Night, cloaked in a mantle of inky blackness, descended upon the forest. The vibrant greens and dappled sunlight that had bathed Noah's earlier cleansing moment were replaced by an inky blackness punctuated only by the occasional glint of starlight filtering through the dense canopy overhead.
Seated beside the now-cool embers of a small campfire, Noah finished the last of his cookies. The comforting sweetness had faded, leaving behind a bittersweet aftertaste. The memory of a simpler time clung to him, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of his current existence.
He gazed into the flickering flames, the firelight dancing in his golden eyes.
A strange mix of emotions swirled within him. There was the ever-present anger, a cold fire fueled by vengeance, the desire to seek answers and revenge because he was certain his mother got killed. He would unveil the truth and make whoever is responsible pay the ultimate price.