"Kali stops moving.

For the last five minutes, she's done nothing but stare at the waterfall.

Her eyes are focused.

Too focused.

Like she can see everything.

Like she knows everything.

Like she's looking straight at me.

Five minutes.

I can't even look away from her gaze.

The waterfall.

The trees.

The wind.

None of it exists right now.

Just her.

And me.

And the sound of my own rapid heartbeat.

The sweat rolling down my brow.

The complete inability to move.

Shit.

I don't even think I could blink.

Blink?

I'm pretty sure my stupid ass hasn't even breathed.

Her presence is overwhelming.

Those five minutes...

Felt like a lifetime.

I flinch as Kali finally starts moving.

And...

The fucking bitch is adjusting her hair.

Then she brushes dirt from her skirt.

The whore is using the waterfall as a bloody reflection.

Fuck me.

Then again...

That's exactly what she wants me to think.

Maybe I'm giving her too much credit.

No.

I'm not.

I'm wounded.

Bleeding.

Half-drowned.

Curled up on the cave floor holding my fucking breath for a reason.

And that reason is simple.

I underestimated this bitch once before.

I won't make that mistake again.

Not twice.

First breath.

Focus.

Ignore the pain.

Watch her like a hawk.

Her stance hasn't changed.

Not when she stands.

Not when she walks.

She really can't feel the injury I gave her.

The stab wound.

Nothing.

Pros.

If she gets on top of me again, I can't rely on pain to create an opening.

No flinch.

No hesitation.

No instinctive reaction.

Cons.

Her sense of urgency is horrifyingly bad.

The girl won't realize how serious her condition is until her body officially shuts down on her.

Most people get hurt and stop.

Rest.

Assess the damage.

Seek help.

Not her.

She'll keep moving.

Keep fighting.

Keep smiling.

Right up until something important stops working.

Her own body will forcibly humble her to her knees.

The question is whether she'll realize it before that happens.

I can't tell if that's a blessing or a curse.

She's moving again.

Heading toward the other cave.

Good.

It's a good thing I trusted my instincts and didn't choose that one.

I'd be a dead man right now if I had.

Speaking of which...

I'll be a dead man regardless if I don't get this blood transfusion sorted out.

Just like Kali...

I too am cursed.

Ironically...

Almost the opposite of her situation.

Her body doesn't know when to stop.

Mine never shuts the fuck up.

Every injury.

Every ache.

Every drop of blood.

My body makes damn sure I'm aware of it.

Kali can walk herself into a grave because she doesn't know she's dying.

I know exactly what's happening to me.

Every second of it.

And somehow...

I'm not sure which is worse.

The universe truly does have a fucking sense of humor.

Matching me up with this damn bitch.

Out of all the people on this planet...

I end up hunting the one person crazier than I am.

Whatever God is out there...

Thought I was winning a few too many times and decided to humble my ass.

Well, fuck you too.

Seriously.

Fuck you.

You couldn't just give me a normal victim?

A terrified college student?

A lost hiker?

Some poor bastard with survival instincts of a wet napkin?

No.

You gave me her.

This psychotic little piranha.

A girl who treats attempted murder like a recreational activity.

A girl who laughs when she's stabbed.

A girl whose brain is somehow more damaged than mine.

So congratulations.

Message received.

But I haven't lost yet.

And I'd rather lose my balls than submit to this girl.

You hear me?

Run your stupid-ass circus all you want.

I'm still in this fight, you dick!"