Yukian didn't hesitate.

She turned and ran.

She didn't care how confident or attractive he was—she wasn't stupid. Trusting anyone in a game like this was a death sentence.

She weaved through the narrow aisles of the abandoned convenience store, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. If I can just get out before he—

Her foot slipped.

Something rolled under her shoe, throwing her off balance.

She barely had time to react before she stumbled forward, her hands catching on the counter to keep herself from crashing to the floor.

A soft chuckle came from behind her.

Yukian snapped her head up—Shuntaro was leaning lazily against a shelf, a smirk playing on his lips.

She glanced down.

A small can of peaches sat next to her foot, spinning slightly from where she had just stepped on it.

Her blood boiled.

"You—" she started, but he cut her off with an easy shrug.

"You should watch where you're going, sweetheart," he said smoothly. "Dangerous things lying around."

He tripped me on purpose.

Yukian's grip tightened around the counter. He's playing with me.

She forced herself to stand straight, schooling her expression into cold indifference. "Are you done?"

Shuntaro took a step forward, his electric yellow eyes flickering with amusement. "You're pretty fun to mess with, you know that?"

She glared. "I'm not here for fun."

"Shame." He tapped his chin. "You're really going to search this whole city by yourself?"

"Yes."

He sighed dramatically. "Cold-hearted."

Yukian turned toward the exit. She wasn't doing this.

But the moment she took a step—

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air.

Her entire body froze.

That wasn't just panic. That was pure terror.

Shuntaro's smirk faded slightly. He exhaled, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "Well, that's not a good sign."

Yukian swallowed, her hands clenching into fists.

"Now," he said, his tone suddenly more serious, "what do you think? Still feel like being alone?"

Her stomach twisted.

She had seconds to decide.

The scream still echoed in Yukian's ears.

It wasn't just panic. It was the sound of someone realizing—too late—that they were going to die.

Shuntaro stretched lazily, looking completely unbothered by the situation. His bright yellow eyes gleamed with something unreadable, and his blonde hair, wild and slightly tousled, caught the dim glow of the streetlights.

"So?" he asked, voice smooth and teasing. "Still feel like being alone?"

Yukian's stomach twisted.

She didn't want to trust him.

But the rules were clear.

Only five could pass.

If she wasted time running from him, she'd only put herself in more danger. And whatever had made that person scream—it was still out there.

She clenched her fists. "Fine."

Shuntaro's lips curled into a slow smirk. "Fine?"

"We stick together. For now."

He chuckled, eyes flickering with amusement. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

She ignored him. This wasn't an alliance. This wasn't friendship.

This was survival.

Searching for the Red Gate

The two of them moved quickly, stepping onto the deserted street. The glowing red timer in the sky read:

01:41:26

Every second that passed brought them closer to elimination.

The city stretched endlessly in all directions—towering buildings, dark alleyways, abandoned stores. Any of them could be hiding the Red Gate.

"Any ideas?" Shuntaro asked, walking beside her with an infuriating amount of ease.

Yukian didn't answer at first. Think. The game wouldn't make them search blindly. There had to be a clue.

She scanned the area. That's when she saw it—

A symbol painted on the side of a building.

A red circle with an arrow pointing left.

Yukian stopped. "That."

Shuntaro followed her gaze, his smirk widening. "Well, well. Looks like someone's got brains."

She ignored him and started walking in the direction the arrow pointed.

Shuntaro fell into step beside her, hands in his pockets. "So, Yukian," he drawled, "how'd you end up here?"

She stiffened.

She didn't answer.

Shuntaro smirked. "Ah. So it's a secret?"

"It's none of your business," she muttered.

"Hmm." He didn't press further, but the amusement in his voice never faded. "Well, I hope you're a fast runner, sweetheart."

Yukian frowned. "Why?"

Shuntaro tilted his head toward the far end of the street.

She followed his gaze—

And her stomach dropped.

Something was standing at the end of the road.

Not human.

Its twisted limbs and hollow, empty eyes locked onto them.

Then—

It moved.

Fast.

Straight toward them.

Shuntaro smirked. "Because I think we just found out what happens when time runs out."

Yukian's breath caught in her throat.

Run.