Chapter 1: The Reluctant Driver

"You're behind the wheel," Stevens tossed the keys of the wood-paneled wagon in my direction.

"I'm just fourteen," I protested, trying to keep my voice steady, but I failed.

"I couldn't care less about your age."

As he stepped closer, I noticed the scent of alcohol on him. He walked with a noticeable limp, a remnant of a factory accident that had secured him a lifetime of social security.

The limp masked the signs of his intoxication.

"The cops are setting up roadblocks, some mothers against reckless drivers or something," he said, sinking into the passenger seat.

I took my place behind the steering wheel.

"I think you mean drunk," I replied, fumbling the key into the ignition.

In an instant, a bright flash and pain surged through my right eye and cheek, followed by the jarring sensation of my head meeting the window.

"You’re lucky you didn’t break that," Stevens slurred, narrowing his eyes at me.

In the dim light of the station wagon, I couldn't see clearly, but I could sense the yellow hue of his gaze.

His broad, flat features were unreadable, masked by a façade of indifference. Being a quarter Native American, most people assumed his expression was just his natural demeanor.

But I knew the truth.

He had been married to my mother for two years until one drunken night he assaulted her and then lunged at my little brother.

I was only ten, a chubby, wide-cheeked kid, and I attempted to intervene.

I paid the price with twenty-seven stitches and a concussion.

My mother never pressed charges; instead, she waited for him to pass out before fleeing with my two brothers to my grandparents' home.

She divorced him despite his empty promises of change, words that held little weight in Pine Bluff at the time. Most drunks simply remained drunks. Most women in our community endured it.

Yet, my mother, ever the wise one, continued to associate with his crowd. After all, they were her friends, she insisted.

She eventually became pregnant by his best friend, leading to my next little brother and bringing Stevens back into our lives.

"Just drive," he barked.

I turned the key, igniting the engine.

"Don't flood it," he warned, raising his hand as the engine roared to life.

I shifted into gear and began to drive toward the riverfront park in the Industrial Park.

Chapter 2: A Dangerous Encounter

In this gripping segment of the "Firewatch" walkthrough, the player navigates through a series of tense moments, mirroring the unpredictability of life in Pine Bluff.

This video showcases a portion of the "Firewatch" gameplay, where players face choices that reflect the moral dilemmas often encountered in turbulent environments.