"Faster, you fucker! Paddle like your life depends on it, because it does,"

Adrian barked, half a squeal as he clung to Ansh's shoulders, fingers digging in like talons.

"I'm trying, but this isn't a motorbike, idiot!"

Ansh shot back, breathless and panicked.

The cycle creaked in protest, wobbling as he stood up to push with everything he had.

The sky above them, once streaked with fading orange,

had now become a shifting sea of darkened tendrils creeping across the heavens,

inching closer to sealing the town beneath an ominous shroud.

"Don't you dare stop, or else the observable sky will—"

Adrian grumbled, glancing toward the red sky that threatened to overtake them.

But suddenly, a wind howled,

carrying with it the faintest echo of laughter.

Cold and spine-chilling.

They were done for.

"D-Did you hear that?"

Adrian's eyes darted nervously as he looked around the streets.

Nothing was out there.

No door was open.

No person was outside.

Only them.

"Oh god, that's her laugh! She's coming!"

"I know! Stop screaming and let me focus!"

Ansh grunted, daring not to look back as he focused on pedaling.

As fast as he could.

Adrian twisted his body again to look back.

"The sky is all red now, Ansh. It's over! She's here."

His voice pitched higher, trembling.

Ansh's face hardened.

"Then shut up and hold tighter if you don't want to die!"

He surged forward, their street finally in sight.

"It's all your fault! We're going to die because of your high score!"

Ansh yelled, panic in his voice as he glanced up.

The sky's transformation was nearly complete; only a silver hue remained.

"My high score? You are the one who wanted to follow that girl to ask for her Instagram!"

Adrian retorted.

Ansh went silent for a second, then mumbled,

"S-She's looking, Adrian. I can feel her eyes."

"If we don't make it—"

"Don't say that!"

Ansh barked, his foot slipping on the pedal for a second. They lurched sideways.

Adrian yelled, almost falling off, but Ansh steadied them just in time.

"You almost killed us!"

Adrian gasped, wide-eyed.

"...Better me than her," Ansh retorted through gritted teeth.

"Left! Take a hard left!"

Adrian yelled, pointing frantically.

The hairs on his neck stood up as a frail, feminine voice echoed through every corner of the town.

"Hehehe... who dares break the rules tonight?"

The voice was dark.

It was omnipresent.

"I know, I know!"

Ansh yelled.

He swung the cycle around, the wheels skidding dangerously close to a gutter.

The laughter in the wind grew louder.

Crueler.

Like it was savoring their terror.

"Ansh, s-she's above us, i-isn't she?"

"Shut up!"

Ansh growled.

Sweat poured down his face.

He could see their house now.

The heavy iron gate looked like a beacon.

"Get ready to jump,"

Ansh said, staring at the gate.

"What? Have you finally gone crazy?"

Adrian sputtered.

"Now!"

Ansh yelled.

They both leapt from the cycle.

It crashed into the gate, metal clanging as they tumbled over each other.

Ansh scrambled to his feet, fingers shaking.

He grabbed the key, jamming it into the lock.

"Hurry, Ansh!"

Adrian's voice cracked as he glanced up.

Dayan's colossal form hovered above,

only her torso and head emerging from an ominous cloud.

Her skin was red.

Her eyes blazing like twin suns as she reached out, her talon-like fingers stretching.

"It's stuck!"

Ansh shrieked, trying to turn the key with both hands.

"Move!"

Adrian shoved him aside.

He twisted the key.

The lock finally giving way with a loud click.

But it was too late.

A shadow loomed over them.

The laughter was deafening now.

A thunderous roar sent shockwaves through the air.

Before either could react, Ansh felt an iron grip clamp around his chest,

lifting him off the ground.

"Hey, Ansh!"

Adrian screamed,

his eyes wide in horror as he watched Dayan's massive hand pull Ansh skywards.

The last thing Ansh saw clearly was Adrian rushing inside the house,

locking the doors while Dayan stared at him for eternity without movement.

It was really over for them—no, perhaps only for him.

Silence fell over the street,

the scarlet glow in the sky dimming as her laughter faded.

His body lay twisted on the ground,

life vanishing from his eyes.

Was this really his end?

Maybe.

But why?

Why did Adrian leave him?

Didn't they promise to die together?

Was it all a lie?

Were they lying to themselves the whole time?

Was it fear of dying?

A light chuckle escaped his lips.

"Idiot,"

he thought.

He didn't know.

But there was one thing he knew for sure:

He would someday ask him for sure.

"See you again... and thanks."

Tears cascaded down his cheeks as life left his eyes.

The cycle creaked like a mocking applause in the night.

He really was his best friend.

●●●

Smack.

The sound of a wet slap echoed through a room with high ceilings and wide space.

"You are a... jerk!"

A girl sobbed, her voice trembling as she glared at the man in front of her.

Tears cascaded down her face.

His eyes were blank.

Probably lost in thought.

Until the slap snapped him back to reality.

He instinctively reached for his cheek, rubbing it with his hand.

"A-Answer me... why would you do that?"

The girl inquired, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

Ansh's eyes suddenly flared open as he felt the stinging sensation spread across his cheek.

His gaze snapped straight,

only to find a girl standing in front of him.

From her appearance, she couldn't have been more than fifteen.

Her emerald eyes sparkled like gemstones,

her pink hair glowing faintly under the soft light of the room.

For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

In all his lives—this one and the last—he had never seen anyone so beautiful.

'Dang… maybe that woman was kidding after all'

he thought, struggling to piece together why he hadn't been reincarnated in a stone-age world as a newborn as promised.

Ansh's brain whirred as he tried to recall what had just happened a few minutes ago...