Back in the underground, Tina and Jack had no idea how long they had been running. Their small bodies were drenched in sweat, and their breath came out uneven and harsh as their footsteps echoed faintly through the narrow, dark pathway.

Every step felt heavier than the last, yet neither of them dared to slow down. Because even without seeing monsters, they both knew they were still behind them.

The darkness made everything worse. It swallowed the path ahead and stretched endlessly around them, and in that darkness, the monsters held the advantage. Their black bodies would blend into it, unseen until it was too late.

Tina steps faltered before she reached out and pressed her hand against the wall, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Jack..." she said weakly, her voice trembling as she leaned her weight against the surface. "I’m... tired..."

Jack stopped with her, his own breathing rough as he placed a hand on her back, patting her gently while trying to steady himself. "I know," he said, forcing the words out between breaths. "I’m tired too..."

He paused, his ears straining as he listened to the space behind them, his body tensing instinctively.

"But we can’t stop," he added, his voice firmer despite the exhaustion. "If we stop... they’ll catch us."

Tina nodded faintly, though her body didn’t move. "I... I just need to catch my breath..."

Jack was about to say something, but a low growl suddenly echoed through the passage behind them.

Both of them froze. The sound was faint, but it carried clearly in the confined space, sending a chill through them.

Jack’s hand tightened around Tina’s. "We have to go," he said quickly, his voice dropping as urgency filled it. "Now."

This time, Tina didn’t argue.

They started running again, their pace slower than before, their steps uneven as their bodies struggled to create more space from them, hoping they would lose interest in them.

Then suddenly, Tina’s leg gave out beneath her, and she let out a small cry as she fell forward, her knees hitting the ground hard.

"Tina!" Jack stopped immediately and dropped beside her, his hands moving quickly as he helped her sit up. "Are you okay?!"

Tina sniffled, her breath shaking as tears filled her eyes. She touched her knee carefully, her fingers coming away slightly red. "It... it hurts..." she whispered. "There’s blood..."

Jack’s chest tightened as he heard her. He could not see how serious the wound was, and the only thing he could do was offer comfort.

"It’s okay," he said quickly, trying to sound calm. "It’s not that bad... I’ll blow on it, it’ll feel better."

He leaned forward, about to do just that.

But Tina shook her head suddenly, pulling back slightly, her eyes wide with fear. "No... I’m only crying..." she said, her voice trembling. "I’m only crying... because the monsters will smell it... and if they do, they’ll find us..."

Jack froze for a second. Then he walked forward, turning his back toward her as he crouched lower. "Climb on," he said.

Tina blinked at him, confused. "But you can’t carry me... you’re a child..."

Jack frowned, shaking his head stubbornly. "I’m older than you," he said, his voice firm despite how tired he sounded. "And I’m a boy... so I’m supposed to protect you."

Tina bit her lip, hesitating for a moment as she looked at him, though she could not see his expression, except his figure.

"Besides you are injured, you will only hurt yourself more and slow us down. Get on, now." Jack said, glancing over his shoulder.

Tina knew staying like this would only make things worse.

Slowly, she nodded and climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders carefully.

Jack swallowed a quiet groan as he pushed himself up, his legs trembling under the added weight, but he steadied himself and started moving again.

Then he started to pick up speed. Each step was heavier now, his breathing growing louder as his body struggled to keep up, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Tina held onto him tightly, her voice soft near his ear, filled with sadness. "Jack..." she said, her words trembling. "Aunty Ida didn’t come back..."

Her grip tightened slightly. "And... Aunty Laurel too..."

Jack swallowed, his chest tightening as he kept moving, his eyes fixed ahead even though he could barely see anything.

"They’ll come," he said, forcing the words out. "They will..."

Even as he said it, he knew the truth he refused to admit, and it sat heavily in his chest, pressing down on him with every step he took.

They might not come. They might never find them. The thought lingered at the back of his mind, quiet but persistent, but he forced himself to ignore it because Tina was still holding onto him, and he could not afford to scare her.

He tightened his jaw and kept moving, even as his legs began to tremble harder beneath him, the strain building with every step. His breaths came out uneven and sharp, his chest rising and falling rapidly as exhaustion clawed at him, slowing him down no matter how much he tried to push forward.

His steps grew unsteady, his pace faltering as the strength in his body slowly slipped away, and no matter how hard he tried to hold on, it was no longer enough.

His foot caught against the uneven ground. For a brief second, his body tilted forward.

Then his knees gave way.

He fell, hitting the ground first. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs as a sharp gasp escaped from his lips. His body went still for a moment as the force of it left him stunned. Tina slipped from his back and landed beside him, her small frame hitting the ground with a soft thud as she let out a quiet cry.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

The darkness around them felt heavier, thicker, as if it had closed in on them while they were not looking. And the silence that followed their fall stretched just a little too long.

Then a growl broke through it.

Low and deep. But this time it was much closer than before.