Lucian's eyes snapped open. Air rushed into his lungs. His legs were already moving. Trees blurred past him. Someone's hand held his wrist tightly.
Guinevere.
They were running together again.
He blinked fast, trying to steady his breath. I'm back… here. It was the same path, the same forest, and the same moment before the army appeared.
"Guinevere," he said, voice uneven. "Where… where are we right now?"
She glanced at him, confused. "We just met again. We're trying to escape the estate. Why are you asking this now?" Her tone wasn't sharp, only puzzled. She kept running, her steps quick but controlled.
Lucian didn't answer right away. So this is exactly the point before everything collapsed. He looked around. The tall trees, the narrow path, the slope to their left, all matched his memory.
He replayed everything from before: the knights' positions, the moments before the ravine, the distance they had covered.
He forced himself to breathe steadily. The army should be behind us… but not too close. They're coming from the north side. And we're moving east.
He counted their steps, judged the incline, and recalled the speed the knights moved with their armor. The forest made their formation tight. They'll cut us off if we keep going straight.
A clearer picture formed in his head. The first timeline had given him every detail he needed.
If they keep formation… then the opening should be somewhere south.
A quiet spark lit in his eyes. He found a possible route that might be dangerous, and narrow, but their best chance. It wasn't something he could explain yet. Saying it out loud might distract her, and every second mattered.
"We keep running," he finally said. "Stay close. I think I found something."
Guinevere didn't ask what it was. She simply nodded and tightened her grip on his hand. Her trust in him was silent but strong.
Lucian looked ahead, the wind brushing his face. This time, I'll lead us out. I won't repeat the same mistake.
They pushed forward.
Lucian kept his pace steady.
The air felt clearer now, lighter, even though his chest was tight from the pressure of remembering his own death. The ravine wasn't far. He could already picture the spot where everything collapsed last time.
This time, he would do it differently.
They reached a bend in the path, and he slowed just a little.
"Lucian?" Guinevere asked. "Why are we turning this way?"
"We need to pass something first," he said. His tone stayed calm, but his mind was rushing. "Just trust me."
She nodded without hesitation.
The trees parted, showing the wide ravine. The drop was steep, the rocks jagged and dark.
Last time, they had leapt into it. Last time, the entire wall collapsed when the knights gathered above. Last time, they both died.
Lucian pointed ahead. "We're not going down. We go past it. Don't look down."
Guinevere shot him a confused look. "Why would we go near a place like this?"
"Because it's safer than it looks," he said. "Just follow."
They ran along the edge, close but not close enough to slip. Guinevere stayed a step behind him, watching her footing. She had no idea they had run here once already. To her, this was new ground.
Lucian glanced at the rock formation. If they gather… the weight should cause it to break again, same as last time.
His hypothesis was simple. The past repeated itself as long as he didn't change the core actions.
They arrived at the ravine.
They stopped near it.
The knights surrounded the top.
The rocks fell.
If I keep the same order… the collapse should happen again.
They moved past the ravine and stopped behind a tree. Lucian looked back and raised his voice enough to echo slightly.
"This way!" he shouted, not to Guinevere, but to lure the knights.
Guinevere blinked. "Why are you yelling?"
"It'll help," he said. "Stay behind me."
The sound of hooves followed. The knights were approaching fast. Lucian crouched low, holding his breath.
Come on. Surround the ravine. Just like last time. Then—collapse.
The knights gathered near the edge. Dust rose from the pressure.
But nothing fell.
Lucian's eyes widened. "What…?"
The ground stayed still. Not even a crack.
He stepped forward slightly, shocked. "No… no, this isn't right." His voice shook. "It should've fallen. They're standing in the same place. Why isn't it falling?"
Guinevere reached for his sleeve. "Lucian, what's wrong? We need to move."
He swallowed. Did I change something? Was it because we didn't jump in? Did that alter the weight? The angle? The timing?
His heart thumped hard. "This shouldn't be happening," he whispered.
The knights were getting closer.
Guinevere tugged him. "Lucian, we have to go."
He snapped out of it. "Right. Run!"
They dashed away from the ravine. Lucian kept looking back, breath uneven. So the world doesn't repeat perfectly. Small choices shift everything… even if the route is the same.
The knights' shouts grew louder. Their numbers thickened behind the trees.
Lucian clenched his teeth. Panic hit him in a wave. "Guinevere, stay close," he said, voice sharp. "Something's different. They're faster than before."
She didn't know why he sounded so shaken. She didn't know they had run this exact path before. She only followed, trusting him without question.
But Lucian's thoughts spun.
He forced himself to focus.
He grabbed Guinevere's hand tighter.
"Hold on," he said. "This won't be like last time."
Lucian pushed through the branches with Guinevere close behind him.
Their breaths were sharp and fast. The forest grew thicker, the slope steeper.
"Keep going," Lucian said. "Just a little—"
His foot slipped.
"Lucian!" Guinevere reached out, but it was too late.
He stumbled forward, the ground dropping under him. His balance snapped.
Then he fell.
Guinevere lunged after him instinctively, losing her footing too.
They both rolled down the hillside. The world spun in broken flashes of trees, sky, dirt, stone. His body slammed against the ground again and again.
He tried to shield Guinevere, but the slope was too fast. He felt her hand slip out of his.
"Guinevere!" he shouted, voice tearing in the wind.
The slope ended abruptly.
Crack—
Something sharp tore through his abdomen.
A gigantic piece of wood, an uprooted stake from an old tree, pierced straight through him. Air escaped his throat in a silent gasp. His fingers twitched. His legs froze.
Pain pulsed in waves he couldn't breathe through.
Guinevere landed a moment later, rolling weakly toward him. Dirt covered her hair and face, but she forced herself to crawl.
"Lucian… Lucian…" Her voice shook, but she reached him. She grabbed his arm, trying to pull him closer. "Stay… stay with me—"
He turned his head, barely. His vision swam.
"Guin… don't…" His voice was a whisper, thin and leaking with pain.
She pulled harder, desperate but calm in her movements. "You can't die. Please—"
A shadow moved behind her.
Lucian's eyes widened.
"Guinevere—!"
Before she could turn—
Swshk—
Her head separated cleanly.
Her body fell forward onto him, warm for only a second.
Lucian froze in complete silence. His breath left his lungs. His mind went blank. He couldn't scream. He couldn't move.
All he could do was stare at the headless form collapsed against his chest, her blood soaking into his torn clothes.
He wanted to reach out. He wanted to call her name. But everything was fading too quickly.
Darkness pulled him under.
Then—
[Death Count: 2]
[You have 3 deaths remaining before permanent erasure.]