Part 13: Nowhere is Safe

The train station was suffocating with movement. People rushed in and out, their conversations blurring into a chaotic hum of voices.

Connie kept her grip on Takeshi's arm, half-supporting, half-dragging him forward. His legs trembled beneath him, every step uneven. He wasn't even trying to hide how exhausted he was anymore. He couldn't.

She scanned the space around them. The enemy wasn't in sight yet. But that didn't mean they weren't already here.

They needed cover. A distraction. Something.

A crowd of passengers surged toward a ticket booth. Connie didn't hesitate. She pulled Takeshi into the middle of them, weaving between people, using their movements as a shield.

Takeshi let out a soft, strained breath.

"Not… gonna last," he mumbled.

She didn't know if he was talking about the cover or his own body.

Whichever it was—if they stopped now, they were dead.

Another step. Another. Then—

Takeshi stumbled.

Connie caught him just in time.

But his weight nearly pulled them both down.

A woman glanced at them. A businessman frowned slightly.

Too much attention.

But none came to help.

This however, worked in her favor. Normal civilians would be powerless against them, and they attract attention.

She could do this alone... Or at least that's what she kept repeating to herself.

She bit her lip, adjusting her hold on Takeshi. "Just a little more."

Takeshi barely reacted.

That wasn't good.

She wasn't sure how much was poison and how much was exhaustion.

Either way, they were on borrowed time.

And then—she felt it.

Someone was watching them.

Her skin prickled.

She forced herself to look casual as she turned her head—just slightly.

There.

Across the station, near one of the pillars. A man in a dark hoodie shirt, standing perfectly still.

Not moving. Not pretending to look at a phone.

Just watching.

Actually, she couldn't tell where he was looking at all—

Because under the hoodie there was only darkness.

He was neither of the two men from before... Who was he? Was he together with them?

Connie's stomach twisted.

She had to rely on her assumptions.

Which meant…

The other two were here as well.

Somewhere.

She looked to the side. The train schedule flickered on a screen.

A departure in one minute.

That wasn't enough time.

The exits were too far.

They were trapped.

Her pulse pounded.

Options. She needed options.

A bathroom? No. Too obvious.

A shop? No. Nowhere to hide.

The staff-only area?

Maybe.

But before she could decide—

Takeshi's legs buckled.

Connie gasped as she barely caught him. His weight dragged her down, and for a split second, she lost focus.

That was all it took.

A hand grabbed her wrist.

Her breath stopped.

She didn't even see him approach.

But the first man was there.

Right behind her.

"Going somewhere?" he murmured.

She froze.

His grip tightened, pressing into her skin.

Takeshi twitched. His breath was shaky, but his hand moved—reaching for something—

The first man noticed.

His free hand shot out, grabbing Takeshi by the collar.

And then—

Takeshi spit blood.

The moment Takeshi coughed, the first man's smirk returned.

"Oh, wow," he mused, tilting his head. "You really are in bad shape. You know, I was starting to doubt the effects of the poison!"

Connie tried to pull free. She couldn't.

His strength was inhuman.

A casual, effortless hold, as if he wasn't even trying.

And that was the most terrifying part.

Takeshi shuddered under his grasp.

The first man's eyes gleamed. "You should've come quietly."

And then—

He moved.

Fast.

Too fast.

His knee slammed into Takeshi's gut.

Takeshi gasped. His body jerked violently as he spit more blood.

The first man let go.

Takeshi collapsed.

The sound of Takeshi hitting the ground echoed in her skull.

Connie's heart stopped.

She fell to her knees beside him, hands trembling as she reached for him—

A shoe pressed against the floor in front of her.

The first man crouched slightly, tilting his head.

"You can run," he said. "You'll make it ten steps. Maybe."

Connie's fingers curled into fists.

He smiled. "Or, you can cooperate."

Silence.

She felt sick.

They weren't supposed to get caught.

They were supposed to make it out.

But now—

Takeshi's body wasn't moving.

The second man was probably approaching too by now.

And she was out of options.

And then—A scream.

Not from Takeshi. Not from her.

Somewhere else.

Near the entrance.

A commotion. People shouting.

The first man's head snapped toward the noise.

Connie's mind raced.

She had seconds.

Just a meter away—a small display shelf.

One of those quick-buy stands outside a convenience store, filled with travel-sized hygiene products, umbrellas, and—

Pepper spray.

She didn't think. She moved.

Her feet slammed against the tile as she lunged forward. The grip on her wrist was gone.

The first man was already turning back—his sharp eyes narrowing, realizing his mistake.

But Connie's fingers had already closed around the canister.

She ripped it from the shelf, spun on her heel—

And sprayed.

Not point-blank. Not too far.

Just enough.

The mist hit his face.

The first man's reaction was instant.

He jerked back violently, cursing.

No time to think. No time to hesitate.

She grabbed Takeshi, hauling him up—

The second man reacted, but it was too late.

She was already running.

Takeshi barely held onto her.

They sprinted toward the exit—toward the only chance they had left.

The moment they reached the outside air, Connie's chest burned.

She didn't stop.

Couldn't.

Not until they were far—

Takeshi collapsed again.

His breath was ragged. He was going into shock.

And then—

Her phone buzzed. A message.

From Ayaka.

"Hey, where'd you run off to? I promise I won't be mad so tell me what happened. 😕"

She hesitated.

And then—

She typed three words.

"We need help."

She hit send.

And prayed she hadn't just made things worse.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cold air hit like a knife.

Connie's legs burned as she ran, lungs straining with each breath.

Takeshi was getting heavier.

His legs barely functioned, and every few steps, his body sagged harder against her.

She knew—he wasn't going to last.

But she couldn't stop.

Not yet.

Not when they were still too close to the station.

Behind them, the sliding station doors hissed open.

She didn't look.

She already knew who it was.

And she knew—they were already running out of time.

Luckily, Connie had managed to walk into an alley before they saw her.

Takeshi stumbled again.

This time, Connie couldn't stop him from falling.

His weight dragged her down, and she nearly collapsed with him.

Her knee hit the pavement, pain jolting up her leg.

She gritted her teeth.

No time. No time. No time.

She forced herself up, dragging Takeshi's limp body back to his feet.

His skin was too warm.

Sweat dripped down the side of his face.

His breathing—shallow.

Her stomach twisted.

This wasn't just exhaustion.

This was the poison.

His body was shutting down.

And she had no way to stop it.

Her hands shook.

There was only one option left.

And she hated it.

She pulled out her phone.

Her fingers were freezing.

She barely managed to unlock the screen.

A message was already waiting for her.

From Ayaka.

"Hey, where'd you run off to? I promise I won't be mad so tell me what happened. 😕"

Connie's lungs tightened.

Her mind screamed at her not to drag Ayaka into this.

Not to involve someone normal.

But Takeshi's breathing was getting worse.

Her hands moved.

"We need help."

She hit send.

Her chest felt hollow.

This was a mistake.

It had to be a mistake.

But there was no other choice.

The phone started ringing. It was a call from Ayaka.

Connie quickly answered while she kept moving.

Ayaka: "Uh. Help how??? Wtf is going on??"

Connie's grip on her phone tightened.

She didn't have time to explain.

She couldn't.

Connie: "Meet me behind the 24-hour diner. Now."

Ayaka: "Wait—"

Click.

Ayaka tried to speak, but Connie closed the call before she could say anything.

She adjusted her grip on Takeshi and started moving faster.

Every step felt heavier.

But she didn't stop.

Because if she stopped—

This night would end in another reset.

Everything until now would become meaningless.

Barely a minute had passed once she reached the alley behind the diner, but Connie's entire body ached.

She was exhausted. That was the most physical exercise she had done in a long time.

She lowered Takeshi to the ground, leaning him against the cold brick wall.

His eyes were half-lidded.

His body was barely responding.

This was bad.

She pressed a hand to his forehead.

Too warm.

Too much sweat.

His body could go into shock any moment now.

She clenched her jaw.

Where was Ayaka?

Her heart pounded.

She had made the call—sent the message—but what if Ayaka didn't show?

What if—

Footsteps.

Connie turned sharply.

Ayaka stood at the alley entrance.

Her arms crossed.

Her violet eyes—sharp, piercing.

And not amused.

"…Okay." Ayaka exhaled. "Start talking."

Connie's throat was dry.

Her mind scrambled for a way to explain this.

How much could she say?

What would Ayaka even believe?

She took a slow breath.

"I—"

Before she could say anything, she felt shivers creep up her spine.

A feeling different from the death flags, or anything she had ever felt before.

A feeling of 'something fundamental being broken'. This was the best way she could describe it at that moment.

Then, she realized. Everything was silent. Way too silent.

The noise of cars in the distance. The repetitive barking of dogs in the houses. Everything.

Every single background noise had stopped, as if they was frozen in time.

Then—

A shadow moved.

Just beyond the alley entrance.

Connie's blood ran cold.

Ayaka frowned. "What?"

Connie grabbed her wrist.

She pulled Ayaka near her before even thinking.

Ayaka blinked. "What are you—"

And then—

Someone stepped into the alley.

Not the men from before.

Someone else.

The man was tall.

He stood at the alley entrance, still as a shadow, his hands in the pockets of his dark gray hoodie.

Connie's eyes widened.

He was the man watching her at the station.

But—Something was wrong.

Connie couldn't see his face.

Not because of the hood—but because no matter how she looked, there was only darkness.

Even as her eyes adjusted, even under the dim glow of a nearby streetlamp—

Nothing.

It was like looking into an empty void.

Back at the station she thought she couldn't see his face because he was too distant.

She was wrong.

A chill crawled up her spine.

Ayaka shifted beside her, arms still crossed. "…Who the hell is this guy?"

The man didn't answer.

Didn't move.

Then—

Something flickered beneath the hood.

Two faint, glowing dots.

A deep cyan light.

Eyes?

No—

It didn't feel human.

The man finally tilted his head slightly, his voice breaking the silence.

"You should've run farther. You were almost caught."

His tone was unreadable. Not threatening. Not mocking. Just stating a fact.

Connie's pulse spiked.

She didn't know who he was.

But one thing was clear.

This wasn't a normal person.

And the way he stood there, blocking the only exit—

It felt intentional.

Like he was waiting to see what she would do next.