Rain And Ashes Novels & Stories

I muttered the words under my breath as I touched my face with a hand. It'd been over seven years since I was involved in that fire accident, however the burn had scarred my face. I tilted my face to the side to get a better look at the scar. It made my skin appear like a crumpled piece of paper. I'd tried to hide the scar by wearing a make-up, but it was still visible as though I did nothing. “Argh!” I yelled, and smashed the mirror on the tiled floor. It shattered. I leaned my back against the wall and buried my face in my palms as I began to sob. Before long, my mother stormed into my room.

God help her, she did. And love in a house built on ashes was the most dangerous fire of all.

She said, strutting closer, just as Michael stood up from the ground. He pulled her closer to himself, replying, “It's as right as the right hand can be.” I pushed myself up from the ground, stumbling back a few steps in the process. “What is going on? I don't understand.” They both continued to stare at each other, like I wasn't there. Suddenly, it started to rain. It wasn't a light rain, it was pouring heavily. Darkness spread across the sky. I looked around me for shelter, but there was absolutely nothing in sight. I wondered how we ended up in a place without shelter. I decided to run, I would possibly find a spot to use as shelter until the rain stopped.

"I could see it in your eyes that you were desperate to find the real killer." "Thank you, Detective Taylor." One month later, Aidan was executed. He died in prison. I submitted my resignation to Ravenshire State Medical Center. Then I returned to Ashford Hollow, held a funeral for Aidan, and buried his ashes. After I went back to Ravenshire, I threw everything in my house that belonged to my mother into the trash. Once everything was cleared out, I sold the house. Then I left the country and began a new life. The following spring, I received an email from Detective Taylor. Attached was a letter my mother had written in prison. Her handwriting was neater than I expected.

A woman who was like steel but yet as the same time as soft as a feather pillow. Now ash. Rain outstretched her hands in the direction of the water and then poured. As if nature knew what was happening, the wind grew incredibly still and the sun seemed to shine brighter in that moment. Elisa’s ashes fell straight into the water, flowing away the second it touched the water’s surface. Rain didn’t notice how wet her cheeks were until the vase was empty and there was nothing else in it. Gone. Just like that. Rain felt a sudden warmth behind her pulling her into a hug and another holding her hand in a both firm and shaky grip.

Alice said with a smile and closed her eyes while looking up to feel the rain pouring on her face. “Really? I always do this when it’s raining because in my world, it rarely rains at all, so I’m really happy when it rains.” Ashley said, smiling from ear to ear while swirling around like she was dancing a ballet. Alice felt amused and imitated Ashley. They both laughed and Alice suddenly halted and focused on her hearing. Ashley also stops when she notices Alice looking in every direction and suddenly smiles. “Come on, Ash! There’s a waterfall nearby!” Alice said and ran in the direction where she heard water splashing down.

Let everything go back to normal. Normal. The word tasted like ash. I turned the water off and stood dripping in the quiet. Steam swirled around me thick and heavy. But I didn’t want normal, all I want is her. And that scared me more than any slap Ethan could throw.

The ash settled. Mara exhaled shakily. “He’s playing with us.” Ava looked back once. The paw prints had vanished. Only the black tree remained, silent and watching. “We’re coming for him,” she whispered. The path beyond the clearing narrowed into what looked like an old riverbed. The ash had given way to a thin film of red moss that clung to the stones like dried blood. Even the air felt heavier here, tasting of copper and smoke. Mara kept her bow out now, an arrow nocked but not drawn. “This was all green when I came through last year,” she whispered. “He’s poisoned it.”

Ashara’s black eyes met hers. “Of ruin. Of fire. Of the world that once was.” And far below, in the shadows of the valley, the Prophetess raised her hands and whispered: **“Let the ashes rise.”**

Just when I was feeling overwhelmed, Ryan pulled up before us in his car. He jumped out and rushed toward me without an umbrella. He just shielded himself from the rain with his hands as he quickly grabbed my shopping bags.