Kaiden's Point of View
But there was nowhere to run. The hall’s doors had been sealed shut, as was tradition during the celebration to ensure privacy. The very walls meant to protect us became their prison.
I leaped unto a man near the center of the room. My claws ripped through him like paper. His blood sprayed across the wooden floor, a stark contrast to the golden glow of the lanterns.
One by one, I ended them all. The laughter and joy that had filled the room only moments ago were replaced by the stench of blood and the silence of death.
And then I turned to my parents.
They stood frozen at the head of the hall, their faces pale. My mother clung to my father, her wide eyes brimming with tears. “Kaiden,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please… please stop.”
For a moment, some
