Happy Death Day: Fatal Loop

8

In the evening, as Casey's birthday party dispersed, I rushed into a nearby public restroom, donning the same outfit I wore the first time I killed her. The hip-hop styled black clothes and the "Traveling Frog" mask made a bizarre yet menacing combination. I waited behind the restroom door, keenly listening for any sounds outside.

Within a minute, the familiar sound of an electric scooter approached, its tires rubbing against the pavement. I took a deep breath and charged out of the restroom.

As expected, a young, chubby guy rode by, glancing my way before his eyes widened in terror, almost falling off his scooter. His backpack's contents scattered all over the ground—a scene I had witnessed countless times during the loop. Initially, I would simply walk away, but once, on a whim, I watched from a corner as he frantically collected his belongings and left. That seemingly insignificant detail from one of the cycles was tucked away in my memory, not seeming useful at the time.

But now, this chubby guy was my "secret weapon" to break the cycle.

He passed by me, noticed me again, and reacted just as before—eyes wide, mouth agape, tumbling to the ground with his scooter.

Scrambling to his feet, he ignored the scooter, focusing on his backpack instead. I stood between him and the bag, and he looked up at me, bewildered and terrified.

Without a word, I handed him a photo and walked away quickly. I didn't need to look back to know that once he saw Casey's picture and the detailed instructions for breaking into our shared apartment I had written on the back, he wouldn't be able to resist.

He would pick up the hip-hop style black clothes and the "Traveling Frog" mask from the ground, concealing the sharp knife beneath the mask, and head to the restroom to change. By then, he would become who he truly was.

Had I not seen what he picked up that night, I would never have guessed this ordinary-looking chubby guy was the infamous "Masked Murderer" causing a headache for the local police. With the increased police scrutiny, he hadn't struck in almost a month and must have been desperate. Offering Casey up was something he couldn't resist.

I watched from a corner as the guy entered the restroom. Minutes later, a figure in black, wearing the "Traveling Frog" mask, emerged and sped off on the electric scooter.

Shedding my disguise, I hailed a passing taxi. With a "professional" taking over, it was time to head downtown and celebrate the impending end of the loop.