Beneath the scorching sun, I sprinted barefoot upon the rough gravel road, tears welling in my eyes and my stomach churning from the excruciating pain of the hard kick I had received. I ran with every ounce of strength and breath I possessed, driven by desperation.

As I approached the middle-aged woman diligently sweeping the terrace of her house, I cried out for help, my voice hoarse and desperate. She paused briefly, her gaze falling upon me, and her words pierced my heart like daggers.

"Just let him kill your father," she uttered with chilling indifference, her voice devoid of empathy. Her words carried the weight of a curse, as if she yearned for the old man's...