BOUND IN IRON AND INK

THE ASHES OF BRYRON BAY

Kirrily Rindy Cross pov

I never liked the ocean.

Other people came to Byron Bay to enjoy the sound of the waves crashing against the dark rocks. To me, it sounded like a warning. Every wave reminded me that life could change in just a few seconds.Four years ago,mine had.

It happened during heavy rain and bad weather in Sydney. I still remembered the black car parked across the street. I remembered the strange sound that followed. Most of all, I remembered holding my sister Evie’s hand and feeling it slowly  cold.

She was gone.And whoever killed her had never been caught.

I pushed those memories away and looked through the window of my small cottage.

Outside, my four-year-old son, Toby, was playing with his old rubber ball. His blonde curls bounced as he ran across the grass. Watching him made me smile, even though a part of me was always afraid.

He was the reason I had disappeared.

He was the reason I had stayed hidden for four years.Toby knew nothing about Evie. He knew nothing about the people I had been running from. He knew nothing about the secrets I had buried.

“Mummy!” he shouted. “LookA blue skink”

I looked outside and smiled.

“I see it, sweetheart. Stay on the grass, okay?”

“Okay!”

I watched him for another moment before turning away from the window.

My study was small and quiet. Old books and papers covered one side of the room. Brushes, glue, and other restoration tools were arranged neatly on my desk.

That was the life people knew.

To them, I was just Kirrily, a quiet young mother who repaired old books and historical documents.

They didn't know the truth.

Behind my desk was a hidden computer system. I had built it myself after leaving Sydney. I used it to make enough money to take care of Toby without putting my real identity and couldn't trust banks.

I couldn't trust people.

When you are hiding from dangerous men, you learn quickly that every little mistake can lead them straight to you.

I sat in my chair and checked the screens.

Everything looked normal.Then I saw something that made my heart stop.

One of the numbers on the screen suddenly turned red.stared at it.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

I quickly started checking the system.

Someone had found my connection.

My hands began to shake.

“No,” I whispered. “No, no”

I tried to shut everything down, but the computer wouldn't respond.Then a message appeared on the screen.

“OVER RIDE THE IRON SKULL’S CENTRAL CONTROL”.

I suddenly felt scared,shocked and worried.

Iron Skull.

I hadn't heard that name in years.

I reached for the power cables, ready to destroy everything before anyone could find me.

Then the speakers came alive,unwanted noise filled the room.My breath slowed down.

A man's voice came through the speakers.

Deep,cold and dangerously calm.

“You've been hiding behind those numbers for three years, little ghost.”

I froze.

He knew.Someone had finally found me.I looked toward the window.

Toby was still outside, completely unaware of what was happening.

I became scared and my heart started beating very fast.If  they had found me, they could find him too.

“Who are you?” I said in a low voice, for a moment,everywhere became calm.Then i heard a quiet laugh

“Pack your son's things, Kirrily.”I felt a sudden wave of fear.The voice continued.

“The men who killed your sister have crossed into Victoria.”I couldn’t bring myself to move.

Then he said the words that turned my entire world upside down.”I’m already standing at your front gate.”At that exact moment,I heard someone walking outside,and their footsteps made a crunching sound against the gravel.I slowly turned toward the window.Someone was here.And this time, there was nowhere left for me to run.