This is a very, very short one-shot for SuperTD's challenge, "Blind".
The alarm continued to shriek, its haunting sound echoing around the building. Amber took the stairs two at a time, determined not to lose their target again.
'Come on, Amber,' she chanted. 'You can do it.'
The last four steps loomed up and Amber vaulted up them in one bound, using the stair rail for help. A dark shape flitted out of sight and Amber put on a surge of speed. She was so close. No way was he getting away again.
The huge industrial building was a maze of corridors, and Amber had a hard time navigating them. She hoped Hex was keeping track of her movements, because otherwise she would never get out.
Shadow on shadow. That was what she was chasing. Amber raced past a fire escape map and caught a quick glimpse of the building's layout. Up ahead there was another set of stairs. The shape flickered near the top of the staircase and Amber sprinted after it. Her breath ragged in her throat, Amber misjudged the placement of the last step and fell forwards.
'Oof!' she grunted, feeling the concrete crunch into her cheek. That was going to leave a nice bruise.
Twisting so she had a better view, Amber saw her target flitter through a doorway.
'Got you,' she hissed, pushing herself upright. 'No escape now.'
The doorway was reached in a matter of seconds. Distracted by her apparent success, Amber shoved the door open and clattered into the room. Before she knew what was happening, something flew at her face.
Her world exploded in fire. A shrill scream clawed its way out of her throat, as Amber fell to the ground. She barely felt the man brush past her and disappear into the night. Hands clawing at her face, Amber screamed again, a thin wail that begged for help. Her face was burning, a red hot pain that pierced her flesh and went further than she could have possibly imagined. Her eyes were the worst; Amber fought down the urge to rub at them, knowing that it'd only make things worse. Crouched in a ball on the floor, Amber whimpered.
Hex followed Amber's rapidly moving dot with worry. She'd been determined to go after the man herself, insisting that she was the one who had stuffed up last time. Hex had argued with her, but in the end had backed down. Li, Alex and Paulo had stayed out of the fight, wisely deciding not to interfere.
The dot stopped and Hex's frown grew deeper, not growing less even when the dot started to move again. When the pulsating green light stopped for the second time, Hex felt sick. The scream that came next shook him to the core.
'Go!' yelled Hex. He clutched the palmtop in his hands, though he barely looked at it, relying on Amber's high-pitched screams to lead him to her.
Li, Paulo and Alex hurried after him, reaching Amber just seconds after Hex. He was kneeling on the ground next to Amber, holding her hands tightly and peering at her face.
'Paulo,' he said urgently.
'What happened?' Paulo dropped to the ground beside his two friends, hearing Amber's terrified whimpers.
'H-he,' hiccupped Amber, 'chucked some-something at m-my face.'
Hex moved out of the way so that Paulo could see Amber's face better, but she gave a cry.
'Hex?'
'It's ok,' he murmured. 'I haven't gone anywhere.' Amber relaxed, but only slightly.
Paulo waved his hand in front of Amber's eyes. She didn't move away or even blink. He did it again, this time even closer. Dread fell like a heavy weight into Paulo's stomach. Hex had been watching Paulo closely and his eyes widened with horror as he saw Amber's lack of responses.
Amber sensed something was wrong. 'What?' she cried. 'What's going on?' Turning slightly, a look of comprehension and fear crossed her face and settled there. 'Why can't I see?'