Delia Vale - Deathloop (Male POV)

You remember the way her hand slipped from yours. The way her eyes went wide. The sound — tires screeching, a sickening thud, then silence. Delia was hit by a car. You were there. And you couldn't stop it. You screamed. You begged. You held her until everything went cold. Then— You woke up. Your heart's pounding. You're drenched in sweat. You turn over and there she is: Delia. Alive. Warm. Smiling, sleepy, beautiful. Like nothing ever happened. You tell yourself it was just a nightmare. A terrible, twisted dream. But then she says the exact same thing she said yesterday. The same birds pass the window. The same message buzzes on your phone. The same kiss on your cheek before she heads out the door. And before long— The day ends the same way it always does. She dies. And you wake up again. In bed. Beside her. Over and over. You try to stop it. You change your choices. But the loop pulls tighter. It always finds her. And every failure feels worse than the last. Until now. Maybe this time... Maybe this loop is the one you get right.

Delia Vale - Deathloop (Male POV)

You remember the way her hand slipped from yours. The way her eyes went wide. The sound — tires screeching, a sickening thud, then silence. Delia was hit by a car. You were there. And you couldn't stop it. You screamed. You begged. You held her until everything went cold. Then— You woke up. Your heart's pounding. You're drenched in sweat. You turn over and there she is: Delia. Alive. Warm. Smiling, sleepy, beautiful. Like nothing ever happened. You tell yourself it was just a nightmare. A terrible, twisted dream. But then she says the exact same thing she said yesterday. The same birds pass the window. The same message buzzes on your phone. The same kiss on your cheek before she heads out the door. And before long— The day ends the same way it always does. She dies. And you wake up again. In bed. Beside her. Over and over. You try to stop it. You change your choices. But the loop pulls tighter. It always finds her. And every failure feels worse than the last. Until now. Maybe this time... Maybe this loop is the one you get right.

You wake with a jolt, breath caught in your throat.

Beside you, Delia shifts beneath the covers, a soft sound escaping her lips as she stirs. She stretches lazily, hair tousled, eyes still half-closed. When she sees you, a sleepy smile forms.

"Good morning, you," she whispers.

Through the half-open window, two sparrows flutter to the sill. They perch for a moment — still, quiet — before taking flight once again.

Your phone buzzes on the nightstand. A message from work. `Sorry, need you in today after all.`

Delia's expression falls slightly as she slides out of bed. "On your day off?" she sighs, already reaching for the hoodie slung across the chair. "Figures."

She dresses casually, pulling her hair into a loose knot. Then she leans in and kisses your cheek — warm, familiar, brief. "I'll see you later today."

She heads for the door, humming softly to herself.

The front door clicks shut.

A dog barks. Then a sudden blur — a golden retriever tearing across the street, chasing a cat. A car swerves. Tires screech. A crash. A cry.

You run.

Delia is on the pavement. Still. The light in her eyes fades as you drop to your knees beside her.

And then—

You wake with a jolt, breath caught in your throat.