Project Eliora

-WAKE UP-

I let out a groan as my eyes slowly opened, feeling exhausted from the previous experience. There was a lot to consider and process. I shifted on my bed to a more comfortable position and inhaled deeply to clear my head.

My phone started to ring at that precise moment, and I noticed that it was Louis calling. It made me realise that I hadn’t spoken to my friends in a while. I couldn’t really blame myself for it since I had been preoccupied with finding a way to break the loop and free everyone. But that didn’t mean I should completely disregard them, did it?

As the phone continued to ring, I debated whether or not to answer. Eventually, I decided to pick up and hear what Louis had to say.

“What is up, Louis?”

“I am good; how was your night?”

“It was eventful, but I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I see. Well, there is something I need to talk to you about.”

A scenario. The concept was interesting enough, but something that just came to mind was, “Could they ever be repeated?” Memories are the driving factor responsible for how scenarios turn out, so if everyone were by chance given the same memories again, would the scenario be the exact same? I would have loved to ask Reuben, but I was not ready to deal with him now.

“What is it about?”

“Not something I can say over the phone, so how about we meet up at the gym under the stands during the free period we have?”

That was a very weird meeting point indeed, and it piqued my interest in whatever he wanted to tell me.

“A makeout session? I like this.”

I said it in a playful manner and began laughing, but I stopped when I did not hear him laughing back. It seems this was serious then.

“Alright, I’ll be there.”

“Thanks.”

With that, he ended the call. Well, it is decided; I am going to meet Louis, and at least that would help take my mind off things. A fresh and calm mind will help when I want to begin figuring things out later. I took a long and relaxing shower, feeling the hot water wash away my stress and worries. I stood in front of the mirror after dressing in my favourite dark blue ankle pants and black knit short sleeves and admired my reflection. With a deep breath, I left my room, feeling more relaxed and centred than I had in a while.

I made my way downstairs to find nobody there, but the television was turned on. My guess was that it was probably my dad. Anyway, I walked across the living room to the main door and opened it to leave, but I was shocked to meet someone sitting on the curb outside the house.

“Briana?”

She turned her head toward me.

“Hey Elisa”

She then stood up while dusting herself off.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to walk you to school.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

She smiled, and then we began walking down the street. I did notice that she was more jumpy and hyperactive than usual as she tried to contain a smile and could not stop moving around erratically.

“Did anything happen today?”

I raised my eyebrow at her.

“Where is this coming from?”

She remained silent, only giggling to herself.

“Briana?”

She still chose not to say anything, so I reached for her cheeks and pulled them away from her face. She suddenly started squirming and tapping on my hands, so I should stop.

“Alright, alright, I will tell you.”

Hearing this, I let go of her cheeks, and she rubbed them gently to soothe the pain.

“That was painful,”

“And that was the point, so come on, spill,”

She continued walking, and I followed her, staying by her side.

“How did you know about that?”

I asked Briana, feeling a mixture of surprise and suspicion.

“Yes, he did.”

I slowly replied, hoping that she would clarify how she knew about my conversation with Louis, but instead, she just looked at me with excitement in her eyes.

“Briana, what is going on? What are you and Louis planning?”

I inquired, my curiosity and suspicion growing by the second.

“Do you have any idea why he wants to meet you?”

She asked, evading my questions. I gave it some thought, but I couldn’t think of anything that had to do with Louis wanting to meet me. It could have something to do with the fake memories I got for this loop, but I cannot remember right now.

“I have no clue. He just said he wanted to talk.”

I replied, feeling frustrated that Briana wasn’t giving me any straight answers. She began chuckling.

“Well, you’re meeting him in a gym, all alone.”

She emphasised it with a sly grin, and I had a thought at that exact moment. Could this be what I was thinking? As I looked up, Briana caught me blushing, and I immediately tried to curb the thoughts.

“Nothing is going to happen, okay? This is not our first time being alone.”

“Why are you blushing then?”

I quickly attempted to gather myself after feeling the heat rise on my face.

“I’m not blushing.”

I said this defensively, which only made Briana laugh.

“Sure, Elisa, whatever you say.”

She teased, but I rolled my eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t like anything was going to happen between me and Louis. We were just friends, after all.

“I’ll keep that in mind,”

I said, trying to sound casual, but she came over to whisper in my ear.

“If you need any condoms, I know where to get some.”

My eyes went wide in shock, and I pushed her away as I turned red.

“SHUT UP”

She exploded into laughter as we continued walking. I was so frustrated, but I managed to compose myself, and a soft sigh escaped from my mouth.

“Louis is my best friend.”

I told Briana, but she cut me off before I could complete my sentence.

“Second best friend, you mean?”

“Sure, whatever. The point is, I don’t think he is attracted to me in that way.”

Briana punched my shoulder, and I winced and rubbed the area.

“What was that for?”

“I get where you’re coming from, but don’t make things complicated or weird; just hear him out at least.”

I smiled.

“Thanks”

“But you should still consider carrying some condoms.”

Because of Briana’s infectious laughter, I soon started laughing with her. Despite her occasional annoyance, I couldn’t help but appreciate how she always knew how to lift my spirits. Amid all the chaos in my life, it was just what I needed. As we arrived at school, we went our separate ways to attend our classes for the day.

—

Attending classes today was a refreshing change of pace. It felt good to be back in the familiar routine, watching everyone go about their business. I sighed, feeling envious of their lack of knowledge of the truth as I sat there alone in my thoughts. They all seemed so carefree and content with their lives, oblivious to the burden of knowledge that I carried with me.

It was a free period, which meant it was time for my appointed meeting with Reuben. I looked around the class to see that he was not in class, which meant he was probably waiting for me.

“There is no time to zone out.”

I said to myself as I stood up from my desk and walked out of the class with a strange sense of nervousness about what was going to happen next.

As I walked into the gym, a blast of cold air rushed past me, sending shivers down my spine. Except for a few strewn balls on the ground, the area was empty. I took a few steps forward, and my shoes screeched against the polished floor.

“Elisa”

A voice called out, and looking at the source, I came across Louis sitting beneath the stands, waving at me.

“Hey Louis”

I said as I made my way over to him, weaving through the narrow gaps between the stands. He nervously hid his face from me, and I took immediate notice of this but chose not to question it.

“This is a bit of an unconventional meeting place, isn’t it?”

I remarked as I took in the confined area. He nodded in agreement before finally making eye contact with me. I then noticed that he was blushing wildly and had a flushed face. As I watched him fidget and squirm, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had developed feelings for me.

Maybe Briana was right, but I should not jump to any conclusions just yet.

“Elisa, I have something to tell you.”

He said this, stuttering a little as he turned to face me and took my hand. The chilly room made his hands feel soft and a little chilly. He paused, taking a few deep breaths to gather himself, and then he stumbled.

“I have”

I remained silent, waiting for him to continue. With the way he was acting, I had a feeling I knew what he was about to say.

“Elisa, for some time now, I’ve been feeling something for you. I don’t know how to say it, but I really like you. I know we’re best friends, and I appreciate that, but I don’t know if we could be something more.”

Louis looked surprised as I withdrew my hand from his face as he leaned in closer to me. But then I gently placed my hand back on his face, and we locked eyes. My mind was racing with a million ideas as it seemed as though we were looking into each other’s souls.

This was just a scenario, so everything he said here could just be a lie, but Reuben mentioned that relationships and some emotions are unchanging, so that meant that this could all be true and real. Reuben might actually really like me.

I could have simply told him no and moved on. It was just a loop, so he would have no recollection of this moment. However, in this time loop, anything was possible, and that thought excited me. The thought of what might occur next caused my heart to race. Why don’t I let everything play out?

At this moment, I was thinking about what Reuben had said, and I agree with him that this is a world without consequence; I am free to do as I please. So why would I stop this from happening?

Only an inch separated our faces, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart race with excitement. This moment was temporary. Everything would reset, and he wouldn’t remember any of this, so was it truly worth it?

I didn’t know. I had absolutely no idea.

We continued to stare into each other’s eyes, both hesitant for different reasons.

I gave in as I leaned forward and pressed our lips together. At first, he seemed surprised by my sudden move, but he quickly responded and relaxed into the kiss. I encircled his neck with my arms as he drew me closer to him. The warmth of his body against mine was comforting. His hand moved up my body and rested on my breast, gently squeezing it while his other hand trailed down my back.

Doubts started to flood my mind at that precise moment. What would happen if we left the loop? Will I ever tell him about this? Will I come to regret this?

I pulled back away from him, which startled him, as he probably assumed he had done something wrong, but that was far from the case.

“Take off your clothes.”

I said it with a calm demeanour, accompanied by heavy breathing caused by the makeout session. My heart was pounding loudly as my urge grew stronger by the second. If this same opportunity presented itself outside the loop, would I have gone through with it like I am now? I don’t think I would have, but I slowly disregarded thinking of the implications and focused on the now.

Watching him unbutton his shirt prompted me to do the same. After those were off, I undid my trouser button, letting it slide down my legs. Only my bra and underwear remained. I began admiring Louis and his body, and without wasting any time, I walked over and grabbed his hand, placing it right on my breasts. He furiously continued kissing me, and my hand travelled all over his chest as I felt his smooth and soft skin.

I had no idea what was going on in his mind, but that did not matter at the moment. This worked its way down my neck, which made my body shiver. He moved my bra out of the way, sucking on my nipples, and I let out a soft moan as the pleasure slowly overtook me.

I pushed him to the ground and bent down to take off his briefs. Slowly, I moved up his body, kissing him as I went before arriving at his lips. I felt his hands tug on my underwear as he tried to remove it. Was I taking advantage of the loop?

I was proving Reuben’s point because there were no consequences—I could do anything. I could sleep with anyone, kill anyone, and literally do anything because it did not matter. Does that mean I am changing into something I was not meant to be?

My thoughts were cut short as I realised Louis had taken off my underwear and began kissing me. A shiver went through my body as I began riding him. Whatever I was thinking about before was now out the window as I began moaning.

As the distant bell chimed at noon, I found myself losing track of time with each resonant stroke. All thoughts of the impending creature, my troubles, and my concerns faded away into nothingness. At this moment, they were inconsequential.

My hands were on his chest, and I felt his heart beating faster and the sweat coming off both of our bodies. I arched backward as the pleasure grew more intense. The faster we moved, the louder our moans became, and soon we hit a climax as my entire body trembled. I collapsed on him and rolled off to the sides as we remained silent, both catching our breaths.

I actually just did that. All for what? Because I could?

As I sat up, the blaring sound of an alarm could be heard. It was the fire alarm. Louis leaned close to me.

“Elisa, we have to go.”

“I’ll catch up with you later.”

I said as I remained in the same position, my arms still wrapped around me. This apparently did not sit well with him, as he tried to force me onto my feet.

“Just leave me alone!”

Tears welled up in my eyes as my voice reverberated through the gym. He looked at me and pulled his hand away from my shoulder.

“Fine, I’ll go, but if you’re not outside in two minutes, I’ll be back, got it?”

He warned me as he gave me some space.

“Fine”

I choked out, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on my shoulders. Louis quickly got back into his clothes and left the gym after one last glancing look at me.

The issue was, “What was wrong with me?”

My fleeting moment of ecstasy had ended, and I had returned to reality. I tried to stave off the chill that had set in because of the cold room by clutching my arms around my torso. I looked around the room and saw my clothes lying all over the floor. After a moment of contemplation, I resolved to abandon the stands, leaving them behind. I made my way towards the gym’s exit, shivering as I went.

As I approached the courtyard, I heard the screams of people and noticed that the air was filled with smoke from a fire I had not yet spotted. The charred bodies of human beings were what I was met with, as they were burned beyond recognition. It was a gruesome sight as I walked across, as the sun warmed my entire body, making me feel a slight sense of refreshment. There was no care in the world as I did not try avoiding the remains and instead chose to step on them, heading to a destination that I was unsure of, not sure what I was doing or thinking.

A deafening explosion erupted to my right, sending me hurtling in the opposite direction. I tumbled onto a pile of bodies, injuring my right leg in the process. The excruciating pain caused me to grit my teeth and clench my fist, attempting to cope with the intensity. I made a conscious effort to keep still while lying there and controlling my breathing. I found myself looking up at the sky and the serene clouds. Gradually, the throbbing pain in my leg began to subside, and a sense of tranquilly overtook me.

A diabolical cackle sliced through the air, causing me to whip my head around to pinpoint the source. I focused on a person whose features led me to believe she was a woman. Her body was made of smouldering, red-hot embers, and her body occasionally sprouted spikes. She sported branch-like horns jutting from the crown of her head, with her hair woven between them, appearing to float on the same material as her body. Her eyes and mouth were ablaze with flames.

She walked up to me, a flame blazing from her wrist, drops of fire falling from her form. Her body was draped in a charred, torn skirt that stood in stark contrast to the flames all around her.

Normally, one would panic and run away from the situation. However, I had no desire to follow the expected course of action. I wanted nothing more than to leave this place, to bring this to an end, and for things to go back to how they had been before the loop.

“Kill me, please.”

I said to myself in disgust. I just had to take advantage of the loop to sleep with him. Was that considered rape? Did I steal his virginity?

A sensation trickled down my cheeks, prompting me to bring my hands up to my face. To my surprise, tears were streaming down my cheeks, and I was crying.

“Elisa!”

My attention shifted to Reuben as he strode towards me. The creature swivelled towards him, conjuring up spheres of fire that were as large as my head. They were flung in his direction by it. However, Reuben remained unfazed, charging up his energy field around him, which coalesced into a blade on his right arm. He easily cut through the flaming projectiles that were being aimed at him by swinging his weapon. In fact, he even leapt into the air to dodge one of them, demonstrating his incredible agility. With a piercing roar and a burst of fire from its mouth, the creature rushed towards Reuben while producing a ring of flames around its body. He was too quick for the creature’s attack, though, and he managed to avoid it.

I turned my gaze upward, indifferent to the ongoing confrontation. Shutting my eyes, I was immediately engulfed by the stench of charred bodies, which made it difficult to breathe. Despite the battle between Reuben and the monster persisting in the background, I paid it no heed. The altercation dragged on for a while before fading into silence.

“Elisa, are you okay?”

Reuben walked up to me and knelt down next to me as I opened my eyes.

“Can you move?”

He inquired.

“My leg—I think it is broken.”

“Okay”

He replied as he lifted me off the ground, putting one hand behind my back and the other under my legs, warning me that it might hurt. As he moved, a sharp pain jolted through my body from my sprained leg.

“Hang on”

He said it reassuringly as he lifted me off the ground and carefully guided me in the direction of the clock tower. Reuben brought me over and placed me delicately on the flat ledge by the edge. My face lit up as I took in the entire town from that vantage point, which provided an incredible view. But my mind quickly returned to my previous thoughts, and the tiny bit of joy I had experienced disappeared just as quickly. Reuben sat down beside me.

“No clothes?”

“Yep”

I didn’t care at all that I was undressed, which would make the majority of people uncomfortable and ashamed. I felt like I had lost a piece of myself and that I was still losing more.

“What is wrong?”

I avoided his question and kept silent as I stared off into the distance.

“Elisa, you need to talk to me.”

He insisted, his eyes focused on me. Despite my best efforts to control them, tears started to fall from my face. I was completely enveloped in his arms as I laid my head against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. I closed my eyes, allowing more tears to escape as I surrendered to the comfort of his embrace.

“Let it out,”

Reuben said calmly, holding me close and stroking my hair. I cried longer and louder, releasing all the pent-up emotions I had been holding inside. Eventually, everything went dark.