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No Plagiarism!iIdz7lUpBggvjKzM2y80posted on PENANA Once again, the Hunger called to Marcus, dragging him toward familiar ground. Every step he took brought him closer to losing control again.8964 copyright protection540PENANAmgCajmwe5D 維尼
Then, in the distance, he saw it—the warehouse in Dren.8964 copyright protection540PENANAGYRkj2O6pE 維尼
And beyond it, the sound of children laughing.8964 copyright protection540PENANA7PzSeLlA8z 維尼
"Please… not the children." His voice was a whisper, a plea to something that no longer listened.8964 copyright protection540PENANAU4Js6eBNO1 維尼
A child’s voice rang out.8964 copyright protection540PENANAmZOVOZltM0 維尼
"Rocky, come on!"8964 copyright protection540PENANA2Zg0iKgR3W 維尼
Marcus knew that voice. Lucas. Rodrick’s son.8964 copyright protection540PENANAg6CjF2pzUJ 維尼
He pressed himself against the rough bark of a tree, hoping—praying—that no one had seen him.8964 copyright protection540PENANAqxDEVL4GrF 維尼
But Rocky had.8964 copyright protection540PENANAFkOFdEUMyX 維尼
The dog caught his scent, sniffing the air, his tail wagging as he bounded toward the tree.8964 copyright protection540PENANAttKIf8z9KV 維尼
Marcus wanted to back away, to disappear into the shadows, but the Hunger wouldn't let him.8964 copyright protection540PENANAI1gyCTnJiQ 維尼
Rocky wagged his tale when he seen someone he use to know.8964 copyright protection540PENANAtf6vldSy7D 維尼
His body moved on its own.8964 copyright protection540PENANAgcNapIAQKO 維尼
A single motion.8964 copyright protection540PENANA2KGHHOKKex 維尼
A sickening tear.8964 copyright protection540PENANAnB1abgzjqg 維尼
And Rocky was no more.8964 copyright protection540PENANAoavndqRq1Y 維尼
Marcus stared at his hands—soaked in blood, holding the dog in two pieces.8964 copyright protection540PENANA2piyXXXDUE 維尼
Then came the screams.8964 copyright protection540PENANAEDsLku527f 維尼
"There's a monster in the woods!"8964 copyright protection540PENANAERUBnUrb8W 維尼
Lucas and the other children saw him. Saw the blood. Saw the carnage.8964 copyright protection540PENANARJIUXjSV84 維尼
Marcus turned to flee—but his body wouldn't listen.8964 copyright protection540PENANALfnzypmYbI 維尼
His feet dragged him forward.8964 copyright protection540PENANAj8eFmFIXI3 維尼
Back toward Dren.8964 copyright protection540PENANAdgrxEr6neo 維尼
Back to where the pain began.8964 copyright protection540PENANAPArsFnpXwY 維尼
He stayed within the tree line, watching for movement. Then he saw it.8964 copyright protection540PENANA6jCx37isow 維尼
His house.8964 copyright protection540PENANAVYqSqMWGoG 維尼
The peach tree that had once grown beside it now stood barren, its branches twisted and lifeless.8964 copyright protection540PENANAz4TmMq4fgX 維尼
Connor had loved peaches.8964 copyright protection540PENANAzFsrsh8gCY 維尼
But the tree had stopped growing the night his family died.8964 copyright protection540PENANAf3vrfYqluJ 維尼
Like everything else.8964 copyright protection540PENANAcnpyERtKmH 維尼
A blur of motion—Marcus tore the wooden boards from the back door and stepped inside.8964 copyright protection540PENANAV186z4ZPWo 維尼
Silence.8964 copyright protection540PENANAW1aL6Eu9Qh 維尼
Cobwebs clung to every surface. Dust choked the air. They had left it untouched.8964 copyright protection540PENANAiHLiFUppQA 維尼
The people of Dren had covered the furniture, locked the doors, and left the house to rot.8964 copyright protection540PENANANBas174nVr 維尼
8964 copyright protection540PENANArEGaN7mKZ4 維尼
The house welcomed him with silence—but he was not alone.8964 copyright protection540PENANA99yMXyGKj0 維尼
"Welcome home, love."8964 copyright protection540PENANAydBoc4CrsL 維尼
Lorna’s voice.8964 copyright protection540PENANA53urXMIT85 維尼
The scent of lavender filled the air.8964 copyright protection540PENANAEgVNEv98XB 維尼
Marcus turned sharply, searching for her. For any sign of her.8964 copyright protection540PENANA7fVSj9VsBl 維尼
He stepped into the living room.8964 copyright protection540PENANAwFC7kwdtWM 維尼
The crate was gone. The floor had been scrubbed clean—as best as they could.8964 copyright protection540PENANA6en3M3jto6 維尼
But Marcus could still see it. Still smell the blood.8964 copyright protection540PENANAQA49tbOizG 維尼
The memories flooded back.8964 copyright protection540PENANARriIfslTzo 維尼
His weakness.8964 copyright protection540PENANAP66lkTKlRp 維尼
His failure to protect his family.8964 copyright protection540PENANA4SsY1BsN1d 維尼
The foolish words he had spoken in the final moments of his life.8964 copyright protection540PENANAeuKKr6nrhg 維尼
His legs gave out, and Marcus fell to his knees, sobbing.8964 copyright protection540PENANAzlhPeDBaDY 維尼
Then, from outside—8964 copyright protection540PENANARDm9KjxO4b 維尼
"The monster is in the mayor’s old house!"8964 copyright protection540PENANAslgshnXBW5 維尼
Marcus’s head snapped up. He had left the door open.8964 copyright protection540PENANAXi4h66K1QP 維尼
He slammed it shut, grabbing a chair and wedging it under the knob.8964 copyright protection540PENANAdv88iaD0RO 維尼
Then, a gleam from the fireplace caught his eye.8964 copyright protection540PENANAGITf8NEte6 維尼
Connor’s longsword.8964 copyright protection540PENANAbbuJBX942e 維尼
It rested on the mantle, untouched by time.8964 copyright protection540PENANAMEaUDmRc3c 維尼
Marcus reached for it, unsheathing the blade. It was exactly as he remembered it. The same craftsmanship. The same weight. The same sharpness.8964 copyright protection540PENANAJYgCvyu1uo 維尼
His wrist turned, testing its balance. It felt like it belonged to him.8964 copyright protection540PENANASPaDrYK9lJ 維尼
Then, a thought struck him.8964 copyright protection540PENANAq6R1Ghn53E 維尼
Why did the blacksmith make Connor a longsword?8964 copyright protection540PENANANxVMjJryzQ 維尼
He was far too young.8964 copyright protection540PENANAmUIZQRofsr 維尼
A realization settled over him like a vice.8964 copyright protection540PENANAYtUHbFd4Hk 維尼
Tyler planned this.8964 copyright protection540PENANAGCqlPvIlpT 維尼
All of this.8964 copyright protection540PENANA6cGZF8kAJC 維尼
The Darkness inside him stirred.8964 copyright protection540PENANAJ8GbYthDrq 維尼
Black veins crawled down his arm, reaching his hand, the one gripping the sword.8964 copyright protection540PENANA8CCgoz7QEH 維尼
The steel shifted.8964 copyright protection540PENANAR1aidWKSxx 維尼
The blade dissolved into a swirling green vapor.8964 copyright protection540PENANAwZezUfMdUk 維尼
Marcus swung it experimentally. The smoke-like form remained, as if the weapon had transformed into something unnatural.8964 copyright protection540PENANAhoDxNydiWK 維尼
Then, movement outside.8964 copyright protection540PENANACdfD3B48QD 維尼
Shadows shifted against the curtained windows.8964 copyright protection540PENANAh8p0U2gDqQ 維尼
The townsfolk had surrounded the house.8964 copyright protection540PENANACxZhETuHCq 維尼
Marcus ducked under the kitchen table—8964 copyright protection540PENANAL2l0y7Sro3 維尼
His body moved before he understood why.8964 copyright protection540PENANAbj1vbn1unP 維尼
And then the fear struck him.8964 copyright protection540PENANArYUQhFJFZd 維尼
A deep, paralyzing fear.8964 copyright protection540PENANAqDHETW9grf 維尼
The kind that only a child could feel.8964 copyright protection540PENANAhhZkwZdv0j 維尼
His breath hitched.8964 copyright protection540PENANAn9J7rVyhq4 維尼
His trembling fingers traced the underside of the table.8964 copyright protection540PENANAckDUjLonri 維尼
"This is where Connor hid when Tyler came."8964 copyright protection540PENANAlrv1O2iJFR 維尼
8964 copyright protection540PENANANfCBcHFXhn 維尼
The house groaned around him. Shadows flickered as flames crept along the walls.8964 copyright protection540PENANAkMEKbtMUbK 維尼
Then, her voice.8964 copyright protection540PENANAXHtXkdflD5 維尼
"This is where I was."8964 copyright protection540PENANAke7eGf7fkQ 維尼
Marcus turned sharply, his breath catching in his throat.8964 copyright protection540PENANAIbCFYsBWX4 維尼
The voice came from a small box nestled between two lanterns—Lorna’s cherished lanterns.8964 copyright protection540PENANAPuq9znPRmH 維尼
He reached out, hesitated, then lifted the lid.8964 copyright protection540PENANAVAPgOinTFn 維尼
Inside, a pile of ash.8964 copyright protection540PENANAFAslK0CHwT 維尼
Next to it, her wedding band.8964 copyright protection540PENANAbkXt5fqiqx 維尼
Marcus’s fingers trembled as he picked up the ring.8964 copyright protection540PENANAjdSTFrxyPh 維尼
His voice was barely a whisper.8964 copyright protection540PENANApnxMrjc2rl 維尼
"Why didn’t they bury you with it?"8964 copyright protection540PENANApzFnPY1vfu 維尼
The answer came, hollow and full of sorrow.8964 copyright protection540PENANANosOgqAVdN 維尼
"Tyler."8964 copyright protection540PENANArW49ulh9sL 維尼
The name alone ignited a fire within him hotter than the flames consuming his home.8964 copyright protection540PENANARMwJY2KaP8 維尼
His rage billowed like a storm, deep and unrelenting.8964 copyright protection540PENANAr1Oy3pIttb 維尼
Marcus slipped the ring onto his little finger.8964 copyright protection540PENANAYVhp9jgKtS 維尼
Then, the smell of smoke thickened.8964 copyright protection540PENANAuoxh5yqEoo 維尼
The villagers had set the house on fire.8964 copyright protection540PENANAhqCs2OsUGV 維尼
Marcus turned to the window. His only escape.8964 copyright protection540PENANA0ThWl3XVQH 維尼
Through the glass, he saw them—a sea of people.8964 copyright protection540PENANA9PbpsHkb8d 維尼
Torches. Pitchforks. Fear. Hate.8964 copyright protection540PENANA4EbAPWswqd 維尼
And then—8964 copyright protection540PENANAvdksvVnrwO 維尼
The Hunger returned.8964 copyright protection540PENANA53KMeRK5ND 維尼
A blur of movement—Marcus crashed through the window.8964 copyright protection540PENANASrtqxi2J8u 維尼
The sword in his grasp dissolved, shifting into its green vaporous form.8964 copyright protection540PENANA0dvJEueWkm 維尼
He landed among them. They barely had time to react.8964 copyright protection540PENANAgmHwBX9wZw 維尼
The closest man didn’t even scream.8964 copyright protection540PENANAIz2GoGuUQm 維尼
Marcus swung the blade. The vapor touched flesh, and where it passed, a path of decay spread.8964 copyright protection540PENANA0jTiqfqsVp 維尼
The man crumbled to the ground, lifeless.8964 copyright protection540PENANA21xkyO67ro 維尼
Marcus felt it.8964 copyright protection540PENANAsc1eNZuZWl 維尼
The Hunger was being fed.8964 copyright protection540PENANAGeHMTNOuNn 維尼
This was different. This was not like before—this satiated him.8964 copyright protection540PENANA0uOOA0Z6RT 維尼
Someone rushed him with a knife—Marcus moved faster.8964 copyright protection540PENANA9LKaQfhaDM 維尼
One slash, and they fell apart like dried leaves.8964 copyright protection540PENANAb80Q1wsQ3q 維尼
Screams tore through the night as the massacre began.8964 copyright protection540PENANAt1tLlyZN52 維尼
One by one, they died.8964 copyright protection540PENANABEuNroUmuC 維尼
None could run.8964 copyright protection540PENANAHPUhwTItXT 維尼
The elderly. The young.8964 copyright protection540PENANAQbeiGj1dOT 維尼
No one was spared.8964 copyright protection540PENANA4zaVLgnxyM 維尼
Their screams filled the sky.8964 copyright protection540PENANAkz0mzlXO53 維尼
Their bodies lined the road.8964 copyright protection540PENANAAP7HaZklc8 維尼
And when the final breath was taken—8964 copyright protection540PENANAifZnDWgItP 維尼
The Hunger subsided.8964 copyright protection540PENANATH8JbK61J2 維尼
Marcus exhaled sharply, looking down at his hands.8964 copyright protection540PENANAQMBPoUikdX 維尼
The blade was steel again.8964 copyright protection540PENANAULBpSN3Os1 維尼
The wedding band was gone.8964 copyright protection540PENANAL32YdJ3kXH 維尼
Then, her voice—filled with despair and fury.8964 copyright protection540PENANAd2aRmoTtUu 維尼
"This one was not Tyler.8964 copyright protection540PENANA7eaGU9XYBw 維尼
This one was you, Marcus.8964 copyright protection540PENANAgd9BvPjXWA 維尼
What you have become eats life, love—any light.8964 copyright protection540PENANAQh8MWCpkEP 維尼
My ring turned to ash like yours.8964 copyright protection540PENANAwr5FUNJQRI 維尼
We would be together as a family if it wasn’t for you.8964 copyright protection540PENANA62LPoOi7li 維尼
You killed everyone you loved!!"8964 copyright protection540PENANAslWp4OER7o 維尼
8964 copyright protection540PENANAd9zOmTdTU8 維尼
The weight of Lorna’s words crushed Marcus.8964 copyright protection540PENANA1jFl1r3imV 維尼
"You killed everyone you loved."8964 copyright protection540PENANABAZVx7wJrT 維尼
And she was right.8964 copyright protection540PENANATgygAqiYng 維尼
With nothing left—nothing but the monstrous thing he had become—Marcus turned and left.8964 copyright protection540PENANAQ4XpDlcHFc 維尼
He walked away, leaving Dren and the massacre behind.8964 copyright protection540PENANA7y0WVoB33a 維尼
___________________________________________________________________________________8964 copyright protection540PENANAQnWuqX1boN 維尼
"Father!"8964 copyright protection540PENANAooqoW5bDdn 維尼
Melissa’s scream pierced the silence of the dead town.8964 copyright protection540PENANAdsWb02snOC 維尼
She collapsed beside her father’s corpse, her tears soaking into his blood-stained clothes.8964 copyright protection540PENANAY3mU2fxuKT 維尼
The streets were littered with the bodies of her people.8964 copyright protection540PENANArv3pOUSxrg 維尼
Fathers. Mothers. Children.8964 copyright protection540PENANA3KWXd1lvXN 維尼
The town of Dren was gone.8964 copyright protection540PENANAeLpKaHqSh2 維尼
Melissa’s shoulders shook with grief.8964 copyright protection540PENANActvvhRoyrB 維尼
Why? Who could do this?8964 copyright protection540PENANA3pRid0wBsQ 維尼
A figure approached, draped in priestly robes.8964 copyright protection540PENANAwDyuMYPseg 維尼
"Excuse me," the man said gently, "we are preparing the Funeral Rites for your father and the others."8964 copyright protection540PENANAgnoxbHgvmC 維尼
Melissa lifted her head. Through her tear-blurred vision, she saw others in the town—all wearing robes.8964 copyright protection540PENANAHUZNBilS7F 維尼
Her sorrow hardened into suspicion.8964 copyright protection540PENANAC6Gvk4AuK6 維尼
"Why are you here?" she demanded.8964 copyright protection540PENANAr58haUZQbe 維尼
The priest pulled back his hood, revealing a young man with dark hair and sharp, intelligent eyes.8964 copyright protection540PENANAIkq0QVDZbA 維尼
"We are hunting the Usher of Annihilation," he said.8964 copyright protection540PENANACFCavRngdW 維尼
Melissa's breath caught.8964 copyright protection540PENANAWWf0n4c0TQ 維尼
"The one responsible for this."8964 copyright protection540PENANANC5jHswyYc 維尼
His voice was steady, but she could see the grim determination behind it.8964 copyright protection540PENANA8BRUrC9NL9 維尼
"We have a lot to talk about."8964 copyright protection540PENANAWIMN5bVh1M 維尼
The man placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head.8964 copyright protection540PENANABJWfv4t8AQ 維尼
"My name is Orion. We are the Faithful Eye."8964 copyright protection540PENANAeoFEQ91VzP 維尼
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