Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Screams.

The acrid scent of burning flesh thick in the air.

The fire was burning at his skin.

That night he stood helpless, just a boy in a nightmare, watching the people he loved being dragged away, screaming. fighting, bleeding, but the Blacks were merciless.

A tear slipped down his cheek, then another. He hated his weakness, but he couldn't stop the tears.

He'd waited years to get to this point, and now he was ready to turn Alexander and his family into a pile of ashes.

Scar took a deep breath, his fingers clenching as anger overweights his sadness. His tears disappeared as quickly as they came, replaced by a hard resolve. Alexander Black had no idea what he was in for.

He thought he was untouchable, shielded by power and influence.noveldrama

But by the time he realized what was happening it would be too late.

Scar was not only out for revenge, he was intent on destroying Alexander Black's entire world.

AAAAA

Fifteen Years Ago

A boy no more than sixteen years old pressed his ear against the door to his parents' bedroom. His brown eyes were wide and his frame tense. He wasn't supposed to be listening, but the urgency in their voices had drawn him in. Inside, his father's voice rang out, raw with anger.

"There is no escaping this. Enough of the Blacks stealing my projects! This time I am sueing them to court."

His mother's voice was softer but just as firm, as she tried to soothe him.

"You gotta chill. We can't just do this haphazardly. We gotta figure out how they're stealing from us. We gotta have some proof before we do anything."

"Proof?" his father said, his voice shaking with anger. "This isn't the first time the Blacks have cheated me! If I don't stop them now they won't stop until they've ruined me!"

A crash echoed inside the room.

"The Blacks should be ready for my attack!"

Travis sprinted away as his dad approached the door.

He ran as far down the hall as he could and then slammed the door shut behind him.

Then, he leaned against it, his breath short. Questions raged in his mind.

Travis knew the Blacks; everybody did. They were one of the richest families in the country, with power that reached well beyond the reach of most people. But to him the name 'Black' meant more than power and corruption; it had a face, +13

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Alexander Black.

Alexander was the heir to the Black empire. They were never really friends, but they weren't enemies either. At school, Alexander kept to himself and rarely spoke. But there was something that made Travis want to get closer to him. Unlike his cruel family, Alexander wasn't cruel. Instead, there was a strange loneliness in his eyes.

But now... now everything was different. If his father was right, the Blacks weren't just rivals; they were thieves. They were enemies.

Travis swallowed and shook his head. He didn't want to believe it. Alexander wasn't like the rest of his family. For years, he'd looked up to him, admired him, wished he was like him, powerful, respected, untouchable. He'd dreamed of standing by his side, feeling the power of the Black name. And now, he had the perfect opportunity.

He was turning sixteen soon, and he knew exactly what he was going to do: invite everyone from school, throw the biggest party of the year, and make sure that Alexander Black was there.

But there was one big problem: his father would never allow it.

Given the things he'd heard tonight, there was no way his father would let one of the Black step into the house.

Travis exhaled slowly, determination settling in his chest.

He wouldn't tell them.

The next day he handed out invitations. His heart pounded as he reached Alexander. Everyone as school seemed to pause as he pressed the card in his hand. Every one waited to hear if the Black heir would accept. Alexander stared at the invitation for a moment, blank. Then, to Travis's surprise, he took it.

"I'll come," Alexander said simply, before walking away.

Travis grinned, his excitement bubbling over.

His birthday was going to be unforgettable.

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Travis stood in the centre of the garden, his chest puffing out as the party unfolded just as he'd imagined it would. Fairy lights twinkled in the trees, music played, and laughter rang out. It was perfect. His parents had gone to bed early so the kids could party all night. The Mahoney mansion was nothing compared to the Blacks, but tonight Travis felt like he was the king of the castle.

The moment Alexander Black arrived, Travis smiled as the party really got started, all the girls whispering and glancing at the Black heir, trying to work up the nerve to talk to him.

But less than two hours later, something unexpected happened.

It was just a hint of smoke at first, barely noticeable, but then within minutes it was clear as there came a scream in the distance.

Someone screamed.

Travis turned, his heart switching places with his liver.

08:42 Wed, 12 Feb

And to make matter worse, the fire wasn't in the garden; it was in the house.

His house.

His parents were inside.

There was screaming and people were running away except for Travis.

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He could hear his own heartbeat as he ran toward the flames. There was so much smoke he couldn't breathe. Flames burned through the curtains, the windows shattered from the pressure, and wooden beams under the fire's rage. "Mom! Dad! "his voice broke as he reached the front steps

Then-he saw him.

A figure sprinted from the house, smoke trailing like a phantom. At first Travis thought it was one of the servants trying to get out.

Then, the light from the flames illuminated the figure's face.

Alexander Black.

Travis stopped breathing, his mind refusing to comprehend what he was seeing.

Alexander's face was expressionless, his clothes smudged with soot, his hands clenched at his sides. But for a moment their eyes met, and in that moment, something inside Travis broke.

Before Travis could move, before he could demand an answer, before he could do anything, Alexander turned and was

gone.

And then, the roof collapsed.

A crash rang out as fire licked through everything-his home, his childhood, his family.

His parents never made it out.

And one of the burning woods crashed on Travis, pushing him to the ground as he screamed out in pain.