Nox finally stumbled onto the scene, his lungs feeling like they were about to catch fire. He bent over, hands on his knees, just trying to suck in enough air to not pass out. 'Okay, seriously,' he gasped to himself, 'was this place always this far, or did she move it?'
He looked up, and there she was. Serian, perched on the edge of a low, busted-up wall, kicking her feet back and forth like some little kid who'd just gotten away with stealing a cookie. A smug, impossibly amused smile was plastered all over her face.
"I was starting to worry," she said, tilting her head. The look in her eyes was pure, unfiltered victory. "I thought maybe you'd gotten lost. You certainly took your sweet time."
He finally managed to straighten up, though his breathing was still ragged. "Yeah, well, you cheated." He knew damn well she hadn't—the girl was just freakishly fast—but he had to say something to salvage his pride.
