The Women of Custer City Ch. 19-22

Emma took another sip. She was still confused, but I had her engaged. She watched me, totally unblinking.

"I thought she was insane," I said, "I was trying to be there for her, trying to take her to therapy, but she wouldn't even acknowledge the fact that she was dying. The more I tried to support her, the more distant she got. Finally, we were living in totally different spheres. And she started to get mad. To her, I wasn't the supportive boyfriend, I was the weird distant one. She started looking for flaws, started talking to her friends about me. Finally, she got it in her head that I cheated on her. I'd moved on and was just waiting for her to die to make it official. There wasn't anything I could do to convince her otherwise, and she wanted revenge."

The living room had turned a deadly silent. We had seven bodies gathered in the cramped living room, but it's like they were all afraid to breath, so focused on my words, so focused on Emma's reaction. We all wanted to see if she would believe. None of us wanted this to be a daily trip for the next few months.

"Sadie figured out how to give herself more time," I said, breaking the silence, "As much time as she wanted. She could live the same day, over, and over, and over. Her mind remembering everything, her body resetting each time she woke up. She wanted us to be together, living as long as we wanted, side by side, never a problem in the world. But she'd gotten so convinced that I'd done what I hadn't, she turned it on me. She turned her paradise into torment. I'm stuck, living the same day, over, and over, and over."

The others nodded along, a gentle confirmation of the truth.

"That's Ginger and Alley," I said, "Two of the earliest people I met. Then Chrissy and Amber, then finally, I rekindled things with Amanda."

Emma gave Amanda a friendly nod, but she still couldn't see where I was going.

"I'll never forget her words," I said, "I'd finally realized what was happening. I'd probably lived today half a dozen times before I understood. And she spoke to me. She was irrational, still livid. She could barely get a sentence out. But right when she left, as time and space started to warp around her, she gave me the rules. If I wanted to cheat on her so bad, she'd give me what I wanted. Every woman in Custer City, and all the time in the world to get them. She wouldn't let me out until I had them all."

Alley and Chrissy leaned forward. Their eyes were stoic and focused, an affirmation of what I was saying.

"I don't want to do this," I muttered, "And I don't want to be here, but we've finally reached you."

"No," Emma whimpered. The words hit her like a brick, and somehow, she made herself even smaller against her leather couch.

"No one's going to force you," I said, ignoring Amber's protest, "I certainly won't. But when you go to bed tonight, that's it. You'll forget everything that happened today, and you'll wake up again this morning exactly where you were. You're trapped too, along with every one else in this God forsaken city. You just don't know it."

Emma's eyes turned to Amanda, the only face she could trust.

"I didn't know about it until it started," she said, her voice unusually soft, speaking not to a friend, but reluctantly to a stranger, "Even with all the evidence right in front of my face, it took a long time to believe it. I felt like a lunatic, completely schizophrenic. But it's the truth Emma. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

I studied the two, my sister and girlfriend. I'd always known they'd hung out. They'd had a relationship of their own my entire life, but this was the first time I'd ever truly seen it, and understood that look of trust that ran between them.

Emma's eyes turned back to me. She set her mug down, making sure her focus was on me, and me alone.

"What do we need to do, exactly?"

"Sex," I said, "To completion. We don't need to get undressed, we don't have to look at each other. Penetration is the only rule."

Emma gave the room one last survey, a part of her still waiting for the prank to be revealed.

"Fine," she said, "Let's do this."

She leaned back on the couch. "Get it done with."

Her hands started pulling at her sweatpants. She brought her panties down with them, and that was the first time I saw my sister's vagina.

That was also when the slow clap started.

Until my dying day, I'll never know what happened. None of us heard footsteps. None of us heard a door open, it's like the clapping appeared out of thin air, and with it, Hannah and Mary. I don't know how they found each other, I don't know how they got in, but I'll remember that smugness they both had. It was glee, the pure satisfaction that they were about to fuck things up.

Maybe I made things too obvious that the day was about to reset when I said "the first time". I don't remember much of what happened next, because my day had reset pretty darn quickly.

I think I heard Mary say, "We followed you, you son of a bitch."

I never heard the gunshot. All I have is a flicker of a memory, my vision going back while my strength left and I collapsed, falling towards Emma's bare pussy.

The rest I got the next day. Alley recalled everything matter-of-fact, the same way she'd speak in a courtroom.

Mary cackled, laughing maniacally, almost closer to delirium. They were both still in the disbelief phase, pissed off that this was their life now. Emma screamed. Her legs snapped shut as she tried to grab my shoulders. She tried jostling me, but she was overcome by shock. It didn't matter that we'd just spelled everything out, seeing your brother murdered in your living room never quite sits right.

"You believe everything now?" Hannah shrieked, the glee clear in her voice, "Real easy to believe isn't it?"

The gun tilted limply in her hand, shaking with her laughter.

"It doesn't matter," she croaked, "Not. One. Bit. Because Charlie's all gone, and you ain't gonna remember a thing."

Alley didn't give them anymore time to gloat. She drew her pistol and started towards the two. The motion snapped Hannah back to life. She reset Mary's day, then her own.

When my day finally restarted, Alley was already waiting at my doorstep. She'd drank two cups of coffee, and couldn't stop pacing, even as the door swung open.

"It was my fault," she said, her voice frantic, her head jerking while she walked. Her eyes were wide with delirium, full of wild thoughts as she tried to piece the day together, "I should have seen that, I should have set up a security detail, I should have stood guard, I should have-"

I caught her. I held her shoulders, stopping her pace for just a moment. "Alley," I said, my tired voice deadly serious, "You can't always blame yourself."

She shook her head, the frantic guilt already morphing into a panic attack.

"It wasn't your fault," I said, my voice as soothing as possible, but I knew what this was really about- the dog attack, "Sarah's not your fault either."

She snorted a single time. When she tried to speak, her words were still thick with panicked snot, "I'm the only one who can stop it, and every day I don't- Charlie- you know it too. Even if she doesn't remember. Pain is very real."

I'd known Alley's story for a long time. Half the reason I'd been successful with her so early was because of that damn dog attack. That first day, the original June 16th, Alley didn't know Sarah Waterson's fate. No one could have. She got the call around eleven, but it was too late. The pitbull had a hold of her, degloved both arms, torn through the woman's cheeks, and the screams were endless, the suffering lasting hours until she drew her last breath. The woman was a single parent, and the day left Alley's eyes a little wider. She'd gone out that night, drinking solely to forget. She was distraught. To me, that just meant she was an easy target.

Alley had collected herself enough to speak, "It happens to her, every. Single. Day. The screams, the suffering, the hours in the ICU, the pure pain, the panic about what's gonna happen to her family. If I don't go to work and stop it, it happens. Again, and again, and again."

I knew my words would fall on deaf ears, so I said nothing. I let her take a step closer, holding the back of her head in my palm.

"We'll get it right today," I promised, "We'll stop them from getting in. We know how to convince Emma."

Alley's panic attack had started to subside. She took a step back, and cleared her eye with a hurried wipe.

By the time the rest of our little group showed up, she'd calmed down completely, and wore the same stoic expression she wore any other day. She stood straighter than the others, almost hiding behind her police uniform.

Ginger and Chrissy arrived last, and they'd barely stepped into the kitchen before Alley started talking. "We know what to do," she said monotonously, "We know we can convince her. Amanda, obviously needs to be on the inside. I'll watch the perimeter, keep a lookout for Hannah and Mary, who else wants to help out?"

Amber raised her hand begrudgingly.

"Perfect, lets get this done."

I've already described the conversation with Emma, and the second attempt went almost the same. Sure, there were small differences; she asked why two women were standing by the door, especially since Alley was a cop. I told her I'd been here yesterday, and that changed the flow a little bit.

I talked a little about Hannah and Mary, explained how easy it was to make enemies. If anything, the differences just helped add believability to my story.

Amanda nodded along the entire time, swearing everything was true, and that seemed to convince her.

That brings us right up to the same point I was in yesterday. Emma was nervous, leaning back on the couch as she pulled off her pants. I gave a quick look back, just to be sure I wasn't standing at gunpoint, then pulled my pants down.

Emma locked eyes with me one last time, "Charlie," she sighed, her voice weak, "Just make it quick."

Amanda knelt at my sister's side. She took her hand and rested up against her chest, a small motion of comfort.

I started squeezing my fingers around the shaft, playing with the grip until I felt myself start to chub up. I glanced forward, the distance between my penis and Emma's vagina terrifyingly small, but I forced myself to keep stroking.

I focused between her legs, taking in the moles, the way she'd waxed the pubic hair into a thin strip, then let a few weeks pass by and it was starting to look like a terraced garden. As long as I was looking down, staring at her animalistically, it was easy. As long as I detached the face from the genitals, it was easy. I just can't look up.

Amanda shuffled slightly, rocking from one knee to the other as she got comfortable. I kept stroking, wanting to get as close to orgasm as possible before sticking it in.

"Just look at me," Amanda said, her voice low and soothing.

Emma's head rocked to the side and found Amanda's reassuring eyes. She gave the hand another gentle squeeze, and Amanda took advantage of my sister's focus. She reached down, catching the base of her shirt, and wriggled it up her stomach. She lifted it, stretching it along her arms until I couldn't see Emma's face.

I gave Amanda a small smile, thankful for the idea, and when I looked down, I couldn't help but think, I can do this. I didn't see my nervous sister anymore, I saw a woman. I saw the spread legs, the wetness between them. I saw her skinny abs, the elastic band of a sports bra barely sticking past her shirt. Her form stared at me like an alluring star, and I took a step closer.

It's not my sister, I thought, It's just a girl, it's just sex. You've done it thousands of times with thousands of women, it's just-

I couldn't step forward anymore. The tip of my penis was resting against her pubic bone, the thatch of hair tickling the underside. The disassociation was working, I knew. I was past jerking just to get an erection, by boner had turned so hard it was throbbing, the head rocking up and down as I steadied myself in front of her.

I started fucking my sister.

Maybe everything worked a little too well. I'd managed to get out of my nervous headspace, and block everything I'd recognized about her form from view. I was staring down, and saw only the sexual parts she'd kept so hidden. When I entered, and first felt that warmth, the way her lips swallowed me, begging me deeper inside, I felt my legs shudder. I shot my hand to the couch, quickly steadying myself, before placing the other on her waist, just enough to give me something to grip.

I started to work my hips, watching as her labia clung to me like saran wrap. Her lips followed, in and out, my penis shiny with her juices.

I started thrusting harder and harder, too lost in the sensation to think.

It's pretty normal for my mind to just go blank during sex. I get so lost in the pure sensation, the warmth, the struggle to fight my orgasm, that I barely have time for any thoughts besides how cool is this?

That day was different though. I'd gone into it already trying to clear my mind, and as I bent over her, my knees digging into the couch, I was somewhere primal and feral. My fingers dug deep into her flesh, a grip that held her in place, and despite all I'd said, some instinctive part of me was trying it's hardest to hold back an orgasm.

Then I heard Emma moan. I don't think she could help it. It was barely a squeak at first, a gasp of air that escaped between thrusts, but the faster my hips moved, the more noise she made. That just fueled me. I cleared every sensation from my mind, nothing but a man and a woman, our abdomens pressing into each other, lubricated by nothing but sweat. I felt the way her hair stuck to my skin, clinging to me every time I reared back.

The curtain Amanda had risen seemed to work for Emma too. It'd gotten us past that initial awkwardness, but now she felt only sensation, nothing but a man she couldn't see, clinging to her, gripping her waist, almost pulling her onto my dick.

"You're doing great," Amanda muttered. She leaned closer to Emma's face, fixing her sweaty hair. It was enough of a movement for the shirt to fall, and I saw the two, Amanda embracing her, so focused on keeping her comfortable. I saw the way Emma's face bounced like a sports car over a speedbump, jolting back and forth in my girlfriend's arms.

I looked back down, forcing myself to focus on the purely intimate. Emma was still wearing her sports bra, but sweat had gathered around the band, running between the cups and towards her naval. It added enough lubrication, her breasts were rocking enough that they threatened to pop free. I saw the corner of her nipple fight for freedom, and I forced myself to look further down.

Emma's legs kept trembling. Little jolts and zaps went down her thigh, and she had to make a conscious effort to keep them spread. My base brain took over, and I shoved a firm hand into her thigh, pinning it to the couch.

I could feel the start of an orgasm. I felt the tingling sensation that worked towards the base of my penis, the slight numbness as it became over engorged with blood. I gave my head a sweaty shake. This is too good. It's too raw, The orgasm was building, Sister or not, I don't want this to stop, I don't want to-

The sensation became like fighting the urge to pee. I kept thrusting, never once slowing. The sensation kept building, overwhelming me, threatening to shake my legs so hard I'd fall out on jizz on myself.

Emma beat me to orgasm. It wasn't a moan, it was a shriek, pure electricity that ran up her body. I saw her squirm, and I couldn't hold back another second.

I collapsed forward, falling on her torso. I barely felt the orgasm, nothing but her hot skin, the intense way we were both breathing.

Amanda rose to her feet and helped me off Emma. She gave me a quick kiss, while her other hand brought Emma's shirt down.

"You made it," she finally said. She helped me pull my pants up and gave me a quick hug.

Alley and Amber stepped through the door, and our whole group gathered together. "It's done," I said, finding Amber's eyes, "The hardest one's done."

Amber gave a quick smirk, before joining the others as they disappeared.

Amanda tugged at my hand, beckoning me to leave, but I gave Emma one last glance.

"Emma," I said, "I'm really sorry this had to happen, I'm-"

She was still frazzled and frozen. She was laying on the couch, her eyes unfocused. She struggled to form a thought, "You did what you- You had to- Sadie said you had to-"

Emma took a deep breath, still fighting the electric sparks that raced around her body. She gave an exasperated gasp and finally spoke, "You don't ever need to apologize for that."

Chapter 22

I didn't study Emma the way I usually studied my targets. I didn't know what she did all day, I didn't even know if I'd wake up before her. We just went over together, barely any thought; so I wasn't too surprised to see her in my living room, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"It's all true," she said in amazement, "I don't believe it, I mean I believe it, did believe it, but only because I didn't have another choice. But believing it and then actually living it, and then believingit, is a totally different belief."

I was tired, but couldn't help but laugh. Even at 6:30 in the morning, Emma had more energy than most, and it was the bubbly sister I'd known my entire life. My biggest fear, and I imagine hers too, is that everything would change, that we'd never be able to look each other in the eye again. I knew our bodies reset, that the bodies we walked around in todayhad never actually had sex, but the memory lingered. Fortunately, waking up in a timeloop overshadowed most normal things, and the curiosity overwhelmed everything else.

"It still doesn't feel quite real," I admitted, "Even after all this time."

"I mean you hit me like a truck," she said, her words getting quicker, "I mean one second you and Sadie are madly in love, and the next, you're with Amanda apparently, and you gang up on me with a bunch of random women, and you're yelling about people trying to kill you, and all about a timeloop, and how you're trapped, and, Jesus Charlie, I didn't even know what to think, but oh my God, holy Jesus it was the truth, how in the-"

My little laugh was enough to stop her rambling. She took a deep breath, refocused her thoughts, and when she spoke again the pace was slightly slower, "I mean it," she said, "Yesterday, I mean literally yesterday, you were talking about proposing to Sadie, and now you've been here- how long have you been here."

"I don't know a decade, probably a few more."

"A decade, and all that-" She stopped suddenly, the reality of the words finally hitting her, "A DECADE?"

I nodded.

"Are you telling me you're older than me too?"

I couldn't help but laugh, "I guess in a sense."

"Jesus Christ, how are you still sane?"

It was her turn to laugh, "I've only been here a day and I can't stop laughing!"

I matched her smile, "Some days are easier than others, but what choice do I have? The only way out is forward."

"Meaning..." Emma started, "Add more girls?"

I nodded, "That's the idea, unless we can figure Sadie out."

I didn't want to press on, but Emma was too curious, "Sadie found Amanda and I a couple weeks ago. She said something about how there's another way out, how if I ever truly cared I could find her."

Her eyes went wide again, the same total focus she had when we explained the situation to her yesterday.

"Half of us think it's just mind games, meant to make us fight, meant to make me take longer. We spent a week trying to look for clues, but found nothing."

"Did you going to where you had your first-"