One afternoon, a group of classmates gathered at the beach to finish editing and typing their movie project. The beach was a popular place in their town, so they decided to spend the rest of the day there.
Jennifer: "Come on, everyone! Have a drink! There's only a little alcohol left. Cheers!"
Liliy: "Wait... are you guys seriously drinking?"
Ellaine: "Relax, Jennifer. I'll drink instead."
Sophia: "Oh, come on, Liliy. Don't be such a killjoy. We finally finished our project. We deserve to celebrate."
Kylie: "Alright, girls. That's enough. It's already 5:40 PM. Let's pack our things and head home before it gets dark."
Jennifer sighed.
Jennifer: "Honestly, making this movie would've been so much easier if we had at least one guy in our group."
Liliy: "I know, right? It was really difficult doing everything with just us girls."
Kylie: "Well, we finished it, and that's what matters. Great job, everyone. I'm proud of all of you."
Just then, Ellaine's ride arrived.
Ellaine: "My ride's here. I'll see you girls tomorrow."
Kylie: "Take care!"
As Ellaine left, Liliy glanced at Sophia.
Liliy: "Sophia... didn't you bring any pants? Your shorts are really short."
Sophia rubbed her forehead.
Sophia: "No... and my head is killing me."
Liliy: "Where are you going?"
Sophia: "I'm going to check the clothing shop near the beach. Maybe I can buy a pair of pants."
They walked to the small shop.
Shop Owner: "Sorry, dear. We don't sell pants here. Since we're near the beach, we only sell shorts."
Sophia: "Oh... I understand. Thank you."
As they walked away, Liliy looked worried.
Liliy: "I'll come with you. I'll walk you home too. You're taking a tricycle anyway, right?"
Sophia: "Sure."
From a distance, Kylie shouted.
Kylie: "Hey! You two! What are you waiting for? Come on! Let's find a ride home!"
Liliy carefully supported Sophia.
Liliy: "Easy... can you still walk?"
Sophia smiled weakly.
Sophia: "Of course. I'm beautiful... and... strong."
Liliy laughed.
Liliy: "Looks like you had a little too much to drink."
Sophia giggled.
Sophia: "I'm beautiful... and kind... hehe... My head really hurts."
When they reached the others, Liliy spoke.
Liliy: "Girls, Sophia isn't feeling well, and she's wearing short shorts. Is it okay if I take her home first? Our route is different anyway."
Kylie: "Of course. We're worried about her too."
Jennifer: "Perfect timing. Here comes a tricycle."
A tricycle stopped in front of them.
The driver smiled.
Driver: "Young ladies shouldn't stay out this late. It's dangerous these days."
---
Liliy's Point of View
The moment I saw his smile, a chill ran down my spine.
Maybe it was because several of his teeth were missing...
Or maybe it was something else.
Without thinking, I held Sophia's hand and helped her into the tricycle.
For some reason, I turned to my friends.
Even though I already knew we were taking different routes...
I still asked,
Liliy: "Aren't you coming with us?"
Kylie looked confused.
Kylie: "Girl, our routes are different. Go on. We'll see you tomorrow."
Jennifer laughed.
Jennifer: "Looks like you're the one who's drunk."
The driver started the engine.
Driver: "Ready? Where should I take you?"
Liliy looked at Sophia.
Liliy: "Can you tell him your address? I always mess it up."
Sophia told the driver where she lived.
About fifteen minutes later...
The tricycle stopped.
Liliy paid the driver.
He silently placed the money into his pocket.
Then Sophia and Liliy continued walking toward Sophia's house.
The road was almost impossible to see.
Tall trees lined both sides.
Old houses stood silently in the darkness.
The uneven road made every step difficult.
A narrow pathway stretched ahead.
But none of that frightened Liliy.
What terrified her...
...was the sound of footsteps behind them.
She slowly looked back.
The tricycle driver...
was still following them.
Liliy forced herself to speak.
Liliy: "Sir... we've already paid you. You don't have to follow us anymore. We'll be fine."
The driver stared at her for a few seconds.
Then...
without saying a word...
he turned around and walked away.
Liliy sighed in relief.
After walking a little farther, she suddenly realized she couldn't remember which path to take.
She asked Sophia for directions.
But Sophia only mumbled random, confusing words.
The alcohol still hadn't worn off.
Liliy walked about ten steps ahead before turning around.
Liliy: "Sophia... I think this is the right way... isn't it?"
Silence.
No answer.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Liliy: "Sophia?"
She looked around.
The narrow path was empty.
Sophia...
was gone.
Liliy: "SOPHIA?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Only silence answered her.
Her hands trembled as she grabbed her phone.
She checked Messenger.
There was still no reply from the message she had sent Sophia's mother.
She immediately called her.
No answer.
Liliy: "Come on... please answer..."
Then...
Everything around her suddenly went black.
Darkness swallowed everything.
A few seconds later, Liliy slowly opened her eyes.
She blinked in confusion.
The familiar rumble of an engine echoed around her.
She looked beside her.
Sophia was sitting there.
Sophia: "Liliy? Are you okay?"
Liliy's heart nearly stopped.
She quickly looked toward the front.
The same tricycle driver.
The same road.
The same ride.
Her breathing became heavy.
"Did... everything just happen again?"
She clenched her fists.
"No... This time, I'll save Sophia."
Several minutes later, the tricycle stopped at the same place.
Before stepping down, Liliy stared directly at the driver.
Liliy: "Here's our fare. But don't get out of the tricycle. The police are already on their way. I called them."
The driver silently accepted the money and slipped it into his pocket.
He didn't answer.
He simply watched them.
Liliy grabbed Sophia's hand tightly.
Liliy: "Run."
Sophia: "W-What? Why?"
Liliy: "Don't ask questions. Just trust me!"
Without waiting for an answer, Liliy pulled Sophia as they ran as fast as they could through the dark road.
After several minutes, both of them were completely exhausted.
They stopped for a moment.
Liliy took a deep breath.
Liliy: "Inhale... exhale... You can do this. We have to keep running."
Sophia obeyed, although confusion was written all over her face.
They continued until they finally reached Sophia's house.
Liliy rushed to the front door.
Liliy: "Auntie! Auntie! We're here!"
She knocked three times.
No one answered.
She slowly turned the doorknob.
The door wasn't locked.
It creaked open.
Inside stood Sophia's mother.
She was slowly walking toward them.
But something was terribly wrong.
Her expression was filled with fear.
Behind her stood a man dressed in black.
He wore a cap and a black mask.
A handgun was pressed against the back of her head.
Liliy: "Who are you?! What do you want?!"
Sophia: "Mom... who's that? Where's Dad?"
Liliy's voice shook.
Liliy: "The police are coming! You won't get away with this!"
The masked man didn't react.
He didn't even speak.
Then...
BANG!
BANG!
The gunshot echoed through the house.
Sophia's mother collapsed to the floor after being shot in the back of the head.
Sophia screamed.
Liliy's entire body froze.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She whispered to Sophia,
Liliy: "Run..."
Then she slowly raised both of her hands.
The gunman looked directly at her.
Instead of shooting...
he shoved her aside with enough force to knock her to the floor.
His eyes followed Sophia.
"Sophia..."
"She was the target all along."
Liliy immediately rushed toward the gunman and struggled to take the gun away.
They wrestled violently.
The gun slipped from his hand and crashed onto the floor.
For a split second, Liliy thought they had a chance.
But the masked man quickly grabbed a large rock nearby.
Without hesitation...
he hurled it straight at Sophia.
The rock struck her head.
She collapsed instantly.
Liliy: "Sophia!"
Liliy crawled toward her and held her in her arms.
Sophia's eyes were barely open.
The gunman calmly picked up his pistol from the floor.
Step...
Step...
Step...
He slowly walked toward them.
Liliy looked up.
Tears streamed down her face.
Liliy: "Please... don't..."
The masked man raised the gun.
BANG!
BANG!
Two shots.
Sophia's body went limp in Liliy's arms.
Liliy screamed with every ounce of strength she had.
Liliy: "WHY?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHO ARE YOU?!"
She looked toward the empty street.
Liliy: "Where are the police?! Why aren't they here?!"
Her chest tightened.
Everything around her blurred.
She closed her eyes...
And the world disappeared once again.
Liliy gasped for air as her eyes flew open.
She looked around.
She was lying in her own bed.
Morning sunlight shone through her bedroom window.
She quickly touched her face and looked at her trembling hands.
"Was... it all just a dream?"
Still shaken, she grabbed her phone and immediately messaged Kylie.
Liliy: "Kylie... I had the worst nightmare. It felt so real. Something terrible happened to our friend, Sophia."
A few moments later, Kylie replied.
Kylie: "What are you talking about? Who's Sophia? We don't have a friend named Sophia."
Liliy froze.
She stared at the message in disbelief.
"What...? We never had a friend named Sophia?"
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
If Sophia had never existed...
Then who was the girl she had tried so desperately to save?
Another message appeared.
Kylie: "What else happened in your dream?"
With trembling fingers, Liliy told Kylie everything—the beach, the tricycle ride, the mysterious time loop, the masked gunman, and Sophia's death.
When she finished, she sent one last message.
Liliy: "Kylie... can you search online? Maybe something like this really happened. Try looking up a victim named Sophia. I'm scared."
A minute later, Kylie replied.
Kylie: "Hold on... I found a case."
Liliy's heart pounded.
Liliy: "What happened?"
Kylie: "Don't worry. It's different. The victim named Sophia in the news was murdered with a knife, not a gun."
Liliy let out a long sigh of relief.
Liliy: "Thank goodness... it's a different case."
Kylie replied one last time.
Kylie: "You're probably just overthinking before bed. Stay away from horror movies for a while, get enough rest, and don't forget to pray."
Liliy smiled weakly.
Liliy: "Yeah... maybe you're right."
She placed her phone on the bedside table and stared at the ceiling, trying to convince herself that it had only been a nightmare.
But something still didn't feel right.
As she closed her eyes, one question echoed in her mind.
"If Sophia never existed..."
"Then why do I remember her so clearly?"
The room fell silent.
A notification suddenly appeared on Liliy's phone.
Unknown Number
«Thank you for trying to save me.»
Attached was a single photograph.
It showed five girls standing together on the beach.
Liliy.
Jennifer.
Kylie.
Ellaine.
...
And Sophia.
Liliy's blood ran cold.
She slowly zoomed in on the picture.
Everyone was smiling.
Except Sophia.
She was staring directly at the camera...
With tears running down her face.
The phone screen suddenly went black.
Then one final message appeared.
«You can't save someone who died long before you met her.»
Liliy screamed.
The lights in her room went out.
Darkness filled the room.
The End.
