The boy didn't move.
Not yet.
The girl stood beside him, not in front, not behind.
Beside.
That alone felt wrong.
"…You said don't run alone," he said slowly.
"Yes."
"…That sounds like a bad idea."
"It probably is."
"…Then why say it?"
She looked ahead, not at him.
"…Because running alone isn't working anymore."
He didn't like that answer.
Mostly because it was true.
Behind them—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Not hiding.
The heavy man's voice came first.
"You two look comfortable."
The boy sighed.
"…He talks too much."
"You talk more," the girl replied.
"…That's different."
"How?"
"…I'm trying to survive."
"And he isn't?"
"…He's enjoying it."
The girl almost smiled.
The spear man stepped forward next, calm as always.
"You've improved," he said.
The boy looked at him.
"…I wish you hadn't noticed."
"I notice everything."
"…That's also annoying."
The thin man arrived last.
Same quiet steps. Same calm eyes.
Like none of this mattered to him.
"You stopped running," he said softly.
The boy shrugged.
"…Trying something new."
"Dangerous choice."
"…Everything is dangerous right now."
That got a small reaction.
Not much.
But enough.
The heavy man cracked his neck.
"So what now?" he asked.
The girl spoke first.
"We leave."
Silence.
The boy blinked.
"…We?"
She didn't look at him.
"…Yes."
"…I don't remember agreeing to that."
"You didn't."
"…Then why—"
"Because if you run alone, you lose."
He opened his mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
Because deep down—
He knew.
"…Fine," he said.
Pause.
"…But if I die, it's your fault."
She looked at him.
"…If you die, it's because you stopped running."
"…That's not helpful."
"Move," she said.
They moved.
Not straight.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Together.
It felt wrong immediately.
The boy kept adjusting his steps.
She didn't match him.
He didn't match her.
They almost bumped into each other.
Twice.
"…You're in my way," he said.
"You're moving randomly."
"…That's how I survive."
"That's how you trip."
"…I don't trip."
He tripped.
"…That didn't count."
She didn't reply.
But her shoulders moved slightly.
"…Did you just laugh?"
"No."
"…You did."
"Focus."
Behind them—
The others followed.
Not rushing.
Not worried.
That was the real problem.
"They're not trying," the boy said quietly.
"I know," she replied.
"…I don't like that."
"Neither do I."
They reached a narrow path.
Rock walls on both sides.
Only one way forward.
Bad.
Very bad.
The boy stopped.
"…This is a trap."
"Yes."
"…And we're going in?"
"Yes."
"…You're not very smart."
"You're still here."
"…That's also true."
They entered.
The space tightened.
Footsteps echoed.
Air felt heavy.
Halfway through—
The boy slowed.
"…Something's wrong."
The girl stopped too.
"…They're not behind us anymore," she said.
Silence.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Nothing.
That was worse.
"…Where did they go?" the boy whispered.
The girl didn't answer.
Because—
She didn't know either.
A small sound echoed.
From above.
The boy looked up.
Nothing.
Then—
A stone fell.
Right between them.
They both stepped back instantly.
"…Okay," the boy said.
"…I take it back."
"What?"
"…Running alone was better."
Before she could reply—
A shadow moved above.
Then another.
And another.
Not three.
Not four.
More.
The boy's eyes widened.
"…That's new."
The girl's voice dropped slightly.
"…They were waiting."
The boy looked at her.
"…So this was your plan?"
She looked back at him.
"…No."
That was the problem.
From above—
Voices.
Unknown.
Cold.
"Target confirmed."
The boy froze.
"…Target?"
The girl's expression changed.
For the first time—
Serious.
"…Run," she said.
"…Together?" he asked.
She looked at him.
"…If you can keep up."
The boy smiled slightly.
"…That's my line."
Above them—
More shadows moved.
Closing in.
And this time—
It didn't feel like a chase anymore.
It felt like something bigger had started.
End of Chapter 20