The town of Rosewood was bathed in the golden hues of early morning, the air filled with the scent of flowers and freshly baked bread. Decorations adorned every corner, and townsfolk whispered in excitement about the marriage of Alexander and Elena. Yet beneath the celebration, an ominous tension lingered—a storm was approaching.
Alexander, Logan, Elena, George, Natalie, and Jake arrived first, walking through the streets hand in hand with purpose. Alexander and Elena shared quiet, tender words, their laughter a brief shield against the dangers they had faced together.
"Will you always be the kind-hearted man I know?" Elena asked softly, her eyes searching his.
Alexander's gaze hardened, calm yet intense. "If I ever become evil, it will only be because one of us—me or you—has fallen. And the one who lives… will become Ethan Brooks."
Elena rolled her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. "Stop with the dramatic speeches, Alexander."
Before Alexander could reply, a ripple of silence passed through the crowd. A tall, imposing figure stepped forward. Cornelius Fang. The man's presence alone made the sun seem dimmer.
"Congratulations, Alexander," Cornelius said, voice smooth but cold, his eyes glinting with calculated interest. "I found you… very useful. I offer you $50 million to work with me."
Alexander's jaw tightened. "I'm retired."
The smile on Cornelius's face vanished. Without another word, he threw a revolver to the ground in front of Alexander. "Then I challenge you. A duel. If you refuse, the crowd will call you a coward. If you win, my gang will make you their new leader. If you lose… every loved one here dies."
Elena's eyes widened. "Don't—" she began, but Alexander only gave a grim nod. His ego, his sense of duty, flared to life.
The duel began. Both men backed away, their eyes locked, muscles taut. The crowd held its breath. And then… they turned, fired.
Alexander felt a searing pain in his left chest—the bullet had pierced his heart. He fell hard to the ground. Cornelius laughed, his voice echoing like a guillotine. "Where are the heroes you fight for? Cowards, all of them."
George leapt forward to help, but Cornelius's rifle barked three rapid shots—stomach, heart, head. He fell lifeless. Cornelius's men seized Logan, Elena, Natalie, and Jake, forcing the rest to flee. Alexander's cries for help went unanswered.
Elena's eyes met his, a flash of love and despair. Before he could speak, a shot rang out. Her body went limp, blood staining her white dress. Alexander screamed, fury and grief consuming him.
Cornelius turned a shotgun on Logan, Natalie, and Jake. In under ten seconds, Natalie and Jake were dead. Logan lay unconscious, a shallow breath betraying his life. Cornelius trained the gun on Alexander.
"I will return," Alexander gasped through bloodied lips, every ounce of resolve burning within him.
Cornelius fired again, the bullet ripping through Alexander's chest. Then, with a cruel laugh, he ordered his men to set the entire marriage hall ablaze and departed, leaving chaos in his wake.
Smoke and flames swallowed the town as Alexander, battered and barely conscious, crawled through the wreckage. His first instinct was George, then Elena, then Natalie and Jake. None of them moved. None of their hearts beat.
Finally, he reached Logan. The boy's shallow breaths gave Alexander the sliver of hope he needed. He ripped a small blanket from the rubble, wrapping Logan tightly. "You will live. You will survive," Alexander whispered, tears streaking his face. Logan woke with a gasp, clutching Alexander in relief and fear.
"I don't want to die," Logan sobbed.
Alexander held him close, tears flowing freely. "You won't. I promise you. Alive, we survive."
Just as the two held each other amidst the smoke and fire, a massive pillar from the collapsing building crashed down above them. Dust and debris enveloped the pair, leaving their fate suspended on the edge of death.
The fire roared, the screams faded, and in the midst of ruin, one thing was certain: Ethan Brooks would return.