MADDOX
The morning air carried a sharp, unyielding chill as I stepped out of the car and into the dense forest. The message from my lieutenant had been cryptic, but the urgency in his tone told me enough. Something was wrong.
The scent of blood—though faint—lingered in the air. My boots crunched against the frost-bitten grass as I approached the scene. Ahead, the cluster of my men stood rigid, their faces tense and eyes wary. When they saw me, they straightened further, nodding in silent acknowledgment of my presence.
“What do we have here?” I asked, my voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.
My lieutenant, Marcus, stepped forward, pointing to the figure sprawled on the ground. The man’s lifeless body was splayed awkwardly, his eyes frozen wide open in terror. His neck bore
