Lory was alone in his room, the fists tight against the floor, chaining pumps with an almost supernatural intensity. A drop of sweat perla on his forehead and crashed on the ground. Each movement seemed charged with anger, frustration and guilt. He repeated in his head, like a mantra: I have to save him. I will not let Grim fall into the hands of this monster.

  Grim was not just his friend, he was like a brother. Lorry had promised, not only to himself, but also to Grim's family, that he would do everything to bring him back. This promise weighed heavily on her mind, but it was also the engine of his determination.

  When he felt his arms tremble, he got up and headed for the bathroom for a shower. Cold water made him shiver, but failed to soothe the flames that were burning in him.

  As he went out, a cry from the ground floor resounded.

  - Lornry! Come and eat before it cools!

  He wiped himself quickly, put on a clean shirt, and went down to join his family. The dinner table was simple but warm, as usual. Her mother had prepared a thick soup, accompanied by freshly cooked bread. His father already sipped a glass of wine, and his sister sent him a teasing smile when he saw him arriving.

  "You took a long time, the athlete," she said.

  Lorry did not answer, sitting without a word. His sister haus a eyebrow.

  -What happens to you? You look ... even more grumpy than usual.

  - Nothing, Mressed Lorry.

  But his mother, still attentive, frowned.

  - Don't say anything, Lorry. You haven't touched your plate, and you can see that something is bothering you.

  He remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the bowl in front of him. Then, finally, he looked up.

  - Grim was removed. By Vince Whitmore.

  The room plunged into glossy silence.

  - What ? said his mother, his eyes spreading out with stupor.

  - This ... This Vince is completely crazy! Roked his father by hitting the table with the fist, turning a little of his wine. We can't let it go.

  - Grim? murmured his sister, his face pale. But ... why him?

  Lorry replied in a cold voice.

  - Because he found himself on the way to Vince. That’s all you need to become a target.

  His mother put a trembling hand on hermouth, while his father flocked.

  - This man is a demon. He has everyone in his pocket. But I'm going to go see the sheriff, and ...

  "It will be useless," interrupted Lorry. Sheriff works for him. Grim will only be saved if we act ourselves.

  His father fixed his son, shocked by determination in his eyes.

  - You talk as if you were going ...

  - Yes, cut Lornry. I'm going to bring it back, whatever it costs me.

  Before they could continue, a deaf noise echoed at the front door.

  - Who is it ? Lorry's mother asked slightly.

  "I'm going to check," said her sister, getting up rushed.

  - No ! Wait, protested Lorry.

  But she already opened the door. An imposing man, dressed in black and with a scarf partially masking his face, stood there.

  - Who are you ? she asked, trembling.

  The man did not answer. He suddenly forced the door, grabbed the girl by the arm, and drew her violently to him.

  - Lornry! she yelled, tears rolling on her cheeks.

  The man put a dark look at the family, bursting with a sinister laugh.

  - So, it's you, Lorry? The kid who likes to stuff his nose where does not?

  Lorry, already standing, stared at the man with a mixture of anger and challenge.

  - Let go of my sister.

  The man sneered.

  - A hero, huh? You're just an idiot. Even your name sounds pathetic. "LORRY". It looks like a girl's first name.

  Lorry's father, furious, intervened.

  - Let go of my daughter immediately!

  - Oh, I could ... if your son decides not to get involved in what does not look at him, replied the man in a sarcastic tone.

  - Dad, don't do that, said Lorry dry.

  "Listen," said the father, approaching slowly, release it. We will find an arrangement.

  Lorry felt himself boiling from the inside when he saw his father beg this man.

  - I have nothing to arrange with weakness, growled the intruder.

  Lorry advanced a step, crossing man's eyes.

  - Are you so pathetic that you have to threaten a kid to prove your superiority?

  The man's smile disappeared. He tightenedHer knife against the throat of the girl, a thin line of blood appearing.

  - Stop your provocations, dirty kid, or I ...

  Lorry grabbed a drink on the table and threw him violently to the man's face, who let go of his sister screaming in pain.

  - Course ! Lorry yelled to his sister.

  But instead of fleeing, Lorry threw himself on the man, striking him with an unleashed fury. Both rolled on the ground, exchanging brutal blows.

  The man succeeded in repelling Lorry and released a pistol.

  - No more playing!

  Lorry’s father died just in time, but the man turned and projected him to the ground. He recovered his weapon and the tips again on LORRY, ready to shoot.

  - Lornry! howled his sister, paralyzed.

  - Catch the gun and pull! Lorry ordered him.

  She shook her head, in tears.

  - I ... I can't ...

  - If you don't shoot, he will kill us all! shouted Lorry, desperate.

  Man charged. The girl, panicking, pressed the trigger. A gunshot sounded, and the man collapsed in a pool of blood.

  A deafening silence followed.

  Lorry rushed to his sister, who was trembling with all his being.

  -It's okay ... it's going to go, he whispered, trying to reassure her.

  Lorry's father, on the ground but still aware, growled:

  - Others will come. We have to leave.

  Lorry's mother, crying, asked:

  -Why ... why does it happen?

  Lorry stared at the lifeless body, his gaze hardening.

  Then he declared in an icy voice:

  - We have to leave this place.

  They left their house, leaving their lives behind them, now consumed by violence. Lorry's face was marked by a cold determination: Vince was going to pay.The cold wind was whipped Lorry's face when he guided his family through the darkness. The house they had left already seemed to belong to another life. The weight of events weighed on their shoulders, especially on that of Lorry, who felt guilt and anger mingle in him. His sister walked in silence, still trembling, and his father was drilling because of his bruised coast.

  Lorry’s mother, yet a strong temperament, seemed to the end.

  -Where are we going? she whispered.

  Lorry replied without turning around.

  - We will find a refuge. But staying here is signing our death stop.

  His gruel father, relying on a branch which he used as an improvised cane.

  - All this because of this man, Vince Whitmore ... He cannot continue to sow terror impunity.

  Lorry cleaned his fists. He stopped for a moment, turning to his family.

  - He will not continue. I will take care of it.

  His mother shook her head, his eyes brilliant with tears.

  - And what do you plan to do? Fight yourself against this empire? It's not a game, Lorry. You barely come from ...

  - What do I come from what? he cut it dryly. Become a man? If I don't do anything, he will come and get other innocent people. Grim is in danger, and now you too.

  His sister murmured, in a broken voice:

  - I ... I killed someone, Lorry. I can never forget.

  Lory put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  - It's not your fault. You saved our lives.

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  But guilt remained engraved on his face.

  ---

  After an hour of walking through wood, Lorry finally saw a flickering light in the distance.

  -There, he whispered.

  They advanced cautiously to an old isolated cabin. As they approach, they noticed silhouettes around a fire inside.

  Lory hit the door slowly. A hoarse voice replied:

  - Who goes there?

  - A family on the run. We are not armed, but we need a shelter.

  The door opened, revealing an average man with a chisel face. He was holding a rifle, but his eyes, although Alerte, expressed a certain compassion.

  -Enter, he said finally.The cabin was modest, but large enough to welcome them. Two other people were present: an elderly woman and a young boy, about twelve years old.

  "I'm Thomas," said the man, closing the door. You seem to have experienced hell.

  Lorry replied with a sigh.

  - You don't think so well.

  ---

  Around the fire

  Sitting around the fire, Lorry briefly explained their situation, voluntarily omitting certain details. Thomas listened carefully, nodding.

  - Vince Whitmore, huh? This man has hurt more families than I can count, says Thomas in a dark tone.

  - Do you know him? Lorry asked.

  - Let's say that I crossed his path. And I can tell you one thing: he never lets go of his prey.

  Lorry's mother, terrified, murmured:

  - So we are not safe here ...

  - Not for a long time, admitted Thomas. But for tonight, rest.

  Lory observed Thomas. Something in his gaze betrayed a heavy past. He wondered if this man could become an ally or if, like so many others, he was too broken to act.

  ---

  A private conversation

  Later in the night, when everyone was sleeping, Thomas found Lorry outside, staring at the stars.

  -You plan to fight, right?

  Lorry nodded.

  - It is necessary.

  Thomas smiles weakly.

  - You remind me of someone I have known. A man ready to do anything to protect his family.

  Lorry turned his head towards him.

  -And this man, what has become of?

  Thomas looked down.

  - He paid the ultimate price.

  A heavy silence settled. But Thomas put a firm hand on Lorry's shoulder.

  - If you really want to fight, you will need allies. No lonely heroes.

  Lory is thinking about these words. Maybe Thomas was right. But one thing was certain: he would not back down.

  ---

  The message left by VinceIn the early morning, when the family was preparing to leave, Thomas brought an old newspaper.

  - I found it yesterday, near the river. There is a message, and I think it is for you.

  Lorry took the paper and unfolded it. The message was simple, written with a firm hand:

  We know where you are. Vince.

  Lorry felt a shiver traveling through his spine.

  -We have to move, he said immediately.

  Thomas granted.

  - You can use my horses. But do it quickly.

  ---

  The cabin was now behind them, but the danger seemed closer than ever. Lorry, mounted on a horse, hugged the reins, eyes fixed on the horizon. Vince had crossed a limit, and he would pay dearly.

  A cold wind rose, as if to announce the upcoming storm.Night fell when Lornry and his family finally arrived in front of Geovane farm. Lorry’s father, exhausted, slightly dragged his injured leg, while his mother was throwing nervous looks around them, fearing at all times to see one of the men of Vince Whitmore. Her sister, on the other hand, remained silent, her face marked by the dread of the previous night.

  Lorry, at the head of the group, moved to the door of the farm. He struck three times, each stroke resonating as a desperate call. After a long time, the door opened, and Geovane appeared in the frame, a lamp in hand.

  Geovane: "What do you want, kid?"

  LORRY (begging): "Mr. Geovane, please. I ... my family and I need a place to stay. Just for a few days. Vince Whitmore tracks us."

  To these words, Geovane's face closed. He scrutinized Lorry, his eyes folded by distrust.

  Geovane: "Because of your band and you, Whitemore's men ransacked my farm and it is an unforgivable act".

  Lorry (kneeling): "I know ... I know, but this time, it's different. Vince will not stop. If you don't help us, he will find us and ..."

  His voice broke, and he lowered his head, unable to finish his sentence. Behind him, his mother put a trembling hand on his shoulder.

  Mrs. Crowe: "Mr. Geovane, please. We have nowhere to go. It is not for us, it is for my children."

  Geovane looked away, visibly torn.

  Meanwhile, Jessy and Alex, alerted by the voices, approached. Seeing Lorry and his family, Jessy frowned, immediately on her guard.

  Jessy: "What are they doing here?"

  Alex: "Do you know them?"

  Jessy: "Yes, and believe me, they only bring trouble."

  Lorry looked up when he heard this.

  LORRY (fixing Jessy): "I know what you think of me, and you are surely right. But this time, it's not for me. It is for my family."

  Jessy crossed her arms, his look passing from Lorry to Geovane.

  Jessy: "And if we let them enter, what guarantees that Vince will not land here again? We don't need that."

  A tense silence settled. Alex was looking at Geovane, who seemed lost in his thoughts.

  Alex (calm, but firm): "What if it was us in their place, Jessy? You know whatJessy slowly approached the campfire where Lorry and Alex were seated, their faces marked by fatigue and anger. Lorry looked up when he heard the steps and immediately noticed Jessy's serious air. He looked like a man wearing a burden that he could no longer ignore.

  - Jessy, murmured Alex, relieved to see him. What is it?

  Jessy rubbed her neck, hesitating before sitting in front of them. His eyes met those of Lorry, and a heavy silence settled.

  -I know for Grim, he ends up saying, his hoarse voice. And I'm sorry.

  Lorry frowned, surprised.

  - How do you know? he asked suddenly.

  Jessy looked away, her dark face.

  - Rose told me. She is here on the farm. She and her mother ... They are in a dirty state, Lorry. Vince made them live hell.

  Lorry's fists tightened so hard that his joints were whitening. He felt anger riding him, a fire that threatened to consume him.

  -Where is she? he cried.

  - Not now, Jessy replied in a firm tone. It is too weak. She needs rest, not interrogation.

  Lorry nodded, trying to swallow his frustration. Alex, who observed the scene in silence, finally intervened.

  - Grim is still alive, Lorry. We can free it. But not like that, not without plan.

  Lorry stared at Alex, the brilliant determination in his eyes.

  - So we make one. You have to act now.

  Jessy sighed deeply, his voice betraying weariness that he seemed to drag for years.

  - Do you think it's so simple? How many resistances have tried to oppose Vince? They were all crushed. All.

  Alex shook his head.

  - So what, we stay there to look at Vince destroying everyone? Grim deserves better. We deserve better.

  - And you, what do you want? Jessy replied, raising her voice. What do people die for a lost cause? You don't know what it is to lose loved ones in an unnecessary battle. I know it.

  A tense silence followed this declaration. Alex stared at him, the tears rising in his eyes.

  -So why are you still here, Jessy? Why haven't you fled far from all that ifDo you think it's impossible?

  Jessy remained silent, visibly disturbed.

  -Because I don't have anywhere to go, he whispered finally.

  Lorry got up suddenly.

  - Listen, Vince has already destroyed my house, my father is ready to do anything to protect us, and my sister almost died. How long will we stay there complaining?

  - And what do you propose, genius? Launched Jessy, sarcastic.

  Lorry turned to them, staring them with burning intensity.

  - We form a resistance. Not a disorganized band like the others. A real one. With plans, allies, and an iron will.

  Jessy shook her head.

  - You dream.

  Alex put a hand on Jessy's arm.

  -Maybe it's a dream. But it is better than this reality where Vince crushes us one by one.

  Jessy remained silent, visibly fighting with her thoughts.

  "I know people," said Lorry, men and women who suffered because of Vince. They would join our cause.

  - And you think it will be enough? Jessy asked bitterly. Vince has armed guards, spies everywhere, and sheriff in his pocket.

  Lorry approached Jessy, his piercing look.

  -Maybe not. But if we don't do anything, we've already lost. Do you want to live with that?

  Jessy looked down, taken between doubt and a glimmer of hope.

  -Very well, he said finally, his almost inaudible voice. But we do this in my own way.

  A sigh of relief crossed Alex. Lorry nodded.

  - So what are we starting with? asked Alex.

  Jessy, despite her reluctant air, sketched a slight smile.

  - Let's find those who really want to fight. Those who have nothing to lose.

  The group remained silent for a moment, absorbed by the severity of their decision. Then Alex held out his hand towards Jessy.

  -For Grim, she said gently.

  Jessy hesitated, then grabbed her hand.

  -For Grim, he replied.The shadows stretched in the courtyard of the Geovane farm. The fire in the center seemed to dance under the effect of a night wind, as if it responded to the murmurs of the troubled souls present. Lorry stayed seated, a motionless silhouette in front of the moving light, his swirling thoughts like an endless whirlwind. He was holding a twig between his fingers, turning her mechanically.

  He heard the distant voices of Jessy and Alex who walked away, going up in the attic of the barn to find rest. His own family was sleeping in an adjoining room at the main house, plunged into restless sleep. But he couldn't. He was plagued by a determination that he could not fully explain, a weight he did not know where to place.

  It was then that Geovane's deep and familiar voice split the air, accompanied by the sound of his boots dragging on the dusty ground.

  - "You know, silence can be as noisy as a battle, when you have too much to think."

  ---

  Geovane approached and sat down without one more word, placing a bottle of old whiskey between them. Lorry, surprised, looked at him without understanding. Geovane fills two metal cups which he had brought.

  - "Wood. It helps to calm the demons, even if it's just a moment."

  Lorry hesitated, but he ended up lifting the cup, swallowing a sip that burned his throat. Geovane sirota the drink as if he knew each nuance.

  - "You want him, this Grim. It shows. But you realize that it could cost you all that you have, right?" Geovane asked, breaking the tension.

  Lorry posed his goblet next to him and replied, the gaze planted in the flames:

  -"It is not a question of choice. It is a promise. A promise to his mother, to myself ... and to him. If I have to lose everything to save him, then either."

  Geovane hausses an eyebrow, intrigued.

  - "You talk about promises as if they had power. But you know, kid, a promise is only worth what you are ready to sacrifice to hold it. And sometimes, it is not you who pay the price, but those around you."

  ---

  Lorry looked at him, noticing for the first time the deep wrinkles on Geovane's face, invisible scars that spoke of past battles.

  - "You have lost someone, right? That's why you are so ... reluctant."

  Geovane broke out with bitter laugh.

  - "Lost someone? I lost a wholeworld, kid. A woman, a son, friends ... All because I thought I could play the heroes. And look where it led me. A ruined farm, fields that are struggling to give grain, and a heart as empty as this bottle when I finish it. "

  Lorry straightened up, his eyes shiny with a mixture of challenge and understanding.

  - "I'm not you, Geovane. I'm not going to let fear or pain stop me. Vince Whitmore will not stop as long as he has not taken everything. So, if I have to get up alone to stop him, I will do it."

  -

  Geovane violently placed his cup on the ground, the liquid overflowing slightly.

  - "Do you think it's so simple? Do you think that your ideals will protect you? That your courage will be enough in front of men who would kill their own mother for Vince?"

  Lorry got up, tight fists.

  - "No, I don't think it's simple. But I know that staying doing nothing here, like you, will take nothing. You have abandoned your fight, but I refuse to abandon mine."

  Geovane stared at him, a mixture of anger and admiration in his eyes. For the first time in a long time, he saw someone capable of breaking the monotony of his fear.

  -

  Silence fell, but he was responsible for palpable tension. Geovane eventually calms down, fixing the flames as if he saw fragments of his past.

  -"You are different, kid. Maybe you have a chance. But if you really want to have an impact, you must be ready to pay the price. All prices."

  Lorry nodded, his gaze hardened by determination.

  - "I am ready. I will do everything I need."

  Geovane looked at him for a long time, then got up, taking the bottle with him.

  -"So, prepare yourself. Because the fire you want to light will burn more than what you imagine. And when everything is finished, I want you to be able to live with what will remain."

  Lory remained alone near the fire, Geovane's words resonating in his mind. He thought of Grim, his promise, his family who was counting on him. He knew that the road would be long and dangerous, but he could no longer go back.

  As he walked away to join his family, Geovane, still motionless in the shade, whispered:

  -"Maybe ... maybe this kid is right. Maybe it's time to turn on the fire."

  The fire continued to crackle, illuminating at night as a lighthouse in the dark.