Chapter 1 - The Sound of Splintering Wood
The sterile, marble-lined walls of the private mausoleum echoed with the sickening crunch of oak
and polished lacquer. Ten-year-old Leo, dressed impeccably in a custom-tailored tuxedo with a crisp
white bow tie, swung the heavy fireman’s axe with every ounce of frantic desperation his small frame
could muster. Splinters flew through the air like dangerous shrapnel, landing on the pristine white
marble floor. His heart hammered violently against his ribs, a frantic rhythm matching the ticking
clock of a nightmare he refused to wake up from. Just moments ago, this room had been a silent tomb
of aristocratic grief—a carefully orchestrated funeral designed to bury secrets deeper than any
physical casket ever could.
Suddenly, a chilling voice cut through the air like ice. "How dare you! Back away right now!" The
sharp metallic click of a semi-automatic pistol cocking reverberated through the chamber. Standing
behind him was Victor Vance, his uncle and the cold-blooded executor of the family estate—a man
whose smile was as sharp as a razor blade and whose loyalty belonged solely to the family vault.
Victor’s eyes flashed with absolute menace, pointing the lethal black barrel directly at the boy's head.
"One more swing, you ungrateful little brat, and you'll be joining her permanently."
Leo didn't flinch. Tears mixed with sweat streamed down his dirt-smudged cheeks, but his grip on
the heavy wooden handle tightened. He remembered the muffled thumps from inside the white
velvet-lined box. He remembered the desperate scratches against the lid. Ignoring the cold muzzle
pressed mere inches from his temple, Leo unleashed a primal roar and brought the axe down with
staggering force once more. The lid shattered open with a loud pop, revealing the horrifying truth
May you like
trapped within.
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