The square was eerily silent except for the faint sounds of burning debris and the occasional groans of the injured.
Alex stood still, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his breath.
His mind raced as he took in the scene around him—the destruction, the blood, and the lifeless bodies of the dead.
His eyes landed on Derek’s crumpled body a few feet away. For a moment, a flicker of hope sparked in him, but it was quickly doused by his bitterness.
Alex approached cautiously, his steps hesitant as though the very ground might swallow him whole.
“Derek?” Alex called out softly, his voice trembling with a mix of dread and anticipation.
There was no response. Derek lay face-down in a pool of his own blood, his body unnervingly still.
Alex crouched beside him and presse
