I ran a couple of floors down, before entering an empty office and found somewhere to hide
.
'I messed up,' I thought to myself, as I hid under a table in complete darkness, with my hands covering my mouth and tears streaming down my face... All I could do was my best to hold back my cry.
'That place... there was a chance to survive,' I thought to myself, cuddling to myself, just wishing for death to not claim me, 'But coming here means certain death.'
Just as I thought so, a pair of golden eyes appeared right in front me, just a few centimetres away from my eyes.
"Meoww~~"
'If only we stayed there, we could have survived, both Sarah and me.' I thought but knowing that's it's too damn late to regret.
I just sat there, waiting for it to kill me, there was no hope for me to survive, and dying is better than being a toy for someone else amusement.
Perhaps, seeing that I was not playing it's game anymore, the cat just stared at me before...
"cough.. cough!" I coughed up blood as I slowly looked down, a black paw has pierced up my heart as slowly I started losing consciousness.
'Ah, so that's it, even after getting a second chance, I am gonna die like this, perhaps I really am... a loser.'
Just as I finished thinking that, my eyes closed immediately with the last thing I saw was those golden eyes staring into mine, unblinking.
Then even that disappeared.
Silence reclaimed the building.
.
.
.
I woke up gasping.
Not confused or disoriented but just… angry.
My body jerked upright so violently that the bedsheet twisted around my legs and fell to the floor. My lungs dragged in air like I had been drowning. For a split second, I expected to feel claws in my chest.
There were none.
No blood.
No broken ribs.
No weight pinning me to a cold floor.
Morning light filtered through the curtains in soft gold streaks. The ceiling fan rotated lazily above me. The world was calm in the most insulting way possible.
My alarm clock blinked 6:12 AM in dull red numbers.
I stared at it without blinking.
Third time.
Same time.
Same morning.
Same damn light.
My breathing slowly steadied, but my hands were trembling — not from fear.
From rage.
I dragged a hand down my face and let out a shaky exhale.
"It wasn't a nightmare," I said flatly.
Nightmares fade.
They distort.
They lose detail the moment you wake up.
This didn't.
I could still feel the cat's teeth closing around my throat. I could still see Sarah's wing bending at the wrong angle. I could still hear the metallic echo of its footsteps in the stairwell as it followed me down like it had already decided my fate.
Dreams don't replay perfectly.
This did.
I threw the blanket aside and stood up, walking straight to the mirror without hesitation this time.
My reflection stared back at me as I leaned closer slightly.
"Third reset," I whispered to myself.
The first time, I didn't know anything. I followed the group. Trusted the system... Trusted the logic, and I died.
The second time, I thought I was smarter. I used my knowledge. Left early. Tried to outpace the danger.
Sarah died and then I died aswell when a new variable appeared.
"Should I run?" I asked myself, but then Sarah's face appeared in my head... Maybe, I should give it one more try.
But anyways, leaving aside everything, there is something else I need to focus on right now, as I ropped my gaze in between my legs, where a dairy was placed.
"System..." I said as, a screen appeared in front of me...
[Name:- Dairy of the Fated One
Rank:- ???
Description:- Change your fate but what's written for you can't be changed.]
Just like that, I was stuck in a time loop on the day 1 of apocalypse.
.
.
.
*BEEP BEEP*
"Just on time," I said switching off my alarm, as I pick up the suitcase I have prepared specially and left.
This time, I will make sure that both me and Sarah survive, the plan is simple, escape the building before anything even begins.
Slowly I walked towards the building watching accidents happen as exactly on my way.
I could have stepped in, could have helped the old man before he fell, could have stopped the theft before it even happened.
But I did nothing but watch, everything happening here, it won't even matter when the apocalypse begins, my main priority should be that not this.
And before I know it...
"Look who is on time today, is the world coming to an end or something?" Mike said as the cup in my hand froze halfway to my lips.
Same tone and grin of his with the same slight tilt of his head to the left. The difference was, this time I didn't feel that violent drop in my stomach or any wave of disbelief or shock.
Just confirmation that this is indeed my third reset and now, I even know what is causing these resets.
I took a slow sip of coffee and let the warmth settle in my mouth before swallowing it. "Maybe," I said calmly. "You never know." I said looking at the guy who has no idea how true his words are.
Mike laughed, clearly satisfied with his own joke, and nudged my shoulder as we started walking toward the cafeteria. The smell of coffee beans and toasted bread drifted through the air. Someone near the counter was arguing about extra sugar. A chair scraped loudly across the tiled floor. A group by the window was laughing at something on a phone.
Everything was exactly the same, not even similar or close but just exactly the same.
"Hey, I'm serious," Mike continued as we grabbed our cups and moved toward the empty bench near the glass window. "Is the world gonna end today or something?"
Last reset, that line made my heart beat out of my chest.
This time, I was already watching the clock on the far wall.
"Guess we'll find out," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
I placed my suitcase beside the bench before sitting down. I didn't hide it. I didn't act awkward about it either. It sat there between my leg and the table like it belonged.
Mike noticed immediately. "Okay, I didn't want to ask earlier, but what's with the suitcase? You planning to move into the office?"
Before I could answer, footsteps approached from behind.
"Good morning, guys."
Sarah.
Same ponytail tied neatly at the back of her head. Same blue folder tucked against her side. Same relaxed smile like this was just another ordinary morning.
"Morning," I said, looking directly at her.
Her eyes dropped to the suitcase almost instantly. "Are you going somewhere?" She asked as I nods.
"Yes," I said simply as Mike raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, seriously?" He asked as
I leaned back slightly, studying both of them.
"We need to leave the building," I said in a controlled tone. "Now. Before shift starts."
They both stared at me. Not laughing but just confused as Sarah adjusted her grip on the folder. "Why?" She asked.
"Because something is about to happen," I replied. "And when it does, it's going to spread fast. Staying inside will be a mistake."
Mike let out a short breath that almost sounded like a laugh. "Okay… what kind of 'something'? Fire drill? Gas leak?"
"I don't know the official label for it," I said evenly. "But I know the timing."
"How?" Sarah asked as I looked at her but didn't answer that and instead, I glanced at the wall clock.
"If I'm wrong," I continued calmly, "we step outside, get some air, and come back in twenty minutes. We lose nothing. If I'm right, we avoid being trapped in here."
"Trapped?" Mike repeated.
"Yes."
Sarah studied my face more carefully now. "You're not joking."
"No." I said staring at her, "You remember our promise right?" I asked as she just just stared at me, just as she was about to say something though...
Then the speakers above us crackled.
The cafeteria noise continued around us. Cups clinked. Someone walked past our table without paying attention. The world still looked safe.
But that Static cut through the air as Mike's head tilted upward automatically. "That's new."
The distorted voice began to break through the interference.
"—attention— all staff— please remain—"
The lights flickered once.
Then again.
This time, I didn't freeze.
I stood up immediately and grabbed the suitcase handle. "We're leaving. Right now."
Sarah's heartbeat was practically visible in her throat. "Is this what you were talking about?"
"Yes."
Mike stood up slower, uncertainty finally replacing his casual tone. "Okay… okay, maybe we step outside for a bit."
We didn't run yet.
Not until the first scream echoed from somewhere deeper in the building.
It wasn't loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.
But it was loud enough for us.
And that was when confusion finally turned into fear.