Carter's POV
The days turned into weeks, and Kyle became an obsession. Not in a typical way, but in a way that gnawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to take over every waking thought. I couldn’t stop thinking about him—the way he stood in the face of danger, unflinching, the way he protected people without hesitation, even when it seemed like no one cared for him.
There were times, in the dead of night, when I would catch myself replaying the look in his eyes—the look he gave me as I was dragged away from the door. It was as if he had known, deep down, that I wouldn't make it in time. That I would be just like everyone else—helpless, unwilling to fight for someone who wasn’t worth fighting for.
But I wasn't helpless anymore. Not anymore.
I began following him. At first, it was ju
