te the Johnsons.

exterior. As he paced the dimly lit room, the faces of those he loathed flashed before him, but he couldn't shake t

ghter of a younger version of himself echoing in his mind-the boy who was madly in love with his best friend. They were inseparable, sharing secret

arking dogs. In a moment of unthinking bravery, Liam had pushed Elsa away, taking the brunt of the attack himself to save her. The dogs had sunk their teeth into his leg, and the fight and fear

e bile rise in his throat at the memory. He had been barely twelve, huddled in the corner of his living room, frozen

roy you and

uldn't comprehend what brought such fury, but when Mr. Johnson had grabbed his father by the neck,

ear lingering in her eyes. "Liam, we have to go. Now!" She sounded frantic, desperate, and it scared him more than he had ever been. He could s

anyone-not even your closest

reatening to consume everything. Tears had slipped down his cheeks as he clung to his dad, his hea

e. His father had looked toward the door, then back to them, before making a move to ope

s too da

Moments later, he had heard the unmistakable sound of struggle, followed by

she had carefully maneuvered to peek through the crack in the door. Liam had joined her, heart pounding fervently in his chest, and his stomach dropped at t

an't

t reflected the dim light caught his eye. His father had g

his insides as questions swirled in his mind.

onto her face. They had fled through the window, the drop leaving him with a sprained ankle as pain shot up his leg. He op

are that had devoured their lives. Fear mingled with loss, a dull ache resonating deep with

y of that day. Loss and betrayal coiled around his heart, hardening into a

er him. He cursed the Johnsons, cursed Elsa, and cursed the world that had turned on him. No matter how

only the