At first, Mike thought it was a second chance. Maybe fate had chosen him for something greater. The memories of his death still haunted him, but now, he had the power to change things. The first thing he did was avoid the illness that had killed him. He ate better, exercised, even went to the doctor when he felt the slightest bit off. Days passed. Then a week. For the first time, he felt like he was in control.
Then, one night, he took a wrong turn and ended up in an alley. A man stepped from the shadows, a glint of steel flashing in the dim light. Pain bloomed in his stomach before he even processed what had happened. He collapsed, gasping for air as blood soaked his shirt. His vision blurred. Darkness.
Then light.
The smell of cake. The sound of laughter.
His birthday. Again.
Panic set in. He stayed away from that alley, choosing a different route home. A week passed. Then two. Maybe that was it. Maybe I just had to be careful.
Then he drowned.
Reset.
He forced himself to learn to swim. He stayed away from deep water. Made it to adulthood. Then, at thirty, a searing pain gripped his chest. He gasped, clutching at his heart as everything faded.
Reset.
No matter what he did, death found him. Every mistake, every accident, every unknown danger pulled him back to the same moment. The candles. His sister's bright smile. His parents' laughter.
And each time, as he stared at the flames, a whisper echoed in his mind:
"Lead us with utmost power."