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I pressed one hand against it as I ran.

The woods shifted around me. Too many trees.

Too many ways through. But one way felt right.

I followed it.

Down.

Always down.

My shoes hit damp ground. Mud sucked briefly at one sole. Water somewhere.

I could hear it. I knew that sound.

Keep going.

I ran beside it. Or toward it. I wasn’t sure.

Max. Max. Max.

The name became part of my breathing. Two steps.

Breath. Two steps.

Breath. Max.

I broke into a narrow clearing. Nothing. Kept moving. Another. Nothing.

My legs were getting heavy. I ignored them.

My lungs wanted me to stop. No.

My body hurt. No.

There. Something brown.

I ran harder. It disappeared behind brush.

I crashed through after it. “Max!”

Nothing. I stopped. Turned. Searching. Trees. Dirt. Rock. My own blood on my shin.

Where? Where? Where?

Snap.

Static. The world tore sideways.

Dark earth. Something below.

My wrists burned so suddenly I grabbed them.

I looked down. Nothing.

Then—

Woods.