Chapter 3 – The Plan That Shouldn't Work

With each tick… and each silence… she understood the game a little better.

It truly was a race against time.

Reaching the Great Gate felt impossible under these conditions. Sometimes, she got close—painfully close. But never enough.

Hope alone wouldn't get them out. Worse, it was becoming dangerous. What she needed now was strategy.

The Things woke at the clock's toll. And once awake, they loved to hunt.

It was hard not to waste time running. Harder not to lose the path.

At this rate, none of them would leave this place. Not in a million years.

"What if we became the Things?"

"What?"

She jumped up suddenly, trying to explain.

"What if we smelled like them, moved like them—acted like them?" Her voice quickened with the rush of the idea. "We could go anywhere before the toll. Anywhere. Even stand right by the gate. And we wouldn't all be dead."

"You're insane," someone muttered, tugging at her arm to sit back down.

"No, I'm serious." She pulled away and turned to the others. "Don't you want to leave? The way things are now—we never will," she said flatly. Then, more softly, "But if we risk it now, maybe one of us makes it out. Maybe… all of us."

And just like that, the plan that had only lived inside her mind started taking root in theirs.

She'd need all the help she could get.

"Nervous?" he asked, dropping beside her.

She shook her head.

"Just… anxious."

He ran his fingers through his hair, visibly tense.

"It's been nice, you know. Meeting you."

"Even though we're probably dying tomorrow." He let out a dry laugh.

Probably because of her, he was feeling hopeful. But he didn't say it.

And strangely, she also didn't feel guilty. They were brave—and that's why they were willing to take a chance. Even if the worst happened, it wouldn't be her fault.

"You know… we've known each other for a while now, and I never even asked your name," he continued. "So, what is it, kitten?" He smirked.

She looked at him, serious. The words rose in her mind like an old song.

"Rubia," she said, almost shocked at herself.

"That's strange. I didn't know that was my name. It's the first time I've remembered about it."

"And you think that's funny?" he muttered.

"You're totally insane."

She laughed even more.

"Maybe I am. That's why we're dying tomorrow." she played.

"You might be. I still plan to go home and throw a barbecue."

"Barbecue?"

"Right… you've got amnesia." He rolled his eyes.

"Never mind, Ru-bia." He exaggerated her name.

"Honestly, I think I'll keep calling you kitten. What do you think?"

"I think it doesn't matter," she replied flatly.

"And you still haven't told me your name."

"If we survive tomorrow, I will."

"That's not fair. I told you mine."

"Never said I was fair, kitten." He winked before walking away, leaving her to her thoughts.

Everything about him was irritating—but Rubia didn't hate it.

In fact, she felt… calm when he was around.

All the worries vanished.

Just like that.