My best friend's boyfriend was cheating, so I tagged along to bust him at a hotel.

Fifteen hours until go time.

Felicity Cook booked a room right next to Jake's, jaw tight. "They'll be here tonight. When the time comes, we'll catch them red-handed."

Inside, I could barely keep my eyes open. She'd been a wreck since last night, and I hadn't slept a minute trying to keep her sane. Figured I had time, so I set an alarm and crashed.

When I opened my eyes, a guy was lying next to me.

Felicity kicked the door in and pointed at me. "Lydia Lloyd! I can't believe you betrayed me! You're my best friend! Why would you sneak around and steal my boyfriend?"

I just stared, mind blank, trying to get words out.

She snapped, yanked out a kitchen knife, and in front of everyone, drove it into me again and again. I hit the floor, drowning in my own blood, eyes stuck open like my body refused to let me go.

I came here to catch a cheater—how did I end up the side chick?

Then I blinked... and I was right back at the moment I first walked into that hotel with Felicity.

"Lydia, they already booked the room. They'll be here tonight. When the time comes, we'll catch them red-handed!"

Felicity's voice was sharp enough to knock me sideways—I literally stumbled into the wall.

Clutching my head, I froze. Same hotel. Same hallway. Same moment. I was back.

She leaned in, all concerned. "What's wrong? You sick?"

I spotted the room key in her hand and yanked it. "Hold on."

Headed straight to the front desk and switched rooms—put two doors between us and Room 009.

Felicity frowned. Said being closer made it easier to spy.

Yeah, well. I wasn't about to say, 'Time rewound and I just crawled out of death.' Even I wouldn't buy that.

Looking back, I figured Jake hit the wrong room. Both were too close. Felicity probably left, came back, and saw me with him. That was when she snapped.

Putting distance between us had to work.

I shrugged. "That room number's cursed. Bad vibe."

Still fuming about the cheating, she didn't question a thing. She laid out the plan again, ranting about that "other girl." "When I find her, I'll stab her."

A cold shiver slid down my spine. Last time, she actually did—over and over.

I pressed a hand to my stomach. It still felt weirdly sore.

She bumped my arm. "Why are you so out of it? You hiding something?"

I blinked hard and shook my head. "No. I'm just exhausted."

She softened. "I'm sorry. This is my fault. There's still time—go rest."

I snapped to attention. "No way. This matters. I'm staying."

Chugged a coffee until the fog in my head cleared.

Felicity got all teary, swearing we'd be besties for life and Jake was as good as gone.

We talked while heading into the room.

But a few lines in, my vision blurred. Her voice fizzled into static. That same crushing drowsiness hit me like a wave.

I pinched my thigh—sharp pain, brief clarity.

I grabbed her shoulders. "Felicity, get me out of here. Something's off. This room—it's making me tired. We're being set up. Please—"

The dizziness slammed down.

She tilted her head. "Huh? What are you saying? Your lips are moving but nothing's coming out. Are you just tired? Sleep a bit. We've got time. I'll wake you."

Then—black.

When I opened my eyes, a guy was next to me.

And Felicity burst in all over again.

She saw me in that bed and snapped, charging at me with a kitchen knife. "Lydia Lloyd! I can't believe you betrayed me! You're my best friend! Why would you sneak around and steal my boyfriend?"

I rushed out, "It's not like that. Listen—this is a setup! You know me. I came here with you. How could I be with him? This room isn't even—"

Then I caught the number on the door: 009.

My brain just... blanked.

How?

"You snake! Go die!" Felicity's eyes were pure rage as she lunged.

I dodged, but Jake grabbed me, dragging me right into the same nightmare. Blood spread under me again.

My gaze locked on the door—009—like it was mocking me.

How? Why?

I'd switched rooms. I stayed awake. I tried everything. So why did I still black out? Why was I still dying in the same stupid place?

Time kept rewinding, but I still couldn't get out.

Was I seriously doomed to die as the fake side chick?

My fingers curled weakly as everything dimmed. Pain, panic, then nothing but darkness.

***

"They already booked the room. They'll be here tonight. When the time comes, we'll catch them red-handed!"

That voice jolted me awake. I froze.

Felicity rushed over. "Lydia? You good? You look like crap. Want me to take you to a hospital?"

I blinked, trying to get my bearings.

Hotel hallway.

Room 008 key card in her hand.

I grabbed her wrist. "We're not going in."

She squinted at me. "Why not? They basically shoved it in my face. If I don't catch them, how am I supposed to confront that jerk? I need receipts."

She shoved her sleeves up. "And that chick trying to steal my man? I'll make sure she walks out on a stretcher."

Cold sweat crawled down my spine. "No. That's literally a crime. If she calls the cops, you're toast. Just—trust me. I'll run the sting."

Felicity wavered, but my ghost white face must've sold it. "Fine. What's the plan?"

I took a breath. This hotel felt wrong—every inch of it made my skin crawl.

Heart racing, I forced myself to chill. "Let's just go home. There's a million ways to bust cheaters. If we show up and they freak, what if you get hurt?

"We can hire pros—cameras, audio, the whole thing. Once we've got the receipts, we blow it up and ruin them for good."

Felicity frowned. "I wanna catch them myself. Take that cheating pair down. But you're right—if one of us gets hurt, it's not worth it. So... we're heading home first?"

She actually listened. I finally exhaled. "Yeah. Let's go home."

On the way back, we hit up a PI to tail them and collect proof.

He took the cash and promised full audio and video.

The second we stepped inside, it felt like a weight lifted.

We were away from that cursed hotel. Nothing could go wrong now... right?

I grabbed two giant coffees on the way back and chugged both. Still wasn't enough.

I remembered something about oxygen helping with fatigue, so I ordered two canisters online.

As soon as they showed up, I took a few hits.

Instant clarity.

Felicity was off to the side, glued to her phone. No ranting about Jake or the side chick this time.

I walked over just as she snapped. "The photos came in. That jerk did all this behind my back. I actually felt bad for him—kept sending him money. Turns out he was using it to fund some other chick!"

I peeked at the screen. Just their backs.

I leaned in. "No face shots?"

Felicity tucked her phone away and wiped her eyes. "PI said the angle sucked while tailing them. But once I figure out who she is, she's done."

I frowned. Something still felt... off.

Time had dragged me back here again. Same night. Same beats.

No logic to it.

But I wasn't freaking out this time. The shock had worn off.

"Can you stop talking about killing people?" I muttered. "You're young. They're not worth it."

"You're right," she said. "But that doesn't mean they're getting off easy."

***

Night hit.

I hadn't slept in nearly two days. My brain was on the edge.

Still didn't dare close my eyes. I had to survive the night.

I pinched my thigh, hard.

Felicity scooted over, eyes lit up. "Lydia! The PI just sent more pics! They went into Room 009! Let's go!"

We'd made it this far—maybe this time, nothing would blow up.

And I needed to see who that girl was.

"Let's go."

I followed her out.

Cold wind hit me like a slap as we jumped into the app-booked ride.

Felicity kept replaying the PI's video, looping it nonstop.

The girl's silhouette... weirdly familiar. I leaned in.

Felicity whispered, "Lydia... that back kinda looks like you."

I stared. Yeah, it kinda did. But with how wild she got last time, I wasn't about to feed that fire.

"You're overthinking it. I'm literally right here. No way I'm in two places at once. We'll see who it is when we get there."

I kept her calm, even called the cops—just in case.

Then the driver froze.