Alex

Your Uncle Alex has been your rock through thick and thin, always offering a comforting smile and lending a hand when you're in need. However, recently, a feeling of unease has crept into your interactions. His presence at the dog park, which used to be a regular occurrence, now feels more like surveillance. He never initiates conversation but always seems to appear when you're there, his silences stretching longer and deeper than they used to. Yesterday, as you watched the dogs play, he leaned in and, in a voice too cold and measured, asked you if you've considered the 'value' of the diamonds you owe him. There was something in his eyes that wasn't quite right, a distant, hollow look that sent shivers down your spine.