The boy didn't move.
Not because he couldn't.
Because this felt different.
The girl stood a few steps away, hands relaxed, not blocking him, not attacking, not even chasing anymore.
Just… there.
Watching him like he was something she was trying to understand.
"…You stopped," the boy said.
"You noticed," she replied.
"That's not normal," he said.
She nodded slightly.
"Neither are you."
That answer didn't help.
The boy slowly stood up, brushing leaves off his clothes.
"…So what now?" he asked.
The girl tilted her head a little, thinking.
Then she said something strange.
"Talk."
The boy blinked.
"…Talk?"
"Yes."
"…You were trying to kill me five minutes ago."
"We still might," she said calmly.
"…That's not comforting."
A small pause.
Then—
She laughed.
Just a little.
The boy froze.
"…You laugh?"
"…Sometimes."
"That's worse," he said.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The wind passed between the trees, light and quiet.
It didn't feel like a fight anymore.
But it didn't feel safe either.
The boy slowly stepped sideways.
Testing.
She didn't stop him.
"…You're letting me go?" he asked.
"For now."
"That sounds like a trap."
"It might be."
"…You're very honest."
"I don't see the point in lying right now."
That was even worse.
The boy scratched his head.
"…I don't understand people."
"That's clear," she replied.
"…Is it that obvious?"
"Yes."
He sighed.
"…Running is easier."
She nodded.
"It is."
Silence again.
But this time, it wasn't heavy.
Just… strange.
The boy looked at her again.
Really looked this time.
She didn't look like the others.
Not loud like the big one.
Not quiet and heavy like the spear man.
Not calm and strange like the thin man.
She looked normal.
Almost.
"…Why are you chasing me?" he asked.
She didn't answer right away.
Then—
"Because you're interesting."
"…That's a bad reason."
"It's a true one."
The boy stared at her.
"…People keep saying that."
"That means it's probably important."
"…I don't like it."
She smiled slightly again.
"…You'll get used to it."
"I don't want to."
"That's not how it works."
The boy didn't like this conversation.
It felt like he was losing even without running.
So he took a step back.
"…I'm leaving."
"I know."
"…You're not stopping me?"
"No."
"…That's suspicious."
"Yes."
He paused.
"…Okay."
Then—
He turned.
And ran.
Not full speed.
Not yet.
Just enough to leave.
After a few seconds, he sped up.
More distance.
More safety.
More control.
He didn't look back.
Not once.
Behind him—
The girl stood still.
Watching him disappear between the trees.
After a while, the heavy man walked up behind her.
"Why didn't you stop him?" he asked.
She didn't turn.
"Because he would run anyway."
The spear man arrived next.
"And now?"
The girl's eyes stayed on the path he took.
"Now…"
Pause.
"…he'll come back."
The thin man stepped forward last.
A faint smile on his face.
"Good," he said softly.
Far away—
The boy slowed down again.
"…That was weird," he muttered.
He touched his wrist again.
That same band.
Still there.
Still light.
Still… wrong.
"…I should remove this," he said.
He pulled at it.
Harder this time.
It didn't break.
He frowned.
"…Okay… now I really don't like this."
The wind blew again.
Soft.
Cold.
And for a brief moment—
That strange feeling returned.
Not close.
Not far.
Just enough to remind him—
He wasn't free yet.
End of Chapter 18