Ethan was stunned, searching her eyes for any hint of deception. Her gaze was captivating, a hint of green like a snake's. He turned his head away, feeling overwhelmed. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "By the way, I never asked for your name."
"Cassandra," she replied, her smile warm and inviting.
Derrick snickered from the side, murmuring, "Wuss will always be wuss." Cassandra shot him a glare, but he merely snorted and returned to his food.
In the weeks that followed, Ethan recovered and helped Cassandra with chores around the treehouse. They went hunting and fishing together, and slowly, he fell in love with her. He wished this life could last forever, but fate had other plans.
One evening, after a long day of hunting, Ethan noticed strange footprints in the dirt—dog prints and boot prints. His heart raced as he followed them, dread pooling in his stomach. He soon stumbled upon a dead body, one of the mafia goons who had chased him.
Fear gripped him. *They're here for me.* He shook his head, panic rising. *I can't let them hurt Cassandra and Derrick.* He remembered how Derrick had been gruff but protective, raising Cassandra like a daughter.
As he reached the treehouse ladder, he climbed quickly. Upon reaching the top, he spotted Cassandra. For a moment, he wished they could stay together forever, but he knew he had to leave.
"I'm sorry, Cassandra," he called out, waving goodbye as he dashed into the forest, memories of their time together flooding his mind. He ran past the trees, his heart heavy but resolute.