in's

forest path, it felt like I ha

Silent

avier than it was. The air was thick with dew, and every step I took pres

ch other like they were whispering warnings. Beneath my feet, dry leaves crunched, making every step e

, so di

lood, burned in my mind like fire. That piece of paper had sealed his fate. One mistake, or even a lie told about him

re my chest tightened. Not

s loyal. He served that gang without question. He was never given

d. I was supposed to be the one they looked to for strength

ly, I

e it

dung

k stone, stained and cracked. Rusted metal doors guarded the front like jaws waiting to snap shut. I'd seen this place once as a kid, when my

erstand it t

ped me out o

ve

lose. To

ed forward on my elbows, brushing aside fallen leave

I crouched,

ere gloved, and his posture screamed authority. Around him, at least eight men cir

hroat when I saw who the

fat

, and his legs barely held him up. They forced him to

h swollen - burn

" Lord Sampson's voice wa

r didn't

he rasped. "Everything I've done -

s around him. "Loyalty doesn't erase suspici

ing down like a judge delivering

guards rais

To leap out. To shou

e screaming, yet my body refusing to obey. What could I do? I was a

ly. I swear... he looked straigh

ips m

learly, but it looke

th

a

one

h the trees, lou

from the back of his head. Silenc

as g

th dug into my skin, drawing blood. My chest

lost

ose his eyes. They dragged his body to the s

urred my

ng and laughing like nothing had happened. Even Lord Sampson walked away c

appeared into the dis

he cold earth

ed, blood soaking his shirt. His

pulled him into my arms, whispering, "I'm sorry, Dad... I

ouldn't

placed the blood pact on his

ing, "this is why you're dead.

blinking back more te

el it - like the pieces of who I was be

me boy who woke

e. A family held together by

mily had bee

d war - and I was the on

slowly, kne

" I whispered, staring into th

aring, that cursed piece of land. The birds still refus

g else stirr

nger. Not

rp

n't know how long it would take. But I knew t

build. And one day, the man who did thi

n't leave this dungeon as a me