In the depths of Steve's tormented psyche, an unyielding chorus of haunting words reverberated relentlessly: "I am sorry, I have lost."
These words echoed through his very being, enveloping him in an all-consuming inferno of accursed black flames that seared his soul to its core.
Fragmented shards of memories from his once idyllic past flickered before his eyes, a shattered mirror reflecting the remnants of a life once filled with hope.
He could hear his mother's gentle voice, soothing him with assurances of friendships to be forged in the hallowed halls of school.
His father's unwavering promise of a future bathed in prosperity echoed within his ears.
And his grandfather's fervent encouragement to pursue his artistic dreams reverberated deep within the recesses of his spirit.
Steve had believed himself to be the luckiest person alive, until that fateful incident that forever altered the course of his existence.
It occurred during a serene family picnic, nestled amidst the ancient, whispering boughs of a sylvan forest.
In a cruel twist of fate, Steve's errant ball struck a mysterious stranger, awakening a tempest of wrath within the enigmatic interloper.
The stranger's eyes blazed with furious intensity as he retaliated, delivering a brutal blow that sent waves of searing pain coursing through Steve's delicate countenance.
In a desperate bid to shield his son, Steve's father succumbed to the intoxicating allure of revenge, meting out retribution upon the assailant until he lay broken and pitiful on the ground.
But the stranger was not vanquished. He vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a trail of malevolence in his wake.
As the family cautiously traversed a treacherous bridge spanning a churning river, a gunshot shattered the tranquility of the moment.
In a cruel twist of fate, it was the stranger who orchestrated this symphony of chaos. Steve's father crumpled to the ground, a victim of the stranger's vengeful bullet.
Paralyzed by shock, young Steve stood frozen in horror as the stranger seized him, his vice-like grip hoisting the boy high above the precipice.
With heart-rending malevolence, the stranger callously cast Steve into the murky depths of the river, leaving him adrift in a swirling maelstrom of uncertainty.
Miraculously, Steve awoke to find himself swathed in bandages, his wounded visage tended to by the gentle hands of an aged sage.
The kindly old man, whose eyes held a combination of wisdom and compassion, sought to unravel the enigma of Steve's shattered identity.
But try as he might, Steve's memories remained elusive, flitting like phantoms beyond his grasp, leaving him adrift in a sea of fragmented recollections.
Moved by a profound sense of empathy, the old man became Steve's mentor and surrogate parent, guiding him through the healing power of art and the mastery of craftsmanship.
As years flowed like sand through the hourglass, Steve found himself wandering through the ancient woods one fateful day, his axe clenched firmly in hand.
It was then, amidst the dappled hues of sunlight filtering through the verdant canopy, that he witnessed a haunting sight—a specter from his past, cloaked in malevolence, wielding a weapon of death.
Recognition pierced through the veil of time, for this was the very stranger who had extinguished the light of Steve's family.
Driven by a whirlwind of raw emotions, Steve surged forward, unyielding in his resolve to bring the villain to justice, his heart pounding with a potent mixture of vengeance and righteousness.
Suddenly, he heard a gunshot, its deafening echo originating from his home. Without a moment's
hesitation, he sprinted back, fear and determination fueling each stride.
There, before him, lay the stranger's latest victim—his beloved grandfather, life hanging by a thread.
Enraged beyond measure, Steve hurled his axe with all his might, but the stranger evaded its deadly trajectory, a dance of evasion that mocked his furious assault.
In a chilling act of retaliation, the stranger unleashed a barrage of bullets, piercing Steve's chest thrice, causing him to crumple into a gaping hole, his lifeblood staining the earth.
As death loomed near, it is said that memories of the past often flash before one's eyes. Steve prayed for another chance, closing his eyes and heeding the beckoning light that called to him.
He caught a glimpse of his parents and his grandfather, their ethereal presence pulling him towards the realm of the departed. Yet, something within him resisted, compelling him to retreat.
Rain poured down, its torrential onslaught accompanied by bolts of lightning that electrified the air. In that climactic moment, Steve's eyes flew open, his body suspended in mid-air, imbued with an otherworldly power.
The raindrops seemed to bow before him, lightning crackling within his veins, and a voice echoed within his mind, declaring, "You have been chosen by me."
Steve had been reborn, his essence intertwined with incredible powers, and he knew his purpose with unwavering certainty—to avenge his fallen family, to bring justice to a world steeped in darkness and despair.
Thus, armed with newfound abilities and an indomitable spirit, Steve embarked on a perilous journey, his path illuminated by the fires of vengeance that blazed within his soul.
With each step he took, the shadows quivered in fear, for they sensed the unstoppable force that had emerged from the depths of tragedy, ready to reshape the world and carve a legacy of unyielding justice.
And so, the tale of Steve, forged in the crucible of pain and loss, unfurled like a tempestuous storm, promising a thrilling saga of redemption, retribution, and the unbreakable human spirit, poised to conquer even the darkest of realms.
Written by - Riteesh