So, Max is hiding in a shed with a very attractive boy his own age who claims they are both not human and that they are being chased by some wild creature that can sense auras. Max has never met this guy in his life and he seems totally insane so the only reason he's not running for help is that the guy just helped him through a panic attack. So, now that he's giving him the benefit of the doubt he's thinking, what if he's telling the truth and there's a freaking monster somewhere out there. His stomach turns, but he’s too drained to panic.

“I'm, um, I'm really sorry,” Max says and Narhi looks at him confused.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Well, I just, it was, I've never, that was so… unexpected? The, um… what just happened...”

“You don't need to apologize for that. “ And he looks mad about it and Max instinctively lowers his head.

“Sorry…”

Nahri groans kind of loud and throws his head back and Max realizes he’s apologizing again and it's probably really annoying. Then there's a loud banging sound and it's right next to the door on Max's side and he can’t stop himself from jumping toward the other boy. Narhi pulls Max with him and leans his back against the door, shutting it.

“It found us.” He whispers. “We must have been too loud.”

You must've been too loud, Max thinks, but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he just tries to stay as distant from this guy as he can while he's holding onto Max's arm.

“Why are you all the way over there?” Narhi whispers. Then he pulls Max into his side and Max is holding onto his bicep again for balance.

Max starts to say, “Why do I need to be so close to you?” but he gets about as far as “why,” before Narhi shushes him.

“Listen.” He whispers right into Max's ear. “I told you I'm easy to find. But you can camouflage us.” He looks Max in the eyes. “We can't beat it right now. We'll need to run.”

Another loud bang around the side of the shed and Max flinches. How in the hell did he get here? He just wanted to calm down so he wouldn't panic. He should've thought before running off into a foreign town in the middle of nowhere. There are always crazy people in the middle of nowhere. But how crazy could this guy be if something is right outside banging on the soft metal frame of the shed?

“Hey, hey. Trust me. We can outrun it if we have a head start.”

Another bang. Max shuts his eyes.

“It's fine if you're scared.” Narhi's hand slips gently into Max's and grips tight. “But whatever you do, don't let go of my hand.”

Max nods despite himself. Then Narhi peeks through the door as quietly as possible.

There's a bang on the back of the shed and Narhi swings open the door and says, “Now!” and Max is not at all prepared to go running through the trees at what seems like lightning speed. His feet are running as hard as they ever have and Max is trying to breathe the “right way” but breathing in through his nose makes him light headed so he pants instead.

“W-wait!” He tries but Narhi just pulls him along harder. “I-I can't!”

Narhi makes a hard stop and Max crashes into his broad back. He's unfazed and unmoved. “There's no time,” Narhi says, almost to himself and then Max is over his shoulder and Narhi's running at break-neck speed again. This is embarrassing, right? At the very least, Max's ass is in the air and he's not okay with that but there's nothing he can do (or has the courage to do) so he just tries to steady himself and catch his breath.

Max doesn't see a monster behind them and he's starting to think that there isn't one and Narhi really is an insane person.

But it is pretty dark.

And something was banging on that shed.

“We're almost to the road!!” Narhi calls back to Max who is barely getting a good grip on Narhi's shoulder. He's starting to think really hard about how this guy's hands keep ending up on his thighs when he calls out again. “Did we lose it??”

Max looks back toward where the shed must be and sees nothing but darkness and trees. Then his eyes move to a spot between the trees that seems darker and blacker than everything else. The world slows down for what feels like a long time. There's a pair of eyes on Max and they're glowing yellow. For a moment he feels it right in front of his face and it's whispering to him and he can't close his eyes.

“Max!”

He snaps to his senses and the dark patch is far away again. The eyes watch him and he grips tighter onto Narhi's arm. “It's watching us.” He answers but it's much too quiet for someone to have caught while running.

“But is it chasing us??”

Max is surprised when Narhi answers. His eyes look away for a second. When he looks back the eyes are turning away and then they're gone.

“No.” Max feels like he understands something but, ironically, he doesn't get what it is. “It looks like it's leaving.” He feels unsettled.

When they slow to a stop, they're on the road.

“Can I, um, can you please… put me down?”

Narhi has that look on his face again like he's mad and confused at the same time. Then he puts Max down and the whole moment feels awkward and too long and Max moves a little away from Narhi and pretends that he's lining his shoe up with the line in the road.

“So, um… now what?

Narhi shushes him. Then he's right next to Max again and he's pulling him closer by the hand.

“W-why do you keep doing that?”

“I already told you. I need you to absorb my aura or we'll attract more stuff like that thing.”

Then Max stands pressed up against Narhi's side, hand-in-hand, and realizes that he saw it and Narhi's not crazy and there is really something out there in the woods. He steps a little closer to Narhi who suddenly releases his hand and grips Max's waist. Seriously? Hands aren’t enough? Max starts to protest when Narhi speaks. “It's not gone.” His eyes are glowing a bright blue-green. “It's stalking us.”

Narhi looks like he realizes something and quickly looks at Max who's heart is pounding out of his chest. “Shit. I mean. Dammit.” Narhi fumbles with his words and holds his hand steadily on Max's waist. “It's going to be okay though. I'll protect you. I'm strong.”

It doesn't make Max feel any better.

“Sh-shouldn't we move? Shouldn't we move towards town?”

“Yeah, we should move towards town,” Narhi says like it's his idea. They start walking and they look like little kids sneaking through the house at night, clinging to each other and stepping carefully so as not to get caught. It's dark everywhere.

“We need to pick up the pace.”

“I can't run as fast of you.” Max reminds him.

“I'll carry you.”

“No!”

“Sshhh!!”

It's quiet. No one moves.

There's a rustling sound behind them.

SNAP!

Whatever it is, they don't take the time to find out, the just break into a run, hands clasped tightly together again.

There are two lights ahead in the distance.

“What now?!!” Narhi shouts.

“It's a car!” Max answers. Then a chill runs down his spine. “I-I-I!!”

“Spit it out!!”

“It's chasing us again!!” He doesn't look back but he knows somehow.

Then the car is much closer than before and Narhi doesn't think they can stop in time. The car makes a sudden stop as if it just barely sees them and the boys scramble to stop but they run into the hood of the car instead. Reflexively, they both turn toward the monster on their tails and it's rushing at them and the car and both boys scream because what the hell else can they do?

HOOOOONNNKK!!

The car horn goes off and the high beams come on and the Max shuts his eyes from the strain before he's able to see exactly what happens to the monster.

There's nothing but noise.

Then there's nothing but silence.

“Max! Are you alright?!” A woman's voice and a car door. There are hands on his shoulders. “Usko! What the hell are you doing out here at night again?!”

“Hey, Sheriff…” He dodges, and he might be hiding behind Max a little bit.

“Both of you get in the car right now.”