Page 119 of Kiss Slay Replay

We start up the hill, and I peer over my shoulder at the woods. My anxiety manifests in my chest, heavy, like my lungs have turned to stone. Tears sting the corners of my eyes, and I can’t blink them out, can’t blink at all. My eyelids are stuck, expression immovable. My palms itch. I’m suddenly so nauseous that I want to stop right where I am and lie down in the grass.

I should go try to find the wormhole now. Think of an excuse, say I forgot something in my car and go back that way. The longer I wait, the greater the chance that today’s horror will prevent me from finding it. But what if I don’t find it? What if I try and end up wandering around the woods for hours? What if my friends come looking for me? What if one of them stumbles into it? What if that causes the wormhole to collapse and we all cease to exist?

And what if…what if I’m more afraid to leave than I am to stay?

I’m not paying attention to where I’m going, and I trip on some uneven ground.

“She is beauty. She is grace.”

“I meant to do that. Yeesh.”

If I don’t at least attempt to find it, that guarantees dying again today. Guarantees more fear, more pain, more violence, more destruction. There are stakes in the loop. There is no pressing the reset button without consequence. There is no wiping the slate clean.

“I…I forgot something in my car. I’ll be right back.”

“I think Wyatt has your key,” Evan says.

“Oh. Right.”

“Come to the cabin. Say hi to Cass and Luke.”

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.”

I follow him to our cabin. Cassie leans in the open doorway. “Thought I smelled gossip.”

She tucks her vape behind her bra strap and reaches out to me for a hug. “Let me show you inside. This is this room…”

I let her give me her quick tour, chewing on the inside of my cheek, wavering between wanting to stick around and knowing I need to go.

Luke comes in from outside, Cassie snaps at him about the cooler, and he leaves again to go get it. Cass complains. I take the opportunity to talk about Theo, to tell her she’s a good mom and that I’m proud of her.

She sighs. “Thanks, honey. I’m not winning any awards, but I’ve kept him alive. That counts for something, right?”

Wyatt wanders into the room, tie loose around his neck, confused look on his face. “Help?”

Evan kiddingly rolls his eyes and goes over to assist.

“What time does it start again?” Cassie asks. “Should I be getting dressed?”

“Cocktail reception is at five,” Evan says. “So, yes.”

“I don’t need nearly three hours to get ready,” Cass says. “I’m insulted.”

“Wait. Nearly? What time is it?”

Evan checks his watch. “Two twenty-four.”

How? Time is getting away from me. “I just need to run out to my car. I’ll be—”

“I tucked your key in your suitcase,” Wyatt says.

“Right. Thanks. I’ll be—”

“Don’t go smoke,” Cassie says.

“You’re smoking again?” Evan asks.

“Cassie vapes!”