After hurrying and almost running out of breath, we finally reached the classroom, and without a moment's hesitation, Aira pulled out her knife. A ripple of panic went through the students, and they scrambled to get away. The only one who didn't move was Jael. He just stood there, staring blankly into space, like his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Aira then lunged at Jael, knife raised, ready to stab him. That's what should have happened, at least.
The knife that was supposed to be inside Jael's stomach lodged itself on Aira's stomach. Aira, with her determined eyes now wide with shock and pain, stumbled back, a gasp tearing from her lips.
"Aira!" I screamed, rushing forward, ignoring her weak murmur, "Don't you dare come near."
Her eyes, wide with shock and pain, met mine for a split second. Her hand trembled as she reached out, not for me, but for the hilt of the knife still sticking out of her. A choked gasp escaped her lips, and then her eyes rolled back. Her body slumped, the knife still protruding, and she collapsed to the floor with a thud.
Jael remained motionless, his blank stare fixed on Aira. The other students, who had been screaming and fleeing moments before, were now frozen... shocked at the unbelievable view in front of them.
I immediately rushed to Aira and kneeling down beside her, my hands hovering, unsure where to even touch her. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Her skin was already paling, something I didn't ever get to see in the other loops.
"No... Aira..." I mumbled, my voice catching in my throat. I looked at Jael, who still hadn't moved an inch. A cold rage began to simmer beneath my fear.
Why is the loop not happening!? I screamed internally, begging for it to happen... and my prayers were answered. Or at least it only seemed like it.
Then, the world began to warp. However, it was not the familiar clock-spinning, blurring sensation I knew. This was different. A creeping, consuming darkness started at the edges of my vision, swallowing the screaming students, the bloody floor, even Jael. It was as if the very reality of Aira's death was being erased, devoured by an insatiable void. The sound of my own ragged breathing faded, replaced by the deep, resonant silence of the void I felt when this all started.
This wasn't a normal reset.
And then, black.
***
I woke up and sat straight right up, gasping, the familiar June 6th morning light streaming through my window. My mind flashed the image of Aira's dead body that was burned into my retinas. I instantly jumped out of bed.
I dressed haphazardly and practically sprinted to school. I ignored the usual ten-minute grace period, my singular focus on finding Aira.
I found her sitting on the staircase, exactly where she usually was. She looked up as I approached, a gentle, almost timid smile on her face. Her eyes were bright, lively. Not the dead, resigned eyes I'd seen yesterday.
"Ash? You're early," she said, her voice soft, completely normal. Too normal.
I stared at her, relief and a fresh wave of horror washing over me. She was fine. But it seemed like she didn't remember. There was no sadness, no hint of the nightmare she had just endured.
Trying to keep my voice steady, I replied, "Yeah. Just... felt like it."
I sat beside her, keeping a small distance, trying to gauge her. I watched her for any flicker, any subconscious memory of the knife. But there was nothing.
Aira then spoke, "So, about Jael... Did you figure out anything else? I still don't understand that 'nostalgic' feeling I got from his non-existent tattoo." She even chuckled, a light, innocent sound.
I flinched internally. Non-existent tattoo. That smug smirk on Jael's face, the empty stare, the knife turning. It all clicked. Jael had done something. Aira's memory was a blank slate for that particular loop.
She can't know. Not yet. It would break her.
"Nah, not really. Guess we'll have to keep an eye on him, right? See if anything else... weird happens," I said, trying to sound casual.
I watched her nod, completely oblivious. A cold, hard resolve settled in my stomach. I wouldn't let this happen again. I had to understand Jael's powers, and I had to protect Aira, even if it meant carrying the burden of that horrifying memory alone.