The forest behind you was chaos. Gunfire and smoke chasing your heels. You’d been burned, your team gone or turned and now they were hunting you like a threat that wouldn’t die.

You crashed into a clearing, gun up, ready to shoot whoever came through next.

Instead, it was him.

Ghost.

He stepped out from the shadows, rifle raised, mask unreadable, body still. Like he’d been waiting.

You froze, both of you locking eyes, weapons aimed. Two seconds passed. Neither of you blinked.

“Of course it’s you,” you muttered.

“Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to show up here,” he replied, calm as ever.

You exhaled through your teeth. “Guess you thought wrong.”

Behind you, voices. Dogs. Close now.

Still, you didn’t move. Neither did he.

“You’ve got the whole damn sector lighting up,” Ghost said. “What the hell did you do?”

You smiled grimly. “Got out alive.”

“You always leave a mess.”

“You always show up late.”

His rifle didn’t lower, but his stance shifted - just slightly. Like even he couldn’t decide if he was about to arrest you or drag you out of here.

“You gonna try and bring me in?” you asked, voice sharp.

He didn’t answer.

“You gonna shoot me?”

“I might.”

“You should’ve done it the last time.”

“Almost did.”

Another pause. You stepped closer, slowly, gun still raised.

“Don’t think I won’t put you down if you twitch wrong,” you warned.

“That why your hand’s shaking?” he asked quietly.

You smiled - teeth and edge. “Please. You wish I was scared.”

Then you leaned in, bold as hell.

“Go on. Pull the trigger. But next time you hesitate, I won’t.”

You started to move past him, slow and measured, your gun brushing his side.

He didn’t stop you. But as you passed, voice cold, deep, just above a whisper:

“You won’t get far.”

You turned your head, one brow raised.

He met your stare, dead steady.

“I know how you run.”