On my 12th birthday, my skin burned and my head was hit on the chair. Blood dripped down my body as my vision was blurry. Another hit on my stomach made me throw up all that I had eaten after two days. The hot coal from the fireplace was tapped to both of my hands as my body was thrown on the ground. I only heard the sound of laughter from my classmates. I could not see anything They broke my glasses. “Ayah, baby, you need some water to cool down your arms, don’t you?” Another round of laughter resonated in the gym as hot, burning water was thrown at me. I screamed with the only energy I had left in me. Someone grabbed my chin and made me look up. “Be grateful for the water, friend.” She said and smirked. “Monster,” I whispered. For the next 30 minutes, they all thrashed and beat me for saying that one word. I lay there, almost lifeless on the ground of the gym after their entertainment with me had finally ended. There was a rule. I wasn’t allowed to faint no matter wh
The smell of Lavender filled the air as the warm sun tickled my face. I covered my head with the duvet not wanting to get up. I had to start the day. Mrs. Rose will be sure to give me an earful if I am late today as well. Groaning, with a frown on my face I got up from the comforts of my bed and headed for the shower. I picked a beautiful floral dress and a piano scarf to go with it. I wanted to spend more time under that warm shower. The room was freezing because somebody opened the window. The chilly air came in. I shivered while holding my sides and cursed at the one who opened the windows. I got out and headed downstairs where I saw my best friend, Mia Hensler sipping her morning coffee. I put my hand on my waist and raised my fingers at her accusatory. “You left the window open in my room.” She smiled without looking at me. Her red hair flowed as she turned her face. “Yes ma’am, I did. Otherwise, how can the majesty of sloths wake from her slumber?’ I scoffed at her words.
The wind blew from inside my bones. The air was too chilly and I was standing outside this luxurious club at 2 am. The fog came out of my mouth as I breathed out. The phone call from Mia creeped me out. I just knew that she was in danger. I showed the guards my ID as I stepped in. From the silence of the night, I was welcomed to the chaos of music and the smell of sweat and music in the air. I cringed at my surroundings. I hated to be in places like these, god knows why I was dragged here today. Rather than looking around, I decided to search for Mia first. I looked here and there and found no one. Thankfully, no one paid me any attention so I searched for her in the whole club and still didn’t find her. “Gosh, where is she?” I whispered. A bartender looked at me concerned. “You lookin’ for someone?” He asked. I nodded. He smirked. ”Ain’t no way you will find the one you are trying to find.” He said and continued wiping the glass in hand. I frowned at him. “Why not?” I
“He is Elio Ford. Do you see him? They wanted him to be a soldier, an assassin of the underground.” A man from behind spoke not knowing he can hear him. “Soldier?” The other man scoffed. “Nobody can bend his knees. He is born to be a leader.” “As always, billionaires are exceptional, But he is out of this world, isn’t he? People make stories of him now.” He stood up as the twenty men who were surrounding him flinched. Without sparing a glance to anyone he walked away from the lobby of his hotel. Getting inside the car, Elio instructed the driver to follow the route to the hospital where Inei was admitted at. He closed his eyes. Last night, he couldn’t get a wink of sleep. His eyes stared at the sky and he was forming shapes of the girl he saw at the party. His mind whirled and he did not want to forget her. He felt a rush of feelings course through him. Then and there he wanted to strip her clothes and see if she was the girl he knew from the past. Those dark orbs, dark hai
Five days agoWho is he? At the flower shop, in the bookstore, the coffee shop, and even in my house I was receiving books. My favorite books. Someone was delivering them which were painted in red blood. I didn't know if it was real or not but the smell was strong.At first, I labeled it as a prank but days passed by and I kept receiving them now and then. Mrs. Rose smelled the book and said they might be coming from a spirit. I doubted that though. I didn't show any of them to Mia. She was worried about herself. I kept them under my bed. I was scared of the stack that was growing day by day. I felt like if I asked for help things just might go against me. The smell of blood became vivid and the stack grew. My gut feeling kept replaying those eyes I saw on the balcony. I kept thinking that he might be the one to do all this. Why? I have lived a quiet life and never messed with anyone. Why would this happen to me or what was the purpose of all this?"Why?" I whispered as the wind blew
A bright light pierced my eyes as I squinted trying to take in my surroundings. I groaned and sat up while holding my head. My head was going to explode. I patted my side trying to reach for my glasses. The bed was so soft. Is it my bed? I looked around. Where in the world am I? The room wasn't mine. The dark interior of the walls and the massiveness were just too overwhelming. The chandelier on top of my head was protected by a glass on the ceiling which emitted a warm light on me. I let out a breath as the memory seeped into my mind. I needed to get out of here. I don't even know who he is. I removed the duvet and walked towards the door. It was locked. Fear started to erupt in my chest. I remember those moments when he kissed me. The drink in his mouth had something that came inside me. Lord, help me. What did I get myself into? A tear slipped from my eye. Should I bang on the door? No. It will most likely alert them. I have to make do through the window. I walked towards the
"Why would she run from her love?" The customer behind me complained about the TV show. I was making her latte with my back facing her.My hands were working fast. I needed to get home quickly. I did not feel like working today. As I handed her the drink, I immediately took off my apron and headed toward the staff room. I took a deep breath and fixed everything. The last customer left as the shop closed and I was on my way back. The night was so dark, darker than usual. No stars followed me and even the moon hid behind dark clouds. The only sound that I heard was the sound of my footsteps in the alleyway. My feet were still sore and the blisters from my shoe had reddened which made it difficult for me to walk. Nevertheless, I walked and walked. My legs were begging me to stop. If I stopped now I would never be able to run again. Because there was someone behind me and I knew who it was. Ever since I ran away from that mansion, from that bizarre man who kidnapped me and tried to mak
I signed the papers of the agreement. I did it while holding my breath and clutching my heart in my hand. I had felt helpless after so long. The freedom I felt after coming from the US was snatched from me by this man.He forced me. Blackmailed me. Showed pictures of my family to make me sign the contract. I didn't even know what to do or who to ask for help but I protested and defended as much as I could. He made me sign it and left me in the shop, alone, afraid, and helpless. I never felt this vulnerable in my entire life.He gave me two days to be ready and I didn't even know for what. Maybe he will make me move into his hellhole. What will I say to Mia? How will I contact my mother? What will I do with him? I didn't even know what he wanted from me. I wanted to run away from this. I feel trapped after so long. All this time, I had been jailed since my childhood. And now, this man came and forced me into a contract. I ruffled my hair and groaned. It was night time and Mia will b
Chapter Seventy-Eight She wanted to run away. Anyhow. Ayah wanted to leave this world just the way she came here. Ever since she set foot onto the earth all she felt was pain, hopelessness, oppression, and numbness. At first, it was her family, then her classmates, and now her husband. She felt suffocated. Ayah’s dream was to be able to go and lay in a garden without a worry of the world but her sufferings chased her to this point. True happiness was foreign to her. Ayah sighed and removed the duvet off of her. Elio left after feeding her a plate of brown rice and chicken. She hated the fact that she was afraid of him so much now. She was always afraid of him but the change in his demeanour made her shiver. It was almost like black clouds were shadowing over him. She was helpless against him. Ayah took a deep breath. She wanted to live. He did not break her so much so that she would wish death. No. Instead, after years she did the right thing. She needed spiritual healing. So she
Chapter Seventy-Seven“Would you like something to eat?” Mrs. Rose asked Ayah, who was looking outside of the window with no expression on her face. Her face was getting paler day by day. This could not be ignored by Alice who was feeling heartbroken looking at that girl. Alice sat beside Ayah and stroked her dark hair with her hands gently. She did not know how to comfort the girl who heard the loss of her mother after years or a girl who was raped by her husband. Ayah’s painful screams were heard by every soul in the mansion churning their hearts. Elio’s ruthlessness could not be controlled by anyone. “Did she eat something?” Alice asked Mrs. Rose was standing at the door of the bedroom with a stoned expression on her face. Her lips were turning blue and her old wrinkles were more visible on her face now. Mrs. Rose shook her head. She felt an unbearable pain in her chest. Her plans failed. The plans that she created to separate Ayah from Elio failed miserably. This was something
Chapter Seventy-SixThe soldiers of Japan were a different breed. They were trained in the most inhumane way possible. So the people dreaded for their families to be a part of the military. But Grey’s father was a different breed. He was the general of the military and he knew the ways that could bend someone to perfection. He was trained so he trained. His disappointment of having a daughter was so immense that he mixed that feeling with his aggressiveness of the training of his daughter. Though his generations were known to be the protectors of the fords for centuries, he was different. Elio’s grandfather did not wish him to be a protector; rather he was sent to the military. So he felt like the first failure of the generation. He mixed those emotions to create Grey. The Girl from the Ashes. She had the blood of her father inside her. The consequence of being in a relationship with her was death. Her training started at the age of four. Inhumane and ruthless. So Grey grew a way
Chapter Seventy-FiveThe sun was hiding behind the clouds as the misty wind blew around the gardens. The water droplets on the flowers fell on the ground but no sound was heard. Nobody heard anything now because the storm last night was too loud. Everybody heard but no one said anything against it. It was a chaotic silence. Ayah was looking at the ceiling of the bedroom. Her breathing was even and calm, unlike last night. Her tears on the side of her face dried up. She felt like her whole body was numb. She looked beside her. Her husband who was sleeping peacefully on his back did not budge when she tried to get up. Ayah wiped her tears and tried to get up from the bed. She felt a tug on her waist. Before she could look back, Elio pulled her on the bed. She gasped. He hovered on top of her and buried his face inside her neck. She felt disgusted. But she did not have any strength inside her to push him off or resist him. He left small peppery kisses on her nape and neck then smiled.
Chapter Seventy-FourElio and Ayah both of them were looking at each other with the same level of resentment as the other. Both of their eyes reflected danger. Ever since they crossed paths with each other this was the first time that both of them were in the same level of emotion, resentment, and hatred. Their potential to be dangerous was just equal. The love between them faded away as soon as it happened. Those peaceful moments filled with sweetness and serenity that put out the fire inside his heart were crushed like pieces of glass. It was as if the bottle of poison woke the monsters inside him. Ayah was standing still and steel. Her eyes could not believe that once again she had been hit by a man who had been lying to her and abusing her existence. The first one was her father now it is her husband who stood there with equal vengeance in his eyes. Both of them wanted answers for each other but none of them started first. Mrs. Rose took in the tension between them. She gulped.
Two souls amidst the chaotic lies around them not being able to grasp the reality. They not being able to differentiate between foes or friends. Her heart was tangled in his clasp of redeemer vision whilst his mind could not digest the fact that she could ever hold venom in her chest. The darkness was wiping out but the radiation of light disappeared into eternity. Ayah and Elio can never go back now. The truth has been unveiled but none of them realized that it was not them but the ones who wanted to sever the bond between them. Their worldly life confused them to such an extent that nothing could match the pieces. Elio gripped the poison in his hand tightly, so tight as if his life depended on it. Mia and Neko watched him storm out of the apartment. Elio’s eyes were bright red and swollen but there were no signs of tears. Inei watched him go from behind and her nasty smirk sparked suspicions in Mia’s mind. Mia walked towards her and gripped her arm. “What the heck are you trying
Chapter Seventy-Two“Take a deep breath,” Mrs. Rose instructed Ayah, who was on the verge of hyperventilating. She closed her eyes to relax and calm herself down but was unable due to the sudden brush of betrayal in front of her eyes. What did she just witness? Her husband, Elio was being touched by another woman while he was closing his eyes enjoying the pleasure. What kind of a scene was it? She felt her heart ripped apart. Was it justifying? Did she not intend to kill her husband a few days ago? Did she not think of it? Then why is her heart ripping into pieces? She gripped her chest as tears streamed down her eyes. She could not breathe properly. Is this who he was all along? A cheater? All he said was a lie all along? Was he playing her all this time? "Calm down, darling." Mrs. Rose patted her back. Right when Elio was out of the door of his bedroom, Ayah came down the stairs and the only person who dragged her into the maid's quarters was Mrs. Rose. She locked the door and
Chapter Seventy-One“What in the world are you doing here?” Elio snaps at Inei who stands in front of his car with a smile that does not offer anything good. She puts her hair behind her shoulders. "Well, I am just celebrating my return as you won't." She said and opened the car door. She placed herself on the seat beside him which fueled Elio's anger to doom. "I don't want to deal with you now. Get out!" He growled but her unbothered expression told him enough. She is not an easy girl so he does what is best with her. Her stubborn attitude was put up by her father but he doubted it was the case for him. He closed his eyes tightly out of frustration. "I said, get out. NOW." His voice boomed in the garage. But she did not move a muscle and instead tilted her head and smiled at him again. "Take me where you are going." She said in a sing-song voice. Elio was surprised by her audacity. No one had the guts to mess with him, especially in such a situation where he was going to Ayah in
Chapter SeventyCarlo stood in front of Elio for further instructions as he looked at his Young Master in a bad state of mind. Elio was sweating profusely even though the weather was chilly due to the rain shower. He looked like a mess though a charming one. Elio was effortlessly beautiful. He didn't even try to look half as gorgeous as he was. God had forged him especially perhaps because his face was unmatchable. Elio did not look like anyone else; it was as if he inherited half of the beauty of mankind. Even in a state managed to look breathtaking. Carlo gazed at Elio with his mouth half-open. Men could not help but admire him. He had the magnificence, the money, the brain, and quite everything any man could dream of. “Should I prepare some cold bath for you?” Carlo asked. Elio gulped, his head was thrown back on the chair and his eyes were closed. The black shirt he wore was stuck to his body like a second skin and his visible forearms looked hotter as his veins popped out. St