The Loop (Book 2)

Run, Rabbits, Run

Song: Bureimu Wazu by Hiroshi Takaki

The grin that stretched across his face was unnervingly wide, his eyes gleaming with a manic light that sent a chill through Olivia.

He spun the axe lazily in his hands, his movements almost playful, but the tension in his posture suggested he could strike at any moment.

“I’ve been waiting,” he said, his voice high-pitched, almost sing-song, as if this moment was the punchline to a joke only he understood.

Cassandra stepped forward, her expression steely despite the clear danger. “What do you want?” she demanded, her voice sharp but calm.

The Predator’s wild grin grew impossibly wider, his gaze locking onto Evelyn with an intensity that made the air around them seem heavier.

“You,” he said, almost purring.

“You’ve got fire in your eyes. A spark. A light. I’ve seen it before.” His voice lowered, his words dripping with an unsettling reverence. “You’re the one I’ve been looking for.”

Evelyn’s jaw tightened, but her expression remained unreadable. She didn’t flinch under his gaze, though Olivia could feel the weight of his obsession, palpable and suffocating.

Jennifer’s scowl deepened as she stepped closer to Evelyn’s side, her hand hovering over her knife.

“What’s your deal, huh? Why don’t you back off?” she snapped, her tone aggressive, though Olivia could see the tension in her shoulders.

The Predator laughed—a sharp, grating sound that echoed through the forest. “You think you’re in control here?” He twirled the axe again, its rusted blade catching the dappled sunlight.

“This isn’t your game. It’s mine. And Evelyn... Evelyn’s the prize.”

Evelyn’s voice cut through his words, steady and firm. “This isn’t a game. Let us pass.”

His laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a cold, eerie stillness. The smile never left his face, but his eyes darkened. “Oh, it’s very much a game. And I set the rules.”

With a sudden movement, he swung the axe in an arc, the blade cutting through the air just short of Evelyn’s feet. It was a warning, a demonstration of his control.

Jennifer lunged forward, her knife drawn, but Evelyn’s arm shot out, stopping her. “No,” Evelyn said sharply, her eyes still locked on the Predator. “He wants us to react. Don’t give him what he wants.”

The Predator tilted his head, his grin curling into something darker.

“Smart. I like that about you.” He took a step back, twirling the axe once more. “But you’ll run eventually. They always do.”

Before anyone could move, he turned and vanished into the trees, his manic laughter trailing after him like a ghostly echo.

The group stood in stunned silence, their breaths coming quick and shallow.

“What the hell was that?” Jennifer growled, her knife still clutched tightly in her hand. “We can’t just let him stalk us like this!”

Evelyn’s voice was calm, but the edge in it was undeniable.

“He’s baiting us. He wants us to lose control. We have to stay together, stay focused.” She scanned the forest, her sharp gaze tracing every shadow. “He’s dangerous, but he’s playing a role. If we figure out his rules, we can beat him.”

Jennifer shook her head, her frustration palpable. “I don’t care about his rules. He’s obsessed with you, Evelyn. This is personal.”

Evelyn’s expression didn’t falter, but a flicker of something—pain? Frustration?—crossed her face. “That’s why we can’t afford to make mistakes,” she said. “If we play into his hands, he’ll destroy us.”