The creek carried them through the dark like a vein through the forest, the icy current burning Mara's skin as she held Ten close. Daniel kept one hand on her shoulder, guiding her through the black water, every sound magnified by fear.
Above them, engines roared.
Drones.
K9 units.
Omega Division.
The hunters were everywhere.
"Stay low," Daniel whispered, breath ragged. "Don't let your head break the surface."
Ten clung to Mara's shirt, teeth chattering. "I c-can't… feel my hands…"
Mara wrapped an arm around her, trying to share what little warmth she had left. "Just a few more minutes. We're almost clear."
Daniel glanced toward the banks. Shadows moved between the trees—soldiers in black armored gear, sweeping flashlights along the ground.
"SECTOR 12 — NO SIGN OF TARGET."
"THERMALS PICKING UP ACTIVITY NEAR THE WATERLINE."
Mara's blood turned to ice.
Daniel cursed under his breath. "They're scanning the creek."
Evelyn, barely keeping afloat beside them, whispered, "We need cover. Now."
Daniel nodded downstream. "There. Under the fallen logs."
They drifted toward the tangled mass of driftwood and branches. Mara ducked her head beneath a thick branch, pulling Ten into the sheltered pocket beneath.
The spotlight swept over them—
Mara held her breath.
Ten buried her face against her shoulder.
Daniel's hand tightened around Mara's arm.
Evelyn prayed under her breath.
The drone hummed overhead, scanning…
…then moved on.
They remained still until Daniel finally whispered, "Go. Quietly."
They slipped back into the current, letting it carry them deeper into the trees. The creek curved around a natural rock wall, guiding them out of the soldiers' search zone.
Mara's arms were numb. Ten couldn't stop shaking.
Daniel touched her shoulder gently. "We can get out now. Bank's clear."
They crawled up the muddy slope and collapsed among the roots and dead leaves, gasping for air.
Ten immediately curled against Mara's chest, sobbing softly. Mara wrapped her arms around her and pressed her cheek to the girl's cold hair.
"It's okay. You're safe," she whispered.
But her voice trembled.
Zero appeared beside her, pale and flickering.
"Safe is… temporary."
Daniel looked around sharply—he couldn't see Zero, but he felt the shift in the air. "We need higher ground. Somewhere we can see them before they see us."
Evelyn squeezed water from her sleeves. "There's an old ranger outpost a mile north of here. Barely a shack, but it's shelter."
Daniel nodded. "Let's move."
They stumbled through the woods, feet sinking into mud, clothes heavy with cold water. Mara kept Ten close, whispering reassurances she didn't fully believe.
They had just crested a ridge when Mara froze.
Something tugged at her mind—
a faint pressure behind her eyes—
like someone whispering through static.
Zero turned sharply, her form glitching.
"Mara—"
The forest behind them shook.
A scream tore through the night.
Not human.
Not mechanical.
Both.
Twelve.
Mara staggered, clutching her head. "He's close—why is he this close? He shouldn't be able to track me this fast!"
Zero's voice was grim.
"He isn't tracking you by scent or heat."
Daniel raised his gun, scanning the trees. "Then how?"
Zero stepped closer, whispering directly into Mara's mind.
"He's tracking the broken signal."
A crack split the air behind them. Trees snapped. The earth shook.
Twelve burst through the underbrush, landing on all fours, water still streaming off its skin, its eye glowing like a star burning out.
Ten screamed.
Evelyn stumbled back.
Daniel fired three shots—each hitting, none slowing it down.
Twelve roared.
Mara grabbed Daniel's arm. "Run!"
They bolted through the forest, branches clawing at them, the ground slick with mud. Twelve's footsteps thundered behind them—too fast, too strong, too close.
Zero materialized beside Mara, nearly shouting:
"Don't let him touch your skin! DON'T LET HIM TOUCH YOU!"
Mara sprinted harder, lungs burning.
Twelve lunged—
Daniel shoved Mara aside just in time.
The creature slammed into a tree, splintering it in half, then screeched in frustration.
"Mara!" Daniel shouted. "Go with Ten! I'll hold him off!"
"No!" she cried.
But he was already raising his weapon again.
Twelve turned toward Daniel—
head tilting—
recognizing him.
Daniel fired.
The bullet sparked off Twelve's skull.
Twelve roared—
and charged.
"Daniel!" Mara screamed.
He braced himself—
But Zero appeared in front of Mara, grabbing her shoulders.
"Don't watch."
The world blurred.
Mara felt herself pulled sideways, her vision flashing white—
—and when she blinked again, she was farther down the trail, Ten pressed against her, Daniel's distant shout echoing behind them.
Mara gasped. "ZERO! What did you do?!"
Zero's expression flickered with strain.
"Moved you. Not him."
Twelve's roar shook the forest.
Evelyn pulled Mara's arm. "Move! Before he gets up!"
Mara looked back, tears burning her eyes.
She didn't see Daniel.
She didn't see Twelve.
She didn't see anything but shifting shadows.
Then—
A scream.
Rough.
Human.
Daniel's voice.
Mara's blood froze.
"No…" She tried to run back. "NO—Daniel!"
Zero blocked her.
"If you go back now, he dies for nothing."
Mara's knees buckled.
Ten grabbed her hand. "Please… we have to go."
Mara stared into the dark where Daniel's scream had come from, chest crushing in on itself.
Everything inside her wanted to turn back.
But her legs moved forward.
With tears streaming down her face, Mara ran.
And behind them—
in the forest torn apart by violence—
a faint light flickered.
Twelve.
Still alive.
Still hunting.
Still coming for her.