"What is going on?!" Elara burst out, her voice cracking with a mixture of rage and frustration. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision.
"I can't believe they took down twenty armed professionals so easily," Janice said, her tone deceptively calm, though a sharp edge of irritation tightened her features. "Just who are these people?"
Internal Monologue (Janice): I can't believe Elara has managed to make enemies of someone this dangerous, Janice thought, her mind racing. What did she do to draw this kind of wrath? What exactly did she steal from them?
"Anyway, Elara," Janice said, locking eyes with her, "I heard you muttering earlier. You recognized that woman—the killer?"
Elara clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, her body trembling slightly. "Yes… when I heard her speak… I felt this sudden jolt. It was familiar. I can't explain it, but I know that voice. Even with the voice changer and her demeanor… it felt uncanny. Like I've known her forever."
"I know you're frustrated," Janice said, her voice cold and sharp, yet she reached out and squeezed Elara's hand firmly in reassurance. "But you can't let that cloud your judgment. We are fighting something… superhuman. You said it yourself. We can't afford to waste time. We need to adjust our strategy now."
Elara snapped her head toward the digital clock on the wall. The numbers glowed green: DECEMBER 24, 5:46 PM.
Her eyes widened in pure panic. "It's almost time. It's nearly six o'clock. You're right—we can't hesitate anymore."
"That's my girl," Janice said, a confident smirk playing on her lips. "Now that's the spirit."
"So, what's the game plan?" Elara asked, leaning forward, her full attention fixed entirely on Janice.
"We turn this house into our battlefield," Janice declared, her eyes glinting with cold confidence. "I have the advantage here—this is my territory. If they so much as step foot inside my home… they are walking straight into their own death sentence."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "I've designed high-tech security systems and lethal traps throughout the building. For anyone unauthorized, stepping inside will be their worst nightmare come to life. This is our only option; trying to face them physically would be suicide."
Glancing at the clock again, Janice frowned. "Why do you keep checking the time?"
"Because of 6:00 PM," Elara explained, her voice tight with a mixture of fury and confusion. "That's the time he always chooses to kill me in every loop. It was… strange. That masked attacker struck in broad daylight, hours before his usual time. Why break the pattern? Is he testing me? What is he planning? And another thing—in the first loops, he was always alone. Now he suddenly has an accomplice?!"
"That is… unusual," Janice admitted with a sigh. "But we can't get distracted by that right now. We need to focus on the matter at hand."
"So your plan is to turn this house into a weapon and use it against them?" Elara asked, though worry was etched clearly across her face. "But Janice… they were strong enough to take down twenty of your professionals, and they're clearly smart enough to plan ahead. If these traps don't work… we're doomed."
Internal Monologue (Elara): I can't do this, Elara thought, her heart twisting with anxiety. Not if it means putting Janice in danger. I won't risk her getting... deleted. But what if this is our only chance? Damn it! I have to do everything possible to survive. I have to protect her. We've come too far to give up now!
"Is that all?" Elara asked cautiously, her eyes searching Janice's face for more details.
"A plan is better than no plan at all," Janice stated firmly, her expression set in stone. Her voice rang with unshakeable confidence. "Even if the odds are only 0.01%, that chance is still worth taking. What matters is that we try, and that we have the courage to fight back."
She leaned in slightly, her eyes sharp. "As for your question—we aren't relying just on the traps and the terrain. I'm calling in every available man I have. They will act as the vanguard to slow the enemy down. This will give us a chance to gauge their true strength and figure out how to escape them... or eliminate them permanently. While they hold the line, we buy ourselves time to think and plan our next move."
Elara let out a long, shaky breath, the tension in her shoulders finally easing slightly.
Janice didn't waste a moment. She pressed a button on the control panel, and seconds later, Carlotta glided into the room.
"You summoned me, Madame?" Carlotta asked, her voice soft and elegant as she bowed respectfully.
"Carlotta," Janice said, her gaze sharp and expectant. "Which members of the security detail are currently on the premises?"
"Sir Carlos and Sir Silva are both here, Madame," Carlotta replied promptly. "Shall I call them in?"
"Please do. And listen carefully," Janice added, her tone shifting to one of calm but genuine concern. "I want you and all the other staff to retreat to the safe house immediately. It won't be safe here once the clock strikes six."
"Understood, Madame," Carlotta acknowledged with a nod. "Is there anything else you require?"
"No, that will be all. You may go."
"Very well." Carlotta bowed once more before turning and quietly exiting the room.
Internal Monologue (Elara): Well, she sure is the Brains and the IT Girl between the three of us back then.
"It's almost time, we should be prepared." Elara said anxiety surfacing in her body, gulping in her throat.
"We can do this, we should wait for Carlos and Silva to come here — I will have them call the other on duty professionals that we have." Janice said reassuringly, complete calm yet panic is also visible in her eyes.
The door suddenly bursts open...
"What?!" Elara paranoidly grabs the knife in her pocket.
"Calm down they're Carlos and Silva." Janice said calmly, "Finally you've arrived."
Internal Monologue (Elara): No, something is fishy here...this scene feels way too familiar...
Flashbacks of the killer who disguises himslf as a delivery person from chapter 1 started emerging.
As Janice approaches the two, Elara feels the adrenaline and the need to stop her.
"NO, JANICE!" Elara yelled her lungs out to halt Janice's steps.
"Ready or Not...Here we come..." The two people standing in front of them turns out to be the masked killers.
"WHAT?! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN!?!" Janice's composure completely shattered at the moment of the unfolding.
"The security systems didn't react?" Elara mutters to herself, completely terrified.
"I've just said it to you didn't I, Elara? There's no running way for you." The masked killer said coldly, "You won't outrun us, that's why we have to end this loop now."
— TO BE CONTINUED —