The Watcher | Volume 1: Whispers in the Dark [COMPLETE]

A Former Marine, now a self-sustained mountain man. After his time in the military, Isaac couldn't adjust to normal civilian life. Haunted by the trauma of war and the loss of his wife and young daughter in a car accident, he retreated to the mountains to live a solitary life. His military experience gave him an appreciation for survival, discipline, and focus, which have all been vital for his life in the wilderness.

Isaac's father and grandfather were both mountain men themselves, though his father was more of a hunter and trapper, while his grandfather believed in the old ways, including local superstitions and folklore. Isaac's mother died when he was a boy, and his father raised him to be tough and self-sufficient, teaching him to hunt, track, and live off the land. His father, however, also warned him about the dangers of the mountain and the power of the old spirits, which Isaac dismissed as fanciful stories-until now.

The loss of his family is Isaac's defining trauma. He blames himself for their deaths, though it was an accident. He retreated to the mountains as a way to escape the guilt and sorrow that plagued him in the outside world. Living in the mountains has been a form of self-punishment, but also a way to find peace. However, the isolation has also made him more vulnerable to the forces that lurk there.

At first, Isaac's goal is simply to survive the mysterious force that is stalking him. He uses his survival skills to outlast the creature, but he soon realizes that there is no running from The Wachter-it will keep coming for him.

As the story progresses, Isaac's motivations shift. He recognizes that surviving isn't enough-he needs to face The Wachter head-on, not just to protect himself, but to lay to rest the guilt he has carried for years. Defeating the creature becomes a way for him to reclaim his life and find redemption for his past mistakes.