The boy moved again—
Fast.
Sharp.
Straight past the thin man.
Or at least—
He tried.
The man didn't move much.
Just a small step.
And suddenly—
He was still in the way.
"…That's annoying," the boy said out loud.
"You've said that before," the man replied calmly.
The boy clicked his tongue.
"Because it's still true."
He changed direction.
Again.
This time—
He didn't try to pass.
He ran around.
The man didn't chase.
Didn't rush.
Just turned—
And somehow kept up.
"…Okay, that's worse," the boy muttered.
Behind him, the heavy man laughed loudly.
"I like this kid."
"Focus," the girl said, though there was a slight smile on her face now.
The boy heard that.
"…Why are you smiling?" he shouted while running.
"Because you're trying too hard," she replied.
"…Trying to not die," he shot back.
"Fair," she said.
The boy almost tripped.
"…She agreed."
That confused him more than the chase.
He ran faster.
This time, he didn't look for paths.
He didn't look for openings.
He just moved in a way that felt wrong.
Left when he should go right.
Slowed when speed made sense.
Jumped for no reason.
Even he didn't know what he was doing.
"…Let's see you follow this," he said.
For a moment—
It worked.
The girl paused.
The heavy man stopped laughing.
Even the thin man tilted his head slightly.
"…What is he doing?" the heavy man asked.
"No idea," the girl replied.
The boy smiled.
"…Good."
He ran straight into a bush.
"…Bad."
He came out the other side with leaves stuck to his hair.
"…Very bad."
The heavy man burst out laughing.
"I take it back. I really like this kid."
The girl sighed.
"He's unpredictable."
The thin man spoke softly,
"No… he's adapting."
The boy ignored them.
Mostly because he was busy pulling a branch out of his sleeve.
"…Why are trees attacking me?" he complained.
No one answered.
He ran again.
This time, he aimed for something else—
Noise.
He spotted a group of travelers ahead.
Carts. People. Movement.
Perfect.
He rushed straight into them.
"MOVE!" he shouted.
People screamed.
Carts shook.
One man dropped his food.
The boy passed through like a storm.
Behind him—
Chaos.
The heavy man slowed down.
"…Now that's rude."
The girl stopped completely.
Too many people.
Too many variables.
The thin man watched quietly.
"…Smart," he said.
The boy didn't stop until he was far past the road.
Deep into another area.
Quiet again.
He finally slowed.
Breathing hard.
Sweat on his face.
Leaves still in his hair.
"…Okay," he said.
Pause.
"…That worked."
He looked around.
No one.
No pressure.
No footsteps.
For once—
It felt like he had actually escaped.
He dropped to the ground.
Back against a tree.
"…Running is getting complicated," he said.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Just one.
Then opened them again.
Because something felt—
Wrong.
Not danger.
Not pressure.
Just…
Different.
"…Why is it quiet again?" he whispered.
From behind the tree—
A voice answered.
"Because they stopped chasing."
The boy froze.
Slowly—
He turned.
The girl stood there.
Alone.
Not chasing.
Not attacking.
Just watching him.
"…That's worse," the boy said.
She smiled slightly.
"…I know."
End of Chapter 17