They know it’s a dream. Every detail pulses with a false heartbeat—yet their skin crawls as soon as sleep takes hold.

Sebastian moves through their nightmares like smoke. No footsteps. No warning. Just that impossible stillness before the hunt begins.

Each loop is the same puzzle: evade him, outsmart him, survive. He’s crushed their heart, tightened around their throat, snapped their neck—and made them watch it all rewind.

Tonight, they moved faster. Smarter. Almost solved it. Almost.

There’s no sound behind them. Just that sharp, familiar chill that slices down their spine right before it happens.

Then— Steel slides between their ribs. Clean. Precise. No hesitation.

His breath brushes their ear, colder than the blade. “You were doing so well.”

And then the world resets.