They didn't move.
Not because they were frozen—
Because there was nowhere good to go.
Below them, the three figures stood still, watching like hunters who already knew the prey had nowhere left to run.
Above them—
Something else waited.
The boy slowly turned his head.
"…You see that too, right?"
"Yes."
"…Good. I thought I was just unlucky."
"You are unlucky."
"…That's not comforting."
"…It's accurate."
He sighed.
"…People keep saying true things that don't help."
She didn't reply.
Her eyes stayed up.
Focused.
Careful.
The ledge they stood on was narrow.
Barely enough for both of them.
One wrong step—
And it was over.
"…Okay," the boy said quietly, "new plan."
"You have one?"
"…No."
"…Good. Same."
He almost laughed.
Almost.
A small sound came from above.
Not loud.
Just enough.
A shadow shifted.
The boy leaned slightly closer to the girl without noticing.
"…If we go up, we die."
"Yes."
"…If we go down, we also die."
"Yes."
"…So we're stuck."
"…For now."
He glanced at her.
"…You're very calm."
"…I panic later."
"…That's a bad habit."
"…It works."
"…I should try that."
She looked at him.
"…You panic while running."
"…That's also true."
Silence again.
Then—
Movement.
The shadow above dropped.
Fast.
The boy reacted instantly, pulling back.
The girl stepped forward.
Too fast.
Too close.
The figure landed on the ledge.
Light.
Controlled.
Another one.
Now three.
The boy blinked.
"…They multiply."
"Not helpful," she said.
"…I'm just saying what I see."
The figures didn't speak.
Didn't rush.
That was worse.
The boy shifted his feet slightly.
Testing space.
No room.
"…I miss running," he whispered.
"…Same."
One of the figures moved.
The boy didn't wait.
He grabbed the girl's arm.
"…We're jumping."
"…Where?"
"…Down."
"…You just said—"
"I know."
No time.
He pulled her.
They jumped.
Falling again.
"…I hate this part," he said mid-air.
"…Stop talking," she replied.
They hit the slope.
Hard.
Rolled.
Slid.
Crashes of stone and dust around them.
But this time—
They were ready.
The boy pushed through the fall, turning it into motion.
The girl followed, adjusting quickly.
They landed—
And ran.
Together.
"…Okay," he said while moving, "new rule."
"…What?"
"…No more cliffs."
"…Agreed."
Behind them—
Noise.
More than before.
Not just three.
Not just a few.
Many.
"…That's not normal," he said.
"…Nothing is normal anymore."
"…I liked when things were simple."
"…You were being chased even then."
"…Yeah, but less."
They ran through trees again.
Fast.
Sharp turns.
Short bursts.
But something changed.
The boy noticed first.
"…They're not following the same way."
"Yes," she said.
"…They're spreading out."
"…Blocking paths."
That was worse.
Much worse.
He slowed slightly.
Thinking.
"…If they block everything…"
"…Then we make a new way," she said.
"…That's what I've been doing."
"…Then do it better."
"…That's rude."
"…Move."
He pushed harder.
This time—
He didn't look for escape.
He created confusion.
Random turns.
Sharp stops.
Sudden bursts of speed.
The girl adapted again.
Closer now.
More in sync.
Not perfect—
But better.
"…You're learning," she said.
"…I don't like learning like this."
"…No one does."
A branch snapped nearby.
Too close.
The boy's eyes sharpened.
"…They're faster now."
"…Or closer."
"…Same problem."
They broke out of the trees—
Into open land.
Bad.
No cover.
No turns.
No tricks.
"…This is the worst one," he said.
"…I know."
They slowed.
Just for a moment.
Looking around.
Nothing.
Too open.
Too quiet.
"…Why does it always get quiet?" he whispered.
"…Because something is about to happen."
Right on cue—
The wind stopped.
Completely.
The boy felt it.
That pressure again.
Stronger.
Closer.
"…This is new," he said.
"…Yeah."
They didn't run.
Not yet.
Because this time—
It didn't feel like chasing.
It felt like something was waiting for them to move first.
The boy glanced at her.
"…You still think running together is a good idea?"
She looked back at him.
"…No."
Pause.
"…But running alone is worse."
He nodded slightly.
"…Fair."
The ground under them shifted.
Just a little.
Then—
Cracked.
The boy's eyes widened.
"…Now what?"
The girl didn't answer.
Because this time—
Even she didn't know.
End of Chapter 22