Sorrow

Everything turned red as smoke billowed from the demolished wall. The events unfolded so quickly that understanding them became impossible. Ethan was left bewildered by what had occurred. When the color red caught his eye, instinct kicked in, causing him to push his sister to the ground and seek shelter under the table, guarded by the protective embrace of their mother.

Their mother, sensing danger, valiantly positioned herself as a shield, sacrificing her own safety for the welfare of her children. She would have done the same for Becky, but tragically, Becky became the first victim.

"K-keep... your... sister... safe," were her last words before her life was taken, leaving Ethan in a state of disbelief and shock.

Blood dripped from the table, creating a chilling pool on the floor. Elizabeth, in her fear, pleaded with their lifeless mother, hoping for a response. Meanwhile, Ethan trembled uncontrollably. Slowly crawling out from their hiding spot, he was met with a sight that nearly caused his heart to give out.

"No! No!! No!!!" he screamed in disbelief before hastily retreating back to his sister, whose tear-stained face would never match the anguish in his own. She closed her eyes, trying to clear the pain away, but didn't know she actually gave the expression of one being unconscious.

The air was thick with smoke, and the scent of fresh blood assaulted Ethan's senses. He knew he had to get his sister away from the horrific scene, but as he moved to lift her, her eyes fluttered open.

"Ah!! I thought you were unconscious—" he began, only to be halted by Elizabeth's cry,

".... Ethan–"

"It's okay," Ethan reassured her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "It's okay."

As the older brother, he understood that he had to shoulder the responsibility, especially in light of what had transpired. Holding Elizabeth's hand, he glanced at their lifeless parents and, most significantly, their beloved friend, Becky. Tears streamed down his face as he beheld the tragic sight of a young life senselessly taken.

Fury welled inside him, his grip on Elizabeth's wrist tightening. "Let's go!" he cried through tear-soaked cheeks, his determination propelling him out of the dining room with his sister. The door yielded easily, swinging wide open to reveal a scene of unimaginable horror.

Ethan stood frozen, his once peaceful town now reduced to ruins. Processing the devastation proved difficult, and if not for Elizabeth's need for his support, he might have crumbled under the weight of it all. Without lingering on the nightmarish sight, he ran frantically, never loosening his grip on his sister.

".... Ethan," Elizabeth called out, her voice wavering, trying to understand the unrecognizable expression on her brother's face.

"Yes?" he managed to respond, disguising the true turmoil within him.

"Who... who... killed Mom?"

"Bad men," he replied, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and righteous anger.

"Why?"

"Evil reasons."

He mustered every ounce of strength, refusing to show any weakness or vulnerability. As the older sibling, he knew he had to be strong. The thought of appearing frail and powerless in front of his sister was unthinkable. Little did Ethan know that Elizabeth had already sensed the depth of his pain. She came to a halt, causing Ethan to pause as well, recognizing her need for reassurance.

"Eliza?" He called out anxiously, concerned when she didn't respond. Her head drooped and she clutched the stained red hem of her yellow floral gown.

Growing even more worried by her silence, he approached her cautiously. "Elizabeth–"

"Brother, you know it's okay to cry too!" She shouted, tears streaming down her face.

"But–"

"I know you're holding onto the pain. I know it hurts. I know it's heartbreaking to see Mom, Dad, and Becky gone. I know you're angry. I know it all! I know it's sad to realize it's just the two of us now... but please... let yourself cry," she pleaded.

Ethan stood there, bewildered by her words.

"... Sometimes even the strongest people are the most vulnerable. It's okay to let your tears flow. You're my big brother, and you don't have to be tough all the time. I can be here for you too," she reassured him.

Hearing Elizabeth's words, Ethan knelt down before her.

He let out loud sobs as she wrapped her arms around him.

He finally let the pain out, crying uncontrollably.

"It's okay," she sobbed, gently patting his head. "Let it all out."

"Mom... Dad! They're gone. It's agonizing to lose someone you love. It hurts to hear their final words when they didn't get to enjoy the fruits of your hard work. It's excruciating to lose a dear friend, especially one who truly understands you..."

Ethan cried even harder while his sister comforted him, her own tears mixing with his.

The night was late, illuminated by the fiery destruction that had consumed their town.

Suddenly, Ethan stood up, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Hmm?" Elizabeth looked at him with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Someone... someone is approaching," he said with a serious expression.

"Someone? Maybe it's one of the–"

"No! It's not anyone from this town. I can hear the sound of footsteps!" he interrupted.

"You can tell?" Elizabeth looked around, a sense of unease settling in.

Filled with a foreboding feeling, he grabbed Elizabeth's wrist and hurried toward a pile of broken and smoldering wood. It was the only place they could hide, offering a limited view. "Let's hide here."

Elizabeth nodded, following his lead cautiously. She covered her nose to avoid inhaling too much smoke.

Meanwhile, Ethan peered through the gaps in the wood, waiting for whoever was approaching. If it was someone injured, they would reveal themselves. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.

And he was right.

The footsteps grew closer, and as the figure drew near, Ethan's eyes widened in shock. Elizabeth noticed his expression and knew that whoever had arrived wasn't a welcome presence.

Ethan stared in horror, immediately recognizing the face of the person emerging. It was the scarred man from earlier, with his menacing look that Ethan could never forget. He felt a surge of gratitude that they had hidden together when their first instinct was to flee.

"Seriously?" Another man, unfamiliar to Ethan, approached.

The man was short and round, with a protruding belly that raised suspicion. It wasn't just his physique, but his narrow eyes, button nose, and most of all, his wicked expression. He seemed like a greedy, ruthless individual who would do anything for wealth.

"Damy! Damy!" he called out to the scarred man.

"It's Damien!" the scarred man bellowed, his voice echoing through the surroundings.

"Don't get so angry just because I called you 'Damy,' huh?" the chubby man laughed.

"Call me that pathetic name again, and I'll blow your head off, just like I did to this pathetic town!" Damien threatened, scanning the area as if he sensed someone nearby.

"So, he's the one who destroyed our town," Ethan seethed with anger.

"Yeah, the town. You went too far. You could have simply killed that useless family and taken the object, then returned–"

"Ah, you ignorant fool!" Damien hissed angrily, unable to contain his frustration. "What's the point in all of this? Are you really that dense? We shouldn't have just wiped out everyone, including this sorry excuse for a town? If that object wasn't in the possession of that family, they wouldn't have suffered the consequences. Use your brain instead of relying on your excess body fat, for once."

"Hey! I hold a position of superiority here!" the man retorted, his voice filled with anger. Damien could only respond with a dismissive "Tsk!."

"And did you find the object you were looking for?"

"No!"

"Oh well. Now let's regroup and come up with a story about the destruction. A headline about a massacre should do."

Damien glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the surroundings, before finally replying, "Sure... That would suffice. We know how to manipulate the situation to our advantage."

As the two men walked away, Ethan watched in disbelief, shock evident on his face and simmering anger in his heart.