The Mating Run

Chapter 71

In His Eyes: Mark Zeke’s POV The game’s almost over.

I can tell because the siren hasn’t stopped blaring, announcing the death of more contenders. Just in time too, considering we’ve been here longer than we intended. The contest must have been a hit with the audience this time around, considering how it went on for such a prolonged period.

Glancing over at Alina, | am greeted by the sight of the morning sun stretching across the sky, casting a vibrant palette of orange and pink. Her gaze remained fixed on the window as she sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Her mind is still a mess of forgotten memories, but when our eyes meet, | feel a comforting

warmth — we've come so far.

“I'm heading out to catch some food,” | tell her, feeling the weight of my backpack on my shoulders. Alina looks up, her eyes filled with tenderness. “Anything you want me to find?”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Nothing,” Her voice, gentle and soothing, resonates as she speaks. | nod, feeling a warm sense of appreciation for the genuine concern in her words. Our connection has deepened despite the difficulties posed by her memory loss, and there’s a gentle affection between us. “Just be careful, Zeke,”

The morning light illuminates her features as she gracefully steps closer, creating an ethereal aura around her. In her presence, | am suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of affection, feeling a warmth spread through my entire being. With a gentle touch, | wrap my hand around her neck and plant a swift kiss on her forehead. Stepping back, her smile meets mine, and she leans up on her tiptoes to plant a swift, tender kiss on my lips.

The touch lingers, leaving behind a lingering warmth and a sense of connection. 1/7 Her eyes meet mine again, and the unspunem...

unbroken, even if her memories fade. Every shared moment weaves a new tapestry, connecting the fragments of her memory.

“I'll be back soon,” With my hand lightly brushing against hers, | reassure her, hoping to convey my sincerity. There’s an unspoken promise in that touch promise to return, to continue building a future together. “Don’t worry.”

Stepping outside, | am greeted by a refreshing gust of crisp air, invigorating my senses. The forest beckons with the melodic chirping of birds and the earthy scent of moss and pine. With each step | take deeper into the woods, the rustle of leaves grows louder, and the distant calls of birds echo through the trees, creating a serene ambiance.

As | make my way to the river, the sound of rushing water fills the air, heightening my senses and reminding me to stay alert with my knife in hand. As the Matin Run draws to a close, it's always a smart move to anticipate what lies ahead. It’s during the final moments of the game that a wave of aggression takes over everyone. Making it to the river unscathed, | feel a sigh of relief escape my lips, bringing a momentary sense of peace.

Casting my net into the river, | feel the cool water slip between my fingers as | wait patiently. From my vantage point on a nearby rock, | observe the tranquil water flow, its gentle rhythm lulling me into a state of relaxation. As the sun ascends in the sky, it creates a mesmerizing play of light and shadow on the riverbank. With a satisfying catch secured, | make my way back to the cabin, a sense of

accomplishment and anticipation building as | think about sharing the meal with Alina.

The twisting paths lead me deeper into the dense forest, where the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds surround me. Behind the towering trees, the setting sun creates a beautiful display of long shadows that stretch across my path. Each time the leaves rustle, a shiver runs down my spine, causing me to clutch my knife tighter.

An unsettling tension hangs in the thick air, and | can’t escape the sensation of unseen eyes scrutinizing my every step. With my senses heightened, | moved cautiously, acutely aware of the crunching sound of fallen leaves beneath my boots.

2/7 In the Everd Mark Despite my countless journeys through this forest, tonight there is an indescribable sense of foreboding that | can’t quite shake.

The canopy above created a dim, eerie twilight on the forest floor as slivers of fading daylight struggled to filter through. My mind becomes a playground for shadows, fueling my paranola and constant feeling of being watched.

In the distance, a siren’s wail shatters the tranquility as | near a clearing.

“A whole lot today, huh?” Shaking my head, | mutter under my breath in frustration. “You really want this game to end now, don’t you?”

Ignoring the unsettling sound, | clenched my teeth in determination. | scan the surroundings, my eyes darting back and forth, alert for any signs of movement. Hearing the flicker of shadows and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot sends a thrill through my body. Each step | take through these woods reminds me of the potential threat that lies within, a reminder to stay vigilant and cautious.

My steps become faster, my knuckles turning white as my grip on the knife grows tighter. The sensation of being watched intensifies as | can almost feel the eyes on me, analyzing and evaluating my every move. The person watching me is incredibly patient, carefully waiting for the perfect moment to make their move.

In the darkness, a branch snaps with a loud echo, causing me to freeze. Stopping abruptly, | feel my hand involuntarily grip the hilt of the knife, ready for any danger. I’m not alone. As the realization settles, a tense atmosphere fills the air, and | steel myself for the inevitable confrontation.

“Who's there?”

I call out, my voice reverberating across the vast stillness. Nothing.

Huh.

| could see our cabin door looming before me, and the thought of returning inside filled me with relief. Alina catches my ove from the window

In His Eyes Mark

fixed on me. Her smile is so big and bright that it instantly lights up her face as she waves at me. | can’t help but smile back, raising my hand to wave in response.

Suddenly, the tranquil night air is shattered by a burst of chaos. In an instant, the peaceful atmosphere shattered, drowned out by the thunderous sound of feet pounding against the ground and a frantic, piercing shout. The tension in my muscles tightens, and I’m propelled forward by pure instinct, my heightened senses. scanning the surroundings. | steal a quick glance over my shoulder, but the danger had already caught up to me.

A figure, appearing suddenly from the shadows, ran with a frenzied and ominous energy. Something's not right, and the cabin door feels like a million miles away. Before | have time to respond, something collides with great force against my back, jolting me forward. The force of the impact sends a wave of pain coursing through me, making it difficult to stay steady on my feet.

| feel a tightening grip around my throat, fingers pressing into my skin with an almost painful intensity. Each punch lands with a force that knocks the wind out of me, leaving me struggling to breathe. Panic claws at the edges of my consciousness, but the adrenaline rush sharpens my senses. With a surge of adrenaline, | summon a burst of desperate strength to pry myself loose from the suffocating grip.

Facing my assailant, the world around me becomes a blur, my focus solely on the threat in front of me. Only when | catch a glimpse of her eyes, wild and deranged, do | suddenly realize the horrifying truth.

| know her well — her striking blonde hair and captivating green eyes make her hard to forget. She quickly became the favorite, and | had a feeling right from the beginning that the majority of the screentime would revolve around her. But now Ettie’s face twists into a grotesque expression, contorting her features. The girl | once knew as Alina’s best friend now appears unrecognizable — a chaotic, ethereal incarnation of her former self. Her face is illuminated by the eerie glow of the moonlight, and her vacant, haunted eyes send a shiver down my spine.

With haste, | rise to my feet, the tightness of frustration gripping my chest. Fueled by a madness that defies explanation, Ettie lunges at me with a manic intensity, her movements quick and unpredictable. With a desperate rush of

adrenaline, | stumble backwards, my hands flailing in a futile effort to defend against the impending threat. “Crazy bitch, | don’t want to hurt you!”

Desperation tinged my plea, as the words escaped my lips. But Ettie is beyond reason, a mere shadow of her former self. With a frenetic determination, she moved erratically, her body tense and ready to eliminate the perceived threat before her.

As we grapple in the moonlit forest, | catch a glimpse of the wound on Ettie’s neck — a grotesque gash that oozes with infection. The sight is enough to make me feel sick to my stomach, and the foul odor only adds to the revulsion | feel. It’s as if

omeone had tried to leave a mark on her, but she fought back with such intensity that she was left marked in a completely unexpected way.

“Where is she?!” With a voice that resembles that of a madwoman, the bitch lets out piercing screams while anxiously glancing in all directions. It suddenly dawns on me that she’s searching for Alina, likely able to detect her scent on me.“Where did you hide her? Give her back! She’s mine! MINE!”

“F**k off!”

With a surge of strength, | push myself further away from them, creating a safe distance. The pounding of my heart in my chest intensifies as | realize that the only way to stop Ettie is to render her immobile. As | scan the forest, my senses heightened, | can’t help but feel the weight of the imminent danger looming before me. My mind races, desperately seeking a makeshift weapon to defend myself.

“Crazy ass bitch, just listen to me!”

Filled with a mix of desperation and anger, | implored, my voice strained and urgent. Ettie’s response to my presence is to scream back, completely disregarding my existence.

“Give her back to me!”

And just when | thought the situation couldn’t deteriorate any further, it proceeded to do exactly that. Alina, with wild eyes and unwavering determination,

5/7 18:41 Mon, 11 Mar 20 In this Eyes Mark

bolts out of our cabin, her feet thundering against the forest floor. A surge of panic overwhelms me, my body instinctively reacting to the fear 1 feel for her safety.

“Alina, go back inside! It’s not safe!” Alina, on the other hand, refuses to comply with my request, her unyielding gaze fixing upon me. “Don't tell me what to f**king do, Zeke!”

Her retort resonates with a defiance that matches the wild, untamed energy of the night. Her eyes hold a peculiar determination as she purposefully changes direction, heading towards Ettie. Instead of being angry, her retort ignited a different kind of desire within me, but now was not the appropriate moment for such feelings.

My heart races, a mix of fear and confusion pumping through my veins. Alina’s actions go against all rationality and common sense. Instead of retreating to safety, she boldly steps forward to confront the unpredictable force embodied by Ettie.

In the dim moonlight, Alina swiftly tears a strip of fabric from her top, the sound of the fabric ripping echoing through the stillness. With swift determination, Alina charges towards Ettie, the wind rushing past her as she moves. Without a moment's hesitation, Alina applies pressure to the wound on Ettie’s neck with the improvised bandage.

As Ettie turns to Alina, her arms reach out, almost encircling her in a warm embrace. The crazy bitch’s eyes welled up with tears, but | refused to release my grip on the knife, despite the fish lying forgotten on the floor.

Without taking my eyes off Ettie’s, | made another attempt to call out for Alina. “Alina-”

“Shut up, Zeke.” Alina’s words were punctuated by the sudden motion of her hand, striking Ettie with a resounding slap. In surprise, both Ettie and | widen our eyes simultaneously. “Stop moving, you're bleeding!”

617 In His Eyes Mark

Ettie’s body quivers, and then she loses consciousness seconds after.