Ella didn't look back at first. She didn't want to see Gray gaining on them. She didn't want to see whatever was happening behind her with Ben. She just held Lucas's hand and ran as fast as her legs allowed.
Lucas kept stumbling, breathing hard. "Ella… I can't"
"Yes, you can," she said, pulling him up by the arm. "Just a little more."
But she heard it.
Footsteps...., Gray's footsteps.
"I can hear him," Lucas cried. "He's coming."
"I know," Ella said, chest burning. "Don't stop."
They reached the bus stop. The lights above flickered again, buzzing softly. Ella scanned the corner behind it.
"There," she said. "The tunnel. Go."
Lucas ran to the back of the bus stop and slid into the small walkway. Ella followed, squeezing into the narrow space between the wall and the old metal structure. The tunnel entrance was a rusted gate with a gap wide enough for a kid but tight for adults.
Lucas went through first.
Ella pushed him gently. "Keep crawling. I'm right behind you."
She squeezed herself through the gap—her backpack scraping loudly against the metal. She froze, listening.
The footsteps stopped.
Right on the other side of the bus stop.
Ella's heart hammered against her ribs.
Then she heard his voice. "You run cute."
Ella's breath hitched. Lucas looked back, ready to cry.
"Ella…" he whispered.
"Don't look at him," she whispered back. "Just move."
Lucas crawled faster. Ella pushed herself forward, elbows burning against the concrete floor. The tunnel smelled like wet dust and cold iron. But at least it was a way out.
Behind her, Gray tapped the metal of the bus stop with his knuckles, twice.
Light taps.
Like he was knocking on a door he already owned.
"You know," he said, "the tunnel leads right where I want you."
Ella kept crawling. Her hands shook. "Ignore him, Lucas. Don't listen."
Gray continued, voice low and calm. "I admire your effort, Ella. Truly. But Ben won't stall me for long."
Ella stopped.
Lucas reached back and tugged her sleeve. "Ella, please. We have to go."
She blinked hard and forced herself forward.
"You don't have to make this harder," Gray went on. "Give me the boy, and I'll let you walk away."
Lucas whimpered. Ella felt something hot and sharp build in her chest. "We're not listening to you."
Gray chuckled softly. "You always say that. And yet… here you are. Terrified."
Ella's jaw clenched. "Keep moving, Lucas."
Lucas crawled deeper into the tunnel. Ella followed, and finally, Gray's voice faded behind them. The tunnel got darker, colder. Only a weak light ahead showed the exit.
When they reached it, Lucas crawled out first and stood up. Ella climbed out after him, knees aching.
She looked around.
They were behind an abandoned warehouse. Broken windows. Cracked pavement. Old crates stacked along the walls. The air smelled like mold and dust.
Lucas hugged her leg. "Where do we go now?"
Ella looked around quickly. "We need to find Ben."
"He told us to run."
"I know," she said softly. "But I'm not leaving him."
Lucas nodded slowly. "Okay."
Ella grabbed his hand and walked along the side of the warehouse, keeping to the shadows.
Then she heard something.
A groan.
Low. Pained.
Lucas tensed. "Ella… that's Ben."
She didn't think, she just ran toward the sound.
Behind a stack of old crates, she found him.
Ben was on the ground breathing so hard while holding his side as blood was on his shirt.
"Ben!" Ella dropped beside him. "Oh my God…..Ben, look at me."
Lucas knelt too, shaking. "Is he..."
Ben coughed. "I'm fine… not dead yet."
Ella's hands were trembling. "What did he do?"
Ben forced a weak smile. "He let me live. That's how you know he's mad."
Ella felt her throat tighten. "We shouldn't have left you."
"You had to." Ben tried to sit up. "We have to move. He'll circle around."
"Ben, you need help," Ella said.
"I'll walk," he said. "It'll hurt, but I'll walk."
He pushed himself up with Ella's help. Lucas clung to her other side.
Ben took one shaky breath. "We get to the old train tracks. It's the only place he won't expect."
Ella nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
They started walking slowly in pain.
And as they turned the corner of the warehouse, Ella heard it again…. Calm footsteps