They didn't run.
Running meant fear.
And fear created patterns.
So they walked.
Measured. Controlled. Unpredictable.
The corridors shifted around them—turns, openings, narrow paths—none of it chosen randomly.
At least not completely.
Adrian made sure of that.
Left," he said suddenly.
Kai didn't question it. He turned.
Veyr followed, eyes sharp.
A few steps later—
No. Right.
They adjusted instantly.
Kai glanced at him. You're mixing it up.
Adrian nodded slightly. I'm breaking rhythm.
Behind them—
Something adjusted.
Not visible.
But present.
The air shifted—just enough to feel wrong.
Veyr murmured, "It's compensating.
Adrian's lips curved faintly. "Good. Let it try.
They entered a wider chamber.
Not large.
But open enough.
Adrian stopped.
Kai looked at him. This is it?"
Adrian nodded once. Yeah."
Veyr's gaze sharpened. You're going to set a trap.
Adrian glanced at him.
A small pause.
Something like that."
Silence settled.
The kind that wasn't empty.
The kind that waited.
Adrian stepped forward slowly.
Then turned.
Not fully.
Just enough.
It's close," he said quietly.
Kai exhaled. I can feel that now."
Veyr didn't speak.
But his attention locked onto the space behind them.
Adrian raised his hand.
The mark pulsed.
The connection stirred instantly—
Eager now.
Responsive.
Adrian let it open—
Just a little.
A thin thread snapped into place.
The air reacted.
Behind them—
The shadow shifted.
Faster this time.
Closing distance.
Kai's voice dropped. It's taking the bait."
Adrian didn't look away. Yeah."
He let the connection open a bit more—
Then held it there.
Not fully.
Not deep.
Just enough to shine.
Like a signal.
The reaction was immediate.
The darkness gathered—
Not spreading.
Condensing.
Forming.
Veyr's voice sharpened. Careful.
Adrian nodded slightly.
The pressure built.
The connection pulled—
Harder now.
But Adrian didn't fall into it.
He held the edge.
Balanced between opening and resisting.
Almost," he muttered.
Kai stepped closer. Don't push too far.
Adrian's voice tightened slightly. I know.
The shadow moved again.
Closer.
Clearer now.
Not just a ripple.
A shape.
Distorted.
Unstable.
But forming.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
There you are.
The moment stretched.
The connection strained.
The shadow leaned forward—
Reaching.
That was it.
Now," Veyr said sharply.
Adrian cut the connection.
Completely.
The thread snapped.
Hard.
The backlash hit instantly—
Not from Adrian.
From the thing behind them.
The shadow jerked—
Its form collapsing unevenly.
Like something suddenly deprived of direction.
Kai's eyes widened slightly. It lost the signal.
Adrian exhaled sharply. Yeah.
The shadow flickered—
Unstable.
Searching.
But there was nothing to lock onto now.
No connection.
No signal.
No path.
Veyr stepped forward slightly.
Again.
Adrian didn't hesitate.
He opened the connection—
Then cut it.
Fast.
Like a pulse.
The shadow reacted violently this time—
Twisting.
Trying to adjust.
Failing.
Kai watched closely. You're disorienting it.
Adrian's breathing steadied.
I'm breaking its tracking.
Another pulse—
Open.
Close.
The shadow staggered.
Not physically.
But structurally.
Like its form couldn't hold.
Veyr nodded slowly.
It relies on continuity.
Adrian smirked faintly.
Then we don't give it any.
He repeated it
Open.
Close.
Open
Close.
Each time—
Shorter.
Sharper.
More erratic.
The shadow began to collapse inward.
Flickering.
Distorting.
Losing cohesion.
Kai stepped back slightly. It's breaking.
Adrian's eyes stayed locked.
Not breaking.
A pause.
Losing its way.
The shadow thinned
Then split—
Then snapped back into nothing.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence dropped hard into the chamber.
No movement.
No pressure.
No presence.
Kai exhaled slowly. It's gone.
Adrian didn't lower his hand immediately.
He waited.
One second.
Two.
Nothing returned.
Finally—
He relaxed slightly.
Yeah.
A small pause.
For now.
Veyr stepped closer.
You didn't destroy it.
Adrian nodded. I know.
A beat.
I just made it lose me.
Kai frowned. Will it come back?
Veyr answered quietly.
Yes.
Silence.
Adrian lowered his hand fully.
The mark pulsed.
Calm again.
Contained.
Then next time, Adrian said, voice steady,
we don't just make it lose me.
Kai looked at him. What are you thinking?"
Adrian's eyes hardened slightly.
Next time
A pause.
we make sure it can't find its way back.
The shadows around them stayed still.
But far beyond—
Something shifted again.
Not confused this time.
Not lost.
Aware
Because the hunt had changed.
On both sides