CHAPTER 95 INTO THE NIGHT

His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his blood pumping with adrenaline and whiskey. The road stretched on, an endless ribbon of asphalt leading him into the night. The stars above were like a thousand pinpricks of light, twinkling in the inky sky. But even their beauty could not soothe the pain that raged inside of him. He was lost in his own sorrow, unable to find a way out. Suddenly, a deer leapt out of the darkness, its brown body outlined against the headlights. Ethan slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt inches away from the terrified animal. The deer froze, its eyes wide and its body trembling. Ethan stared at it, the beast a reflection of his own fear and vulnerability. “Move,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. The deer seemed to sense his malice, and with a startled bleat, it bounded away into the shadows. Ethan released a shuddering breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He was teetering on the edge, his emotions threatening to consume him