Page 6 of Crazy as Hell

Once she was alone again, Naomi sighed. After living so many cycles, she barely felt any connection to her original life. Still, she had given her old friend a chance to correct his mistake. She wasn’t interested in doing more to try to fix him. That wasn’t her responsibility.

Only Billy could change his life at this point.

With that done, she took the next step and rearranged her furniture so most of it would survive the storm damage the following week. She wasn’t sure she would even make it back before the next reset, but it didn’t hurt to plan ahead just in case.

She had to leave soon if she was going to make it to her next destination on time. While she wasn’t obligated to fix every situation she was aware of, sometimes fixing a mistake or being able to prevent a disaster made her feel like she had actually accomplished something during the loop. Altering something early on during a cycle also gave her a whole new set of facts to work with.

As she prepared to leave, she loaded her backpack with a few changes of clothes, some basic toiletries, and her journal. She also packed her wallet with all the cash from her private stash, a pocketknife, and a stun gun she had bought to keep herself safe on campus. With her magical upgrades, she no longer needed it, but she had gotten in the habit of packing it anyway.

Thankfully, she would be teleporting to her destination, so there would be no travel time to consider. She had learned early on that flying anywhere was definitely prohibited. The first time she’d boarded a plane after the time loop began, she had just wanted to escape her life. Instead of taking her someplace better, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure, causing it to plummet from the sky. When she woke up back at the beginning of the loop, she was relieved and horrified.

That was the first time she was actually glad about the reset.

She had a sneaking suspicion her power fluctuations might have caused the plane malfunction, but she couldn’t be sure without proof. During another cycle, she tested the theory. A different airline. A different destination. A different day. The result was exactly the same.

Another devastating crash.

After that, she swore she would never set foot on an airplane again.

Whether her curse was somehow causing the disasters or simply ensuring she would die no matter where she went didn’t really matter anymore. The outcome was always the same. Hundreds of innocent people had died alongside her in those two crashes. Although history erased those tragedies each time she was reborn, Naomi still remembered every terrifying second.

Every scream.

Every desperate prayer.

Every life that had been cut short because she had been on board those planes.

That was confirmed when those flights safely made it to their destinations without her onboard. Knowing that she was responsible for the deaths of planes filled with people was a heavy weight to carry, even if she was the only one who remembered what had happened. It was a burden she wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Unfortunately, avoiding airplanes didn’t make travel any safer.

On the other hand, driving came with its own endless collection of nightmares. Over the countless loops, she’d been involved in more car accidents than she could count. Sometimes another driver ran a red light. Sometimes a truck jackknifed across the highway. Once, a sinkhole had opened beneath the road without warning. Fate never seemed to run out of creative ways to turn a routine drive into another fatal ending.

And then there was the incident at the rest stop.

She still shuddered whenever she thought about that particular cycle. She’d only stopped at the rest stop long enough to grab a bottle of soda and some snacks, but that was all it took. A stranger had abducted her from the parking lot before she realized what was happening.

He wasn’t a supernatural enemy, an assassin, or someone connected to the curse. He was simply a random serial killer who happened to choose the wrong victim on the wrong day. It had been one of the most senseless deaths she’d ever experienced.

And the most terrifying.

It was a chilling reminder that she didn’t need magical enemies or elaborate conspiracies to die. She had been a victim of a random act of violence so horrifying that the memory continued to live with her.

Perhaps each death was fate’s way of punishing her for making wrong choices. If she experienced a particularly gruesome or horrible death, she never went down that specific path again. That was all it took to steer her away from repeating certain decisions. She wished destiny had figured out a different way to teach her that lesson, but nothing about her situation was particularly reasonable or fair.

Turning off all non-essential electronics, she did one last check around her apartment. Debating over a pair of hiking boots or sneakers, she went with the latter for comfort. Slinging her backpack over one shoulder, she paused to grab her favorite black leather jacket. Although it was hot as hellfire outside, she might need it later. Satisfied she was as ready as she was going to be, she headed toward her next death.

Chapter Three

Owned by the dark angel, Arson Altera, The Manor was a private club located on a large, secluded estate outside of Seattle. Accommodating both supernatural and human members, the exclusive club consisted of three separate buildings that offered luxury accommodations and a variety of entertainment.

Tucked away from the main road, the three structures were arranged around a magnificent fountain and a sprawling circular drive, creating a striking first impression for visitors. A dense ring of trees and lush vegetation surrounded the entire estate, creating a secluded sanctuary that was shielded from the outside world.

The main building was six stories high and made of an imposing blend of gray stone, gleaming glass, and polished steel. Although it had undergone countless renovations and expansions over the years, its original foundation remained untouched. Some visitors thought it resembled a modern palace, but Naomi knew that it was a luxurious fortress designed to withstand anything the world could throw at it.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t seem to survive her curse.

The atmosphere inside the building felt like an exclusive five-star resort. Elegant lounges offered quiet places to socialize, while a casual snack bar and an upscale restaurant ensured guests were offered an assortment of excellent food. The staff was proficient and discreet, trained to anticipate the club members’ needs before they were even spoken. Private suites could be reserved for those who wished to extend their stay or conduct business in complete privacy.