Elena stepped out of her apartment slowly.
The world looked normal.
Too normal.
Cars passed. People laughed. A couple argued near the street corner.
Everything felt… alive.
Except her.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
[Time Remaining: 21:42:10]
Still counting.
Still chasing her.
"I need to move…" she whispered.
The message from last night echoed in her mind.
[Tip: Avoid crowded places.]
Crowded places.
That meant danger.
Which meant—
Her death wasn't random.
It was planned.
Her chest tightened.
"So if I avoid it… I live?"
It sounded simple.
Too simple.
Elena took a step forward, then stopped.
"What if I'm wrong?"
Her thoughts spiraled.
What if the system lied?
What if avoiding crowds led her straight into something worse?
Her breath grew uneven.
"I don't know what to do…"
For a moment—
She almost turned back.
Almost ran back into her room and hid under her blanket like nothing was happening.
But then—
The image of the red words flashed in her mind.
[SHOULD BE DEAD]
Her expression hardened.
"…No."
She couldn't run.
Not anymore.
"If I stay scared, I'll die anyway."
The words felt heavy.
But true.
She took a deep breath.
One step.
Then another.
"I'll figure it out."
Her voice was quiet.
But determined.
—
She chose the quieter streets.
Avoided the main road.
No crowds.
No noise.
Just the faint sound of her own footsteps.
At first—
Nothing happened.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Elena started to feel it.
Relief.
"Maybe… it's working…"
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
Her breathing steadied.
"I can survive this…"
For the first time—
She felt a little in control.
But then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Slow.
Steady.
Her body froze.
"No…"
She didn't need to turn.
She already knew.
That presence—
Cold.
Heavy.
Wrong.
"Running already?"
The voice was calm.
Familiar.
Elena clenched her fists.
"…Why are you here?"
She turned slowly.
And there he was.
The man in black.
Standing in the empty street.
Watching her like a predator.
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"You think avoiding crowds will save you?"
Her heart pounded.
"…The message told me to."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Message?"
Elena's breath hitched.
She said too much.
The man stepped closer.
Interest flickering in his gaze.
"So… it's interfering already."
Her stomach dropped.
"Interfering…?"
He stopped just a few steps away.
"Something is helping you."
His voice turned colder.
"That's not allowed."
Elena's fear spiked.
"Allowed… by who?"
Silence.
For a second—
Something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
Then he smiled again.
"You ask too many questions."
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Just like before.
Elena staggered.
"Not again—!"
Pressure crushed down on her.
Her knees hit the ground.
Pain shot through her body.
"I can't—!"
The timer flickered wildly.
Glitching.
Breaking.
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
The man frowned.
"…Again?"
Before he could react—
Elena moved.
Not because she was strong.
Not because she wasn't scared.
But because—
She refused to die.
"I won't… die here…!"
She forced her body up.
Step by step.
Against the pressure.
Against the fear.
Against everything.
Her legs shook.
Her vision blurred.
But she kept moving.
One more step.
Then—
The pressure broke.
Completely.
Silence fell.
The man stared at her.
Not smiling anymore.
"…You're learning."
Elena's chest heaved.
Her entire body trembled.
"I… I'm just trying to live…"
Her voice was weak.
But real.
For a moment—
Something changed in his expression.
Something unreadable.
Then—
He chuckled softly.
"Good."
Elena blinked.
"…What?"
He turned away.
"Struggle more."
His voice echoed lightly.
"It makes things… interesting."
And then—
He was gone.
Just like that.
Elena collapsed to the ground.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
Alive.
Still alive.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I… survived again…"
But the timer didn't stop.
[20:03:11]
Still counting.
Still hunting her.
Elena wiped her tears slowly.
Her hands still trembling.
"This isn't over…"
Her gaze hardened.
"But I won't run anymore."