e night air was thick with the aroma of pine and dirt, and he stood there by himself beneath the towering canopy of trees. He closed his eyes and allowe

noises of the forest were like a symphony of life. As the two of them pursued each other through the

he sound of his father's voice, which was a low rumble

hful zest that comes with being young. He could almost taste the joy of vic

eath in expectation. Alex came to a stop, his breath coming in ragged gas

en he

adows, observing them with an intensity that sent a shudder down Alex's spin

" his father said, his

gs that fell upon them with a savagery that ripped the wind from Alex's lungs. His father b

was not

licing through flesh and bone with brutal accuracy. Alex watched in horror as h

ng, his heart heavy with loss and remorse. The events of that fateful night had molded him in

ave lost his father that night, but he refused to let his legacy die with him. He would

s, breaking the silence like a thunderclap. "Alex? Is everything alright?" It was