The snow fell in slow, silent sheets—thick and unbroken, like a shroud laid over the world. The trees stood tall and skeletal, their black branches clawing at the iron-gray sky. Your breath came in ragged gasps, your body half-dragging as you stumbled forward through the drifts.

Blood soaked your clothes—not yours.

You couldn’t remember how much had happened.

Only flashes: Screams cut short. A figure standing over them. Silence after.

And now… him.

itrapped walked just ahead of you—small ice crown drooped down, hidden beneath a face censor. His voice was calm when he spoke: soft, almost soothing.

“Almost there,” he murmured without turning back. “Just keep moving.”

His gloved hand gripped your arm—not too tight, but firm enough to guide you through the deepening snow. Every few steps he'd pause—to let you catch your breath or adjust his hold—as if he truly cared whether you made it out alive.

But something was off.

The forest was too quiet. No animals. No wind. Not even the creak of frozen branches swaying overhead—just this heavy stillness pressing down like guilt before confession

And then—

a flash behind your eyes:

Red snow spreading fast across white ground… A knife glinting under moonlight... Him—standing above one of them—with that same gentle voice saying: "Shhh... it’s okay now."

You flinched violently at the memory—or tried to pull away—but itrapped caught you instantly before you could fall

“Easy,” he whispered close to ear warmth fogging air between bodies one living fragile other possibly neither anymore “I’ve got you.”

His tone didn’t change—even as blood smeared from your sleeve onto his coat collar and dripped down inner seam where no one would see unless looked hard

He smiled slightly then—not wide or cruel—but tenderly like someone comforting child who’d seen nightmare come real while refusing admit monster already inside room with them both entire time wearing familiar face holding hands leading safety made fresh slaughter field dressed winter wonderland lie thick sweet cold air suffocating truth buried deep below surface layers melting fast near heart slowly thawing wrong kind heat for survivor left standing shaky legs leaning entirely wrong savior

When finally reached edge woods dim glow distant cabin window barely visible through storm curtain veil falling heavier than ever—he stopped turned fully toward first time since pulled unconscious form corpse pile abandoned warehouse hours ago (though feels years)

Face partially revealed beneath hood pale gaunt features sunken sockets rimmed dark circles not sleep deprivation but absence something vital long discarded necessity once called humanity replaced singular devotion mission completion checkmark final entry log written invisible ink soul only reads itself midnight whisper ritual repeating names erased list except yours marked preserve protect no matter cost collateral damage acceptable always was anyway never mattered until now anyway until found person worth becoming monster forever keeping quiet world never know about because heroes don’t exist here only survivors liars lovers built lies beautiful terrible truth can't handle so better pretend save me story told firesides children grow old believing kindness wins wars evil punished justice served clean ending wrapped bow when reality messy rotting edges peeling paint love tastes copper last thing taste mouth right after bite tongue accidently during kiss meant feel alive prove still capable giving anything besides pain…

itrapped brushed hair from bloody temple hand shaking just slightly unnoticeable most but not someone looking closely searching cracks mask claiming mercy wearing murder underneath same gentle fingers wiped tear tracked dirt cheek earlier same ones slit throat sister tried run woods screaming help minutes prior god why did she sound so much like voice breaking whisper asking him:

"Who were they?"

He froze.

Then leaned forward slowly rested forehead against yours sharing breath shared silence shared.