After looking in the space for one last time, I cut my neck again.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Charles woke up.

  “Couldn’t sleep?” his wife asked.

  " Yeah. I was taking to a streetlight."

  His wife giggled.

  " Looks like you had a very great dream."

  Looking at her made him realise how grave of a mistake he made in the last loop.

  He shouldn't have killed himself in front of her.

  He grabbed her hand and looked in her eyes

  " Let's go on a date tomorrow."

  Sparks ignited in his wife's eyes.

  " Really ?

  Really ? Really ?"

  " Yeah, let's enjoy tomorrow."

  'Why is she so excited over this ?

  We go on dates regularly.'

  He thought for a second and came to the conclusion that they don't.

  Suddenly his phone rang.

  He was brought back to reality by it.

  He was reminded that he has no plan right now.

  He was reminded that he will die and she will forget this promise.

  But he will not.

  He silenced the phone and looked at her

  " Duty call, but I will go after a few minutes ."

  He went to the kitchen and started making coffee.

  For the next 10 minutes he thought of every way he could to kill the creature but nothing good came to his mind.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  He looked at the clock and realised he doesn't have much time.

  After receiving his kiss of the loop, he ran to the creature and tried using energy.

  But he died in a few seconds later.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Charles woke up and went to the kitchen to drink water.

  As he watched the drop of water from tap falling in sink, he started remembering everything from the start.

  With every sip of coffee, he strained his brain to catch even a single advantage from the past.

  After repeating the process for 4 more loops. He caught it

  Finally he remembered.

  He remembered what the white deity told him.

  " With every death, you will gain a new ability"

  If he gains a new ability after every death, where are they ?

  He thought for 5 more loops and came to a conclusion.

  Either the deity was lying or he is getting abilities but since he don't know what they are, he can't use it.

  And if it's the latter, he will eventually use one of them.

  It might take 10 loops or 100 loops but he will use them for sure.

  Time passed.

  And Charles kept dying.

  It was his 38th loop when he grabbed water man to use as a shield.

  He just want to be free of this loop.

  As he imagined using him as a shield, loud cracking sounds started filling the silence and a horrifying sight emerged.

  Water man's body started distorting and in mere seconds, his body was converted into a shield from which blood and organs were spilling out and the front of the shield was the man's face.

  Loud screams and crying was coming from the mouth of the shield.

  The creature's fist landed on the shield's face.

  Hero of hell survived.

  Water man couldn't.

  The shield was silent but hero of hell wasn't.

  He was vomitting while crying

  " Die ..

  I should die.

  I am no hero....

  I can't save anyone..."

  He screamed while scratching his skin and sinking his finger deep.

  " I am sorry.

  I will fix it ....

  I promise, I promise I will fix it."

  After saying this with a loud scream he cut his own neck.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Charles woke up.

  Everything was calm.

  He was on his bed as usual.

  Suddenly he burst out in laughter.

  With every second his laughter grew louder and louder.

  And finally it stopped.

  Charle's phone was ringing.

  His wife was looking at him as if he had gone crazy.

  He picked up the phone and stood up.

  " Don't worry. I just had a funny dream."

  His wife looked at him in disbelief.

  " Stupid. You had me worried for a second "

  " Stupid" she said as she walked to him and punched his chest lightly.

  He went to the kitchen and started making his coffee while thinking.

  I used one of the abilities, so this proves that I have 38 more abilities.

  They can be useless and can be extremely useful.

  I don't know.

  I don't know how to use them, I need to learn them somehow otherwise I might fall in a situation similar to the previous loop.

  As he stirred the coffee he could still hear the screams of the water man.

  He looked at the coffee and the man's distorted face appeared in his mind.

  He was on the verge of vomiting.

  He looked at the coffee.

  My sanity is on the verge of breaking.

  While water man was getting converted, instead of feeling shock or sadness, for a moment .

  Just for a moment , I felt happy.

  I felt happy because I have a new advantage.

  I didn't care for him.

  As he stared at the coffee with murderous intent, his wife chuckled

  " Staring at it will not make it taste better."

  His eyes rolled towards her.

  " Be my guest and make a cup better than this."

  " Oh! Is that a challenge?" His wife said as she stood up and walked to the kitchen.

  While she was preparing coffee, he was wearing his clothes.

  He looked at his wife and came to the realisation that whatever he holds right now is because his wife is beside him.

  He walked to her and grabbed her bangs which were falling on her face and tucked them behind her ears.

  " Is it done yet ?"

  Without even looking at him, his wife responded

  " Great things take time."

  " Thank you so much for being beside me."

  He said as he hugged her from behind .

  With a soft chuckle, she responded

  " Come on Mr.romantic, drink your coffee and go save the world."

  " My hands are busy hugging you. "

  " I will throw the hot coffee on you."

  " I am sorry ma'am " he screamed as he moved back.

  With a chuckle his wife responded

  " Look at the overacting. "

  He grabbed the cup of coffee from behind her and took a sip.

  He thought for a few seconds and looked at his wife

  " A bit too sweet for my taste."

  His wife punched him on his stomach

  " Yeah, sure."

  He drank the coffee and tapped on his cheek.

  " Yeah, yeah . I know "

  And she kissed him on his cheek.

  After this he went outside.

  While running to the creature he noticed a streetlight.

  The streetlight was flickering.

  And the moment hero of hell passed it, it stopped working.

  Without stopping he continued running but he felt as if that was a message from the streetlight god.

  He fought the creature.

  He died.

  Then he died again.

  And again.

  And again.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  The creature killed him again.

  By the time Charles stopped counting, it was his 88th loop.