A young man in his early twenties charging headfirst into danger, even when faced with bullets, defying every instinct of self-preservation—it seemed unreal, almost inhuman.
But Darlene’s next words unraveled the mystery.
“That boy,” Darlene said, “had nothing but hatred in his eyes when he looked at those poachers.”
Her voice softened as she continued, “Later, we found out it was tied to something from his childhood. Terence once had a pet dog named Lucy. After his parents divorced, it was just the two of them, relying on each other to get by.”
With a sad smile, she continued, “He was malnourished back then—thin, pale, and an easy target for bullies at school. One day, those bullies set their sights on his dog and when it was finally found, it was already too late.”
Darlene paused, her tone heavy. “Terence told us those poachers are no different from those cruel people. They skin innocent animals and take their lives for profit. To him, they’re monsters who deserve nothing but death.”
A cold wind swept past them, but Halle’s heart felt warm.