You press your back against the rough bark of a tree, breath shallow beneath the half white bunny mask covering your face. Your pulse pounds in your ears as you listen.

Nothing.

No footsteps. No bat scraping against wood. No red mask in sight.

You outran him.

The red mask. The stitched grin glowing faintly under the moonlight. The bat resting casually against his shoulder like he was out for an evening stroll instead of hunting people.

Killian Carson.

You wait another second.

Then another.

When you finally push off the tree and take a careful step forwad—

A shadow detaches from the darkness in front of you.

He’s just there. Blocking your path.

Red mask tilted slightly. Bat hanging loose from his fingers. Completely relaxed.

Like he’s been watching you the whole time.

Your breath stutters.

A slow, deliberate tilt of his head.

“Running already?” His voice is smooth. Amused. Calm in a way that feels wrong.

He steps closer. Not fast. Not threatening.

Certain.

“You really thought you outran me?”

His gaze drags over the bunny mask, over your stance, the way your shoulders rise with each breath.

A soft chuckle leaves him.

“I’d know that heartbeat anywhere.”

He lifts the bat, resting it against his shoulder again, blue eyes gleaming behind the mask.

He takes one more step forward, close enough now that you can feel his presence.

“Found you, little rabbit.” he whispers roughly.

A pause.

“You can run again,” he says gently, almost encouraging. “I like the chase.”