Mr Erik

Episode 6 The Quiet Before

They didn’t stop running until the city lights began to thin and the streets grew quieter. Kai’s lungs burned as he slowed, leaning against a rusted fence while trying to steady his breathing. Mira crouched nearby, scanning the empty road, while Ren stood silently, listening for movement.

"He didn’t chase us," Kai finally said.

Ren shook his head slightly. "He didn’t need to."

Mira nodded. "Trackers don’t rush. They follow. Slowly."

Kai looked down at the pendant again. It had cooled, but he could still feel a faint pulse inside it. Like something breathing.

"This thing is getting us into serious trouble."

Ren glanced at him. "It’s not just trouble. It’s attention."

Kai sighed. "Even worse."

They moved again, eventually reaching an abandoned building at the edge of the district. Broken windows and peeling paint gave it the perfect forgotten look. Ren pushed open the door carefully, stepping inside first.

Dust filled the air. The floor creaked beneath their weight.

"Temporary," Ren said.

Mira leaned against a wall. "Temporary sounds good."

Kai sat on a broken chair, staring at the pendant. His mind replayed the market, the hunters, the Tracker. Everything had changed in less than an hour.

"Ren," he said quietly.

Ren looked up.

"You knew something like this would happen, didn’t you?"

Ren hesitated.

"I suspected."

Kai shook his head. "That’s not reassuring."

Mira crossed her arms. "We need answers."

Ren nodded slowly.

"I know someone who might help."

Kai looked up. "Someone we can trust?"

Ren gave a small, humorless smile.

"No."