Loop 326: Fight Under The Bridge

Loop 326:

(Flashback)

Now... what should I do...

I looked down at the paper filled with all the tasks I needed to complete in order to make sure the Protagonist, Theo, could save the Heroine, Ivansia.

Hiding the letter with clues on how to save Ivansia inside Theo's shoe locker... Check.

Preparing all the equipment Theo needs to handle Ivansia's conflict... Check.

Leaving a $10,000 check in his locker to help Ivansia's parents... Check.

Now, all I have to do is wait for the night of Ivansia's conflict in Episode 7.

I walked toward Ivansia's house, each step made my hands tremble. Fear was building up inside me.

I had a pistol in my pocket, prepared to face two trained police officers. If anyone saw me carrying it, I could get arrested.

In the distance, I saw the angry investors—victims of the Ponzi scheme Ivansia's father had run. They were shouting in front of the house.

"Give us back our money!"

"You bastard! If you don't come out, we'll burn this place down!" one of them yelled, holding a gas can and a torch.

I scanned the area for Theo. "Damn it... he's not here yet?" I muttered. If he didn't show up, the plan might fall apart.

Through the second-floor window, I spotted a girl with black hair and silver glasses peeking through the curtain. Her eyes were sunken, and her lips were dry—like someone who hadn't slept or eaten in days.

I clenched my fists. This has to work. I've looped 30 times trying to save Ivansia from this moment.

Then came the sound of a siren cutting through the crowd's yelling. A black-and-white police car with flashing red and blue lights turned the corner and pulled up in front of the house.

The blue strobes spun slowly on the roof as the corrupt officers stepped out calmly. They didn't rush. One of them had shiny leather shoes that clicked against the pavement like every step was measured and deliberate. His sharp eyes scanned the scene—not to ensure safety, but to evaluate. Who could be manipulated? Who should be ignored? Who could be used?

He buttoned his already neat uniform with a slow, controlled motion.

They walked into Ivansia's house.

I knew exactly what they were going to do. They'd trick her parents into handing over money, promising to deal with the crowd and keep them safe—when in fact, they were the ones who hired those thugs. They were the ones planning to burn down the house—with Ivansia's family still inside.

That's why I had told Theo to handle the thugs, while I took care of the corrupt cops.

After a while, both officers came out carrying a suitcase filled with the money they'd gotten from Ivansia's parents.

I followed their patrol car from a distance. After a long drive, they stopped under a bridge—the usual place where they'd divide the cash with the thugs.

They got out of the car, laughing loudly.

"Haha! Man, we made easy money again!" Officer B shouted.

"Keep it down! We still need to split it with the thugs," Officer A said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

Then Officer B pulled out his phone and made a call.

"We got the money," he said.

[Wait, sir! We're being attacked by some kid—]

I aimed at the base of his skull. Just one shot... that's all I need.

"We got the money. You guys better get here in ten minutes! I don't—"

Thwip.

----

Officer A took a drag from his cigarette, watching his partner rant over the phone.

"We got the money. You guys better get here in ten minutes! I don't—"

His voice cut off suddenly. A soft 'thwip' echoed in the air—barely louder than a tire sliding across gravel.

Officer A turned toward his partner and saw it. A thin red line across his forehead, like fresh paint.

His eyes blinked, confused for a second—then he realized.

It wasn't paint. It was blood.

Officer A immediately ducked behind the right side of the car, pulling out his pistol. The shot had come from the left.

Before he could fully scan the area—

Puff.

A smoke bomb rolled to his side and exploded with a hiss, releasing thick white-gray clouds.

The scene was suddenly cloaked in fog. Under the dim streetlight filtering through the bridge, shapes twisted and shifted, creating illusions.

C, holding a silenced pistol, moved within the smoke. His eyes squinted, trying to spot movement.

Fsshh!—a soft sound. A suppressed gunshot from the officer.

C dove to the side, feeling the wind of a bullet brush past his ear.

Another fsshh! came from the opposite direction. C fired blindly toward the sound.

This smoke is too thick! I can't see a damn thing...

I don't want to loop again... Please, let me finish this arc properly.

They moved like ghosts in the fog, their muffled shots echoing like whispers of death—quiet, deadly.

C crouched behind a concrete pillar, breathing hard. The smell of smoke and gunpowder filled his lungs. He knew Officer A was out there.

Suddenly, a loud click echoed through the mist. C froze. His gun was out of bullets.

A moment later, another click rang out from the other side.

Both were out.

C pulled a folding knife from his jacket. The steel glinted faintly through the haze.

A large figure emerged from the smoke—Officer A, charging forward with a combat knife.

They clashed in silence. Steel slashed through the air, shoes scraped against wet concrete.

KLANG! TING!

Their blades met, sparks flying in the shadows. Officer A struck with brute strength, while C countered with speed.

Then, with a quick and precise move, C slashed at A's wrist. The officer cried out in pain, dropping his knife into a puddle.

C didn't hesitate.

He shoved Officer A against the cold concrete pillar, the knife now at the man's throat.

A's eyes widened with terror, sweat and fear etched on his face.

"It's over, old man," C growled, voice heavy with fury.

He drove the blade forward.

Blood sprayed into the smoke, turning the mist into a pale shade of red. The officer collapsed, lifeless, eyes still open, staring at the filthy underside of the bridge.

C stood there, breathing hard, his blade dripping with blood.

"I... have to get back to Ivansia's house..." he panted. "And watch over Theo..."

He took a step forward—but then a bright light pierced the smoke. The headlights of a car.

Before he could turn—

BANG!

A gunshot, loud and sharp—no silencer this time.

C felt something slam into his back. Fire exploded through his body. His legs gave out, and he dropped face-first into Officer A's pool of blood.

Damn it! Who the hell—? A third cop?!

Why?! There wasn't a third cop in the original story...

What do I do now?!

C tried to get up... but he couldn't. His body had no strength left.

I'll get you... in the next loop...

From a distance, sirens wailed louder and louder. Under the bridge, the smoke cleared slowly—revealing three dead bodies and the thick stench of blood.

The world shattered. The sky above cracked like glass.

Nobody survived.

The loop began again.

----

A cheap alarm clock buzzed loudly beside C's bed, like it was mocking all his efforts.

C shot up, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Damn it."