Leaving Ashes, Finding Her Sky

dler ended his call and sta

hair and, in one fluid motion, wrapped her arms around me, p

eamed, a perfect

swallowe

r' s face, etched with panic. But that panic w

bubble of air and despair. My te

seafloor, and a fresh wave of pain

me, pulling me up. For a wild, s

eet away, cradling a sputtering Kristyn in his arms. He was murmuring s

brutal confirmation. He

y to my feet. They forced a dripping wetsuit onto my

"She said... she said she wanted to die and t

understanding between you two," she

fury as he looked at me. He kissed her, a long, p

ong with you, Ava?" he snarled, his voice low an

Do you really think I would do tha

tion of a second. That

I can' t do this," she cr

ce. "Take her," he commanded his body

r, toward a large, ominous cage fl

he guards said grimly. "A punis

o a world of shadows and bars. My breath hitched. I was claustrop

n, circling the cage, their fins cutting through the water. They slammed against

cre

s, locked away for hours by the cruel matron at the orphanage. Chandler had been the one to find

ocked me in the dark, using

er of the cage, shaking uncontro

ndler?" I thought, the

y breathing growing

nd me. The fishermen told the police I

life. The good parts-the candy bar, the way he held my hand afte

old and remote. "I never loved you, Ava. It was always her." I

trangled cry, my f

d in, a victorious smirk on her face. A dark

he taunted. "Or do I need t

to fight. I ju

onto my bed. "Cha

. His signature was a sharp,

marriage was over. It w

self-mocking laugh

ng the papers. "Now take the m

he bed, silent tears

n' t come home. The house was an em

clothes. The expensive jewelry he' d bought me sat unt

ed keychain. The one he' d given m

e wedding band. Then I walked to the wind

hell are

er was standing

ng another tantr

dn' t take any more pun

iron. "Get dressed. You' re comi