The Consunji estate loomed like a fortress against the breaking dawn, its foreboding silhouette casting long shadows across the sprawling grounds. Every corner was a trap waiting to be sprung, every shadow a possible ambush. Yet, none of this mattered to Owel. His focus was singular: his parents. The fear of their fate consumed him, forcing him to move despite the exhaustion that clawed at his body with every step.
His breath came in short, labored gasps as he scaled the estate’s boundary wall, his muscles protesting with sharp pangs. His hands trembled from weariness as he gripped the ledge, pulling himself up with sheer willpower. He dropped silently into the compound, landing with a muffled thud. He remained crouched for a moment, his sharp gaze sweeping the perimeter for movement.
Th
