The entire mountainside was buried under shattered gravestones, the names worn down and impossible to read.
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the faint letters Garrison. I dropped to my knees and frantically clawed at the sharp, broken stones.
Excruciating pain shot through my fingers as every wound on my body burst open, followed by a bone-deep agony spread within me.
I cried until my voice was hoarse and my vision blurred. "I'm sorry … I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. It's all my fault. I never knew people's true nature."
The rain intensified and a thick fog began to rise in the mountains.
Soon, Phoebe's worried voice drifted from behind me. "Hans, where are you?"
Unfortunately, Jose found me first. His hidden malice surfaced clearly in his eyes.
That man's sharp fingernails dug into my wound. Then, he viciously gripped my neck and shook me violently. "Hans, why on earth did you come back? If you just died, Phoebe would only have eyes and heart for me."
I couldn't breathe and I was dragged to the edge of the slope like a dead dog.
In my blurry vision, I saw Phoebe getting closer.
At the same time, Jose whispered provocatively in my ear. "Hans, guess who she'll choose this time?"