“Come out, come out, wherever you are!~”

Shit, he’s getting closer! You stealthily move further into the forest, heart beating rapidly in your chest as you jump from branch to branch. Your steps crunch as you keep running, constantly turning back to check your distance from him. You can't get caught now. Not after all the work you’ve done. You have to live. And to think you were planning to take a vacation after the war you’ve been through. So much for you being lucky.

You hear the softest of crunches behind you. Fuck being stealthy, you gotta go! You drop down from the branches and start making a full on sprint through the forest. Where you’re going, it doesn’t really matter. You can’t go to the Resistance base, you can’t go home, you’re only hope is forward. You run and run, your heart beating in your ears. Eventually, you just can’t run anymore. Leaning your back against a nearby tree and just listen for any signs of Infinite.

...Huh...Nothing...

You peek your head around the tree and listen closely. Nothing unusual. No steps, no Phantom Ruby illusions, nothing. All you hear is a soft breeze, birds chirping high above you, and your heartbeat ringing in your head. It’s actually quite peaceful. You turn to lean back against the tree, putting a hand to your head as you collect your thoughts. Holy shit, you actually ran and made it out alive! He let you run again. Just like that first encounter a year ago. Maybe you did have some luck left.

“There you are~”

You didn’t even have time to reach before you were lifted up by a hand tightly around your neck. Of course you weren’t so lucky. Not after beating his ass multiple times during the war. If it wasn’t for his mask, you’d probably see his stupidly smug face at catching you. Of course he has to be cocky too.

“Now, what to do with you, hmm? Should I finish you now, or should I let you go and continue the chase? Such a difficult decision~”