Black umbrellas trembled softly in the rain.

An open coffin rested beside the muddy grave.

Henry Wallace lay motionless inside, hands folded across his chest.

And beside him—

Buddy.

The old golden retriever pressed tightly against Henry’s body like he refused to let him go.

Soft crying echoed through the funeral crowd.

Then suddenly—

GRRRRRR.

Buddy slowly lifted his head from Henry’s chest.

A deep threatening growl rolled from his throat.

The entire family froze.

The priest stepped toward the coffin carefully with a prayer book in his hand.

“Let us begin the final—”

Buddy exploded upward barking violently.

Mourners screamed and stumbled backward through the mud.

The dog planted himself directly between Henry’s body and the priest.

Teeth bared.

Growling harder.

“Buddy! Stop!”

Henry’s nephew rushed forward in panic.

But Buddy never looked away from the priest.

Not once.

The priest’s face slowly lost color.

His breathing changed.

The dog’s claws scraped hard against the white coffin lining.

The wind howled through the cemetery.

Then—

Buddy lunged.

The camera whip-panned chaotically as the dog slammed into the priest’s chest and bit hard into the sleeve of his black robe.

People screamed.

Two men rushed to pull the dog away.

The priest jerked backward violently—

RRRRIP.

Fabric tore open.

Something metallic slipped free from inside the robe and hit the muddy ground.

CLINK.

Instant silence.

Everyone stared.

Half-buried in the mud—

Henry’s engraved hunting knife.

Covered in dried blood.

A woman gasped so hard she nearly collapsed.

“That belonged to Henry…”

Buddy backed away beside the coffin, barking furiously now like he was trying to warn them.

The priest stared at the knife in absolute terror.

Then Henry’s sister looked at the priest—

and finally understood.

The dog was never grieving.

He was protecting Henry.

And before anyone could move—

Buddy suddenly turned toward the coffin and barked again.

Violently.

Desperately.

Like the real horror still wasn’t over.

 CUT TO BLACK — Part 2 in the comments.