Charlie's world narrowed as he stumbled toward his mom, his movements slow, deliberate, as if any sudden action might change what he already knew deep down. The room seemed distant—Amber's muffled sobs, Gretchin's hurried murmurs—none of it mattered.
"Mom?" he called softly, kneeling beside her.
Her head tilted slightly when he touched her shoulder, and for a fleeting second, hope flickered in his chest. But then he saw it—the deep, jagged gash across her forehead where the shield had struck, the way her skull was caved in just above her right brow.
Her red hair was soaked with blood, sticky and dark, and her blue eyes—those kind, warm eyes—stared lifelessly at the ceiling.
It was the same look Charlie had seen before. The hunters often brought back their kills to the settlement—deer, rabbits, even wolves. Dead animals had that same vacant, empty stare.
"No," Charlie whispered, his voice cracking. His hand trembled as he reached out, brushing her cheek. Her skin was cool, her warmth already fading.
"Mom," he said again, louder this time. He gave her shoulder a small shake. "Wake up."
She didn't move.
"Mom!" His voice rose into a desperate cry as he shook her harder. "You have to wake up! Please!"
Still nothing.
"Mom! No, no, no!" His sobs broke free, his chest heaving as he clutched her arm, his fingers digging into her sleeve. Tears blurred his vision as he shook her one last time. "You can't leave us! You can't!"
Across the room, Gretchin's head snapped up at his cries. Her face went pale as she took in the sight of Charlie kneeling over their mom's lifeless body. "Charlie?" she called softly.
He didn't respond. His gaze was glued to his mom's face, her expression frozen in death. The realization hit him like a hammer to the chest—she was gone.
"Charlie!" Gretchin called again, louder now, her voice filled with panic.
But he couldn't hear her. His breathing grew sharp and shallow, and his tears mixed with the blood on the floor beneath him.
His eyes shifted, catching sight of the man with the shield lying dead on the ground. Even in death, his face held an arrogant sneer, like he'd won.
Something inside Charlie snapped.
The grief and helplessness twisted into something darker, something hotter. His hands dropped from his mom's arm as he stood abruptly, his movements sharp and jerky. His tear-filled gaze landed on the shield lying nearby.
Without thinking, he grabbed it, the weight of it solid and grounding in his trembling hands.
"Charlie, what are you doing?" Gretchin's voice cut through the haze, but he ignored her.
With a guttural scream, he raised the shield high and slammed it down on the man's head. The crunch of bone filled the room, making Gretchin flinch.
"Charlie, stop!" she yelled, scrambling to her feet, but he couldn't hear her.
He lifted the shield again and brought it down harder, his small frame shaking with the effort. Blood splattered across his face, warm and sticky, but he didn't care. Again. And again. Each strike was filled with raw, animalistic fury.
The man's face was unrecognizable now, his skull crushed into a bloody pulp. But Charlie didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
"Charlie!" Gretchin lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and yanking him back with all her strength.
"Let me go!" Charlie screamed, thrashing against her grip. His voice cracked as he yelled, "He killed her! He killed Mom!"
"I know!" Gretchin shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I know, Charlie, but she's gone!"
He struggled harder, twisting and clawing at her arms, but she held on tight. "Stop it, Charlie!" she yelled, her voice raw. "It's over!"
Her words finally broke through the haze. His hands loosened, the shield slipping from his grip and falling to the ground with a heavy clang.
Charlie froze, his chest heaving as his gaze darted between Gretchin and the mangled remains of the man. Blood covered his hands, dripping down his arms, and his whole body shook.
Gretchin held him tight, her voice trembling as she whispered, "It's over, Charlie. It's over."
His knees buckled, and she caught him, pulling him into a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, her own tears soaking into his hair.
Charlie buried his face in her shoulder, his sobs racking his small frame. The rage that had consumed him just moments ago was gone, leaving only an unbearable emptiness.
The shield lay forgotten on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood. The hut was silent now, save for the sound of Charlie's muffled cries.