Xeno runs through the thicket of trees, tries to make as little noise as he can. Which way does he go? He doesn't even know where to go. The damned guy left before he could ask. Just because they -

He trips over a branch.

Xeno grunts. He could've sworn he'd told his legs to jump over the thing. He hates this body. It's too damn heavy. What's the use of these insane muscles if he can't even jump properly? He feels something crawling up his neck, resists the urge to scream. A bug? He scrambles to get it off him, when he realizes it's just some of his hair that had escaped out of his bun. He curses. He hates this body.

He gets up on his feet, continues running. He doesn't think anyone is following him. He hopes that was enough to distract them. Xeno ducks under a branch, grits his teeth. Where is he supposed to go now? He glances up at the moon, then glances back down. The trees all look the same.

How did that saying go? When lost in the woods, head west?

Xeno heads west. Anything to keep moving. Staying still would just make him a sitting duck. He doesn't want to get taken back there. Anywhere but there. Four years is enough, thank you very much.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He doesn't know how long he's been running for when he starts to hear the warm cackle of fire. He slows his steps, adrenaline slowly rushing out of him. Someone's there. He doesn't know if this is good timing or bad because he starts to feel disoriented. The events from earlier have finally caught up to him.

He must've made some sort of noise because the next thing he knows, the person calls out. "Who's there?"

The voice is low, coming out as a pleasing rumble. A man, then.

The second thing that he thinks is that the voice sounds familiar. Xeno doesn't reply; he doesn't think he can even if he wanted. He starts seeing double, feels like he's going to hurl.

He hears a set of footsteps coming towards him. The footsteps are light, quiet. Another Reaper?

He blinks, tries to think. His mind flutters between whether to stay or to make a break for it. He's just about to bolt when he realizes his legs choose now to stop cooperating. He hates this body.

He sees the man's silhouette start to approach. Good guy? Bad guy?

The man makes a sound of alarm when they make eye contact. Well, Xeno thinks they make eye contact. His vision has blurred the man well beyond recognition. Hopefully he's a good guy, his brain settles on this thought before promptly deciding to pass out.

The last thing he sees is a pair of hypnotically green eyes. Somehow, even with only the moon at his source of light, he can picture those eyes twinkling with delight. Those eyes. He can trust those eyes.