[General POV]
In Chicago, Illinois, deep within a forest, a beautiful deer can be seen grazing in a clearing. Night had already fallen, and the darkness made it hard to see the area, but even so, the deer continued to graze peacefully. Since they are naturally adapted to seeing in the dark, they could very well stay there.
The wind blew through the leaves of the trees, making them rustle. It brought life to the entire environment, passing through the grass on the ground and ruffling the deer's fur. It was a beautiful and calming scene. After a brief moment, the deer lowered its head to feed on some of the grass that lay there on the ground.
As soon as the deer began to eat, the previously calm and serene scene was abruptly interrupted, as if the blades of death had suddenly descended upon it. The deer, which had been grazing in the clearing, suddenly collapsed to the ground without any sign or noise. It just lay there, motionless, without any movement or sign of life, as if it had died. And indeed, that's what happened—the deer had died suddenly. The abruptness of the animal's death was strange and quick, but that wasn't the most peculiar part of it all.
If observed closely, next to the deer appeared a man dressed in dark clothing. He rose from the ground and stood upright. His appearance was so sudden that he seemed like a ghost. And the most intriguing thing was that the man had been there longer than the deer. In fact, he had arrived before the deer. Even though he had been lying on the ground the whole time, it was impossible to distinguish him from the grass. That is truly a fantastic skill.
The man then looked at the dead deer lying on the grass and focused his gaze on its torso, where the heart was located. A knife could be seen embedded deep in the deer's torso. The blade was so firmly lodged that, despite piercing the deer's heart, no blood had leaked from the wound caused by the knife.
The man crouched down again, grabbed the knife's hilt, and pulled it from the deer's heart, wiping the blood off on the animal's skin. After cleaning the blade, he started to skin the deer and remove its entrails. The man was highly skilled and completed the process in just a few minutes, with such precision that he didn't get dirty at all.
After finishing the process, the man picked up the now skinned deer and headed toward the forest's exit. He walked slowly through the woods, carrying the heavy animal on his back. Yet, even with the deer over his shoulders, he remained nearly imperceptible—like a true ghost. If not directly observed, his presence was almost impossible to detect.
His footsteps made no noise, blending seamlessly with the forest, as if he and the wilderness were a single entity. Not only was he silent while walking, but each step was calculated to leave no trace—a truly remarkable man. His skills in stealth and hunting were exceptional, worthy of admiration. After some time, the man—still unidentifiable due to the darkness—walked toward what seemed to be the forest's edge.
Once out of the forest, the hunter spotted a majestic mansion standing out against the dark sky. The building was grand and reflected the classic, elegant style of Victorian mansions from the era. Surrounded by high stone walls covered in climbing vines, the property exuded an air of grandeur and mystery.
The mansion's facade was made of reddish bricks, accented by light stone details that framed tall, narrow windows adorned with colorful stained glass, which reflected the dim interior light. The windows were separated by slender white columns that rose to the second floor, where a balcony with a beautiful wrought-iron railing showcased intricate floral patterns.
The man in dark clothing looked at the mansion's large gate, which was locked, but that didn't deter him. With agile and precise movements, he used parkour techniques to scale the high wall. First, he took a short running start, then leapt to place his feet on the least inclined part of the stone, reaching the top with a fluid motion.
Even with the deer on his shoulders, the hunter executed the maneuver effortlessly, landing on the other side without making a sound. It was an impressive display of skill, as if the weight posed no challenge at all.
Inside the mansion's grounds, the man in dark clothing took a moment to observe the beautiful garden surrounding the building. He seemed to be looking for something—perhaps a guard or a resident. Seeing no one nearby, he approached the mansion and once again used parkour to reach the second floor, climbing to a spot where there was a window. He opened it from the outside and entered what appeared to be a beautiful room, decorated in a 20th-century antique style.
Upon entering the room, the man carefully set the hunted deer on the floor, next to a dark velvet armchair. The dim light of an old lamp resting on a carved oak table gently broke the darkness.
He began removing his clothes with quick and precise movements, as if the routine was deeply ingrained. First, he untied the dark cloth that covered part of his face, revealing his pale, flawless skin. Then, he removed his long, heavy coat made of thick, resilient fabric, now stained with forest dust. The garment slipped from his shoulders and fell to the floor, revealing a slender, toned torso covered by a lightweight black shirt.
With nimble fingers, he unbuttoned the shirt one by one, revealing skin that was almost white, like porcelain—strikingly contrasting with his dark attire. As he moved, his lean and defined muscles became visible, reflecting a rare combination of grace and strength.
Finally, removing the fabric that covered the top of his head, the boy revealed straight, jet-black hair falling slightly below his ears, shining in the faint light like ebony strands. His disheveled bangs brushed his forehead, framing a face marked by striking, perfectly symmetrical features.
His eyes, now fully visible, were a deep, vibrant green, like two emeralds gleaming in the shadows. His gaze was intense, almost hypnotic, with a calm, cold expression, as if the world around him had no impact. The dark, arched eyebrows highlighted the contrast even more, giving him a serious, determined look. Despite his apparent youth—around 15 or 16 years old—there was something in his posture and gaze that hinted at maturity and a burden of experiences beyond his years.
After removing his dark clothes, he folded each piece meticulously, placing them on the armchair. Then, he went to an old dark wooden wardrobe and took out clean, simple clothes: a soft white shirt and gray pants, which he quickly put on.
Now, appearing more like a young aristocrat, he picked up the deer and headed to the house's kitchen. As he walked through the mansion, he heard a sound that made him change direction. The melody was coming from a classic harpsichord, playing Beethoven's Für Elise. The young man followed the sound.
Upon entering the room, he saw someone sitting at the piano—another young man identical to him, with only one difference: his hair. The boy at the piano had messy bronze-colored hair. The two looked at each other for a moment, until the one sitting down spoke to the one carrying the deer...
To be continued…
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[A/N] If you've read this far, thank you! And since I'm terrible at handling compliments, please, insult me instead!