The banging sounds

Zia's pulse quickened as she caught sight of the blood on Will's attire. "Don't worry, it's not my blood," he reassured her before striding outside, Zia following in his footsteps. Stepping into the open, she was met with the confronting sight of a massive wild boar, its form sprawled amidst a pool of crimson.

The pungent aroma of the blood, heavy and suffocating, assaulted her senses, threatening to overwhelm her. Despite the overpowering scent, she stood resolute, her willpower a bulwark against the dizzying effect of the scene before her.

Beside the boar, Will meticulously tended to the grisly task at hand—his collection of knives, a cherished assortment that boasted hammers, shovels, chisels, and blades of every shape and size, a testament to his hobby and passion.

In a moment of discomfort, Will acknowledged the stench as he removed his tainted shirt, revealing a tapestry of scars adorning his back. Among them, a deep, ancient scar stretched from chest to stomach, a mark etched by a significant yet cryptic past.

Zia's curiosity led her to tentatively trace the contours of the old scar, inadvertently startling Will. "What are you doing?" his sharp tone broke the silence, but his gaze softened as he met her eyes.

Offering an enigmatic smile, he indulged her curiosity. "Do you want to know how I got this?" Her nod elicited a cryptic yet reassuring response—a story of pride and pain, delivered with a gentle pat on her head.

Resuming his task, Will directed Zia to fetch coal from behind the house, his focus shifting to a particular cooking technique—a grill fashioned from rocks, an integral part of his culinary prowess.

Following his instructions, Zia returned with a plate and required spices, Will presenting the meat to her. Taking a piece, she hesitated momentarily before savoring the flavors that exploded upon her palate, a testament to Will's culinary skill and the acclaim that often went unheeded.

As Zia savored the succulent meat, an undeniable delight sparkled in her eyes, a silent testament to its exquisite flavor. Will, attuned to her unspoken approval, chuckled softly, an understanding passing between them.

"Is it good?" he inquired, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. Zia's fervent nod conveyed her unreserved approval, the flavors an unexpected delight dancing on her taste buds.

"Alright, alright, I see you like it," Will teased, adding a few extra pieces to her plate, a gesture of generosity mirrored in his warm smile. The exchange, wordless yet filled with shared understanding, bridged the gap between the enigmatic mountain-dweller and the young companion in this remote sanctuary.

As the afternoon drifted lazily onward, Will reclined, a contented sigh escaping his lips. The clock had ticked past 3 PM, the sun playing a shy game of hide-and-seek behind the clouds. Though the day was overcast, the imminent threat of rain loomed in the sky, hinting at the promise of an impending downpour.

The atmosphere remained cool, a gentle breeze sweeping through the air, lending a soothing touch to the surroundings. Yet, a faint warmth lingered, a consequence of the hearty meal they had shared moments ago.

Gazing upon Zia, peacefully nestled in slumber beside him, a fond smile crept onto Will's face. "She does sleep a lot," he remarked softly, a hint of amusement laced with affection. The tranquil scene painted a picture of camaraderie and rest, a brief respite in the midst of their mountain-bound existence.

Will's quiet observation lingered as he scrutinized Zia, noting the subtle resemblances that echoed within his mind. Drawing out a photograph from his pocket, his gaze shifted, capturing the image of a woman—a moment frozen in time.

"If you died protecting her, I should do the same too…" His voice, a reverent whisper, accompanied the tender touch upon Althea's picture, an expression of unwavering dedication and a pledge etched in his heart. The weight of a solemn vow echoed in his words, a testament to the depth of his loyalty and a bond that transcended the confines of time and space.

In a serene park bathed in the golden hues of twilight, a boy of tender years, barely twelve, stood nervously before a lady a decade his senior. His small hands trembled, clutching a single crimson rose, a token of his unspoken affections.

Summoning the courage buried deep within, he steadied himself, his voice quivering yet resolute. "I love you," he confessed, his words carrying a weight far beyond his years. The sincerity in his declaration shone through, accentuated by his earnest gaze fixed upon her.

Caught in a moment both unexpected and endearing, the lady's initial surprise transformed into a tender smile, her features softening with gentle understanding and appreciation for the boy's heartfelt gesture. His innocence and unwavering openness stirred something within her, an unspoken acknowledgment of the bravery it took to bare one's emotions.

Feeling the weight of her gaze, the boy shut his eyes tightly, awaiting her response, his heart racing with anticipation. In that suspended moment, amidst the tranquil beauty of the park, the air seemed to hold its breath.

"Thank you," she finally spoke, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that enveloped the sincerity in his confession. Her smile held gratitude and a touch of affection, a silent acknowledgment of his earnestness. "But—." The unspoken words lingered delicately on her lips, hinting at a gentle refusal, wrapped in gratitude and kindness, yet tenderly appreciating the boy's bravery and the innocent purity of his affection.

Will, rousing from an unintended slumber, blinked away the remnants of sleep, his gaze drifting into the night's obsidian embrace. "I guess I fell asleep," he murmured, rubbing his eyes in a futile attempt to shake off the drowsiness.

His thoughts wandered, casting shadows on the tranquility surrounding him. "I just wanted to protect that smile from afar, but in the end, I couldn't do anything," he confessed softly, his gaze shifting to Zia, her serene form a reminder of his unspoken promise.

"At least protecting her will make me guilt-free," he mused, a sense of resolve mingling with a pang of remorse. Darkness blanketed the landscape, and a biting coldness permeated the air, the chilling breeze an unwelcome reminder of the harsh realities that surrounded them.

With a gentle strength, Will lifted Zia into his arms, cradling her delicate form as he carried her indoors. Tenderly placing her upon the bed, he ensured her comfort before turning his attention to the crackling hearth.

Taking a moment, he gathered the firewood, arranging it meticulously within the hearth's confines. With practiced ease, he ignited the wood, the flames dancing to life as they engulfed the logs, casting a warm glow across the room. The flickering fire breathed newfound warmth into the chilled space, a beacon of comfort amid the encroaching darkness and biting cold.

In the midst of jarring sounds, Zia jolted awake, her senses alert to the clamor resembling heavy knocks upon the door. Urgency propelled her from the bed, her steps guided by the source of the commotion.

Navigating through the dimly lit space, she discovered Will, peacefully asleep on the ground, undisturbed by the cacophony. A compassionate impulse surged within her as she fetched a bedsheet, tenderly draping it over him, shielding him from the chill of the night.

Despite the unsettling noises echoing around them, a moment of silent care enveloped the room as Zia ensured Will's comfort, a gesture reflecting the unspoken bond that had gradually woven itself between them.

In the shroud of darkness, punctuated by sporadic sounds, Zia emerged from the sanctuary of the house, stepping into an enveloping void. The night, cloaked in obsidian hues, offered scant visibility. The moon, obscured by veils of clouds, withheld its luminous guidance, leaving her immersed in an impenetrable gloom.

The frigid air clung to her skin, the biting cold amplifying the eerie atmosphere. With each breath, she felt the chill seep into her bones, a stark reminder of the merciless elements that enveloped her.

Deprived of sight, she leaned into her instincts, relying on a primal intuition to navigate the murky surroundings. Every sound, every rustle, became a guidepost, a fragile thread connecting her to the uncertain environment. In this realm of obscurity, her senses became her only companions, urging her forward through the veil of darkness.

In the midst of the haunting symphony of distant clamors, Zia ventured forth, guided by the echoes of the ominous sounds. The night enveloped her in an oppressive cloak of darkness, its icy tendrils seeping into her flesh with each step forward.

As she treaded cautiously to the rear edge of the house, the noises intensified, drawing her gaze down the sheer cliffside. Peering into the abyss, only darkness stared back, the blackness swallowing all signs of life below. The chilling realization struck her—it was the dreaded "Wall of Death," an ancient and foreboding barrier, shrouded in myths and legends, a monument to a dark past built upon bloodshed and sacrifice.

Driven by a desperate need to uncover the source of the unsettling sounds, Zia navigated the obstructive thorns, their barbs leaving trails of crimson upon her hands. The relentless prickling pain did little to deter her, each step bringing her closer to the imposing structure. Standing before the colossal wall, its towering presence defied human comprehension. Constructed in ages past, it stood as a testament to a bygone era, imbued with an otherworldly essence that left her spellbound. As she gazed upward, the wall seemed to stretch endlessly into the heavens, its pinnacle lost amidst the clouds.

"Looks like built by the heavens from the top," she thought, awe mingling with trepidation. Whispers, barely audible, teased her ears, offering enigmatic secrets she struggled to decipher. Crouching low, she strained to discern the source of the murmurs, but clarity evaded her grasp.

Suddenly, a resounding **BANG BANG** startled her, causing her to recoil in fear, a deceptive illusion of the wall shifting and quaking. The reverberating echoes subsided, luring her back toward the imposing structure.

Braving a tentative touch, her hand met the wall's surface, encountering an inexplicable sliminess. A sensation of dread and foreboding settled within her as the wall seemed to pulse with an unexplained energy, leaving an indelible impression on her trembling fingers.

Zia's heart lurched in terror as her fingers recoiled from the wall's surface, a sudden revulsion washing over her. A nauseating metallic scent, unmistakably blood, wafted in the air, assaulting her senses and triggering an instinctive sense of dread.

Her skin crawled with repulsion as she hastily withdrew her hands, her mind reeling from the macabre realization. The sensation of slick, greasy warmth lingering on her fingertips, coupled with the pungent odor of blood, filled her with a gut-wrenching unease.

Eyes wide with alarm, she staggered back, a mixture of fear and disbelief gripping her. The inexplicable encounter with the wall, its surface exuding an unsettling essence, left her trembling and unnerved. The chilling encounter weighed heavily on her, shrouded in an eerie foreboding that lingered in the air like an unspoken warning.