was at was Kurono¡¯s place, why had she passed out there? But more importantly how did she get back to her place? Kurono had prepared her and Ena separate beds so it couldn¡¯t have been them.


    She got up out of her bed. ¡°Pyjamas?¡± Unless Ena or Kurono had undressed and then re-dressed her for some strange reason, then there was no explanation for the change of clothing. She changed into her black and white school uniform, as she was getting breakfast she realised that on the kitchen table was the first paper that had been released about the girl in the lake. As she was walking to school She saw Ena walking with Robert. Didn¡¯t he die?


    She approached the two, deciding to repeat what she had said last time.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you usually alone?¡±


    ¡°Huh?, umm, yeah. Sorry you startled me a bit.¡±


    Shiro quietly laughed to herself at Ena¡¯s repeated reaction.


    ¡°I fell and twisted my ankle while walking. Robert offered to help me to School.¡±


    ¡°Again..?¡±


    ¡°W-what d-do you mean again?¡±


    Robert walked up to Shiro again ¡°Shiro, right?¡±


    The way they were talking to her, their reactions, every bit of every movement aside from Ena being confused at Shiro¡¯s reaction was almost identical to when Robert first asked to hang out with them.


    ¡°Do you mind if I hang around with you guys today?¡±


    She decided to give him the same response as last time. She started thinking to herself, if all the interactions they were having were the same then¡­


    ¡°I need to get to the school.¡± Shiro ran down the streets ahead of Robert and Ena.


    ¡°W-where¡¯s she-?¡±


    Shiro had expected to run into a school filled with confused panic at Emilia¡¯s disappearance but instead there was Ren¡¯s body laying on the concrete pathway outside the school fence, kneeling over the body was a girl about 5¡¯6ft, with dark blue eyes, smooth skin and short blonde hair. It was Emilia. Shouldn¡¯t she be dead? Shiro had developed the theory that she had gone back in time to before the suicides but Emilia being alive didn¡¯t make sense, unless¡­ History had been altered and there was a much sinister plot going on.


    Shiro slowly approached Emilia, as she closed in it became evident she was crying. Ren¡¯s body was covered in a dark red liquid. It was evident to Shiro that if one thing was for certain, there was a murderer in town.


    ¡°What happened here¡­?¡± Shiro crouched down next to the crying girl.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I just found his body laying here!¡± Emilia looked as if she was about to pass out from the crying.


    ¡°Did anyone else¡­?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± the girl kept sobbing over the lifeless body.


    No one had seen the body? Shiro had seen people heading this direction to school before her, so how was it that Emilia was the only one who found it? There was a sinking feeling in Shiro, like she was forgetting something or someone.


    ¡°Shiro- What the?¡± Kurono came up from behind Shiro, his eyes widened as he saw the scene in front of him.


    ¡°My head hurts!¡± Emilia screamed before passing out.


    ¡°Kurono¡­ Do you remember the basement..?¡±


    ¡°Shiro, what are you talking about, are you just going to ignore the body in front of us? And Emilia¡¯s passed out!¡±


    Shiro saw Robert and Ena approaching the school ¡°Ena, take Emilia to the infirmary¡­¡±


    ¡°W-what, h-huh!? B-blood!? Is h-he dead!?¡± Ena¡¯s face had a horrified expression on it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to explain. Come on Kurono we need to get to the basement.¡±


    As Shiro ran with Kurono to the basement she looked behind and saw Ena and Robert pick both people up.


    ¡°Shiro, what is going on!?¡±


    ¡°No time to explain, but be careful when we enter, we may get killed¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a promising response.¡± He said sarcastically ¡°But I¡¯ll trust it because it¡¯s you.¡±


    As they approached the basement Shiro saw the familiar key to the basement on the outside. ¡°Why is it¡­? If she¡¯s- what¡­?¡±


    ¡°Shiro!! Kurono!! We have an issue here!¡± Robert came running up behind them. Shiro had to ignore the key basement for now as something much worse had come up.


    Ena was sitting in a chair next to the infirmary beds, her head down, clear liquid dripping from her sleeves. The closests bed had Ren¡¯s body lying lifelessly on it, the next bed had Emilia lying on it but something was wrong.


    ¡°S-she¡¯s not b-breathing.¡± Ena completely buried her face in her arms.


    Shiro had a closer look at the body, listening for a heartbeat but there was nothing.


    ¡°She passed out after crying over his body¡­ Kurono, check Ren¡¯s injury.¡±


    Kurono looked closer at the stab wound in Ren¡¯s chest, the blood had appeared at first to just be slightly darker than usual but upon further inspection it was obvious a black liquid was mixed in with it.


    ¡°Poison!?¡± Kurono backed away from the body.


    ¡°Here, there¡¯s a knife cut on Emilia¡¯s left hand¡­¡±


    ¡°So you mean to say that when she touched the wound, it infected her with poison?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Isn¡¯t someone else usually here..?¡±


    Robert looked at her curiously ¡°No. What are you talking about Shiro? We need to get back onto this!¡±


    ¡°Onto what¡­? They¡¯re gone¡­ We don¡¯t have a chance of saving them¡­¡±


    ¡°Sh-Shiro! I¡­ Y-you¡¯re right, we can¡¯t s-save them.¡± Ena¡¯s eyes darkened after she stood up out of her chair.


    `Slice`


    ¡°SHIRO!¡± Kurono screamed at the top of his lungs as Shiro felt an intense stabbing pain in her intestine.


    ¡°Huh? A knife¡­?¡± Her consciousness had faded before she managed to look behind her and see the culprit, she heard Robert and Ena¡¯s voices yelling after Kurono¡¯s as she passed on.


    {Tick, tick, tick, tick}


    Again she awoke in her bed, the same pyjamas as last time, the paper was still on the table.


    There was no doubt in her mind, this was some form of sick time loop, but the murders were all to conveniently timed and how had it started? There had to be a culprit behind this all.

 Chapter 6 - Repeated Loss

    ¡°I need to go¡­¡± Shiro jumped out of her bed, knocking over the chairs in the kitchen as she ran through the house and out of the front door. She desperately sprinted towards the School, the streets still mirage by the heat, cicadas screeching. As she arrived at the school there was once again panic over Emilia being missing. It appeared the first timeline was happening once again. Shiro ran back to the gate and grabbed Kurono who had been waiting for her.


    ¡°Shiro? Aren¡¯t you usually later than me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain this to you after we get Ren¡­ Where is he¡­?¡±


    ¡°Ren? I think I saw him panicking in the courtyard.¡±


    Pulling Kurono by the wrist Shiro ran down to the courtyard, Ren had been walking around in circles panicking at Emilia''s absence.


    ¡°Ren.¡± Kurono said seriously and stopped Ren halfway through his circle.


    ¡°H-huh? Kurono? Shiro? What do you-¡±


    ¡°Come with us to the basement, Emilia is there¡­¡± Shiro cut Ren off.


    ¡°Why would you know that if no one else does?¡±


    ¡°Time Loop¡­¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Kurono and Ren both looked at her with confusion.


    ¡°No time to explain¡­¡± Shiro grabbed both of their wrists and pulled them along until they reached the basement door.


    ¡°If I¡¯m correct then outside should be- There it is¡­¡± Shiro picked up the key to the basement.


    ¡°Why is the key..?¡± Kurono looked around for any people nearby but there were only students panicking in classrooms.


    As Shiro opened the basement she started to explain the situation. ¡°I¡¯ve looped twice, the first time Emilia was dead in this basement, a weird eel looking creature came out of her body, which had been vertically stitched from her head to her crotch and killed another student¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you s-saying she could be dead?¡± Ren looked sceptical yet fearful.


    ¡°You looked worried, Shiro.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you can actually see that in my face..?¡±


    ¡°From a distance no, but your eyes look terrified.¡±


    ¡°I-I am? I think I am¡­¡±


    Ren interrupted the twos idol chat. ¡°Emilia!!¡± He screamed, starting to run towards the girl.


    ¡°WAIT! REN!¡± Kurono grabbed Ren¡¯s arm, almost tripping him over.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Shiro turned her head away from the two and towards Emilia. ¡°Stitches¡­¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±


    Ren¡¯s eyes darkened ¡°If what you said is true¡­ then.¡±


    The stitches started to slowly come undone as blood leaked out of Emilia''s body.


    ¡°Run! It¡¯s been impaled by Emilia¡¯s bones, if we can close the door on it, it will eventually die of blood loss¡­¡± Shiro ushered Kurono and Ren through the door, slamming it shut as the creature extended towards them.


    ¡°I-Is she dead¡­?¡± Ren was frozen in fear. ¡°I¡¯m going to throw up.¡±


    ¡°Wait. We¡¯re not completely sure she¡¯s dead yet, right, Shiro?¡± Kurono also seemed to be in a panic.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead¡­ In the first timeline there was a uniform in her house that was blood stained, someone tore her insides out and stitched her skin back together, somehow putting that thing inside¡­¡±


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t find the culprit?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°I refuse to believe it.¡± Ren turned back around to the basement.


    ¡°Ren¡­¡± Kurono and Shiro looked at Ren with guilt as he went back through the door.


    The creature was lying lifeless on the floor. As Ren walked past it towards Emilia, Shiro crouched down to get a closer look at the creature. Before she had been in too much of a panic to get a good look at it, at first when emerging it looked similar to a piranha but eventually grew into this eel thing as if something was speeding it¡¯s growth, the bloodied body underneath was a ugly shade of green.


    ¡°Just what is happening?¡± Kurono was also looking at the creature''s body.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, everything that¡¯s happened feels unreal, but it can¡¯t be a dream. I can feel pain, somewhat emotion and heat. Dreams have this weird feeling where you feel like you¡¯re there but you can¡¯t physically feel anything unless it¡¯s a sort of lucid dream or some form of sleep paralysis. During the second timeline, the last one I was in, I felt pain when I was stabbed in the intestine¡­¡±


    ¡°You were stabbed? I¡¯m assuming you don¡¯t know who, or you would be after them.¡±


    Shiro nodded her head silently, turning towards Ren who was now at Emilia¡¯s deflated body. ¡°Whoever it was was probably responsible for this¡­¡±


    The two walked over to Ren who had been crying over Emilia¡¯s body.


    ¡°Dark blood¡­ Is this..?¡±


    ¡°Shiro, that isn¡¯t her blood. A few weeks ago I ran into her in the infirmary. She was there because she grazed her knee pretty badly during sport and the blood was a much lighter shade of red.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s poison¡­ During the second timeline Ren had been poisoned and his body had the same dark liquid through it, which means that either the murderer put the poison in her or¡­ ¡±


    ¡°It was something to do with that creature.¡±


    ¡°Check her left hand for a cut, she got poisoned as well in the second timeline¡­¡±


    Kurono turned Emilia¡¯s left hand over, Ren still weeping in front of it. Sure enough there had been a knife cut on her left hand.


    ¡°If she had a cut in both timelines, then before you looped can¡¯t be changed.¡±


    ¡°So Ren was murdered in the short time that it took me to get to school¡­¡±


    *But how was she murder in such a short time as well¡­* Shiro thought to herself.


    ¡°Shiro, the blood on the creature was the exact same black colour.¡±


    ¡°So the blood of that thing is the poison, but what is it¡­¡±


    The basement door swung open, Robert and Ena slowly walked down.


    ¡°W-what happened here!?¡± Ena looked towards Ren crying in front of the body.


    ¡°What the fuck is that thing!?¡± Robert looked at the creature with terror.


    Ena started to move back slowly, she was on the verge of throwing up at the site.


    ¡°I-I feel sick.¡±


    She fell onto the ground. Out of her pocket, a vial of black blood rolled onto the floor.


    ¡°Ena¡­¡± Shiro¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. "Why do you¡­?¡±

 Chapter 7 - Trust in You

    ¡°I-I-I-¡± Ena burst into tears. ¡°I didn¡¯t- this wasn¡¯t- I- why did it- he-¡±


    Robert turned his head towards her ¡°What is in that? Why do you all look so scared? Why is Emilia¡¯s body like that!?¡±


    Ren started to rise from his position and moved towards Ena. ¡°I don¡¯t know how OR WHY YOU HAVE THAT but it¡¯s clear to me that this has something to do with you.¡± He started to walk towards Ena.


    ¡°Ren¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± Shiro grabbed his hand as he went to punch Ena.


    ¡°But she! ¡­¡±


    Kurono looked towards the three.  ¡°Ren. Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Ena, can you explain this?¡± Kurono looked at Ena.


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡­¡± Ena wiped her tears away.


    ¡°Wait what is- oh no¡­¡± Shiro heard the footsteps of their classmates approaching.


    There were gasps as their classmates came down to the basement. ¡°What happened here!?¡± One of the guys screamed from the crowd.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but I think Ena¡¯s responsible.¡± Robert turned to the class.


    ¡°We can¡¯t just assume that¡­¡± Shiro walked over to Robert.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we? So far you¡¯ve been questioning Ena on that vial, the one that has the same colour as Emilia¡¯s blood.¡±


    One of the girls in the class backed away from the rest. ¡°E-Emilia¡¯s d-dead?¡± She ran out of the basement in fear, followed by a few others.


    ¡°I think Robert¡¯s right.¡± Another voice came through the crowd.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± A few voices followed after.


    ¡°¡±W-wait I-I.¡± Ena was still crying.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you couldn¡¯t explain before?¡± Robert turned back around to Ena. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to change.¡±


    He slowly approached the crying girl, his hand reaching into his right jean pocket and pulled out a shining silver kitchen knife. ¡°W-wait th-this w-wasn¡¯t-¡±


    `slice`


    The sound of a knife going through her heart cut her voice off.


    ¡°ENA!!¡± Shiro and Kurono screamed as he pulled the knife from her chest.


    ¡°You get what you give.¡± He said seriously as he walked through the people in the class.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°She deserved it.¡± Shiro heard multiple people saying he was in the right.


    ¡°Someone who murders someone else, even a supposed murderer when it wasn¡¯t in self-defense and without enough evidence isn¡¯t someone who is in the right¡­¡± Shiro clenched her fist as her eye¡¯s teared up at the sight of Ena¡¯s lifeless corpse on the ground.


    ¡°You want someone who could have killed any of us to stay walking around the school?¡± One of the girls said to Shiro angrily.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want my friend killed in front of me.¡± Shiro snapped back at the girl.


    ¡°A murderer might I add.¡±


    Kurono walked up behind Shiro. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure of that.¡±


    ¡°Are you both too fucking stupid to see the facts in front of us, didn¡¯t Robert explain it clear enough?¡±


    ¡°Are you so fucking stupid that you believe a guy who I don¡¯t even know if Ena knew properly, when me and Shiro have been friends with her for years.¡±


    Shiro¡¯s eyes had stopped watering, she looked dead into the girl''s eyes. ¡°You fucking¡­¡± Shiro clenched her fist and with all her strength punched the girl in the face, knocking her out.


    ¡°Shiro¡­¡± Kurono looked at the girl¡¯s unconscious body.


    She was no longer in a safe environment, the people around her were giving dirty looks. Pushing through the crowd, she ran out of the basement into the summer heat haze that was outside. She ran through the desolate streets of the town, to Emilia¡¯s house, as she suspected inside was a uniform covered in blood. Shiro¡¯s head was hurting, she fell onto Emilia¡¯s bed, slowly fading into sleep.


    ¡°Ena¡­ You didn¡¯t¡­ right¡­?¡±


    ¡°I w-would never why w-would I?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be dead¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-you said it yourself, you feel like y-you''re here but c-can¡¯t physically feel.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ I see¡­ I¡¯m dreaming¡­ I won¡¯t get answers here¡­¡±


    ¡°J-just r-remember I¡¯m not permanently d-dead, you c-can loop.¡±


    ¡°I need answers first¡­¡± Shiro rubbed her eye¡¯s as she awoke in Emilia¡¯s bed.


    ¡°I fell asleep¡­ I feel like I need to get some fresh air...¡± It had now become dark outside.


    ¡°Girl found in lake - More info has become available about the girl who was found in the lake - Her eye¡¯s are a dark blue, blood type AB, around 5¡¯10ft tall. A stab wound was found to have penetrated her intestines. Anyone with further information is urged to contact authorities.¡±


    Shiro picked up the paper from Emilia¡¯s mail box. ¡°Authorities¡­? Who were they again¡­? Wasn¡¯t there already a paper published about this today¡­?¡±


    She put the paper back into the mailbox. ¡°The lake might be a good place to get some air¡­¡±


    She knew that a place like that had a high chance of getting her killed in this situation, especially in the middle of the night but she¡¯d need to die soon anyway if she was going to save and prove Ena innocent and solve what was happening.


    The night was just as hot as the day, cicada¡¯s were still singing as loud as possible, the stars were clearly visible shining down onto the world, twinkling brightly in the sky. Shiro stopped halfway to the lake, just looking on into the sky, holding tears back as she remembered everything that had happened. How long would this go on if she really was in a loop and how would everything be solved? Was a happy ending even possible at this point? Who was behind this? Could someone else be in a loop? Surely she wasn¡¯t the only one experiencing such weird things.


    She continued walking the empty streets, not a single light in any home turned on. It was an unnaturally lonely atmosphere. Almost as if the world was missing people. She climbed over the small mountain that hid the lake from view, through its wide variety of flowers. As she approached the lake she saw a guy sitting with his back on a tree next to the lake, a red liquid running down his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Not again¡­ Please can I just...¡± Her eyes started watering again. ¡°Ena and Emilia are already¡­¡±

 Chapter 8 - Falling Down

    The body looked familiar, it was the same athletic student that had his arm bitten off during the first loop.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t there, was he¡­¡± Shiro walked up closer to the body. ¡°What was your name again¡­?¡± As she crouched down to see the body properly tears from her eyes fell onto his legs. The eyes had been pulled from their sockets, the blood had already begun to dry up.


    ¡°How long were you here¡­ Who did this¡­ Could it have been-¡± Shiro turned around to see a familiar figure holding an umbrella.


    ¡°Did you check the weather? It¡¯s supposed to start raining soon.¡± Kurono walked up to the sobbing girl.


    ¡°Another one gone¡­¡±


    ¡°I know Ena didn¡¯t kill Emilia.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t we already agree on that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but her having a vial of the blood doesn¡¯t change anything like everyone seemed to have believed. You said Emilia was killed at her home, why would Ena even think of bringing a vial of blood?¡±


    ¡°Unless it was a setup¡­ There was only one other person I know of who would be near Ena in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Before you get too hasty we can¡¯t rule out anything that happened before the loops.¡±


    ¡°I know but the whole interaction I had with Ena and Robert was always weird, she said she twisted her ankle but was walking fine. At first I thought that was due to her being too shy but after he suddenly turned on her during this timeline I¡¯m sure that this has something to do with him...¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t his name also seem strange?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean..?¡±


    ¡°Shiro, Kurono, Ena, Emilia, Ren and then this fucker over here called Robert.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right it does seem strange¡­ There was another thing I noticed, when this guy- wait do you remember his name?¡±


    ¡°No I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird, I don¡¯t either¡­ But I remember him being in our classes for ages¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have remembered Ren or Emilia¡¯s if it wasn¡¯t for you and Ena either¡­ Anyway when this guy had his arm bitten off in the first timeline he seemed to go into a sort of monologue, telling us to bury him in the mountain with flowers¡­¡±


    ¡°Like the one behind here?¡±


    ¡°Yes... It was almost like NPC dialogue, everything he said seemed robotic and programmed, I ignored it because of everything else that happened during that first loop¡­ We were also pushed forward in time until New Years but I almost passed out, you and Ena were completely fine¡­¡±


    ¡°Did anything else happen when you almost passed out?¡±


    ¡°There was a ticking sound and my heart seemed to beat louder¡­¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Did you ever hear that ticking sound again?¡±


    ¡°Once more when New Years hit and another when I was stabbed¡­¡±


    ¡°So you hear a ticking sound when you loop?¡±


    ¡°It seems that way, but is there a limit to this..?¡±


    ¡°As if I would know, but I do know that the most likely to have killed anyone is Robert.¡±


    ¡°What if Ena was being manipulated by Robert¡­?¡±


    ¡°And he gave her the blood to stir some suspicion despite it not making sense if you thought about it.¡±


    ¡°And if this guy''s weird reaction wasn¡¯t the only case of NPC behaviour then they could essentially be following a script, most likely set up by Robert if that is even possible...¡±


    ¡°But-¡± Kurono seemed to freeze as if his soul had left his body.


    ¡°Kurono..? Wait what th-¡± Shiro felt a weird tingling sensation on her head and in her tailbone. ¡°Huh? Kurono..? Wolf ears¡­? What the fuck..?¡±


    ¡°Shiro you¡¯re alive!? I thought you were- I saw- don¡¯t scare me again.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Kurono, what are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I saw you die! How are you alive?¡±


    Shiro felt her body get hot. ¡°Die? Why would you remember, where-?¡±


    ¡°You got stabbed and pushed into the lake, I- what happened after that?¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°Oh no¡­ I¡¯m not actually am I¡­¡±


    ¡°What was that tick? Shiro?¡±


    ¡°You can hear that too?¡±


    ¡°You heard it as well- wait what''s with the cat ears?¡±


    ¡°Cat ears..? Do you remember the conversation we just had..?¡±


    ¡°Conversation?¡±


    ¡°Oh fuck¡­¡±


    Shiro saw a figure approaching Kurono from behind. ¡°So you finally arrived, and it seems this place¡¯s original managed break the code and help her figure me out.¡± Robert pulled a knife out of his uniform and jabbed it straight through Kurono¡¯s back and into his heart.


    ¡°KUR-¡± As the knife hit Kurono¡¯s heart Shiro felt an intense stabbing pain in her own. ¡°Bastard¡­ what did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Aww is the little cat mad I killed her fuck boy.¡±


    Kuronos eyes were empty, his consciousness had already faded.


    ¡°Hey, at least now you feel the same amount of pain, so you¡¯ll know when one anothers in danger.¡±


    Robert twisted the knife that was still stuck inside Kurono¡¯s heart.


    ¡°ARRRGGGHHH!!! YOU FUCKING!!!¡± Shiro screamed in pain as she felt her heart twist, now bleeding out internally and fell to her knees.


    ¡°Let me just get this out.¡± Robert pulled the knife from Kurono¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Maybe I should put you two down here, it might jog your memory a bit.¡± Robert grabbed Kurono¡¯s deceased body and threw it into the lake.


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°So this is you¡­¡±


    ¡°Huuuh? You still alive?¡± Robert grabbed Shiro¡¯s cat ears, pulled her down towards his leg and kicked her in the face, letting go so he would knock her into the lake where she slowly felt herself die.


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°Looks like that bitch cat is going to be tougher than expected, but that helps me in prolonging her suffering and now the puppies here I can hurt her all the more. Life was so good when I was dead but you just had to come and ¡°Save¡± me, I wanted to stay dead but the next time I entered was just an empty abyss. A punishment from god or whatever I guess, but who the fuck would want to stay in the normal world, well I guess it¡¯s better then what I¡¯ve made this place to you. Oh, I¡¯m monologuing to myself again, I fucking hate that habit. Time for some fun in the next timeline.¡±

 Chapter 9 - Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… WHY DIDN’T YOU SHATTER AND FALL!!?

    {TICK, TICK, TICK, Tick, tick, ti-)


    Shiro once again awoke in her bed, tears running down her face. ¡°What just happened? Why- wha- wa- Cat Ears¡­?¡± Shiro was unable to figure out anything that Robert had said, why Kurono had all of a sudden changed tone and what was up with the cat ears?


    Shiro exited her bedroom into the kitchen, too exhausted to attempt going to school.


    *It¡¯s probably the second one again isn¡¯t it¡­* If she was correct then it would end in her getting stabbed once again, unless Robert changed his methods but she knew he wouldn¡¯t try that straight away. ¡°Wait¡­ Kurono¡­ He had wolf ears. I can feel cat- wait, what do I even look like again¡­ I can¡¯t- I can¡¯t remember¡­ That¡¯s the key! Isn¡¯t it..!¡±


    ¡°The body of a young girl with long white hair has been found in the west river, currently there is no information about the death or the identity of the girl.¡±


    She looked down at the table, seeing the same cover as she had in the first timeline. *River? Wasn¡¯t it a¡­? White hair¡­ Who was she again¡­? 17¡­ Dark blue¡­ Type AB¡­ 5¡¯10ft¡­ Tachibana..!? Wait¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ no- if- am I?*


    Shiro felt her heart drop at the speed of light remembering everything that had been revealed about the girl in the papers. She ran into her bathroom and looked into the mirror. All the windows since the start of the loops didn¡¯t have reflections, the TV as well seemed to not have a reflection, it was too dark that night to see the reflection in the lake.


    Staring back at her in shock was a girl with long white hair, dark blue eyes, around 5¡¯10ft with cat¡¯s ears and tail. It couldn¡¯t be more clear to her, she was the one who had been murdered. Shiro Tachibana.


    ¡°Doe-Doesn¡¯t that mean I- With what Robert sai- Am I dead¡­?¡± Shiro felt herself throw up in the sink. When she looked back at it she saw blood. She started breathing heavily, tears fell into the messy sink in front of her eyes, her face was going numb, her cheeks felt stretched, her head hurt, her eyes felt like they would fall out, her ears were stinging and ringing, her heartbeat was louder than everything around her, her stomach was numb, her legs and arms were weakening. Eventually the girl fell onto her knees, still just barely able to see through her fogged vision. *What the fuck¡­ What does that¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t wan- What..?* Her mind was racing.


    ¡°Fuck this¡­¡±


    With the remaining strength the girl had left she pulled herself up the sink enough so that she could reach the mirror. `SMASH!` She launched her fist straight into the mirror, the glass shattered around her, a couple of pieces hitting her arm.


    ¡°Ow¡­ Didn¡¯t think that through¡­¡± The fist that had hit the glass started to bleed. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°`sniff` `sniff` I- I¡­ why¡­?¡±


    *I know in my head that this is true but I can¡¯t accept it*


    ¡°I-I should clean this mess up¡­¡± Shiro cleared her mind, even if only for a brief moment.


    She grabbed out cleaning equipment from under the sink in her kitchen and cleaned the bloody-watery-vomit up, grabbing any glass she found and throwing it out. She then looked in the kitchen cupboards for bandages and patched her bloodied fist up.


    ¡°`huff` `huff` I CAN¡¯T ACCEPT THIS¡­!!!¡± While walking to the living room Shiro fell onto the ground, tears running down her face like a waterfall. ¡°Dammit¡­ why the f- `huff` `huff` fuck¡­ I¡¯m gone¡­ Is this what hell is..?¡± Shiro stood back up wiping her tears away ¡°No. We know Robert has something to do with this, I can do this¡­ huh..?¡± She turned around to see the paper on the table, but something was off. There was another body on the front image of her in the lake, just barely visible.


    ¡°Oh fuck¡­ That¡¯s- Isn¡¯t it..?¡± It was the back of Kurono¡¯s body. ¡°If he¡¯s¡­ He¡¯s dead too¡­¡±


    *That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t remember our conversation¡­ If we both got the animal ears but no one else did¡­ and he¡¯s dead as well¡­ Is it something to do with differentiating the dead from NPCs¡­? And if Ren was in his house and the school does that mean multiple assets are loaded at the same time but your memory is manipulated so that you don¡¯t break the world and do something that would lead you to find the reused assets¡­?*


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°Stop ticking¡­ STOP FUCKING TICKING `huff` `huff` `huff` `huff` I CAN¡¯T TAKE THIS SHIT!! WHY WOULD YOU THROW ME INTO THIS FUCKING HELL HOLE!!!? I-i did-¡­ `huff` `huff` `huff`.¡± Her voice was breaking with every word she screamed ¡°I can¡¯t..¡± She began pulling the fur off her ears ¡°I can¡¯t, I fucking just- why why why whywhywhywhywhy¡­?¡± Her ears started to bleed, blood trickling down onto the wood floor.


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!¡± She started to claw at her eyes, eventually they started bleeding and the girl couldn¡¯t see anything anymore. She felt a horrific pain where she had been clawing, her eyes fell out and her consciousness faded. *It doesn¡¯t matter anyway¡­ Oh, I felt Kurono¡¯s knife wound¡­ He¡¯s probably feeling this too¡­ Fuck... why would I do that to him¡­? What even happened that day¡­? I won¡¯t- I refuse to die again after this¡­¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Ti-}


    Once again she woke up to the same bed, the same date as every other loop. *If I¡¯m right then this should be the first timeline¡­ right..?¡±


    ¡°S-Shiro I-I¡¯m s-sorry b-but¡±


    ¡°Ena¡­ Don¡¯t¡­¡± Ena grabbed a plastic bag out of her pocket and put it over Shiro¡¯s head


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t w-want to but I h-have too¡­¡±


    ¡°Ena¡­¡± Shiro felt her head getting hotter as she ran out of air.


    `Thud!` Shiro¡¯s unconscious body fell onto the ground.


    ¡°Y-you want me to bring h-her to the b-basement¡­ R-right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And make sure she¡¯s still breathing, I don¡¯t want her dead now.¡±


    Ena hung up her phone and put it away in her uniform pocket.

 Chapter 10 - The Girl in the Lake

    *Come on Shiro, you can do it¡­ I know I¡¯ve never done something like this before but I will be fine¡­ I know he likes me¡­ It¡¯s a bit too obvious really, isn¡¯t it..? Or am I the one who¡¯s obvious..? I don¡¯t know, I didn''t even know I could feel something like this¡­*


    He always liked to go to the west lake and listen to music¡­ I had seen him there multiple times, usually on a saturday. Today was going to be the day I confessed. That had been the plan¡­


    ¡°Shiro! Lunch!¡±


    ¡°`Yawn` Coming¡­¡±


    ¡°You should probably stop waking up in the middle of the day¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m awake now¡­¡±


    *I¡¯m glad she doesn¡¯t stay up late or she would¡¯ve caught me up in the middle of the night by now*


    I walked out of my room and into the kitchen, sitting down at the dining table. My mother brought over the bacon and egg rolls she had been cooking.


    ¡°Sorry. I should probably be the one who needs to apologise for waking up late.¡± My father walked into the room rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°`Sigh` You¡¯re both hopeless.¡±


    ¡°You do it on weekdays.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got me there.¡± She brought over the bacon and egg rolls.


    ¡°Hmmm? Shiro, you look like you want to say something.¡±


    ¡°`Gulp`¡± I swallowed the remaining food ¡°I-I¡¯m going to go out for a bit¡­ Is that ok..?¡±


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s the first time in a while you¡¯ve stuttered. And your face is looking a bit flushed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be out at about 2pm.¡±


    ¡°`Sigh` Straight to the point as always. You can go, you¡¯re 17 after all.¡±


    My father turned around and smiled at me. ¡°I guess we confined you a bit too much. Don¡¯t panic, I''m sure he¡¯ll accept.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­ How did-... That- `Sigh` There¡¯s no point in denying it.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you don¡¯t get a lovely wife like I did without understanding women at least a little.¡±


    My mother turnedaway, putting dishes in the sink while blushing.


    ¡°Are you still blushing at his compliments at your age¡­?¡± I looked at my mother slightly smirking.


    ¡°Shut.¡±


    Me and dad both started quietly laughing.


    ¡°Well if you are going to confess to Kurono then you better get dressed.¡±


    *Wait how the fuck did she¡­ Well, that kind of gives me hope that he noticed¡­ No, I''ve noticed him giving me the same signs, I know¡­ Wait. Don¡¯t get your hopes up too much or it will hurt if he doesn¡¯t¡­ Why couldn¡¯t Ena have given me a proper response instead of a thumbs up text reaction¡­*


    I went back to my room and picked out a white sweetheart neckline dress and a straw hat with a black ribbon with a purple flower on it.


    *I wonder if he¡¯ll¡­ I hope he thinks it looks good¡­*The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s 2¡­. I better get going¡­¡± I ran to the front door.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± My mum yelled as I left through the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be out too late!¡± I heard my father yell as I ran through my front yard.


    *You can do this¡­*


    The sky was cloudy, to most people it would look like the least romantic setting for a confession but we both loved the rain¡­ Plus the cicadas that had been screeching all summer had shut up even if it was just for a single day.


    I walked past the school towards the mountain, lights were starting to get turned on as the sky changed into a darker shade of grey.


    *Don¡¯t worry, we''re just on the edge of the storm¡­ He¡¯s usually still there if it¡¯s only light rain¡­*


    As I approached the fields in the mountains the clouds began to part, letting through the bright yellow sun, shining down onto the purple, pink, blue, red and orange flowers that spread across the mountain fields in between the bright green grass. Over the hill the lake was a clear blue colour, slightly higher than usual due to it getting a bit of rain from the storm''s edge. The oak tree that he was always sitting under was reflecting the sunlight into my eyes due to the water on the dark green leaves.


    ¡°Ow¡­ Who turned the brightness up..?¡±


    I walked over to the tree, wiping away the dirt and water on the roots poking through the ground and sat on it, looking out towards the distant clouds.


    *I feel¡­ nervous all of a sudden..? I didn¡¯t expect to feel this way¡­ I didn¡¯t even know I could feel this way¡­ Just to make sure I¡¯ve got it right, let¡¯s replay the scenario¡­


    He walks up over the mountain and walks down to this tree¡­ I¡¯m sitting on the other side so he doesn¡¯t see me straight away, I walk out and surprise him¡­ He asks why I¡¯m here and I say ¡°I need to tell you something¡­¡± He asks what I need to talk about and I reply with the confession.


    ¡°I like you¡­¡± No, that doesn¡¯t sound right.


    ¡°I want to date you¡­¡± No¡­ Still terrible.


    ¡°I need you¡­¡± That just sounds clinging.


    ¡°Do you like me..?¡± No, I¡¯m meant to be confessing to him, not the other way around¡­ All though¡­


    ¡°I love you¡±* I felt myself blush a bit


    *That¡¯s the right one¡­ A bit direct but the only true way I can say this to him¡­ Then if he says he¡¯ll go out with me we can go to the cafe further down the lake¡­ After I steal his first kiss¡­* How I wish that that was what happened¡­But instead I got¡­


    I heard footsteps behind me, but this wasn¡¯t when Kurono would be here. I turned around to see a guy with dark orange spiky hair, brown eyes and about 5¡¯9ft wearing a white t-shirt and black tracksuit pants. He seemed to be looking for someone, he seemed oddly familiar to me. I came out from behind the tree.


    ¡°What are you doing¡­?¡± *Dammit that probably came off a bit mean¡­*


    ¡°I was just looking for someone. Hmm, you know I think she looked a lot like you and would probably be your age by now.¡± He stopped and looked at me.


    *He seemed familiar¡­ Something feels off about this, I need to get out of here¡­*


    I looked at the mountain and saw Kurono running towards me and this strange man.


    ¡°Shiro, what are you doing here and who is this man?¡±


    *Fuck I got screwed over by this random ass guy¡­ I¡¯ll have to try again tomorrow¡­ If he comes¡­*


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who this guy is¡­¡±


    The strange guy turned and faced me. ¡°I think you might. But that doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I don¡¯t think you would remember it anyway.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Asshole! At least remember when you save someone and inadvertently destroy their paradise!!¡± There was death in his eyes.


    ¡°Shiro, we need to get out of here. This guy doesn¡¯t seem stable at all.¡±


    ¡°Ku- `Cough`¡± I felt an intense pain run through my body.


    *What the fuck¡­?*


    ¡°You fucker.¡± Kurono ran at the strange man who had just stabbed me in an attempt to disarm him.


    ¡°You get what you give. Oh, I think she wanted to say something to you. I should let you join her.¡± The man jumped towards Kurono before he even had time to react to the entire situation and pulled a bigger kitchen knife out of his pocket. The man stabbed the knife straight through Kurono, hitting his lungs. He grabbed the knives out of both of the now deceased highschool students.


    ¡°I think that this should work if I just- first I should probably dump you down the lake actually.¡± He grabbed the two bodies and threw them down the lake together. ¡°Ok, now I should see if this lets me back in. If I have figured the secret to the afterlife out then she should end up in the dreamland. I hope that she was a good person or I¡¯ll enter that cursed abyss again. I need to figure out how to control her¡¯s before she wakes up, but I need her to be there. So how? Well I¡¯ll wing it for now.¡± He then gripped both knives tightly and stabbed them both through his neck. Eventually his body lost consciousness and he fell in the lake after Shiro and Kurono.


    The world that he awoke to was less of a dreamland and more of a replication of Shiro¡¯s home town. ¡°I guess a layer before dreamland exists then.¡± Robert walked off into the now setting sun.

 Chapter 11 - Pleasure in Pain

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. Shiro. I sh-shouldn¡¯t be¡­ Wh-wh-WHY WAS IT ME!?¡± Ena was carrying the unconscious girl in a black nightgown¡¯s body over her right shoulder. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t¡­ Th-that asshole¡­ W-w WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HIM!!? `sniff` `sniff`¡± Shiro had awoken at this point but was pretending to still be unconscious to see if Ena talking to herself would reveal any information about the current situation that she was in.


    *I¡¯m glad she can be an idiot sometimes or this bag would be suffocating me¡­* The plastic bag was still over Shiro¡¯s head but Ena had only been successful at knocking out Shiro due to her accidentally choking her instead of actually suffocating. The plastic bag was way too big, about the size of a shopping bag so it had no affect on Shiro¡¯s breathing capability at all.


    *So Ena is most likely a NPC then¡­ No, she is one, that¡¯s how he was able to manipulate her so easily¡­ Otherwise she would¡¯ve gone to me or Kurono to seek help in all timelines¡­ I wonder where he is¡­*


    The cicadas were still crying in the scorching hot weather, Shiro felt herself starting to sweat underneath the bag. *I hope we¡¯re there soon¡­*


    Ena had been softly crying to herself, her head hurt too much to attempt talking to herself. There was no use in trying to talk to Ena, Robert had already made the NPC stuck with following his orders and Shiro had no idea how she was meant to override whatever this world''s ¡°programming¡± was or what Robert was capable of.


    ¡°fuck¡­¡± Shiro felt a stab in her left shoulder, no doubt that Kurono had been stabbed in his. *He¡¯s done something to change the timeline¡­ He knows about the loops¡­ For now I need to assess his actions and gain information¡­ Where is she taking me though..?¡±


    The basement lights were dull. Kurono was unconscious in a chair in the corner of the room.


    ¡°Your little kitten should be here soon.¡±


    At the beginning of the loop Robert had awoken in the dark next to the lake. ¡°That fucking bitch didn¡¯t give me time. What a waste of a loop.¡± He stood up gripping onto the tree so as to not fall over. ¡°I should go get the timid one, she seems to work everytime.¡± He walked through the flower fields in the mountain, even early in the morning it was scorching hot.


    ¡°Why do I still walk when I can control this space? Oh, right, gotta slowly torture the cat without anything to extreme. Or was that monster too extreme? Was it that or the suicides that let her remember?¡± He could see Ena¡¯s house on the miraged horizon. ¡°`sigh` Thank fuck.¡±


    `SMASH!!`


    ¡°W-What was that!?¡± Ena jumped at the sound of her door being kicked down as she was cooking pancakes. She walked over to the hallway where the door was located.


    ¡°Now listen here bitch.¡± A man pointed a pistol towards Ena¡¯s head.


    ¡°W-Who a-are you?¡±


    ¡°Your friend. Right?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t kno-¡± Ena froze as the man loaded the gun.


    ¡°You are my friend.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    ¡°Good. You¡¯re going to help me with something.¡± He grabbed Ena¡¯s phone out of her pocket and entered a number. ¡°Now we can stay in contact. I¡¯m Robert by the way. Don¡¯t worry about telling me yours, I already know it. Ena.¡±


    ¡°H-How do you-?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary at the moment.¡±


    ¡°W-What is it you w-want? M-Money?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to go and kidnap your friend Shiro and bring her to the address I text you.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what d-do you want with Sh-Shiro?¡±


    ¡°Oh, i-i I¡¯M NOT GIVING YOU ANY INFORMATION FUCKING DUMBASS!!¡±


    Ena shrank back in fear.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t move if I were you. This gun is loaded after all.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m not going to.¡±


    ¡°HUUUH!? You know what actually, your body is pretty nice.¡±


    ¡°P-PERVERT!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t I might just have a piece of you.¡± Robert slightly lifted up Ena¡¯s skirt with the gun. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 3 options. 1 - You die, 2 - I fuck you, and 3 - You kidnap Shiro. Hurry up now, the gun¡¯s loaded and I¡¯m hard. So unless you want something horrible to happen to you then say something.¡±


    ¡°H-How do I k-kidnap her?¡±


    ¡°Good girl. Just get a paper bag and put it over her head so she can¡¯t breathe, wait until she passes out and carry her on your shoulder; make sure to loosen the bag a bit after knocking her out so she can breathe a little, I don¡¯t want her dead.¡±


    ¡°W-why a-are you?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you to shut the fuck up and listen to orders bitch?¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°S-sorry.¡±


    ¡°Right, now leave.¡±


    ¡°Y-yep¡­¡±


    Ena fearfully walked through the door towards her destination.


    ¡°Why do I have to use that much energy on soulless entities? I¡¯m not one to talk but threatening to rape her feels weird, I¡¯d rather just kill her. Anyway I should get to the puppy before he wakes up.¡± Robert walked out a few minutes after Ena, once again walking through the scorching town.


    ¡°What the fuck is happening? What was that? Is she dead? A dream? No, I felt that stab but why did she also seem to be in pain?¡± Kurono had been freaking out since the beginning of the loop dashing back and forth in his bedroom talking to himself trying to figure out what had just happened.


    `knock` `knock`


    ¡°Oh god who the fuck was that? Please be Shiro. Please...¡± Kurono walked slowly through his living room towards his front door. He turned the lock and opened the door. ¡°You.¡± He froze in fear.


    ¡°How¡¯s the kitten¡¯s good boy doing?¡± Robert looked at him with a sinister stare.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re about to do something bad but at least tell me if what just happened was real.¡±


    ¡°Ask your kitty.¡± Robert slammed a bat that he had picked up from the school on his way into Kurono¡¯s skull, knocking him out, Shiro just barely keeping her consciousness.


    ¡°I-I got her.¡± Ena walked through the basement door.


    ¡°You sure as hell took your time.¡±


    ¡°H-huh? W-Why is K-Kurono here? And R-Ren?¡±


    ¡°I need to give your friend some stimulus.¡±


    ¡°W-What do you m-mean?¡±


    *So this is his game¡­ I need to make sure he can¡¯t get to Ena or Kurono if there¡¯s a next loop¡­*


    ¡°Put her down on the chair. Now.¡±


    ¡°Y-Y-Y-Yes.¡± Ena slowly sat Shiro onto the wooden seat.


    *I could try and escape now but he might kill me, Kurono, Ena or Ren if I try any sudden movements¡­*


    Robert came over and tied Shiro¡¯s hands behind the seat and then tied her torso to the chair.


    *Good he seems to be terrible at properly kidnapping someone¡­ Or he would have known this is a really easy situation to get out of¡­*


    ¡°Now let¡¯s wake your friends up. Right, Ena?¡±


    ¡°H-Huh?¡± Robert forced a pistol into the terrified girl''s hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try anything now, I already have one loaded for if you try anything.¡± He pulled out another gun and pointed it at Ena. ¡°Now shoot Kurono¡¯s tail.¡±


    ¡°N-No¡±


    ¡°I told you bitch.¡±


    ¡°N-No I-I w-will.¡± There were tears in Ena¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Now pull the trigger, it¡¯s already loaded.¡±


    `Bang`


    A bullet went straight into Kurono¡¯s wolf tail.


    ¡°FUCK!!¡± Kurono and Shiro both screamed in pain as the bullet hit.


    ¡°Wakey, Wakey.¡± Robert removed both of the bags over their heads, revealing Ren in the middle of the basement, still with a bag over his head.


    ¡°Bastard.¡± Kurono looked at Robert with death in his eyes.


    ¡°Ena¡­¡±


    ¡°I-I d-didn¡¯t w-want t-¡±


    ¡°Shut the fuck up, all of you!¡± Robert swiftly shut everyone up.


    ¡°What do you want with Ren¡­?¡±


    ¡°To show you and your puppy a little show. Everything has been rather boring so far but now that you have memories I can screw with you as much as I like. Not to mention that your boyfriend? Crush?¡±


    Shiro had the same death stare towards Robert as Kurono.


    ¡°Well I guess you''re not going to get flustered when your friend has just shot in your fucking stupid tail that randomly appeared, this world has some really stupid rules. And there¡¯s another person here who was kidnapped.¡±


    *I want to escape but I will be killed if I try now¡­*


    ¡°Now ladies and gentlemen; cats and dogs. Let''s start the show!¡± Robert grabbed out a kitchen knife, putting the gun down next to him.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Ren¡¯s head was still trapped under a plastic bag.


    ¡°Just relax, Ren.¡± Robert slid the knife in his own hand, dripping blood onto Ren¡¯s exposed feet. Robert slammed the knife onto Ren¡¯s right big toe, cutting it clean off.


    ¡°AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK FU- WHAT THE F- `cough``cough` ow.¡± Tears came out of the bag over Ren¡¯s head.


    *So he plans to torture us by toturing someone else¡­*


    He continued, cutting off each toe on Ren¡¯s feet. Kurono and Shiro had no reaction. Before Shiro had broke down she managed to text Kurono an explanation of what she understood of the situation that they were currently in.


    *I¡¯m glad he read that or he¡¯d be freaking out¡­ I have to tell him¡­ But we should get out of here first.* Shiro looked over at the gun that was on the ground and then over to Ren and Robert. *I can¡¯t do it yet, he¡¯s not focused on Ren enough and the gun is near Ren¡¯s feet so Robert would definitely see it if I tried anything¡­ I should get ready though¡­ Hopefully Kurono has realised and won¡¯t try anything¡­* She looked over to see Kurono looking at the same things that she had been. *Thank god¡­ This is why I love you¡­. Wait, try not to blush when you''re in this situation¡­* She looked back over to see Robert pull a drill from his pockets. *If he can remember the loops then I can¡¯t rule out any possibilities¡­ He may have infinite weapons in there¡­*


    ¡°Why has he only screamed once?¡± Kurono asked in an attempt to distract Robert.


    ¡°Did you miss the part where I cut out his vocal chords?¡±


    ¡°I guess I did.¡±


    ¡°You are really fucking nonchalant about this. It¡¯s kinda pissing me off. Anyway, time for the second act!¡±


    `Bizzt`


    Robert held down the trigger of the drill and slowly put the tip into Ren¡¯s ears


    ¡°AHAHAHAHAHA!! I¡¯ve missed showing people my work.¡±


    ¡°Sick bastard¡­¡± Shiro whispered under her breath just enough that Robert didn¡¯t hear her.


    She curled her tail up to untie the arm restraints.


    Blood started spinning out of Ren¡¯s ear that the drill was now fully in. Shiro took a deep breath in, slipped her body through the rope tied around her waist and pounced at the gun, shooting the restraints off Kurono and shot Robert in the neck.


    As he fell down Robert grinned sinisterly. ¡°Thank you for being so predictable.¡± His body then suddenly withered away.


    Kurono and Shiro both looked on as Robert passed ¡°What the¡­? Why hasn¡¯t Ena¡­?¡±


    ¡°Shiro, we need to leave.¡± Kurono¡¯s face was painted with fear.

 Chapter 12 - Kill Me (I Dont Want to Die)

    ¡°Oh fuck¡­ He used it to his advantage more than I thought¡­¡±


    They heard the familiar voice of Emilia entering the basement.


    *If she sees this then we¡¯re fucked.*


    After tying Kurono up, Ren had gone to Emilia''s house and told her that Ren wanted to say something to her and he wanted her to meet him in the basement. ¡°Who are you again?¡± Emilia seemed to be confused after all. She was always helpful to everyone around school and was probably the most popular person in the school. She always tried to remember names but this man''s face didn¡¯t even look familiar to her. ¡°Just go.¡± Robert left.


    The memory of the entity was sent to her counterpart in the school for when the time would come for her to go to the basement. The counterpart¡¯s body had been disposed of by Robert in the previous timeline.


    ¡°Wha-¡± Emilia¡¯s eyes widened with shock at the scene before her eyes. Tears started pouring out of her eyes. ¡°Ren¡­ Ren¡­ REN!!!¡± She ran over to the lifeless body on the chair and removed the bag. ¡°No no no no nononononononono¡­ What the fuck¡­¡± Her face was buried in Ren¡¯s


    ¡°Shit. Shiro, we need to run!¡±


    Emilia turned her head towards Shiro and Kurono.


    ¡°You did this.¡± Emilia grabbed the bloodied knife that was laying on the floor and stabbed it straight through her neck. Her body falling on top of Ren¡¯s.


    ¡°What kind of Romeo and Juliet shit is this?¡± Kurono looked on in horror.


    {Creak}


    A black rope wrapped around the chair, the floorboards fell down into a deep pit, Shiro, Ena and Kurono following. The chair with the two bodies remained suspended in the air.


    ¡°What just happened¡­¡± Shiro¡¯s head was light from the fall, she got up and looked out of the empty white cell she had ended up in.


    ¡°What the.¡± Kurono was across from her in a separate cell, they both looked down the infinite hallway of white cells, even the bars had been painted white.


    ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t- did we just fall through the floor¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but what happened to the wood?¡±


    ¡°This has to be Robert again¡­ It has to have been a set up, if he knows the time loops and most likely knows they are NPCs¡­¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, what happened to Ena?¡±


    Ena was in the back of Kurono¡¯s cell. After tying Shiro up Ena seemed to have completely frozen, her eyes were still open and she didn¡¯t fall when they went through the floor.


    ¡°Glitch..?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that makes about as much sense as everything else happening.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you believe what I said¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if there was no evidence to back up your claims, I would¡¯ve believed you.¡± They both sat down next to the bars, leaning against the wall.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    *Oh shit I have to¡­*


    ¡°I figured out why we¡¯re in this situation¡­ But it¡¯s probably why you died in the last timeline¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? I started to randomly claw myself, you¡¯re saying that was you?¡±


    Shiro looked down at her feet. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡­ We have a much bigger problem¡­ Did you see the papers in your mailbox or maybe on your table¡­?¡±


    ¡°The one about the murder?¡±


    ¡°Who was on that¡­?¡±


    ¡°A guy with black hair.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember what you look like¡­?¡±


    ¡°No, no I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I saw a paper with a girl with long white hair¡­ You have bla- well dark brown hair¡­¡±


    Tears started to stream out of Shiro¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean.¡±


    ¡°`Sniff` We were killed¡­¡±


    A clear liquid poured from his eyes as he buried his head in his legs.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°I think the animal ears and tail are a way to differentiate us from the NPCs¡­ Some sort of link between our souls or some dumb shit like that¡­¡±


    ¡°WHY THE FUCK!?¡±


    ¡°Kurono¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you remember how we died?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I can¡¯t even remember what I was doing at the lake¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t remember either¡­¡±


    Shiro bittersweetly smiled at Kurono through her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t start copying how I talk¡­¡±


    Kurono looked up at her, returning the smile. ¡°At least we¡¯ve got each other here, right?¡±


    ¡°This probably is the best worst case scenario I could¡¯ve ended up in during all this shit¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha I guess you''re right.¡±


    ¡°We need to find out what happened that day¡­¡±


    ¡°You broke down last loop didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°We can feel the same pain¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry if it hurt¡­¡± Shiro looked down again.


    ¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard you stutter in a while. I can understand, if I had figured that out myself I wouldn¡¯t want to live either.¡±


    Shiro looked back up. ¡°Haha I don¡¯t think I had a choice to not live when I¡¯m dead and in a time loop¡­ But this talk is really comforting me¡­¡±


    ¡°You laughed.¡± Kurono¡¯s tears had stopped. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for how soothing your voice is I probably would¡¯ve completely broken down.¡±


    Shiro''s face was painted red. ¡°I¡¯m glad I could help¡­¡±


    There was silence for a few seconds.


    ¡°How do we get out of here..?¡±


    ¡°We could try time looping.¡±


    ¡°True, but there¡¯s nothing here we can quickly kill ourselves with¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait Robert didn¡¯t want us to die so he could emotionally destroy us.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a chance we will get food or water¡­¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re lucky then we may get a plate or glass.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was more likely for us to have to eat on the floor¡­¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t tie us up properly. I don¡¯t think he knows how kidnapping works in the slightest.¡±


    ¡°And yet we¡¯re in a prison¡­ I think¡­¡±


    ¡°He may have been faking the tying up, but either way I doubt he can revive himself even if he can somehow loop with us.¡±


    ¡°So he may have used an NPC to keep us captive¡­¡±


    ¡°And the NPCs can probably only do things depending on how important they are.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why Ena, Ren and Emilia seem to have more dimensions than that athletic guy¡­ But what are they important for¡­¡±


    ¡°Speaking of that, we need to find a way to regain our memories.¡±


    ¡°Agreed¡­ So it¡¯s most likely that someone will bring us actually well served food or water¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    *I want to tell him that I love him but this situation destroys my chances¡­ I¡¯m glad that he¡¯s the one who ended up here¡­ But at the same time that means he died¡­ Fuck this place¡­*


    About 3 hours of idol chit-chat later.


    ¡°Sh-Shiro, K-Kurono.¡±


    ¡°Ena?¡± They both jumped at her sudden movement.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m not Ena though, I-I¡¯m just a s-souless e-entity composed of her m-memories.¡±


    ¡°Wait, how do you know¡­?¡±


    ¡°I-I was told by a voice in a dream. H-He told me about w-what I am. And gave m-me all of E-Ena¡¯s memories up until y-you died.¡±


    ¡°Do you die when we do in this world?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, d-due to h-him telling m-me I should r-remember.¡±


    ¡°But what happens to your other NPC¡­?¡±


    ¡°M-me a-and this w-worlds o-original K-Kurono only had o-one entity because we-we¡¯re the cl-closets people to you.¡±


    ¡°Did the voice say anything else?¡±


    ¡°I-It seemed like he was i-in a rush, he s-said ¡°Wish, Purgatory, Soul, Kill.¡± that was all.¡±


    ¡°Weird¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh shit, we need to shut.¡±


    A blonde girl walked into the hallway.


    ¡°I get that they¡¯re NPCs and have multiple assets but this is freaky as fuck.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to use Emilia again¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t say anything as she lent over and placed a glass of water in Shiro¡¯s cell and 2 in Ena and Kurono¡¯s. She walked back out.


    ¡°Definitely being used¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill myself, you¡¯ve died enough and Ena shouldn¡¯t feel a thing.¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°I want to try something first¡­ Kurono, yell out to Emilia¡­¡±


    ¡°Ok. EMILIA!!!!¡±


    Shiro threw the glass she had up the shaft they had fallen down and hit Emilia and Ren¡¯s dead bodies, knocking Emilia¡¯s off the chair.


    `Bang!`


    ¡°Sh-Shiiro, what are you?¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    Emilia came running down the hall. ¡®What is-¡± She approached the body and turned it around. ¡°Ahhhhh!!¡± Her face was horrified, her body started to cave in on itself. Twisting into a bloody mess that disappeared into thin air.


    ¡°So they die when they see their other selves...¡±


    ¡°So that''s what that was about.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m glad I-I only have o-one self.¡±


    ¡°Ok, Kurono, time for us to die¡­ I have an idea for next timeline but I don¡¯t know if I like it¡­¡±


    ¡°Text me early in the morning. Ena. Robert will have his guard down because he thinks you¡¯re a proper NPC so you should be able to stop him if he tries anything.¡±


    ¡°Y-yep.¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    Kurono smashed the already damaged glass against the bars and stabbed the glass through his neck, killing him and Shiro.

 Chapter 13 - Blood on the Cats Ear

    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    The three woke up back in their beds.


    ¡°I need to text them the plan before he can do anything¡­¡± Shiro grabbed her phone from her bedside table and started texting Kurono.


    ¡°First off, destroy this phone once you reply. Robert keeps using the NPCs to his advantage by manipulating them. If we can stop him from doing that he¡¯ll be at a disadvantage¡­ I know that this is terrible and probably the thing we want to do the least but they¡¯re just going to get in our way¡­


    We need to kill them. It¡¯s likely that Robert has been disposing of bodies that didn¡¯t matter, Emilia was killed at the school in the first timeline (We¡¯ll split the timelines once we meet up) but Robert killed her at her house to make us fall for false evidence which led to Ren who only had two bodies burning his house down and when one leaves it¡¯s post it¡¯s probably replaced by the second one¡­ There must be less bodies depending on how important they are to allow them to grow more instead of feeling like NPCs¡­ So if we can eliminate the possibility of him using them we may have a slight advantage¡­ Meet me at the lake, he¡¯ll most likely think we¡¯re going to head to the school again¡­¡± She clicked send and copy and pasted it to Ena.


    ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Kurono read the message.


    ¡°Meet you there.¡±


    He put the phone into his kitchen sink and destroyed it with water.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that I¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry Shiro.¡± Ena read the message knowing she was the main entity that had been manipulated.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    Ena replied and stabbed a kitchen knife through her phone.


    Once again the morning was scorching hot, the streets were miraged and the cicadas continued to cry out. Shiro approached the lake and sat down next to the tree. *This place feels more significant to me¡­ But why..? Wish¡­ Purgatory¡­ Soul¡­ Kill¡­ This place must be a purgatory¡­ But what does he mean by the others¡­ Could soul mean mine and Kurono¡¯s are actually connected at the moment and that¡¯s why we feel each other''s pain and die when one dies¡­? I thought that was my dumbest theory¡­ I still don¡¯t know what he means wish and kill¡­ Oh, they¡¯re almost here¡­*


    She saw Kurono and Ena walking down the mountain towards her, waving their hands.


    ¡°We understand your plan but let¡¯s split the timelines first so we know what we¡¯re talking about when we refer to them.¡± Kurono sat down next to Shiro, Ena following after.


    ¡°Ok¡­ The timeline where that weird creature came out of Emilia is Timeline A¡­ Timeline B is when the blood of that creature was used as poison on Ren¡­ Timeline C Ena was framed by Robert¡­ Timeline D is when we ended up in the prison¡­¡±


    ¡°W-wasn¡¯t there another one?¡±


    ¡°I died early in that one¡­¡±


    Ena nodded her head.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much, but these should do¡­¡± Shiro gave a lighter to Ena and a rope to Kurono.


    ¡°Ena, I want you to go and burn all the houses down so any NPCs inside die and if they escape there¡¯s a chance that whatever this world''s programming is is going to stuff up and eliminate them¡­ And if it doesn''t, me and Kurono will take care of it¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-Yep.¡±


    ¡°Kurono you¡¯re with me¡­ I didn¡¯t have anything left for you to use as a weapon but the rope¡­ It seems that something weird is going on with it¡­ When I was throwing it away in annoyance that I couldn¡¯t find anything to use as weapons, the end I wasn¡¯t holding onto came back into my other hand¡­¡±


    ¡°That is weird.¡±


    ¡°I have a kitchen knife¡­ It was the only thing I could actually use a weapon, everything else seemed to have disappeared¡­ I want you to use the rope to either choke them or pull them towards me so I can kill them¡­¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s see how Timeline E will pan out¡­¡±


    Ena ran down to the school as the first target, Kurono and Shiro slowly walked behind so that the entities would run towards them in the middle of the chaos.


    ¡°AHH!!¡± There were screams of terror as buildings started to burst into flames, alarms began to ring throughout the town. The entities started to run towards Kurono and Shiro. Kurono threw the rope towards one, keeping hold of one end, it wrapped around the back of the entity. The end that was out of Kurono¡¯s grip came back towards his free hand, he grabbed the rope and pulled the entity towards him, Shiro slashed her knife through the entity''s throat.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°That worked better than expected¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡±


    They continued executing the entities running towards them, gradually the bodies piled, Ena looking guilty at every person she burned.


    ¡°How did you know they¡¯d all come towards us?¡±


    ¡°If we continue to think of this as a game world as we have been then there has to be a sort of invisible wall¡­ Or they¡¯re programmed to run only one way in case of an emergency¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that makes about as much sense as everything else. Where¡¯s Robert? Shouldn¡¯t he be trying something to stop us?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ I thought he would be preoccupied with something at first but he hasn¡¯t shown any signs of appearing¡­¡±


    The sun had begun to sink beneath the sea of flames that was the town, resulting in a blindingly orange view from the mountain that Shiro and Kuron had retreated to.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ena¡­?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m g-getting `cough` there.¡±


    ¡°Oh, thank god you¡¯re alive¡­ Do you have any idea where Robert might be¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, he d-didn¡¯t come for you two?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Shiro looked behind her to see Kurono cleaning up the bodies that were spread out on the grassy flower fields.


    ¡°What are we going to do about the-¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°Shiro, you heard that right?¡±


    ¡°Fuck¡­ Kurono prepare for a really bad headache¡­¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    The world around them flashed rapidly, Kurono and Shiro¡¯s heads in excruciating pain.


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°Fuck this hurts.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Ti-}


    Everything returned to normal.


    ¡°Ena can you run and get a paper while me and Kurono recover¡­?¡±


    ¡°G-Got it.¡± Ena ran down to the ash covered ruins of the town.


    ¡°What just happened?¡±


    ¡°I think we went further forward in time¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you think this is Robert?¡±


    ¡°Most likely¡­ Last time I passed out and looped on New Years Eve¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that your birthday?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Wait, how was I¡­¡±


    ¡°How did we?¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯re forgetting something really important¡­¡±


    [I just want your


    Blood! Blood! Blood love!


    I was feeling my


    Love! Love! Love less!


    I need your


    Touch! Touch! Touch now!


    I just want your blood]


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that Kokoro?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, last time she was playing on new years¡­ Appears she had a concert during the day as well¡­¡±


    ¡°But how can we here it? The city should be at least 3 hours from here.¡±


    ¡°That is strange¡­ Unless it¡¯s possible for us to get there in this world¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Think about it, a world like a game world that exists on one plain of being would have to keep its stages close together, there must be a way for us to get there¡­¡±


    ¡°That could help solve even more of whatever the fucks going on as well.¡±


    ¡°If we fail this timeline, let''s make our way there¡­¡±


    ¡°SH-SHIRO!! KURONO!!¡± Ena came running up the hill.


    ¡°It says New Years Day right¡­?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, but we¡¯ve got a worse issue.¡±


    The town that had been lying dormant in the ash came alive with a bright burst of pure red fire, the bodies that had started to decompose around the three began to reanimate back into what they had previously looked like.


    ¡°Haha, at least they still look normal.¡± Kurono laughed nervously.


    The sky faded to a pure black, the only light being that of the fire covering the town.


    ¡°Run¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, Wh-what!?¡± As the three began to run they felt an intense force hold their bodies in position.


    ¡°Robert¡­¡± Shiro looked angrily at a figure that had started sinking down into the flames closest to the mountain


    The crowd of entity¡¯s walked painstakingly towards the three frozen in place and surrounded them.


    ¡°Shiro, Tail!¡± Kurono yelled out through the sea of people.


    *What does he- Oh I get it¡­*


    Shiro moved the tail she had been given as a result of Kurono entering the purgatory to wrap around and snap the necks of the already dead entities. Eventually the freeze effect wore off and Shiro cut down the entities to get to Kurono and Ena.


    ¡°Should we run or¡­?¡± Kurono looked towards Robert who was still standing in the flames.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much to lose¡­¡±


    {Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick}


    ¡°We¡¯re about to loop soon anyway¡­¡±


    ¡°Ena, stay a distance from us in case he tries any funny business with you.¡±


    ¡°O-Ok I-I will. Don¡¯t w-worry.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re the one worrying the most¡­¡±