Darren said nothing.
“Most likely,” the hunter continued, “wild animals got to the body before we returned. It’s been several days. The forest is full of scavengers—wolves, bears... even smaller animals could scatter the remains. They might have crushed the bones.”
It sounded reasonable.
It even sounded logical.
And yet the explanation left something sour in Darren’s mouth.
No bones.
No skull.
Nothing.
The hunter shifted slightly under Darren’s silence.
“We’re sure he didn’t survive,” he repeated. “There’s no way.”
Darren waved a dismissive hand.
“You may go.”
The man dipped his head and left quickly, clearly relieved.
The door closed behind him.
For a long moment, Darren remained standing where he was, staring at the empty space the hunter had occupied.
Then a soft voice so
