Burnin Mha Novels & Stories

I welcomed it. Morning & Co. still smelled the same. Burnt espresso. Cinnamon. Something sweet I couldn’t name but always noticed the moment I stepped inside. Lila looked up from the counter and froze. “Tanya Reed,” she announced dramatically. “Corporate royalty returns to the common folk.” “I didn’t abandon anyone,” I said, smiling despite myself. “I just moved from frying pan to fire.” She snorted. “You left me with Nick.” “That was personal growth for both of you.”

“You find something interesting, Maya?” I hesitated, my fingers tracing the edge of the journal. “This bunker belonged to a scientist,” I said slowly. “Someone who predicted The Burning. They tried to stop it.” Ben frowned, lowering his rifle slightly. “What do you mean, ‘predicted’?” I handed him the journal, watching his expression shift as he flipped through the pages. “They knew something was coming. They were part of some kind of project to stop it, but it got out of control.” Marcus snorted from his spot near the wall. “So, what? Some crackpot scientist thought they could play God and screwed it all up? Sounds about right.”

Including my place in it. But if I didn't do this, Morrison would keep digging into me and eventually remember where she'd seen my face. She would connect me to Blue Ray, to past jobs, to everything I'd worked so hard to hide. This was survival. I clicked send. The email disappeared into the digital void. Message delivered. I deleted all traces from my system. Destroyed the burner account. Wiped the proxy connections. Then I sat back and waited. It took Morrison six hours. I was having breakfast with Kayden when my phone buzzed. News alert.

Don Bryant, who was standing nearby, asked anxiously, "Is there really nothing else that can be done to save Oliver, Cynthia?" I shook my head, replying calmly, "There's nothing that can be done, Don Bryant. You see, once someone is tainted by a black witch, the damage is irreversible. It's only a matter of time before his life force is completely drained. Your best course is to begin making funeral arrangements for Oliver now, Don Bryant." Having said that, I took William's hand and walked away, deliberately ignoring the heart-rending cries of despair that erupted from Oliver behind us. …

Instead, it was to honor my father's legacy. Before long, the Moretti family returned to its former glory. We became the strongest force in the underworld, and I was known as the coldest, most untouchable woman. The old me died in that fire, yet from its ashes, I rose anew. What the flames didn't consume was my heart. It still burned, but it would ache for no one ever again.

Inside, it was choked with dust. "Don't worry, Connor," one of his friends had told him during a conversation Samantha had overheard. "We've already set up the timed incendiary. You just need to lure her in and lock the door from the outside. Once it starts burning, she won't be able to get out. Based on the last fire, wait fifteen minutes, then go in and save her. She won't die—maybe just a few burns. But when she sees you coming through the flames, she'll be so grateful and start crying." Samantha had heard it all. And she was ready to let "Samantha" be buried in this fire for good.

A familiar voice broke the silence. [Host 00730, a new world mission is now available. Would you like to accept?] Its tone was as mechanical as ever, yet somehow comforting. [As compensation for your previous experience, additional benefits have been secured.] So that was where it had been. I looked at the long list displayed in front of me, and the heaviness from the dream eased. [Human nature holds both good and bad. Don't lose hope.] The system's interface flickered softly, as if hinting at something more.

"You think the person on that stretcher was someone from my pack who snuck in. None of you believe what I'm saying. Fine. Bring in the elders. Let them examine the body." I paused before adding, "Then review every security recording in this estate." Vanessa's face went deathly pale. She grabbed Declan's sleeve in a panic. "Alpha, this is your engagement banquet. It's been planned for ages. If the elders find out and start questioning your leadership in front of everyone…" She bit her lip, then continued urgently. "Ms. Hawthorne is doing this on purpose. She wants to blow this up until nobody can contain it. "Then she'll casually say it was all a misunderstanding, and everything will be forgi

I checked it, and to my surprise, it was from Margaret. "It's been forever, Rue, and I still haven't heard any fire trucks. I don't think I can hang on much longer. The pain from the burns is unbearable. I can't even imagine what Bernard went through. "You've been visiting me all this time, but that useless son of mine, Joshua, barely even stops by. I knew something was going on between you two. "I actually looked into it. His first love returned, right? You never really talk to me about your problems, sweetheart. If I'd known earlier, I would've taken care of that jerk for you. I felt so bad for you, Rue.

Locked in that basement, denied even a sliver of sunlight, surviving only on the water and food they sent down… With no way to bathe, I could only save my drinking water to wipe myself down, ensuring I stayed clean and didn't decay throughout the year. And yet, the moment they opened the basement door and saw me—dirty, ragged, unkempt—even the harshest light couldn't hide the look of disgust in Jonathan's eyes. And in that instant, my heart died completely. He stepped closer, a flicker of concern in his gaze. "Your complexion is awful… are you feeling unwell?" He reached out, as if to brush the tangled strands of hair from my forehead. But I stepped back, keeping my distance.