Just a little further...

I reacted with barely a moment to spare.

Wrapping the unconscious Ryou in my arms, I braced to hit the ground hard. My already near-pulverised legs took the brunt of the force as I attempted to roll and disperse the damage.

Agony engulfed my entire body. I forced myself to my feet, but even adrenaline wasn’t enough to stop every pain receptor I had from going haywire. And they were close. One good leap away. If they found us, we’d be buried in a shallow grave by the end of the hour.

I only had one choice. I had to overclock.

Concentrating every drop of focus I had left on my singular goal, I started moving my legs as time slowed to a crawl around me. At first I was barely moving, but as I felt my consciousness start to fade, I started moving faster. And faster. And faster still, until I was at a full sprint, every nerve in my legs screaming at me to stop.

I had to make it a little further. Just a little further. Just a hundred metres…fifty…twenty…

I practically crashed through my own front door, my legs giving way the very moment they no longer had to run. The unconscious girl tumbled from my arms, and my whole body hit the floor as the pain finally overtook me.

My vision went black.