Blood Ties

Blood Runs Cold

The storm howled around them like a feral beast, the wind slicing through the trees and the rain lashing down in brutal sheets. The clearing felt like a stage for a tragedy, the blood-soaked ground a testament to the violence that had unfolded. Gabriel's brother—Damien—stood before them, a twisted version of the boy he once knew, but this man was something darker, far more sinister.

Gabriel's heart pounded in his chest, his hands trembling with a mixture of fury and fear. Damien wasn't just back from the dead; he was alive—bitter, twisted, and hell-bent on revenge. And the worst part? Gabriel couldn't stop him.

Damien's voice was cold, mocking. "You really thought I was gone, didn't you? You thought you could just bury me along with all your other sins. But you can never bury blood, Gabriel. It always comes back."

Gabriel stepped forward, fists clenched, his jaw tight. His brother's words hit like a slap, the pain from years of abandonment and regret rushing to the surface. Damien had been the perfect son—the one who never questioned, never fought back—but Gabriel? Gabriel had been the rebel, the failure. And now, the price for all their wrongs was about to be paid in full.

"We didn't want this," Gabriel said through gritted teeth, his voice shaking with anger. "We didn't ask for it."

Damien's lips twisted into a cruel grin, his eyes glowing with madness. "You think you're the only one with scars? The only one with a past worth running from?"

The words hit harder than Gabriel expected. His breath came in sharp bursts, his pulse racing as Damien took another step forward, his eyes never leaving him. There was something feral about the way Damien stood—something predatory.

"I didn't want to kill you, Gabe. But I will," Damien rasped, his tone a mix of sorrow and rage. "This... This is what happens when you abandon your family."

Before Gabriel could respond, a loud crack echoed through the clearing—a noise that sent chills down his spine. In an instant, Damien raised his hand, and Gabriel's world seemed to tilt. There was a flicker of movement in the shadows, something fast—too fast—and Gabriel didn't have time to react.

A figure emerged from the trees, wielding a blade. The glint of steel flashed as the stranger advanced with deadly precision. The figure's face was obscured, but the intent was clear: they were here to kill.