Manny swallowed hard against a sudden, painful tightness in his throat. The pieces clicked into place with devastating clarity. Max had been leaving this trail not for his own salvation, but for the little girl waiting in a hospital bed. Every sign, every footprint, every torn scrap of fabric and hidden note was a deliberate, desperate attempt to save *her*. Manny realized then that Max, however frightened, had never stopped fighting. He had fought with every ounce of courage and wit he possessed, turning his own flight into a message, his fear into a map for his sister.
When Manny backed out of the hollow, the dog stiffened. He followed its gaze and froze. Vale stood several yards away, half-shrouded by trees, watching silently. His expression was blank and chilling—a mask stripped of humanity. The moment Manny blinked, Vale’s face disappeared back into the darkness.
Manny sprinted forward, crashing through branches, but Vale was already gone, swallowed by the forest. Only silence remained, loud and unforgiving. As Manny stood trying to steady his breathing, the implication became clear: Vale hadn’t come here by accident. He’d been tracking them, ensuring he stayed one step ahead.
Manny returned to the hospital with a clarity that rattled him. Vale wasn’t searching for the girl to reclaim her; he was hunting her to silence the only witness to his crimes. The realization bore into Manny’s chest like ice. He requested extra security, but without formal charges, protocol tied everyone’s hands. Guards could only watch entrances, a limitation that gnawed at him. Rules felt painfully thin compared to the threat stalking the hospital halls.
Later that night, Manny saw a maintenance worker roaming the corridors. His uniform was convincing, but his rigid posture was odd. He passed the nurses’ station unnoticed. Manny was about to step forward when one presence sensed him immediately, long before he reached the girl’s room.
The dog’s growl erupted like an alarm, low and vibrating with fury. Manny sprinted into the hallway and caught Vale mid-stride. For a heartbeat, their eyes locked—predator and protector. Then Vale bolted, slipping into a stairwell before Manny or security could react.