Happy New Year! Urgh, I've been trying to solve the monster called Rubik's cube. Haha I've had it for 3 years and only solved the white face!

I haven't gone to the loop for weeks. Right now, I need to harrow, till, and sow the meager patch of land that is my "field" with some shrunken wheat kernels I got from old Aida, the Italian immigrant in the village. At least it provides some food. Or will.

I pop a handful of kernels into my mouth. They are nutty with a slight hint of earth, and chewy, like the al dente pasta Aida loves. The July heat ripples as I step into the farmhouse for a tumbler of frigid ginger-water, taken from the well and flavored with fresh ginger.

After I am sufficiently hydrated, I step into the loop. I nearly trip on a greyish-dun rock. An impending sense of horror pervades me as I read the inscription on it. Suzume Miki. June 13, 1830 to July 15, 1867.

Oh no. Who could have killed her? The newspapers outside the loop are plastered with the murders of Jack the Ripper, but I didn't think he was a peculiar! Is he? What if Alma's next? My subconscious says. I run towards her open window; in mid-air I change into a phoenix and careen through the pit onto the bed. "Altair!" Alma says, a shocked expression on her face. "Why is there a tombstone in your garden?" I bluntly say.

Tears run down her eyes, which I now notice are surrounded by purple-black bags. Sobs wrack her body as I put a hand on her shoulder. "It's ok now." I soothe her, but she turns to me and says accusingly, "Is it? Miss Avocet is moving us to a new loop. I'm never going to see you again."

Anguished tears running down her face, she streaks past me out the window into the garden. "Wait!" I cry as stars twinkle. A great big happy family, I think bitterly. Jack the Ripper is out there.

Oh my God. What if Jack is the one who killed Suzume? He's still out there. And Alma's alone..A disturbing montage flashes through my head of Alma bleeding on the ground, her body mutilated, her gravestone, her coffin.

I frantically fly over the gardens over and over, searching for the girl in the navy dress. Please don't do anything stupid….I plead. Suddenly, I see a figure in black advancing towards her. My eyes narrow as I try to focus in on the thing it's holding. The wind is whipping in my eyes as they water in pain. No, please don't let that be a knife….I double my speed and come between them just as the knife comes down.

I hear screaming, but the sticky, warm fluid surrounding me is so calming..who's screaming? My eyes dim and my head lolls back. The pain is red-hot yet chilling at the same time..I weakly raise a wing in front of Alma. It feels like I'm holding up a boulder. Finally, even my wing falls. Just like an executioner's blade, I can't help thinking before I fall asleep.