They didn't stop running until their legs gave out.
Marcus bent forward, hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath. His lungs burned and his heart refused to slow down. Beside him, Olivia leaned against a wall, scanning the empty street like she expected something to leap out of the shadows at any second.
The city around them was silent. Too silent.
Marcus straightened slowly, still trying to process what had just happened. A stranger had grabbed his arm, dragged him through half the city, and somehow he hadn't even questioned it until now.
His head spun with questions.
How did she know about the dragon mask?Wasn't the mask just a dream?And why had she been running like her life depended on it?
He took a steadying breath and finally spoke.
"How do you know about the dragon mask?"
Olivia studied him carefully. "You have the spirit of it. You want to know about the mask… and why all of this is happening. I'll tell you—if you follow me."
Doubt twisted in Marcus's chest. What if she was lying? What if she worked with the creature from his dream?
But something inside him pulled toward her. A strange, magnetic feeling he couldn't explain.
"Okay," he said. "I'll follow you."
They walked through quiet streets, the city strangely empty as if the world had disappeared around them.
Marcus wanted to ask more questions, but every time he opened his mouth the words stuck in his throat. Olivia kept glancing behind them, checking rooftops and alleyways like danger could appear at any moment.
"The Everlasting Witch will come for it eventually," she said quietly.
Marcus frowned. The words felt strangely familiar. His chest tightened for reasons he didn't understand.
Who was the Everlasting Witch… and why did the name feel important?
After several turns through narrow streets, they stopped in front of an old warehouse. Its windows were cracked, paint peeling from the walls, the metal door rusted with age.
"This way," Olivia said.
Inside, Marcus blinked in surprise.
There was a couch. A TV. A small bathroom. Blankets folded in the corner. It looked rough, but someone clearly lived here.
"Where are we?" Marcus asked.
"We're at my place."
Marcus stared at her. "Wait… your place? You live here?"
Olivia crossed her arms. "Don't you know it's rude to judge someone's home?"
"I'm not judging," he said quickly. "I'm just wondering why you live here."
"I have to. It's safe from the cult."
Marcus froze. "What cult?"
"The witch's cult… Wait. Do you not know?"
He shook his head slowly. "I have no idea what's happening. I mean… I had this dream last night. I was fighting a creature. It knocked me down. I heard two voices—they said they were spirits trapped in a mask. They said I'm bonded to it. It felt so real."
Olivia stepped closer. "Did the spirits tell you their names?"
"Yeah. Yin and Yang. Like the dragons."
Her eyes widened. "I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"Earlier… you felt unstoppable, right?"
"…Yeah."
"That was the mask. You're bonded to it now."
"Bonded... what does that mean?"
"It means you have special abilities."
"Abilities? you mean like powers?"
"Yes."
Marcus's eyes lit up. "Powers? What kind?"
Olivia hesitated. "I… don't know."
His excitement dropped instantly. "What?"
"There are different masks. Each one has different powers. I don't know which abilities yours gives you yet."
"Oh." Marcus looked down, disappointed.
After a moment, he looked back up. "Okay… so where is this mask?"
"I don't know."
"WHAT?" Marcus shouted.
"Shhh! Not so loud!"
"What do you mean you don't know? You said you knew where it was!"
"I know who knows where it is."
Marcus's expression hardened. "Who?"
"Megan."
"…Megan? My best friend's girlfriend? The one I just met today?"
Olivia nodded. "Yes."
Marcus stared at her in disbelief as the weight of the day pressed down on him again.
Outside, the city remained silent.
And for the first time since the chase began, Marcus realized just how deep this was getting.