SCARLETT ROSE
I am kneeling beside Kieran, my hands still trembling as I hold his face.
The pain in my chest is unbearable, as if a part of me is disappearing with each second he remains motionless.
The surrounding air is heavy, saturated with the smell of blood and death.
I can barely breathe.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echo through the clearing.
I lift my head and see Jake staggering, wounded, his face dirty with blood and dirt.
He has deep wounds on his arm and the side of his body, but his eyes are fixed on the scene before him.
Jake pauses for a moment, his eyes moving from Victor's lifeless body to Kieran's.
He swallows hard, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
A mix of sadness and confusion crosses his face.
He takes a deep breath, looks at me, and his eyes glis
