The words ring in his head, sounding like a predator zeroing in on their prey. The panic in his chest rises a little more at being called out so blatantly. He's promised to do everything he can to keep himself alive, to see his family. To see the Traveler. To keep them in his sight and him in theirs.

And yet, he can't move.

"͍̫͍N̫͙̞e͇͔̠v̙̘͉.͕͖.̡̻͙e̦̟͓r͙͎͇.̠̫̝"͙͔̦

The wracking cough that comes out from his response is filled with blood, looking up defiantly at his opponent despite how much panic he feels.

"̼͔͍T̝̠̙h̪̼̼i̡͉̠s̙̙̟.̞͔͍.͖̞̼.̘͔̠i͙͕͖s͇̞͕.͙̦͙.̡͓̺.̪͜n͕͓͕'̠͍͇t̢̠͕ o̢̝̦v͔̝͙e̙͇͓r̙͎͙.͍͕͇"̝̘