July 19, Sunday, 2010
Ethan Albarado – POV
Two days have passed since Charles Freeman died.
It still doesn't feel real.
Every time I close my eyes, I see it, the moment he raised the gun, the way his voice cracked when he said "too late," and the way his body collapsed to the floor. It keeps playing in my head like a broken film reel. Even now, I can still hear the ringing in my ears from the gunshot.
But there's a strange kind of peace that came after it. Not happiness. Not relief. Just... silence. Like everything in the world froze for a while to process what had just happened.
Caleb Carter was rescued. Thank God. I don't even know what would've happened if Gerald hadn't reached him in time. Caleb's still quiet, still shaken, but he's alive. That's all that matters. And now, because of that, his brother Jalen Carter can play in the tournament without worrying about him. It feels like a small sliver of hope rising from a nightmare.
