đź“– DIMENSION X
Episode 9: "the devil's cutting board"
The room didn't feel safe anymore.
Not after what they saw.
Not after what came inside.
They were all standing near Ryan's window, staring at the treehouse like it might suddenly move.
It didn't.
It just stood there.
Perfect.
Untouched.
Like nothing had ever happened.
"That thing…" Arjun whispered, "…it was inside."
"No," Zayn snapped, turning sharply.
Everyone looked at him.
His expression?
Not scared.
Angry.
"This is HER fault."
Silence dropped instantly.
Evie froze.
"You shouldn't have come to us," Zayn continued, his voice rising. "You came here acting innocent—begging for a home—and now look at this."
Ryan stepped forward. "Zayn—"
"No!" he cut him off. "I knew something was off about you from the start."
Evie's fingers tightened.
"The fire, the powers—and now THIS? You brought that thing here. Your little pet—"
SLAP.
The sound cracked through the room.
Zayn froze.
Everyone froze.
Maya stood in front of him.
Hand still raised.
Eyes sharp.
"No," she said quietly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
But enough to silence the entire room.
Layla almost snorted—but stopped herself.
Barely.
Maya stepped closer.
"If you have something to say, say it like a human. Not like a scared kid throwing blame at someone who already has enough."
Zayn didn't reply.
Didn't move.
Ryan blinked.
"…you deserved that," Arjun muttered.
Zayn shot him a look.
Arjun raised his hands. "You get what you get if you mess with girls."
Layla finally laughed.
"Accurate."
Maya turned instantly soft again, crouching beside Evie.
"Hey… hey, look at me."
Evie's eyes were filled with tears now.
She hadn't even defended herself.
"It's okay," Maya whispered, wiping her tears gently.
"…what is it?" Layla asked softly.
Evie hesitated.
Then whispered—
"…it's been following me."
Everyone stilled.
"…in dreams too."
Ryan frowned.
"I don't know what it is," Evie continued, her voice small. "I didn't do anything. I don't have enemies."
Zayn looked away.
Ryan stepped back quietly.
"I'll be back."
No one stopped him.
Downstairs—
the house felt too normal.
Too quiet compared to the chaos upstairs.
Ryan grabbed a glass.
Filled it with water.
His hands weren't steady.
"Elena—Ryan?"
He turned.
His mom stood near the kitchen entrance.
Watching him.
"…who's that girl?" she asked gently.
Ryan didn't hesitate.
"Maya's friend."
A lie.
Smooth.
Too smooth.
"She's staying over," he added.
Elena studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…okay."
But she didn't look convinced.
Ryan turned quickly.
But then—
the TV caught his attention.
"…breaking news…"
He froze.
"Reports are coming in from the Rose Valley area near Woodlock Forest…"
Ryan stepped closer.
"Several livestock—sheep and cows—have been found dead under mysterious conditions."
Images flashed.
Dead animals.
Clean cuts.
Unnatural.
"…residents report unusual electrical disturbances…"
Lights flickering.
Clocks glitching.
"…some claim clocks froze at exactly 3:00 AM…"
Ryan's chest tightened.
"…more concerning—"
The reporter hesitated.
"…human remains have been discovered."
Ryan stopped breathing.
"Authorities are calling the area—"
"The Devil's Cutting Board."
A shaky interview clip played.
A man.
Terrified.
"…it's not human," he said. "It moves like a shadow… and when you notice it…"
His voice broke.
"…it attacks."
The screen flickered.
Static.
"…some believe it's a prank…"
"…others believe it's becoming a new urban legend…"
The TV went quiet.
Ryan stood there.
Heart racing.
It's real.
It's not just Evie.
It's already here.
He turned—
and ran upstairs.
"They're calling it the Devil's Cutting Board," Ryan said as soon as he entered.
Everyone turned.
"What?" Maya frowned.
Ryan explained everything.
Fast.
Messy.
But clear.
Dead animals.
Dead people.
Lights flickering.
3 AM.
The shadow.
Silence filled the room.
Arjun grabbed a whiteboard instantly.
"Okay—okay—wait—this is something."
He started writing rapidly.
"Clue one: Evie says it's following her."
"Clue two: sightings near forest."
"Clue three: deaths—same area."
"Clue four: electricity disturbances."
Maya leaned in. "Clue five: IT BROKE OUR WINDOW."
"Correction," Arjun said, pointing, "it broke it… and then it didn't."
They paused.
"…what?" Layla frowned.
Ryan looked at the treehouse again.
"…it was normal."
Arjun's eyes lit up.
"…so it resets."
"Resets?" Zayn repeated.
"Like time," Arjun said. "Or reality. It can undo physical damage."
Maya blinked. "…that's illegal."
Arjun kept drawing.
Points.
Lines.
Locations.
"Where did the bodies appear?" he muttered.
Ryan rushed to his mom's computer.
Pulled up the news map.
"Here… here… and here."
Arjun connected the dots.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then stopped.
"…what is that shape?" Layla asked.
It wasn't random.
It wasn't straight.
It formed something.
Weird.
Curved.
Almost like…
"…a pattern," Arjun whispered.
No one listened.
Because Maya suddenly grabbed Evie's hand.
And Layla's.
"Kitchen. Now."
The kitchen felt warmer.
Safer.
Evie stepped in slowly.
Her eyes moved everywhere.
The fridge.
The TV.
The oven.
The toaster.
"…what is that?" she whispered, pointing.
Maya grinned.
"Toaster."
Evie stared.
"…it makes bread hot?"
Layla whispered, "She's adorable."
Elena turned.
Saw Evie properly for the first time.
Her eyes softened.
"…hi."
Evie froze slightly.
"…hi."
"What's your name?"
"…Evie."
Short.
Simple.
Maya jumped in immediately.
"She's from California. New here. Super shy."
Layla nodded. "Very introvert. Silent mode always on."
Elena smiled gently.
"…and your parents?"
Evie opened her mouth—
"…Kin—"
"LIAM," Maya said instantly.
Too fast.
Everyone paused.
"He's a doctor," Maya continued smoothly. "Her mom's Stephanie. A nurse."
Evie blinked.
Then nodded slowly.
"…yes."
Elena smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
Evie nodded again.
Still observing everything.
Like the world was a museum.
Back upstairs—
Ryan looked at everyone.
"…we should go home."
Silence.
"What?" Maya said.
"This is getting serious."
Layla crossed her arms.
"And if we all suddenly go home, our moms will think we fought."
Zayn added, "And last time you got angry, you broke my nose."
Ryan: "THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT."
Layla: "WITH A TRUCK."
Maya: "ICONIC."
Arjun: "Traumatic."
Zayn: "PAINFUL."
Ryan sighed.
"…fine."
Maya grinned.
"Back to the crime scene."
They climbed the treehouse again.
Slower this time.
Careful.
Prepared.
Arjun held a compass.
Zayn carried a metal rod.
Maya had—
"…is that a toy sword?" Ryan asked.
"It's for emotional support," she said.
They reached the top.
Opened the door.
"…okay," Maya said, stepping in, "invisible director, that entrance was kinda dramatic. I expect at least 10 bucks."
Silence.
Nothing.
The window—
perfect.
No cracks.
No damage.
Ryan touched it slowly.
"…this is impossible."
Evie stepped closer.
Touched the same spot.
Her eyes flickered.
"…it was here."
Arjun nodded slowly.
"…it rewinds."
They all stood there.
Trying to understand something that didn't follow rules.
Later—
they lay on the floor.
Girls on one side.
Boys on the other.
Evie in the middle.
Layla to her left.
Maya to her right.
Ryan at the far end.
Quiet.
Thinking.
"Goodnight," Maya said.
"Goodnight," Layla echoed.
"Goodnight," Arjun added.
Zayn hesitated.
Then—
"…goodnight."
Ryan: "Goodnight."
Silence.
Evie paused.
Then whispered—
"…goodnight."
Maya smiled softly.
"…thank you universe for giving me the most unpaid experience of my life."
Layla snorted.
The lights dimmed.
The night deepened.
Far above—
the sky stretched endlessly.
And through a small airplane window—
a man watched.
Messy hair.
Dark coat.
Headphones on.
Laptop glowing faintly.
News playing.
Static cracking.
He slowly closed the laptop.
Looked outside.
"…I'm coming."
The plane disappeared into the clouds.
End of Episode 9. 🔥