— The fear I live in every day is not one you could imagine, not even in your worst nightmares. —
When he reached his room, Ren tossed the towel onto the single wooden chair in his room. Without wasting time, he stepped into the washroom, scrubbing the mud from his hands.
He had gone into the forest the moment Zayden entered the mansion. He needed to make sure his money was safe, buried beneath the old oak tree. He had also hidden a copy of the map he had painstakingly retraced from memory. Sharp from a young age, remembering such details was child's play for him.
The rain hadn't stopped for a long time, and he had remained near the field of roses—the only thing that calmed his trembling body during stormy nights.
For a long moment, his gaze caught his own reflection in the mirror, damp hair clinging to his face, eyes heavy. He studied it silently, as if searching for something he didn't want to name.
