All Chapters of Ashes Between Us: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
10 chapters
Shattered Ties
The prison doors buzzed open, the metallic hum filling the corridor. Footsteps followed, each one heavy against the cold tiles. The overhead lights cast long shadows that stretched across the walls, making the place feel even more hollow. Levi sat in his cell, his head bowed, shoulders slumped beneath the weight of chains. The cuffs around his wrists dug into his skin, and every small movement sent a sting through his ankles. The silence of the prison wrapped around him, broken only by the echo of approaching steps. “Hi.” The voice pulled his head up. Audrey stood at the bars. His wife. The woman he had once believed would stand beside him no matter what. Her long red hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and a faint smile rested on her lips. But her crimson eyes carried none of the warmth he remembered. They were sharp, steady, filled with intent. Levi straightened slowly. His eyes were dull, tired. “Finally, you came,” he said. He already knew her reason. Audrey was not just a
Agent 7
Car Ride “Is everything alright, Ma?” Elena asked. She had noticed the signs—Audrey twisting her hair, tapping her fingers against her lap, whispering under her breath. “I’m fine,” Audrey replied quickly. Elena didn’t believe her, but she said nothing. Audrey was her boss, not her friend. “Elena?” The sudden call pulled her out of her thoughts. “Yes, Ma?” “Am I making the right choice?” Audrey asked. Her hand gripped the pendant at her neck as she stared out the window. “Ma?” Elena answered carefully. Audrey turned to her. Her eyes were wet with tears. “Do I have to divorce Levi?” she whispered. Her voice cracked, her cheeks flushed as tears slipped down her face. She buried her head in her hands, sobbing softly. Elena froze. She had never seen Audrey like this. To her, Audrey was always calm, collected, untouchable. But now she was undone, fragile, hurting. How do I comfort her? Elena thought nervously. “Ma,” she said at last, her voice steady. “If I may… I believe thi
Noisy Past
It was hot outside. The sweltering air shimmered above the ground. Levi stood at the prison gates in a white polo and blue jeans, one hand in his pocket, the other gripping the divorce papers. He glanced at his watch and sighed. His cab was already late. He had ordered the ride twenty minutes ago, but there was still no sign of it. “Where’s the damn cab?” he muttered. A deep roar cut through the heat. Levi looked up. At first, he expected a taxi, but the long, dark shape rolling in from the horizon told him otherwise. A sleek black limousine pulled closer and stopped right in front of him. His eyes landed on the crest etched into the door. His jaw tightened. “Shit,” he whispered. Before he could move, the door opened. A young woman jumped out, her long black hair whipping in the sun, her olive skin glowing. “Levi!” she screamed. She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her chest pressed against him as she clung tightly. Levi stayed stiff, his face sour. With
Power
“Somebody help! Call security!” Savannah’s voice carried across the lobby. Heads turned, whispers broke out, and phones were raised. Guests leaned forward from chairs; the receptionist froze mid-step. Levi stood rigid. He had meant to walk through unnoticed, but now every eye in the hotel was fixed on him. Savannah knew how to pull a crowd, and Parker was right at her side, feeding on the chaos. His jaw locked. Heat rose in his chest, but he forced his hands down. He started to turn away, to end it before it grew worse. Then he froze. A chain glimmered against Savannah’s skin. Around her neck hung a pendant. The design was unmistakable—his pendant, or something that looked exactly like it. Levi’s stomach twisted. His eyes sharpened. “Where did you get that?” His voice was low but hard, each word biting as he pointed at the chain. Savannah flinched. Her hand flew up, covering the pendant. “Help—he’s trying to steal from me!” she screamed. The words set the crowd alight. Two gu
Lies And Deals
Levi walked up the stairs, his hands folded across his chest, the broken pendant clutched tightly in his grip. The small piece of jewelry dug into his palm, but he didn’t loosen his hold. Behind him, Rose followed step by step. Her gaze never left him, her worry growing with every movement. The silence between them was thick, and neither spoke as they made their way down the long hallway. When they finally stopped at the doors to their rooms, Rose broke the silence. “I know someone who can fix that.” Levi turned, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Really?” Rose gave a firm nod. She reached out her hand, waiting. After a short pause, Levi placed the pendant carefully in her palm, his fingers brushing hers. “I’ll get it back to you before tomorrow ends,” she promised. Levi nodded once. “Thank you.” His voice was quiet, polite, but his face stayed heavy with gloom. Rose frowned. She studied him closely, bothered by the weight on his expression. Something deeper than the broken pen
A New Step
AT THE HOSPITAL “Get me a bottle of water, now!” Parker barked orders like he owned the place. He lay sprawled on the hospital bed, his hand wrapped in thick bandages. His voice rang through the ward—loud, nasal, and grating. Nurses exchanged weary looks. Patients whispered and gossiped. His presence was nothing but a nuisance, a spoiled young man who turned even a hospital into his stage. Savannah sat beside his bed, one leg crossed over the other, calmly smoking a cigarette as though the rules did not apply to her. “Excuse me, ma’am, you can’t do that here,” a nurse said gently, trying not to provoke. Savannah ignored her, taking a long drag before exhaling smoke straight into the nurse’s face. “Get out of my sight! Do you know who I am?” she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut. The nurse flinched, muttered under her breath, and quickly walked away. Around the ward, other patients coughed, their faces twisted in annoyance. Just then, Audrey rushed into the ward, her heels
The Event
Chandeliers glowed above the massive hall, pouring golden light across the crowd. Laughter and chatter bounced off the walls. Men and women dressed in sharp suits and elegant gowns filled the room, their polished shoes tapping against the marble floor. The air reeked of wealth, pride, and ego. Glasses clinked as waiters moved through the crowd, serving drinks that sparkled under the lights. The scent of perfume and wine blended together, heavy and rich. At the front stood a wide stage, draped in fine linen and flowers arranged with care. At its center was a tall glass pulpit, shining under the spotlights. Rose stood there, commanding attention. Her long black dress hugged her curves, the slit down the side showing just enough leg to draw eyes her way. A confident smile spread across her face. Moments ago, she had cracked one of her best jokes, and the room was still echoing with laughter. She looked at home here, as though the stage had been built for her alone. Among the crowd sat
The Attack Begins
Barry let out a long, satisfied sigh as he finished at the urinal. The sound echoed faintly in the tiled restroom, followed by the soft shuffle of his shoes as he moved. He strolled over to the sink, still humming under his breath, the same smug grin glued to his face as if nothing in the world could bother him. He twisted the tap open, cold water rushing over his hands. The stream sparkled under the bright fluorescent lights, splashing rhythmically as he rubbed his palms together. He seemed completely at ease, enjoying his little moment of calm. Levi stood just a step away. His posture looked casual, but inside, his chest tightened. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs, hard enough that he could feel it in his throat. His jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He tried to breathe steady, but his focus stayed locked on Barry. His eyes followed every movement—the hum, the grin, the careless way he turned the tap. “Can I help you?” Barry’s voice cut through the silence suddenly, sharp
Consequences
The corridor outside was chaos. Smoke drifted from the far end where the explosion had gone off, filling the air with ash. The acrid stench burned in the throat, clinging to every breath. Screams rang out, sharp and frantic, bouncing off the marble walls. Two people broke from the crowd, sprinting desperately for the exit. Their footsteps struck the floor in frantic rhythm, echoing with raw terror. They didn’t make it. Gunfire tore through the hallway, sharp cracks that shattered the air. Both bodies collapsed before they ever reached the doors. Blood spread across the polished floor, staining the tiles beneath the broken chandeliers. From the haze stepped two masked men, rifles gripped tight in gloved hands. Their boots crushed shattered glass, each step steady and unhurried. One looked down at the corpses sprawled before him and cursed. “God damn it,” he growled, voice muffled through the mask. “Why do people have to be so stupid?” He spat and kicked the bodies aside, clearing
Two Kinds Of Power
THE KITCHEN Levi crouched low, pressed close behind one of the counters. The smell of smoke had followed him in from the hallway, heavy and acrid, clinging to the walls. It mixed with the sharper tang of steel and detergent that hung in the kitchen. The room was dim, lit only by the thin strip of light spilling through the half-open door. His chest rose and fell in steady rhythm as he steadied his breath, the knife firm in his grip. His shoulder burned from the bullet graze. Blood had soaked through the sleeve, spreading across the fabric, damp and sticky against his skin. The sting was constant, biting into him with every small movement, but he ignored it. Pain was nothing new to him. He forced it aside, keeping his mind on the moment. Focus mattered more than comfort now. The scrape of boots echoed faintly against the tiles. Two shadows stretched across the floor, shifting as the men drew closer. Their voices carried through the doorway. “Check left,” one said, his tone sharp b