The feeling didn't go away.
Even after several minutes—
It stayed.
Faint.
Cold.
Watching.
Ethan stood still in the hallway, his senses stretched thin. The air felt normal again, but something beneath it… wasn't.
Like a ripple hiding under calm water.
"…Ethan?" Lena's voice was low. "You're scaring me a little."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Good," he said.
She blinked. "What?"
"If you're scared," he continued, "you'll be careful."
"That's not exactly comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
He stepped away from the wall and looked down the hallway again.
Empty.
Too empty.
That was the problem.
"Listen," Ethan said, turning back to her. "I need you to go home."
Lena frowned immediately. "No."
"This isn't up for debate."
"Yeah, it is," she shot back. "You said he might still be here. Why would I leave you alone?"
"Because I can handle it."
"You couldn't even handle it five minutes ago."
That hit.
Hard.
Ethan clenched his jaw slightly.
"…That's exactly why you should go."
Lena didn't move.
Instead, she crossed her arms.
"I'm not leaving," she said firmly.
Ethan stared at her.
"You're being stubborn."
"And you're being stupid."
"Lena—"
"No," she cut in. "You don't get to decide everything just because you're scared something might happen."
Ethan froze.
"…I'm not scared."
She stepped closer.
"Yes, you are."
Silence.
Because she was right.
Again.
Ethan looked away.
"…Fine," he muttered. "I'm scared."
Lena softened slightly.
"But not for me," he added.
That made her pause.
Ethan took a breath.
"I don't know what he can do," he said. "I don't know how many people like him there are. And I definitely don't know why they're after me."
His voice lowered.
"But I do know this—if you stay near me…"
He hesitated.
"…you become a target."
That finally made Lena quiet.
Not convinced.
But thinking.
"…Too late for that," she said after a moment.
Ethan frowned. "What?"
"He already saw me," she replied. "He already knows I'm close to you."
Ethan's chest tightened.
She was right.
Again.
"So what now?" Lena asked.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Because for the first time—
He was thinking differently.
Not reacting.
Planning.
"…We stop waiting," he said.
Lena blinked. "What?"
Ethan looked toward the stairwell again.
"If he's watching…" he continued, "then we make him move."
Lena stared at him.
"That sounds like a bad idea."
"It is."
"And you're still going to do it?"
"Yes."
For a moment, Lena just looked at him.
Then—
A small smile appeared.
"…Okay."
Ethan blinked.
"That's it?"
"What?"
"You're just going to agree?"
She shrugged lightly.
"You're right about one thing."
"What?"
"If he's watching… then standing here doing nothing won't help."
Ethan exhaled.
"…Stay behind me."
"Not happening."
"Lena—"
"I'll stay close," she corrected. "Not behind."
Ethan hesitated.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Fine."
They moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Toward the stairwell.
Each step echoed faintly.
Too loud.
Too exposed.
Ethan's senses stretched outward, searching—
For that feeling.
That presence.
That cold pressure.
Nothing.
They reached the stairwell door.
Ethan stopped.
His hand hovered over the handle.
"…He's close," he said quietly.
Lena's breath hitched slightly.
"You can feel him?"
"Not clearly," Ethan replied. "But…"
He frowned.
"It's like… something is blocking everything else."
That was new.
Before, he could feel emotions everywhere.
Now—
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ethan pushed the door open.
The stairwell was dark.
Only a faint light from above illuminated the concrete steps.
Empty.
Or at least—
It looked empty.
Ethan stepped inside first.
Lena followed closely behind.
The door creaked shut.
The moment it closed—
Ethan felt it.
A sharp drop.
Like falling into deep water.
His breath caught.
"…He's here."
A slow clap echoed from above.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
A voice.
Calm.
Controlled.
Amused.
"I was wondering how long it would take you."
Ethan looked up.
Adrian stood on the landing above them.
Leaning casually against the railing.
Watching.
Lena stiffened beside him.
"You said he left," she whispered.
"He lied," Ethan replied.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Not exactly," he said. "I simply didn't go far."
He pushed himself off the railing and began walking down the steps.
Unhurried.
Confident.
Ethan's chest tightened again.
That pressure returned.
Stronger than before.
"I wanted to see something," Adrian continued. "Whether your reaction earlier was instinct… or potential."
Ethan clenched his fists.
"And?" he asked.
Adrian stopped a few steps above them.
His eyes locked onto Ethan's.
"…It's both."
Silence.
Heavy.
Lena took a small step closer to Ethan.
Adrian noticed.
Of course he did.
"…You're still keeping her close," he said. "That's a mistake."
Ethan's voice hardened.
"Stay away from her."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Then stop giving me a reason not to."
The pressure intensified again.
Ethan's breath became uneven.
But this time—
He didn't freeze.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Lena grabbed his arm slightly.
"Ethan—"
"I'm not running this time," he said quietly.
Adrian's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Interest.
"Good," he said.
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
Focused.
Not on fear.
Not on chaos.
But on control.
A pulse formed.
Smaller.
Sharper.
When he opened his eyes—
They were steady.
"…Let's finish this," Ethan said.
Adrian's smile widened.
"Now that," he said, "is the right answer."
And this time—
There was no hesitation.