From the Ash Read online

  He snorted. "God is on my side. His will triumphs over all. I am his executioner and will cleanse this world of your tainted soul!"

  It was my turn to snort. "Just like your brother was one of his chosen? No…no, Gary. You've got it all wrong." I made my eyes wide, baring my teeth as I leaned forward, spitting my words with as much venom as I could muster. "God will avert his eyes from what I am going to do to you. Have you thought to ask your God why, if your brother was a chosen one, he no longer draws breath? It is because he sent me to claim his soul," I threw my arms wide, the words roaring from my throat. "I am your undoing! I am the one who will cleanse YOU from this world." I narrowed my eyes, holding Gary's gaze.

  "I. Am. The Reaper!"

  His eyes grew wide, a look of uncertainty evident on his face. He looked from me to his knife, knuckles whitening as he tightly grasped the handle. Looking back towards me, his chest began to swell as he took a deep breath, as if he was inhaling courage back into his body. He took a few quick breaths, like a swimmer readying themselves to submerge into icy water.

  I knew what to expect next.

  With a roar, he charged. He jumped down the stairs, swinging the knife towards my throat with fury but no finesse. I hopped backwards–luckily maintaining my balance.

  He continued to scream as he lunged at me, the knife descending towards my chest. I grasped the top of his hand with one hand, the other underneath, and bent it towards his forearm. I watched as the knife slipped from his grasp, falling harmlessly to the ground.

  As I was about to execute my next move, Gary rammed his forehead into mine, sending me crashing towards the ground like a tree being pulled from the earth. I instinctively threw my hands around the back of my head as I hit the unforgiving concrete. I bit my tongue as a jolt of pain shot up the length of my spine. The blurry silhouette of Gary's form appeared above me. My vision cleared just in time to see his arm swinging towards me, the lights above reflecting off the metal pipe he now held.

  I moved my head to the side; the pipe narrowly missed my skull and slammed into the ground. The reverberations from the impact did little to help the pain that currently infested my head. Gary reared back, readying for another attempt to rearrange my facial features. I brought my knees to my chest, holding them there until I felt his chest touch my feet.

  A memory of my father crept into my mind. He would do this with me when I was a child, holding me up with his legs as I spread my arms wide, giggling uncontrollably, imagining I was a plane, soaring high above the clouds.

  Gary's flight would not be so joyous.

  I clenched my teeth as I let forth a laborious howl, launching Gary's startled face away from me. He grimaced in pain as his back cracked off the bottom stair. I watched as something fell from the sling that he wore, bouncing off his leg and coming to rest a few feet from me.

  The scissors!

  Our eyes met and we both lunged towards them. Gary had a longer reach and grasped them, a victorious grin on his face. I punched him in the throat. His eyes bulged as he brought his chin to his chest. He darted upright, his lips opening and closing wide as if he were a fish on land, desperately gasping for air.

  He relinquished his hold on the scissors and they dropped near my hands. Grabbing them, I swung my legs in front of me and began cutting the tape. Gary tripped over the stairs as he began to make his way up them. He was hacking violently, his labored breathing echoing throughout the area.

  I finally cut the last strand of the tape. Tossing it aside, I saw that Gary was stumbling towards the overturned cart. I dashed towards the stairs, leaping up them and rushing towards him. As I was about to reach him, he spun, and his arm shot across his body quicker than I could have anticipated. I threw my arms up in front of my face, wincing as pain and blood erupted from my forearms. I jumped back, putting a few feet between us. Gary was still gasping for breath, but that did little to stop his assault. He swung his newly acquired weapon, slashing at me with renewed ferocity. I danced around his attacks, some narrowly missing me by inches. I rolled, ducking under one of his strikes. When I uncoiled from my roll, a trustworthy companion met my eyes.

  My backpack!

  Gary bellowed a cry as he charged at me once again. I reached in my pack; the familiar hilt of my beloved weapons brushed my fingertips. I gripped one of my Sais and pulled it free. Gary was only a few feet away when I spun on my knees. With one hand, I grabbed his descending arm, halting its progress. With the other I thrust upwards. The Sai entered his belly with ease, penetrating his flesh until the blade vanished, leaving only the hilt visible.

  Neither of us moved; we held each other's gaze. Gary blinked rapidly, a demoralized look upon his face.

  "This...isn't how it's supposed to be,” he sputtered, breaking the silence between us.

  He went to break the embrace, but I held onto him. "This is your own doing you stupid fuck. Now you're going to die and join your piece of shit brother." I twisted the Sai, sending him to his knees and bringing him to eye level with me.

  He dropped his knife and gripped my shoulder. "Please...mercy," he croaked.

  "Mercy? MERCY?" I bellowed. I retracted the blade and thrust it back into his gut. "I will show you fucking mercy!” I stood and kicked him in the chest, knocking him on his back, my Sai still impaled in his stomach. I walked over, gathering up the shiny instruments that were on the cart and bringing them towards Gary. He had his hand flat near the wounds, trying to ebb the flow of blood that was beginning to stain the apron he wore. Images of taking him apart, piece by piece, materialized in my mind. I wanted nothing more than to make this son of a bitch suffer.

  I grabbed two wicked looking blades and walked towards Gary. I began to giggle uncontrollably, thrilling with excitement from what I was about to do.

  My sweet angel, what are you about to do?

  I froze.

  My eyes darted around the room, searching for the voice that belonged to the one I so violently longed to see. Finally, my eyes found the mirror. Familiar green eyes stared at me. Flaming red hair danced around the woman in the glass, leading down to her slender frame. Illuminated by a radiant white light, her appearance conveyed an angelic vision.

  I dropped the blades and began walking towards the mirror. I sank to my knees as tears welled up in my eyes.

  There, there, darling. I am always here for you.

  I began to sob, reaching towards the mirror.

  "Mom...I miss you so much."

  Chapter 9

  Mirror Mirror

  * * *

  I BRUSHED THE mirror, feeling its cold surface against my hand–not the warmth of my mother's touch as she reached out and placed her palm against the surface.

  "I've finally snapped, haven't I?" I asked, a slight chuckle escaping my lips.

  The world you've been cast into is a cold and unforgiving place. She tilted her head, smiling at me. All this time without any medication, the strength and resolve you've shown to carry on, pushing yourself to get home to your father, I am so proud of you, but…

  Her smile vanished. She looked past me and I followed her gaze. Gary's arms were at his side, eyes staring blankly towards the ceiling as the blood pooled around his body, his cries no longer meeting my ears, his chest no longer rising and falling.

  He was dead, and I smiled.

  When I turned back to the mirror, my mother's face had morphed into a look of concern.

  "What?"

  Step back from the ledge, Phoenix.

  I narrowed my eyes, not understanding the intent behind her words. "Are you telling me I should feel sorry for what I did to defend myself?" My tone came out a little harsher than I intended.

  Do what you must to survive, no more, no less.

  She leaned forward and I shuffled backwards, my mother's face shifting to one I had only witnessed a handful of times during my youth. Memories of my childhood sprang up, times when I had done something stupid and she would berate me for hours–that very look bore into my eyes now.

  I fear you may lose touch with who you are. Remember, Phoenix, remember who you are. Remember what makes you, you. Remember what makes you human. For if you succumb to the cruelty of this world–she waved a hand towards Gary's lifeless body–you will surely lose your way for good. Don't forget what drives one foot in front of the other.

  I sat speechless, not knowing how to respond. My mother put her face to the surface of the mirror.

  Step away from the ledge...

  My vision began to blur, my head falling forward, resting against the mirror. My mother's soothing voice washed over me as a distant memory crept into my mind.

  One that was almost my last.

  SO HIGH UP–this should do it. It should be high enough to end my torment. A slight breeze nipped at my back, as if to nudge me off the ledge and into the waters below. The weight I felt from the world, like a boulder sitting atop my chest, tried to suffocate me and silence my misery forever.

  "Just one step, Phoenix, then it's all over."

  Images of my dad crept into my mind. He would be upset, but he would know I was no longer suffering. This unbearable sense of hopelessness had become too much. I looked to the sky, wondering if God and my mother would welcome me with open arms or the gates of Hell would sprout forth their demons and clutch my soul, dragging me to the fiery depths below.

  "Just...one...step."

  Closing my eyes, I lifted one foot, and held it over the edge of the bridge.

  “Sure you don’t want a bungee or something?"

  My eyes burst open, the voice startling me, knocking me off balance. I screamed as my body began to pitch forward, the icy waters below filling my vision. My descent halted, jerking my head forward. I was thrown backwards. The ledge disappeared; I lay against a warm body. A
pair of arms was wrapped around my waist, clutching me tightly. For some reason, they felt familiar, like they were meant to be embracing me. I looked back, my heart skipping a beat as I stared into eyes that could rival the sky above. The weight upon my shoulders felt as if Atlas himself had lifted the burden from them.

  "Are you okay?" the boy asked, his voice full of concern.

  “I..." I broke down, sobbing as the reality of my depression finally assaulted me in full force. I wanted nothing more than to run home, tell my dad how badly I needed help, help to fight against my inner struggles.

  I held onto this boy as if my life depended on it; to let go was death. I didn't even know his name, yet I knew we had been destined to meet.

  "I want to go home," I croaked.

  The boy wiped my eyes. "Then that is where I shall take you."

  He cradled me in his arms, lifting me up and gently setting me on my feet.

  "What's your name?"

  "Phoenix..." I said sheepishly.

  He tucked a hand under my chin, making me look into his eyes. “Phoenix. Such a beautiful name. My name is Kip, and if it's all the same to you, I’ll walk you home to make sure you're safe."

  I DON'T KNOW how much time passed in reverie…seconds, minutes, hours? When I came to, my face was inches from the mirror, my mother's face no longer residing within, my own reflection staring back at me. The memory of my first meeting with Kip when we were teenagers, remained fresh in my mind.

  Remember who you are.

  My mother wasn't accosting me for defending myself; she had said, "You do what you must to survive." She merely didn't want this new world to snatch away that which my depression had tried to do on numerous occasions.

  Remember who you are.

  I took a deep breath, staring into determined green eyes, "My name is Phoenix Renny, I am twenty years old, born September 23. I will make it home, home to Bar Harbor, Maine. Home to those that I know are alive and well, waiting for me with open arms."

  I nodded, feeling a sense of reprieve wash over me. I felt as I did all those years ago, when Kip saved me from that ledge. I smiled. My father's motto flowed from my lips:

  "When we fall, we rise."

  I took one last look at the mirror, picturing my mother's face within it. Nodding, I turned away, quickly retrieving my things and making my way outside. I halted on the top step and took another deep breath. I pushed the heavy metallic doors open, taking one more step towards home.

  Interlude

  From the Eyes of A Predator

  * * *

  ITS BLOOD ENCRUSTED muzzle inhaled the night air, the smell of meat assaulting its senses. The enormous wolf crept silently forward, following the aroma of a succulent meal. Its belly rumbled, reminding the giant beast that it had gone weeks without food; its once mammoth frame was beginning to wither away. It quickened its pace. The beast ignored its usual stealthy approach, the smell of a meal overwhelming its predatory instincts of caution. It preferred to attack from the shadows, its prey not aware of what was happening until it was too late.

  The wolf leapt to the crest of a rocky slope with ease. Upon reaching the top, its ears perked up and it flattened to its belly, burying itself within the snow. Another aroma–one it hadn't smelled for some time–barraged its senses, warning the wolf to proceed with caution.

  Man.

  It lay in its prone position, searching the tree line to locate the source of the scent. A flicker of light caught the wolf's attention. It raised its nose and inhaled deeply. The smell of meat and man– their location confirmed just past the tree line–almost broke the wolf's reserve. Saliva dripped from its mouth, the moonlight illuminating its amber eyes as it crept forward, wanting nothing more than to sate its belly and silence its rumblings.

  The wolf moved in closer; the tree line was no more than a few feet away. It stopped.

  "I'm telling you, I heard something," a hushed voice rose above the crackling of the cookfire.

  The wolf moved its head from behind a tree, trusting that the snow would keep its white fur undetectable to these creatures' limited vision. Two humans sat around a fire, their eyes searching the darkness. One of them stood slowly, setting down its meal. The wolf immediately sensed this was the alpha. An imposing presence emanated from the man.

  "I'm telling ya, Mr. Ren–"

  "Quiet," the alpha commanded, silencing the other.

  The alpha man lifted his head to the sky. He closed his eyes and the wolf watched as his chest swelled. The wolf's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Its animalistic senses began assaulting its brain, telling it to turn and flee; that to stay here was to flirt with death. But when its eyes left the alpha man, and came to rest upon the numerous rabbits that were skewered above the fire, its desire for food flew into overdrive.

  "It seems we have a visitor," the alpha male stated in a calm tone.

  "Last time you said that, I shit myself running from that bear..."

  "Get up...slowly, and shut the fuck up," the alpha commanded.

  The other male grumbled, but did as he was told.

  The wolf began to shake, its belly screaming in protest for it to spring forward and devour these two men. Its lips pulled back, revealing monstrous teeth, a low growl escaping its lips as it abandoned its concealment and stepped from the shadows.

  Immediately, fear radiated from the lesser male as the wolf showed itself.

  "Jesus Christ. A fucking wolf! Are you kidding me?" He put his hands up. "Easy, Jacob. I thought Twilight was a good book…I was rooting for you, man.”

  The wolf stalked forward, focusing on the lesser male, drinking in his fear, giving the wolf courage, ensuring that it would have its belly full soon. The alpha male watched the wolf with a shrewd expression. "Give me that rabbit in your hand. Slowly."

  "Uh, I'm not overly fond of wild pets–“

  "Now."

  The wolf crouched, snapping its jaws, readying itself for a fight as it watched the alpha reach towards the lesser male. Its jaws snapped closed as the alpha's hand was now holding the carcass of a rabbit. Juicy meat clung to the bones of the small animal.

  The alpha crouched, looking into the wolf's eyes. The man held its gaze, bringing forth the rabbit. "The wolf is said to be a creature of intelligence–”

  “–here he goes with that creepy shit again–"

  The alpha tossed the rabbit towards the wolf. It bounced once and landed at its feet. The wolf eyed the alpha suspiciously. The man merely held its gaze, his lips curling at the corners as he nodded his head towards the rabbit.

  "Go on."

  With one last snarl, the wolf snatched its prize from the ground and dashed back into the darkness.

  “GREAT. NOW I won't be able to sleep. All I can think about is that fucking thing gnawing my nuts off. Why didn't you just kill it?"

  The older man shook his head. "Not necessary."

  The younger man snorted. "Not necessary? That thing would've killed us in our sleep...it still might." He shivered, sitting back down on his sleeping bag. He yawned loudly. "So, what's the plan?"

  "Get some sleep. We'll head back to town tomorrow."

  The younger man nodded. "It seems your suspicions were right. Our big hairy friend confirmed that…looked like it hadn't eaten for weeks, maybe months."

  The older man sighed. "The game has definitely dried up this far south. We'll go back to town and rest for a few days, then head farther north."

  The younger man yawned again and crossed his arms above his head. "Whatever you say. You lead, I follow."

  The older man cracked a smile. “Get some sleep. I'll take first watch."

  "You know that means I'll just sleep the entire night. I'm as useful as one of them cooked rabbits out here."

  The older man sat down on a boulder, at the edge of the tree line. He stared into the cloudless night sky, admiring the distant moon.

  "She's alive, Mr. Renny, I know she is."

  The older man didn't reply at first. He listened to the campfire crackle, hiding his disheartened sigh. "I pray you're right Kip..."

  Heavy snores met his ears, bringing a smile to the old man's face. He turned back towards the moon, wondering if his daughter was somewhere out there.