Atlas and Jack kept walking, the silence broken only by the scuff of their shoes and the distant buzz of the lights. Neither of them spoke much now. Atlas stared at the endless yellow walls, trying to remember how long they had been wandering. Jack kept glancing over his shoulder, his jaw tight, like he was waiting for the world to shift beneath them. Then, from behind, came a strange scraping. It was faint at first, and Atlas almost thought he had imagined it, but Jack’s hand closed around his arm, fingers trembling. They both stopped. The sound grew louder, an uneven shuffling that did not match the rhythm of their footsteps. Something was following them. Atlas turned, his heart pounding. Down the hallway, past the wilted chair and the cracked mug, something moved. At first it was just a shadow, but then the flickering light revealed a hunched, wrong shape with long limbs and its head low, crawling along the stained carpet. The sight of it froze the air in Atlas’s chest. Jack gripped his arm tighter. They did not need to say anything. Both started running, feet pounding the carpet as the thing behind them let out a guttural, animal sound. The hallway twisted and turned, corners coming too fast, doors appearing and disappearing. Atlas risked a glance back and saw the monster gaining, its mouth stretched open in a silent scream. They rounded a corner and Jack yanked open a door that had not been there a moment before. The two of them stumbled through, slamming it behind them. For a moment, there was only their harsh breathing and the sound of their hearts drumming in their ears. Atlas pressed his back to the door, eyes squeezed shut. Jack leaned against the wall, sweat shining on his forehead. Neither spoke. The silence felt different now, tense, waiting, but alive. Whatever was beyond that door, whatever new place they had entered, it was better than what was behind them. They did not know where they were. They only knew they were together, and for now, that was enough.
