Shadowing 365 words 326-350
Written By Jahaziel Castañeda
he-steps-into-the-hallway
she-makes-a-sharp-turn
he-stops-when-the-glow-shifts
the-pattern-pulses-softly-guiding-them
she-is-not-afraid-just-tense
he-searches-the-shadows-for-the-answer
the-photos-lie-intact-on-the-floor
he-lifts-the-photos-carefully
a-fragment-of-childhood-stares-back-at-him
she-watched-him-study-each-image
his-hands-begin-to-shake
a-quiet-anger-rises-in-him
the-panel-flickers-once-then-goes-dark
the-mechanism-stays-locked
he-hits-the-side-of-the-console
a-sharp-pain-shoots-up-his-arm
she-leans-over-him-searching-the-edges
he-needs-the-system-to-wake-up-even-for-a-second
she-walks-through-the-long-corridor-searching-for-him
the-door-feels-heavy-when-she-tries-to-open-it
the-metal-is-warm-as-if-someone-touched-it-moments-ago
she-rests-her-forehead-on-the-cold-surface-trying-to-stay-calm
she-touches-the-wall-feeling-the-faint-warmth
the-surface-vibrates-softly-beneath-her-hand
the-enemy-watches-them-from-somewhere-they-cannot-see
silence-fills-the-room-after-the-speaker-shuts-off
the-pulse-returns-rippling-through-the-floor
she-continues-forward-each-step-deliberate
the-space-between-them-feels-stretched-apart
the-figure-steps-once-slow-and-controlled
a-bright-glow-spreads-across-the-room-steady-and-sharp
the-lights-flicker-softly-above-him
the-center-of-the-room-feels-strangely-empty-as-he-steps-inside
a-shadow-moves-behind-the-wall
a-figure-waits-in-the-center-of-the-room-barely-moving
they-stand-separated-by-inches-and-by-design
crack-appears-on-the-surface-for-a-second-then-fades
the-edges-stay-firm-when-they-push-against-them
his-fist-hits-the-glass-but-it-does-not-leave-a-mark
the-glass-reflects-their-faces-as-they-run-toward-it
she-kicks-the-lower-panel-no-give-no-sound
a-sudden-noise-makes-him-break-his-focus
the-screen-flickers-when-the-signal-drops
the-door-opens-before-he-even-touches-it
her-jaw-tightens-when-the-noise-hits-the-room
she-stays-confident-even-when-the-room-grows-tense
he-tenses-the-moment-she-steps-away-from-him
he-stands-in-the-doorway-blocking-the-exit-without-a-word
he-turns-without-saying-a-word
she-moves-closer-trying-to-see-his-face
he-ignores-the-warning-and-keeps-walking
he-starts-to-suffer-quietly
she-smiles-certain-at-last
she-knows-exactly-what-she-will-choose
he-lifts-the-bag-with-one-quick-move
she-walks-proudly-after-the-long-fight
he-presses-the-switch-without-hesitation
she-hits-the-button-before-he-can-stop-her
the-enemy-waits-in-the-dark-corner
he-tries-to-understand-what-she-means
a-sharp-hiss-escapes-from-the-vents-above-them
he-smells-gas-and-quickly-opens-the-window
the-vents-open-wider-with-a-soft-mechanical-sound
a-pale-light-pours-through-the-cracks-in-the-ceiling
a-thin-cut-starts-to-bleed-slowly-down-his-hand
the-small-device-spins-once-before-stopping-again
he-runs-across-the-room-without-thinking
she-rips-the-panel-open-in-one-move
a-spark-jumps-when-the-cable-slips
Anya-presses-her-hand-against-the-glass
he-collapses-to-his-knees
the-last-bit-of-light-disappears-into-the-rising-cloud
another-door-stays-open-behind-them
they-move-toward-each-other-without-slowing-down
thomas-stumbles-but-keeps-going
anya-catches-him-before-he-falls
the-room-stays-quiet-for-a-moment
they-meet-again-at-the-edge-of-the-ridge
he-helps-thomas-walk-down-the-hallway
fresh-air-flows-in-from-the-hatch
the-fresh-smell-makes-thomas-breathe-easier
ahead-a-narrow-path-curves-along-the-ridge
they-climb-through-the-opening-without-stopping
a-dark-tunnel-keeps-leading-them-upward
they-finally-reach-the-surface-after-the-long-climb
a-cold-wind-moves-across-the-open-field
snow-is-falling-softly-covering-everything-in-white
her-eyes-narrow-as-she-tries-to-see-the-shapes-ahead
a-distant-voice-whispers-follow-us-carried-by-the-wind
they-stop-at-the-edge-of-a-wide-silent-plain
they-reach-the-slope-and-stop-to-look-at-it
the-wind-pushes-against-them-as-they-move
snow-blows-into-their-faces-the-moment-they-step-forward
his-foot-slips-when-he-steps-on-the-ice
anya-grabs-his-arm-to-steady-him
the-world-stays-frozen-briefly
a-deep-rumble-shakes-the-ground-as-they-move
the-avalanche-roars-behind-them-with-growing-force
anya-pulls-him-up-before-he-falls-again
his-body-shakes-from-cold-and-fear
he-has-to-dive-fast-when-the-rocks-start-falling
they-breathe-hard-under-the-frozen-sky-alive
they-stay-under-the-rock-until-everything-stops
thomas-leans-back-and-tries-to-breathe-normally
anya-checks-the-sky-to-make-sure-it-is-clear
she-places-a-hand-on-his-shoulder-to-steady-him
he-closes-his-eyes-just-to-rest
for-a-moment-she-holds-him-upright
she-slows-her-pace-after-a-few-steps
his-face-looks-pale-in-the-dim-light
anya-asks-if-he-can-keep-moving
he-admits-he-is-not-fine-after-all
she-touches-his-forehead-to-check-his-temperature
when-his-eyes-open-she-whispers-that-she-is-here
they-find-a-small-space-under-the-fallen-tree-and-settle-there
thomas-lies-on-the-ground-still-shivering
anya-covers-him-with-her-jacket-to-keep-him-warm
she-stays-watching-the-forest-in-case-something-moves
she-looks-down-into-the-pale-blue-depth
she-keeps-listening-for-any-sound-that-might-be-a-threat
they-reach-the-lake-and-pause-before-stepping-forward
the-lake-looks-still-as-they-move-toward-it
thomas-steps-onto-the-ice-with-careful-footing
the-ice-cracks-softly-under-their-weight
the-surface-holds-as-they-continue-across
the-space-between-them-feels-wide-and-fragile
a-wolf-appears-between-the-trees-without-making-a-sound
thomas-freezes-when-he-sees-the-animal-again
a-low-growl-rises-from-the-dark-hallway
it-turns-away-and-walks-back-into-the-snow
the-wolf-watches-them-from-the-hill-in-silence
then-it-disappears-into-the-forest-without-a-sound
they-reach-a-small-cabin-near-the-river
the-trees-move-gently-with-the-wind
thomas-sits-on-the-step-and-waits-in-silence
anya-starts-a-small-fire
papers-fall-to-the-floor-at-his-feet
he-tries-to-relax-breathing-slowly
the-drawer-is-empty-except-for-dust
he-spreads-the-documents-on-the-table-to-look-at-them
he-studies-the-photos-trying-to-understand-what-they-mean
he-finds-another-note-under-it
she-holds-the-paper-carefully
then-she-turns-it-to-check-the-back
his-eyes-widen-when-he-reads-the-line
he-turns-the-page-slowly
something-in-the-dark-begins-to-shift
her-face-changes-as-she-understands
he-knows-the-name-on-the-paper
everything-is-about-to-change
hallway
turn
stops
guiding
afraid
answer
intact
photos
childhood
watched
shake
anger
panel
locked
hits
pain
leans
needs
corridor
door
metal
cold
warmth
surface
enemy
silence
returns
continues
apart
steps-back
bright
lights-up
center
shadow
figure
separated
crack
edges
fist
glass
kicks
break
flicker
opens
tightens
confident
tenses
stands
turns
closer
ignores
suffer
smiles
choose
lifts
proudly
presses
button
enemy
understand
hiss
gas
vents
pours
bleed
spins
runs
rips
spark
presses
collapses
disappears
another
toward
stumbles
catches
quiet
meet
helps
flows
fresh
narrow
climb
leading
surface
wind
snow-globe
narrow
follow
edge
reach
pushes
blows
slips
grabs
frozen
rumble
roars
pulls
shakes
dive
alive
stay
leans
checks
places
eyes
moment
slows
pale
asks
admits
touches
whispers
find
lies
covers
watching
down
listening
reach
lake
steps-back
cracks
holds
wide
appears
freezes
growl
turns
watches
disappears
cabin
trees
sits
starts
floor
relax
drawer
documents
photos
finds
holds
turns
widen
page
shift
changes
knows
about
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