The Enforcer stared down at Kaitlyn coldly, his piercing eyes seeming to bore into her. With an effort of will, she managed to stand her ground and meet his impassive gaze straight on. They stared each other down for a long moment, even as she heard the other officer call out to her from behind.

"Where's Philip?" She repeated the question, more insistently this time. "What did you do with him?"

The man crossed his arms, somehow managing to look down on Kaitlyn even more than he already was. "He's in custody. Though I'm sure you're already aware of that."

His contemptuous demeanor sent her already simmering anger boiling once again. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Why? He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"On the contrary, sweetheart. He's managed to pull together quite the impressive haul of ill-gotten gains. Gains that are against the rules."

"Against what rules?!" Kaitlyn's voice rose until she was practically shouting. "Is it some rule that he has to be poor?! It's tip money, tip money that he earned—there's nothing illegal about that!"

The Enforcer wagged a finger at her. "Illegal is one thing. The rules are another. You should know that."

She gritted her teeth. I don't. Because no one ever told me what these "rules" even are. The only way I even know they exist is because I tried to make a ton of money on the stock market.

Still, that was a completely different situation. That was her trying to use the time loop to her advantage in a get-rich-quick scheme. Why in the world would the same kind of logic apply to Philip getting tips?

"I gave him the tip money," Kaitlyn blurted out. "It was me. So let him go. Punish me instead."

The thought of spending the rest of the loop in jail did freak her out a bit. Still, it was leagues better than Philip having to.

He's got people who rely on him. But me? I can afford to disappear for a while. I'll just pick things up again next time.

"We already know that, sweetheart."

Kaitlyn blanched. "Then why—?!"

"Seems like you misunderstand." The Enforcer cut her off sharply. His voice seemed to echo slightly off the featureless gray walls and tile floors. "But I'm feeling generous, so I'll explain. You earned that money yourself through approved means. He didn't. Accepting those tips meant he broke the rules regarding improperly earned income."

She couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. Philip, of all people, going to jail because she had tried to give him something he "didn't earn." Philip, the hardest worker she knew. Of course. It was so ironic it hurt.

Dammit. Who would have thought his principles were actually protecting him from something like this?

Her gaze fell to the ground. It was completely outlandish. There was no possible way she could have predicted an outcome like this. Still, the entire situation was clearly her fault. Her fists started to tremble.

He's in jail because of me. ME. Even if the rules are stupid and absolutely insane, it doesn't change the results. This is all because I didn't listen.

The thought felt like a punch to the gut. Once again, the knowledge that everything would reset at the end of the loop felt so woefully insufficient here. It didn't change a thing about the problems they were dealing with right now. It didn't make the situation feel any less real.

Who cares if it's only for one loop? Something like this just shouldn't be happening in the first place. I never should've LET it happen. I… I…

As regret and frustration continued to war in Kaitlyn's head, she heard the Enforcer speak. "You know, some of my colleagues suggested that we arrest you instead. Although it would have been a more convoluted case, we still could have made one with enough time. However, I thought this might serve as a better lesson."

Kaitlyn's eyes snapped up. The man's eyes hadn't changed, but a paper-thin smile now twisted his features. "If anything, you should be thanking me. I'm doing you a favor."

At that moment, something in her broke.

"You have no right," her words started as a whisper, then grew into a full-on shout. "You have no damn right!"

She moved without thinking, rushing toward the man who'd done this. The police station, the loop, everything else fell away in an instant. The only thing in her vision was the smug Enforcer standing before her.

She didn't make it two steps before she felt arms wrap around her from behind. Kaitlyn struggled, screaming in frustration as she fought to reach the man.

"Kate! Kate, chill! It's me!"

Valerie's familiar voice was suddenly in her ear. She tried to break free, but it was no use. The girl's bear hug felt like iron bands around her. "Stop it, Kate!"

"Do I need to escort you two ladies out?"

Kaitlyn looked back. The officer who had been manning the desk was now standing behind her, arms crossed sternly. All traces of boredom had fled from his face.

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As suddenly as it had come, the burst of energy left her. Hot tears of frustration coursed down her cheeks in streams as she slumped wordlessly. I… I can't do anything. There's nothing I can do to fix this, is there? Not a single damn thing. He's stuck here, and all I can do is stand by and watch. I can't even apologize! Like that would mean a damn thing!

The Enforcer waved the other officer off. "That will be unnecessary. I believe she was just leaving." He nodded to the front door of the station. "Goodbye, Miss Kaitlyn. Take this as a reminder that there are lines you can't cross. There are rules in this world."

It was all she could do to not punch him in the face.

She took a few deep, shuddering breaths, glaring at the Enforcer with undisguised malice the whole while. He was wrong. There was one thing she could do. One single thing. One way to end this sorry excuse for a loop and put things back to normal.

This loop isn't even worth finishing. Not with Philip and his family like this. So why bother?

It would be so easy to end it. And she could. All she had to do was mention the time loop out loud.

Memories of the game's retribution ran through her mind, causing an involuntary shudder. The idea of getting paralyzed like that again wasn't exactly pleasant. Worse, she suspected that the game would continue to worsen her punishment for repeat offenses. But what was that compared to living through this?

Why shouldn't I? At least then, I'll be the one suffering instead of him. It's not like there's any good that'll come from seeing this travesty of a loop play out.

But as she thought, the words of the Enforcer pushed to the forefront of her mind. "If anything, you should be thanking me. I'm doing you a favor."

Why the hell would I ever thank him? The idea threatened to send her into a blind rage yet again. He knows damn well that I didn't want this. That I'd rather it was me in there instead of Philip. He did this INTENTIONALLY. What, does he enjoy messing with me? Does he enjoy making both of our lives hell?!

She took another shaky breath as Valerie squeezed her a little more tightly. There was no way she'd ever thank that guy. Not in a thousand loops. Not for creating just about the worst possible situation she could imagine.

…This has to be a bad ending.

The idea wormed its way into her thoughts like a creeping tendril. Instinctually, she swatted it away, not wanting to even consider it.

No. No way. How could I even consider endings at a time like this? That's so… so…

No matter how she tried, though, the thought was inescapable. This really was the worst situation she could imagine for Philip. It had to be a bad ending for him.

If this is a bad ending, then I DON'T WANT IT.

But what if she did need all the endings to escape? If she did, then resetting now wouldn't do anyone any good. She would have to do this all over again some day in the future.

Her stomach twisted. No, it wouldn't just be reliving this same situation. It would be so much worse. She'd have to knowingly set it up. She'd have to manipulate Philip into getting arrested, or lure him into some similarly tragic set of circumstances. All while having this memory burned into her mind.

The thought made her want to puke.

"...We should go," Valerie's voice sounded distant, as though it came from the end of some long tunnel. "I'm going to let go, ok? Can you be chill, Kate?"

Slowly, the pressure around her arms and chest lessened, then disappeared entirely. Kaitlyn stood there for a long moment, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.

I can't do this. But I can't risk it, either. I could never bring myself to do this again.

With a scream of frustration, Kaitlyn spun on her heel and stomped toward the entrance. She heard her suitemate following close behind as she slammed the door open and stepped into the night air.

I hate this. I hate myself. I hate that I can even CONSIDER being this damn selfish. I can't just… I'm really going to do this, aren't I? How can I just leave him like this?

But there was nothing else she could do.

She barely registered the drive home. Valerie tried to talk to her a few times, but she didn't say a word in response. She simply didn't trust herself to. Her black mood carried her all the way into her dorm room, where she punched her pillow in a fruitless attempt to find an outlet for her rage.

This game. This damn game.

***

The rest of the loop was difficult, to say the least.

After the revelation of Philip's disappearance, it took Kaitlyn a few days to regain any semblance of her sanity. In fact, it would have taken even longer, if not for a disturbing realization.

Shit. What in the world are Granny and Serena going to do now?

As much as she wanted to simply spend the rest of the loop in bed, that thought forced her into action. With a bit of help from Valerie, Kaitlyn managed to set the family up with a regular supply of food and other necessities in Philip's absence. She was careful not to give them money directly, since that might risk invoking the ire of the Enforcers. Regardless, they were both incredibly grateful for the support. Their fervent thanks whenever she stopped by only deepened the hollow pit of guilt that had made its home in her gut.

If either of them get dragged off, then that's it. I'm resetting. Bad ending or not, I just can't let that happen.

However, a fear of reprisal didn't stop her from feeding the pair like queens. It wasn't enough to make up for Philip's absence. Nor did it make her feel any better. But at least it was something.

Throughout it all, Kaitlyn's anger never fully abated. It simply changed forms, going from the unbridled flame of passionate rage to a cold, quiet hatred. A hatred of the Enforcers, herself, and the situation she found herself in.

Never again. I can never let anything like this happen ever again.

More than anything though, her ire found itself directed at the source of all these problems: the game. It had gone too far this time. Punishing her was one thing, but the other male leads? No. She wouldn't stand idly by while that happened.

Yeah, she snorted. Like I can do anything about it. If there was, I'd have busted Philip out of there already. As it is, I'm helpless.

But as the days and weeks slipped by, Kaitlyn found herself asking the question more and more. Was there something she could do? All her time in this world had seemed to support the idea that it was a game, at least partially. And if there was one thing she knew about games, it was that they could be exploited. Exploited and broken.

…I'm sick of it. I'm sick of bending to this damn game and having to bow down to whatever it says.

Was there a way for her to fight back? Maybe not. But if there was, then she was going to find out. And when she did…

…It's going to pay.

And so, she planned her revenge.

***

Cycle 36 Complete!

New Ending Unlocked!

Ending: Homewrecker

Total Endings Unlocked: 12