All Chapters of Beneath the Ashes, He Rose: Chapter 51
- Chapter 60
105 chapters
Chapter 51: Live Feed Horror
Except for the occasional groan of the flooring, the church was strangely quiet. A lone, flickering bulb's weak light caught the dust floating languidly in the air. Benjamin's face was a mask of grim delight as he stepped in front of the camera. Before turning it on, he ran his fingers over the device to take one last look at the live feed.A blurry picture of Mira appeared on the screen as it buzzed to life. Her mouth was muffled with a piece of fabric, and her hands were securely chained behind her. Fear was glimmering in the depths of her wide eyes. The white linens on the empty cribs beside her stood out against the room's darkness.Benjamin's low, derisive voice could be heard over the line. "Mira, the little ones are already gone. And you're mine now. How long will it take Harrison to notice this?As Tatiana watched the feed from her position across the room, her fists clenched. Her eyes were fixed on the television, hidden behind the penthouse's darkened windows. She could feel
Chapter 52: Ribbon Betrayal
The only light in the room was the faint glow from the bell tower of the cathedral, which created lengthy shadows on the stone floor. The air was thick with anxiety, as if the very walls held their breath, waiting for something, anything, to break the silence. Victoria stood in front of the camera, her hands tenderly fixing the ribbon around her neck. Mira's ribbon was it. It was the ribbon that Mira had worn for her wedding. Twisted and worn like a noose, the emblem of everything that had once bound them together. Tatiana's nails dug into her palms as her fists clenched at her sides. She felt the rage rising within her, curling like a tight fist in her chest. She hadn't anticipated this betrayal or Victoria's cold, premeditated action. But now, as she watched her rival on screen, she realised the depth of the treachery. Victoria had sold out Mira. Sold her out for a promise of immunity. She was now donning the exact emblem of the woman she had deceived. Tatiana was unsure of her f
Chapter 53: Midnight Bombs
With the deepening shadows and oppressive silence, the cathedral felt colder. The gentle hum of adrenaline coursing through Tatiana's veins made it difficult for her to hear her breath. There were only minutes, perhaps seconds, left before everything blew up. Figuratively.She recoiled when she heard Grayson-2's voice crackle in her earpiece. "I have information on the bombs, Tatiana. They are connected to the heartbeat of Mira. I need you to hurry up."She glanced at Alexander, who was looking more icy than ever, his hand grazing his gun barrel as he readied himself for whatever was about to happen. He kept quiet, concentrated, and strategic. He always was. However, there was something raw in his eyes now that made her realise that this was more intimate than ever."The bombs are synced to Mira's heart?" Too stunned by its blatant cruelty, Tatiana's voice barely came out. "You've got to be kidding me.""Not kidding," Grayson-2 said sharply. "We all perish more quickly the more she mo
Chapter 54: Crypt Reckoning
There was a deafening silence once the bomb was disarmed. The world seemed to have stopped for a second, and Tatiana's heartbeat thumped in her ears during that quiet. Still reeling from the excitement that had entered her body just moments before, she was having trouble breathing. The weight of what they had just survived was making her hands tremble as she held Mira in her arms.Mira's face looked drawn and tired, and she was pale, yet her eyes were wide with terror and appreciation. Unable to express her gratitude verbally, she clutched Tatiana. The kind of gratitude that words could never adequately express.With a gradual sigh, Tatiana's eyes darted to the entrance of the crypt, where Benjamin was standing and observing them. He was almost casually standing in the doorway, as if he had been waiting for them to fail, or maybe he was enjoying their near-death experience.He said, "You're lucky, Tatiana," in a tone full of disdain. "But luck won't save you forever."Ready for whatev
Chapter 55: Cyanide Smile
There was a slight iron odour in the air, mingled with the smell of decay and old stone. Except for the subtle flickering of a light overhead, the crypt was eerily quiet. With her head racing and her breath coming in short gasps, Tatiana stood over Benjamin's motionless body. He had murdered himself to evade being apprehended and to avoid taking responsibility for anything. He had left them with more questions than answers, though, even in death.Isabella was standing next to her, her face as hard as rock, and her revolver still in her grasp. She acknowledged quietly that the battle was far from finished, but there was no joy in her eyes.As Tatiana took in the spectacle, her heart raced. She didn't feel relieved. There was a spooky silence that lingered in the pit of her stomach, alerting her to the fact that the real battle was only getting started.Mira clung to Tatiana's side, still shaking after the recent atrocities they had experienced. She was making an effort to control her b
Chapter 56: Labor in Hell
It was dark in the room. Chilly. Years of neglect had left the walls cracked and discoloured. Tatiana lay on the steel table, her body a twisted knot of misery, her breath coming in jagged gasps. The scent of rot mixed with disinfectant to create a horrible, metallic aroma.Her body was struggling against the unbearable strain, and she could feel the anguish increasing. She seemed to be torn apart by something inside of her.Alexander's distant yet frantic voice reached her ears. "Pay attention, Tatiana. Remain with me.Despite everything going on around them, his hands remained firm. Benjamin's mercenaries were approaching from outside, and the sound of their footfall reverberated along the corridor. It didn't matter that she didn't know how much time they had left. Now, pushing was the only thing she could do.He yelled, "Push!" and grounded her with a forceful grip on her hand.Tatiana struggled to breathe as she clamped her eyes shut and dug her fingernails into his hand. She was
Chapter 57: Scarred Heir
Fear and the smell of antiseptic filled the dimly lit clinic, making it feel like a tomb. Tatiana's knuckles were white from the pressure of keeping herself together as she gripped the edge of the discoloured metal operating table. Her clothes were smeared with blood and mud, and sweat trickled down her cheeks. She was aware of the excruciating tightness of impending labour and the pressure that was rising inside her body.The twins were on the way.With one hand tight around her wrist and the other over the hilt of a revolver, Alexander stood next to her and said, "Hold on," in a gruff, strained voice. "Just a little longer, Tati."Tatiana's body shook as she struggled to resist the inevitable, and her breath came in short spurts. Her world had been reduced to a nightmare of sounds and flashes, and she was surrounded by turmoil. The distant but steady sound of gunshots reverberated outside the tiny clinic. Benjamin was approaching with his mercenaries. Her children were now in danger
Chapter 58: Vest of Lies
The clinic had become a battleground.Benjamin's men dispersed like shadows, creating a noose around the little, poorly lit chamber as their heavy footsteps echoed on the chilly tile floors. The smell of gunpowder and blood filled the air, which pulsed with anxiety. The weight of her new life and their new life was crushing down on Tatiana like a curse, causing her heart to speed as she held the twins to her bosom.The clinic door had slammed open before she had a chance to take in the chaos. Benjamin, tall and menacing in the doorway, walked in like a malevolent ghost. His lips curled into a twisted smile as his icy gaze met hers with a mix of disdain and joy.With a suave but poisonous tone, Benjamin snarled, "You couldn't even keep them safe for five minutes." "What sort of mother do you have?"Tatiana's throat tightened with each breath. She desired to use her bare hands to tear him apart and pull the arrogant smile from his face. However, she had changed as a person. Now that she
Chapter 59: Ambulance Rampage
The ambulance lurched off the road and into the river, and the entire world shook. It was a scary, inexorable fall, like a nightmare playing out in real life. The noise of the river drowned out the shriek of metal against concrete, and the cold, rushing current engulfed the outside world.As the ambulance raced towards the water's edge, Mira's eyes were wide with fear, and her hands were white-knuckled on the steering wheel. As she struggled to keep control, the tyres shrieked in protest, the wheels barely grabbing the slippery tarmac."Hold on!" she yelled, her voice piercing with panic.With her heart thumping in her ears like a drumbeat, Tatiana's hold on the twins grew tighter as she clutched them near her bosom. The universe was whirling out of control, but she had no idea what was going on. The sound of the car smashing through the guardrails was interrupted by the baby's gentle whimpers, and then there was silence.A horrible calm fell for a time as the ambulance struck the sea
Chapter 60: River Rebirth
It was a burning world.The river's surface was engulfed in a flaming haze as smoke billowed thickly into the sky. In the distance, the helicopter's wreckage burned, reduced to a charred carcass of metal and flame. Even after it had fallen and its fuselage had crumpled into the trees, the fire was still raging and its heat was still reaching them from this distance.As Tatiana huddled behind the rocks near the riverside, holding the twins close to her bosom, her breath came in short, laboured gasps. On her skin, she could still feel the icy bite of the river's water, growing colder by the moment.Her mind was having trouble processing the insanity that had just transpired, and her body was numb from the shock. Everything had happened so quickly, like a nightmare she couldn't wake from, including the sound of gunshots and the scream of the helicopter's engine before it crashed to the ground.Despite all, she continued to feel the burden of her kids. Her sons, their small, frail bodies.