Zunoder ran because the room behind him had started telling the truth too loudly.
The red corridor closed behind his shoulder in uneven bites. Blind crystals died behind him one after another and left the walls blank. The stolen body wanted to turn back toward Jade's voice. The hand wanted the missing finger it no longer owned.
Pathetic.
The hand twitched anyway.
Ahead of him, the woman stumbled and caught herself on the wall. Her sleeve had torn at the cuff. Dust stuck to the wet track under one eye. She had followed before she understood what following would cost, which made her useful and dangerous at the same time.
People defended frightened choices long after fear had left the room.
"Stop walking like I am still following you."
Zunoder stopped because stopping looked less like retreat.
