Chapter 6 · The Second Leon

"They all knew something." Karl's voice still scraped through Ivv's skull when the dean stepped up to the ceremony podium. "They all knew, and nobody warned me."

Sixth time. Same freshmen. Same chandeliers. Same dean clearing his throat like half the room wouldn't be dead before midnight.

The crystal in Ivy's pocket burned against her thigh.

She stood before the speech reached "legacy and excellence." Then she slipped through the side door and ran.

"Third door," she muttered. "Left side. Move."

Twenty minutes, maybe less. That was how long the first body had lasted in the other loops.

She counted doors down the infirmary hall, pulled the acid vial from her belt, and dripped it over the lock. Metal hissed. The latch sagged.

The body was already inside.

Ivy stopped with her hand on the door.

"You're not supposed to die for fifteen more minutes."

The boy lay across the exam table, robes scorched, chest split open. Burnt flesh clogged the air. Under it sat a sharp chemical stink that didn't belong in any living body—or any normal murder.

"Fine," she said. "You want to ruin the schedule? I'll ruin yours."

She opened her kit.

This part never changed.