He ran.
Branches clawed at his face. Roots tangled around his feet, threatening to send him crashing to the ground. Every breath burned, as if fire were licking the inside of his lungs. Each gasp came broken, ragged, desperate.
Behind him, the thunder of hooves shook the earth.
Shouts ripped through the forest:"THIS WAY!""DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!"
An arrow struck a tree inches from his head. Ki stumbled, barely catching himself before face-planting into the dirt. Shaking arms pushed him up. His vision blurred. Blood trickled from somewhere... he didn't have the time to find it.
He ran again.
Not toward safety. Not toward hope.
Just away from death.
A flash of memory struck him... the lifeless, blank-eyed face of Kenji. Horror clawed at him, but he had no time to dwell. The forest was alive with pursuit: torchlight bobbing through the trees, barking dogs, shouts and galloping hooves that made the ground tremble beneath him.
He tripped over a root, pain shooting through his leg. Grimacing, he scrambled to a nearby bush and dove inside, pressing himself low. Hands clamped over his mouth, he held his breath, every muscle tense. Soldiers passed overhead, their voices rough, unaware of the boy hiding mere feet away. The dogs' growls faded into the distance, the thundering of hooves gradually retreating.
Ki's body trembled. Sweat soaked his hair and hands. His stomach twisted with fear and exhaustion. One wrong move... one careless breath... and death would find him.
Slowly, cautiously, the torchlight retreated. He peeked through the leaves, chest rising and falling in ragged relief. For now, he had survived.
Ki glanced left and right... no one. Quiet. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath.
When he opened them…
Scar face stood there, emerging from the shadows, a menacing smile stretched across his face.
"Hello there, boy," he said.