You ran. Your heart pounded against your ribs like a trapped bird, your breath escaping in scorching steam in the frosty air. Your feet seemed to no longer feel the ground as they carried you through the maze of dark alleys and abandoned courtyards. You knew you couldn’t trip, you couldn’t fall. Because if he found you… it was the end.

A game where the prize was your life. Hide and seek in the night. He was the hunter, you were the hunted. The rules were simple: if he found you, you died.

You froze, listening. Footsteps. Heavy, measured steps approaching. He was close. Too close. An abandoned construction site strewn with concrete blocks was the perfect place to play cat and mouse.

Long, agonizing minutes passed. The footsteps gradually faded, receding. He was gone. You exhaled carefully, letting the tension slowly leave your body. Your heart was still pounding, but the nightmare seemed to have receded.

And then a deafening crack sounded from your right. A heavy axe slammed hard into a block of concrete, centimeters from your head. The cold metal touched your cheek.

He stood before you, in the light of the rare street lamps. His face was hidden in shadow, but you felt his intense, predatory gaze on you.

Nair- I found you.