Chapter 3

The doorbell rang, urgent and persistent.

"Sloane? It's Cass! Are you okay?"

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Thank God. Cass is here, just like in my memory. But this time I sent him that warning message. He should have called the police first.

"Thank God you're here!" I shouted.

Rex immediately tensed up, pointing the knife at us. "Who the fuck is that?"

"My fiancé. He probably brought the police."

But I listened carefully. No sirens. My heart sank.

"Sloane! I'm coming in!"

"Cass, be careful! He has a knife!"

"Tell him to leave, or I'll kill you both right now!" Rex snarled.

"Don't come in alone! Where are the police?"

"I couldn't wait for them!"

He didn't wait for police? But I specifically told him to call them first. Why would he ignore my message?

The front door burst open, and Cass rushed in. Tall, handsome, his eyes full of determination and love. Like the perfect hero.

"Let them go," Cass said to Rex, his voice steady but threatening. "Take me instead."

The next few minutes were pure chaos, but strangely, it felt like organized chaos.

Cass started negotiating with Rex, trying to distract him. "What do you want? Money? I can get you money."

"I want what I came for," Rex replied, and that phrase confused me again.

He keeps saying "what I came for." This isn't a random robbery. But what exactly does he want?

"Scarlett," I whispered, "when I give you the signal, run to the kitchen and call 911."

"Okay," she whispered back, but her voice sounded... prepared? Not like someone who was scared out of her mind.

Maybe she's braver than I thought. Stress makes some people calmer.

Just then, Cass made a subtle hand gesture. I thought he was telling me to get ready to act, but Scarlett seemed to understand the gesture too.

"Now!" Cass suddenly yelled.

Everything happened fast:

• Cass attacked Rex from the front

• I grabbed Rex's knife hand from the side

• Scarlett helped push Rex from behind

We did it. Rex fell to the floor, the knife skittered away, and he looked unconscious.

"Oh my God, we did it!"

"Is everyone okay?" Cass asked.

"I think so. Is he...?" Scarlett said.

"Just unconscious. We need to tie him up before he wakes up."

We actually did it! This time we really subdued him! That means I changed fate. We're all going to survive!

But as I replayed what had just happened, something bothered me.

That hand gesture... how did Cass know Scarlett would understand what it meant? When have they ever rehearsed this kind of teamwork?

"We should call the police now," I said.

"Good idea," Cass said, but he didn't pull out his phone. "But first, let me find something to tie him up with."

He walked toward the kitchen like he knew exactly where to find rope.

"How did you know to make that hand signal?"

"What? Oh, I just... instinct, I guess."

"You were amazing, both of you," Scarlett said.

"We all were. We make a good team."

But something was off. Their eye contact, the way they moved, even where they positioned themselves... it was all too smooth.

This level of coordination usually takes practice. But the three of us have never faced this kind of situation together before. How could it be so... perfect?

"Found some rope," Cass returned from the kitchen.

"Should we wait for him to wake up before calling police?" Scarlett asked.

That was a very strange question. "Why would we want him to wake up?"

"I mean, so he can't claim we attacked him unnecessarily?"

That logic doesn't make sense. Why would we want a criminal to wake up? We should call the authorities while he's unconscious.

"Actually," Cass said, "Sloane, you should check if he's really unconscious. Sometimes people fake it."

Check if he's unconscious? That makes sense. But why does it have to be me?

"Why me? Wouldn't it be safer if you checked?"

"You're lighter. If you get too close and he's faking, you can get away faster than I can."

The explanation sounded reasonable, but...

"Right there," Cass pointed to a specific spot. "You can see his face clearly from that angle."

I looked at that position, and sudden dread filled my stomach.

That spot... that exact location... this is where I got stabbed in my previous life. But this is just a coincidence, right? There are only so many reasonable angles to check an unconscious person from...

"Are you sure that's the best position?"

"Trust me," Cass said, his smile warm and reassuring. "I know what I'm doing."

Scarlett nodded encouragingly. "It'll be fine, Sloane. We're right here."

They both think this is the best position. Maybe I'm overthinking this. After all, they just helped me subdue this dangerous criminal.

I started walking toward that spot, and every step brought back memories from my previous life.

This feeling... this overwhelming sense of dread... just like before. But last time I didn't know danger was coming. This time should be different. This time I have warning.

I reached Rex's side and bent down to check his face. He looked completely unconscious.

"Is he breathing?" Cass asked.

"Yes, he's—"

In that instant, Rex's eyes snapped open.

No! This is exactly like my previous life! He was faking unconsciousness!

I tried to step back, but it was too late. Rex's hand shot out with lightning speed and grabbed the knife.

"Sloane!" Scarlett screamed, but her scream sounded... different. Not surprised, more like... acting?

The knife came toward me. I instinctively twisted sideways, but the blade still sliced across my ribs.

Blood started seeping from my wound, and the pain made it hard to think.

But before I lost consciousness, I saw something that broke my heart: Cass and Scarlett exchanged a quick look. Not panic, not shock, but... disappointment?

No... this can't be... they... they wanted me to get stabbed?

Darkness swallowed my vision.