JUDE
the light of dawn is coming
He's planning on running. His legs have almost strengthened enough to do so.
But there's a curious thing that happens in terrified human minds, and in that moment Jude's happens to do it too. Something he'd seen, amidst all that blood and gore that can't seem to leave his mind's eye, clicks into place.
A keychain.
A keychain he'd know anywhere, because he'd been the one to buy it - and give it to his brother.
How can he leave without checking? How can he abandon those bloodied bodies without making sure his brother is not among those felled?
He doesn't know how he manages to walk forward. Maybe it's the fact that the tiger doesn't seem to care about him. Maybe it's belated bravery. Hell, maybe it's insanity. But as he maneuvers to the side just enough he realizes it's not just the keychain he recognizes, it's the entire bag. But of the men dead on the ground, all of them are older adults. Relief nearly bowls him over. Edmund isn't among them - so is he nearby? Hiding?
Jude can't stomach the idea of coming much closer, but he can't leave - won't leave - until he knows.
Slowly, his eyes move to the tiger walking staunchly away from him. Only to see it had stopped and picked up the bag. His brother's bag.
That's not something an animal would do.
But it's not possible, right? For so many reasons it shouldn't be possible.
And this time, staring straight at the tiger, he calls out, "Mun?"
But there's a curious thing that happens in terrified human minds, and in that moment Jude's happens to do it too. Something he'd seen, amidst all that blood and gore that can't seem to leave his mind's eye, clicks into place.
A keychain.
A keychain he'd know anywhere, because he'd been the one to buy it - and give it to his brother.
How can he leave without checking? How can he abandon those bloodied bodies without making sure his brother is not among those felled?
He doesn't know how he manages to walk forward. Maybe it's the fact that the tiger doesn't seem to care about him. Maybe it's belated bravery. Hell, maybe it's insanity. But as he maneuvers to the side just enough he realizes it's not just the keychain he recognizes, it's the entire bag. But of the men dead on the ground, all of them are older adults. Relief nearly bowls him over. Edmund isn't among them - so is he nearby? Hiding?
Jude can't stomach the idea of coming much closer, but he can't leave - won't leave - until he knows.
Slowly, his eyes move to the tiger walking staunchly away from him. Only to see it had stopped and picked up the bag. His brother's bag.
That's not something an animal would do.
But it's not possible, right? For so many reasons it shouldn't be possible.
And this time, staring straight at the tiger, he calls out, "Mun?"
ready to return everything the darkness stole
