Darkness blanketed the Alpine Forest, with the circle of the four men standing as the only sign of human life in that desolate wilderness. A bark startled them all. The three men straightened up, watching as a hunting dog approached, its loud, aggressive barks echoing in the stillness.


<< What is it, buddy?>> Andrew asked, reaching out to pet the dog, only to have it lunge at him with bared teeth! Andrew stumbled back, alarmed, as the dog remained rigid, with its sharp canines flashing in the dim light.


<< Get lost! >> Milo shouted, stepping between Andrew and the dog, raising his rifle and aiming it directly at it.


<< Dexter>> a man’s voice echoed from the distance, accompanied by sharp whistles.


<< Go on! Get out of here! >> Frankie added, tossing a rock near the dog.


<< Calm down, everyone.. Of course, he is barking at us- he doesn’t know us! >>  Andrew protested, trying to make sense of the dog’s hostility while soothing his companions’ heightened tension. He took a tentative step forward, but Milo blocked him, holding his rifle firmly against Andrew’s chest- a silent command to stay put.


<< Stand back!>> Frankie muttered.


In the distance, a figure emerged, a hunter with his first kill slung over his shoulder. He held a flashlight with its beam sweeping across the forest floor as he searched for his dog.


<< Dexter! >> the man called again.


<< He’s over here! >> Andrew shouted.


A loud crack shattered the stillness. Milo’s bullet hit the ground near the dog, who instantly cowered, tucking his tail between his legs and whimpered as he bolted back to his owner. The hunter stopped with his flashlight illuminating the men.


<< What the hell are you staring at?! Your mutt nearly tore us apart! >> Milo shouted, justifying his aggression.


<< What he means is.. sorry about the gunshot! We only meant to scare him..>> Andrew tried to explain, aiming to smooth things over with the hunter, desperate to rationalize Milo’s reaction.


The hunter offered a half smile, dipped his head, and turned away , gently patting the now –calm Dexter as they walked off into the shadows.


<< Wait, sir! >> Andrew called out, taking a step toward the hunter. But a firm grip on his arm yanked him back. Andrew turned to see Milo, his face stony, gripping him tighter.


<< What are you doing? ! We need to warn him! Maybe he could help us also!>>


<< No. There’s no point! >>


For a moment, Andrew’s true self flickered back to life. Since joining this group of men, he’d been haunted by fear! But now anger simmered within him – a glimmer of reason, a desperate spark that wanted to reignite. His blood burned with fury as veins bulged on his temples. He jerked his arm free and stepped closer to Milo, nearly chest to chest, reclaiming a sense of authority!


<< What’s your problem ? >> he asked, his voice cold and measured.


<< None. But if you keep acting like this, you’ll become one.>> Milo replied, his tone steady, masking the hostility that lingered beneath.


Frankie appeared behind Milo, gripping his rifle, ready to intervene if necessary. This was the last thing Andrew needed- to die over a foolish confrontation. He exhaled angrily, returning to his spot, and he pressed his fingers against his forehead as he tried to rein in his anger. His emotions were a tangled mess, shifting in seconds! But the root of it all was the same- fear. It had burrowed deep into him, refusing to let go.


<< Why.. why does it have no point? >> Andrew asked, searching for answers that eluded him.


Milo sat down, casting his gaze away from Andrew, lying back as if disengaged.


<< I want an answer..>> Andrew’s voice was barely a whisper, yet it held a quiet demand.


<< Don’t ask questions you wont understand the answers to..>> Frankie advised, his pale eyes empty, void of any spark.


Muscles trembling, Andrew lay back, staring up at a sky devoid of stars. A pitch-black void loomed above, and his eyes searched desperately for signs of peace, of hope. He glanced sideways at Ches, lying unnaturally still. It wasn’t normal for him to be asleep for so long. Instinct screamed at him to run- to get as far from these men as possible. He needed to escape. But lost in his thoughts, his eyes fell shut, plunging him into darkness.