16. 17. 18. 18. 18-

"Happy birthday to you!"

I stared at the cake, feeling taunted by the bright white frosting and messy red writing.

Everyone continued to cheer loudly, their voices echoing off of the dining room walls. Claps and whistles filled my ears; the cake was pushed toward me and the many singular candles flickered. Lifeless flames that seemed to merge together and grow bigger by the second.

""Blow out your candles, darling! You only turn eighteen once!"

"I wish," I murmured under my breath, but gave in and blew until the last candle light flickered out.

The room went dark. Everyone cheered. I thought I was going to be sick.

I felt it before I saw it.

The sharp stab of a knife.

My screams were drowned out by the roaring celebratory cheers. I was dying and no one knew.

But just as quick as it was gone, the light was suddenly flooding back. It filled my eyesight and whited out the edges of my vision. I blinked hard.

"Good morning! Happy eighteenth birthday, darling!"

I didn't even bother responding this time.

I'd lost count of how many times I'd relived this day.

Maybe this time I could stop my killer. Who knew how long I had left?