My heart sank as I plunged down the dark river. I was helpless against the current. Soon, even the bright sunlight faded, smothered by the uncaring depths.

  I held my breath for as long as I could, but death was approaching. I had courted it for so long I had become familiar with the soft steps of our dance.

  If the driver was to be believed, then I had already broken free. How ironic that I would die soon after. It would be a final death, and I found myself drawn to the idea like a moth to flame.

  Why bother resisting? Doesn't death sound nice? My existence has been a plague. Why not give it a rest? Why not rest in death's embrace? I'll finally do the world some good.

  No!

  My eyes snapped open. I struggled against the current, reaching for the sunlight above. I had just seen the light, saw the errors of my way. If I die now, won't it all have been for nothing? Even if I die, I will not go quietly.

  But my body was too weak. My lungs begged for air.

  For what must've been the thousandth time, I cursed myself for not working out more.

  Ah... death. My flailing grew weaker, energy depleted.

  If a next life exists, I hope I become a better person.

  For the first and final time, I drowned and died.

  ***

  I gasped awake, breathing in great, heaving breaths. My heart thumped in my chest, and I had never been more cognizant of its presence than right now. It beat steadily, pumping life-giving oxygen.

  I took a step forward to gain my balance but found that I couldn't—I wasn't even falling forward in the first place. My mind stuttered with incomprehension.

  I found myself seated on a proper chair for the first time in a long time. I was... inside a bus?

  Across the aisle, a group of teenagers glanced at me from the corner of their eyes, nudging each other.

  One of them asked, "Are you okay mister? Not having a heart attack there, are you?"

  I stared at him mutely. Then shook my head. I looked at my watch. It read Dec 21, 10:33 AM.

  I titled my head in disbelief. I read it again. Dec 21, 10:33 AM.

  What the hell?

  I glanced out the window, seeing a familiar building—the Stratos Tower.

  I held back a manic laugh.

  Dream? Did I fall asleep and dream?

  I disembarked from the bus in a daze.

  "Hey! Mister!" a voice called out to me.

  I glanced back at the bus driver—an unfamiliar face.

  "Yes?" I asked.

  The driver jerked a thumb back. "You forgot your briefcase."

  So I did. I went back in and retrieved it. "Thanks."

  He waved a hand.

  I looked down at my briefcase with complicated thoughts, then up at the Stratos Tower standing proud in front of me. I could reach it in a couple of steps.

  So easily? Get off the bus and I've arrived already? After all that struggling?

  But it was all a dream, wasn't it? There was no struggle.

  It had all felt so vivid. Even if it wasn't real, the changes it catalyzed in me were undeniable.

  In front of the tower entrance, I saw a group of teenagers crowding a vending machine. It was an innocent enough scene, if only the vending machine was normal. It wasn't, it sells cigarettes.

  Sure, you had to provide a valid ID and be of age to purchase any, but it was a paper screen to hold off legal troubles at best. I knew for a fact that the verification system was faulty and easily bypassed. It was designed that way in fact.

  Who could've come up with such a diabolical idea?

  I did. What I had considered a feather on my cap now seemed like a monument of my sins instead.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  For the briefest moment, I hesitated. I could look away and enter the tower. Even though my overlong dream of the time loop had made me forget everything about the presentation, I knew I was capable of reacquainting myself with it quickly. I had everything I needed on my briefcase.

  I approached the teenagers instead. Some of them were familiar—I had just seen them inside the bus.

  "Hey boys," I called out.

  Heads turned toward the interloper; eyes squinted in defiance.

  I gave them the line they were expecting, "smoking kills, you know."

  Their faces turned sullen, as if they had heard it all before. I knew it wasn't going to be easy from the start though, and I only had one chance this time.

  I gave them a playful smirk. "So if you want to die, at least get the good stuff. Not that cheap shit."

  They stared at me in confusion.

  My smile turned genuine. I took out the silver cigarette case and distributed everything to them. I made sure to discretely flash the Stratos logo embossed in it.

  They accepted it numbly.

  I nodded at them. "Have fun dying."

  I lingered for a bit, putting the case away, smoothing out my suit, readjusting my watch, hoping one of them would ask. I wasn't disappointed.

  "Why are you giving it to us? Is this a promotion or something?" one of the teenagers who was on the bus with me asked.

  I smirked at them, picking up my briefcase. "Don't flatter yourself. Those are premium stuff."

  As I walked away, I shot back at them, "Nah, I just don't smoke. Those things really kill you, and I still enjoy living."

  They stared at my departing back in silence.

  The lobby of Stratos Tower was a grand sight. A cute receptionist greeted me, "Good afternoon sir. You're here early. There's still about an hour until the directors arrive."

  I nodded at her, glancing down at her nametag. "Good afternoon, Cindy. Yes, I thought I'd get here earlier to be safe. Can you direct me to the lounge?"

  "Of course," she smiled. "I have to say sir, that was really well done."

  "Hmmm?"

  "Your handling of the adolescents outside. We're really getting some heat from the media for our vending machines. The way you handled this was just phenomenal. I recorded it all of course."

  It took me a while to understand what she was trying to say. On one hand, I really did handle it well since I explicitly told them not to smoke. On the other hand, saying she recorded it was a subtle threat. No matter what, dissing company products, especially on record, would leave a black stain on my reputation internally. It would be especially harmful if she handed it to one of my rivals.

  She wanted to join my camp, showing leverage and a peace offering in one go.

  I held back a sigh. These games again. It reminded me too much of the 132 runs I've spent in the mansion. I paused.

  Dream. It was a dream.

  Realizing I haven't responded, I smiled at her. "Indeed. It's good that you recorded it. I hope it spreads as widely as possible."

  She tilted her head in confusion.

  I laughed. She would never figure out I really meant what I said. I left her behind, entering the lounge area.

  "Sir? The board is ready to see you now," an attendant called out to me.

  I looked up from my work, glancing at the time. It was 11:55.

  "Thank you. I'll be right there," I said as I finalized what I was working on.

  I rose from the plush sofa and made my way to the meeting room, briefly stopping to print out a few pages.

  Taking a deep breath, I entered the room, smiling at everyone there.

  My heart pounded in my chest. Cold sweat ran down my neck.

  The Tycoon’s smile flashed in my mind.

  I distributed the paper I had just printed around the table, receiving nods and warm smiles in return.

  Beep.

  I flinched as my watch announced noon. When time flowed smoothly, I heaved a sigh of relief. I was free. It was all a dream.

  I could go on with my life.

  "Good afternoon directors of Stratos Inc," I smiled and made eye-contact with every person in the room.

  It was a good day. I took a deep breath.

  "I am here to hand in my letter of resignation today," I said, still smiling.

  The directors froze, looking at each other in disbelief.

  "I've printed and distributed it earlier so you might peruse whenever it's convenient."

  The room exploded into chaos. Shouts, demands, questions.

  I weathered it all the same way I weathered the chaotic sea of humans in the right path. I smiled and ignored them, making my exit.

  ***

  I closed the door to the hotel room behind me. Truthfully, I didn't know how I got there. After I left the tower, I checked into the nearest hotel. Everything felt like a surreal dream.

  First things first though.

  I collapsed into the bed. Then I knew no more.

  I woke up parched with a full bladder. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar sensation. I took care of my basic needs. An enjoyable luxury I had taken for granted.

  I considered going back to sleep but held off. My mind was too restless for that.

  Deciding to take a walk to clear my head, I made my way out of the hotel and froze in place.

  Everything was so dark.

  I glanced down at my watch. It was Dec 22, 4:37 AM.

  I strolled the streets, fascinated by the night view. Soon I arrived at a familiar river. Curious, I followed it, then saw a bridge.

  Was this the bridge on the right path? I never got a chance to reach it. Was it all really just a dream?

  I decided then that it wasn't. Even if it was a dream, it would still be real to me. Even if no one believed me, only I had to know.

  Would I be able to see them?

  I stepped onto the bridge, tracing my hand on the railings.

  Ahead of me, I saw a silhouette of a man swaying unsteadily on their feet.

  My heart pumped; my senses sharpened.

  The man fell to the river below.

  I sprinted forward, habitually adjusting for a weight that was no longer there. I looked at the dark river below. The man wasn't resurfacing.

  Before I could think twice, I jumped down. Dark icy water embraced me, and I was reminded of the one and only time I drowned to my death.

  Ah... crap. Perhaps my self-preservation instincts are fried. It's replaced by risk-your-life-to-save-strangers instincts instead? I'm so screwed.

  I found the man quickly despite the dark. He didn't struggle as I towed him behind me.

  I collapsed on my back once we reached the banks of the river, utterly spent. The man I saved stared at me with a complicated expression then left without a word.

  I watched his back, more intrigued than offended by his taciturn nature. I followed him.

  He made his way back to the bridge where he had fallen from before. The exact same spot in fact.

  Does he think this is an amusement park ride? One time isn't enough?

  He gazed at me impassively as I approached.

  I saw something there. The image of Raymon superimposed in him.

  I sighed. I did regret it a bit.

  Still...

  I gave him a smile, "Sorry. And you're welcome."

  He sat down on the bridge, grabbing a bottle of liquor from where it sat by the railings.

  I moved between him and the edge of the bridge, leaning on the railings.

  “On an otherwise nice and normal Monday morning, I burned to death. Rather..."

  -THE END-