Golden Ashes

Chapter 1

"Where ya going, sweetheart? I'm not done with you yet."

I look back at him, my kidnapper. "Fuck off." I continue running and throw myself into an alley.

It doesn't stop him, I can still hear his footsteps following me. But when he rounds the corner I grab him.

He grabs me too, and throws my hands off of him. "Oh don't do that. I don't plan on becoming a pile of your pretty ashes. Now calm down and we can go home." He hugs his arms around me, pinning my arms to my sides.

I throw my elbow back, into his gut but he doesn't let go.

He groans, "Ahhh, Amaya that feels nice, do it again."

I wiggle and squirm, trying to get him off. His arm slips and I lurch forward, on my knees, making him fall off.

Something sharp digs into my leg and I scream. 

He laughs and grabs my foot, "Stop, Amaya, this is getting annoying."

I look at him through blurry eyes as he yanks my leg toward him. I kick him, hard, in his face, feeling bone crunch.

He shrieks and grabs his face and as he does, I jump at him and scratch him.

His screaming gets louder and he curls up in a ball, holding his stomach.

"I guess your plan failed, huh? You are gonna turn to ash today, but first you're gonna burn from the inside out, no flames, just heat. And when it's over? All that will be left are your ashes." I glare at him and try standing up.

He looks at me through a pain stricken face. "Oh Amaya. If only that were true." He tries to get up too, but can't. He keeps struggling, like a cockroach that won't die.

But then, it's all over. In the blink of an eye, he's gone. Only golden ashes remain.

I limp out of the alley. Sort of. When I look around I don't see anything except for a silhouette. A guy's silhouette. I fall on the ground and lean against the wall, where he can't see me.

But he does.

"Who the hell are you?" His voice is raspy.

I look at him and almost cry out. 

Hands. All over him. Not connected to anything. They're just grabbing at different body parts. But those aren't what scare me. It's the big hand, hiding the guy's face. His hair is long, almost shoulder length and light.

"Well, are you gonna answer me?" His voice makes me jump. "No? Move along then, get out of this alley."

I try standing up but my leg burns in protest. I look at it and wince. 

From my upper thigh to my knee, a huge gash marks my skin. There's blood all over me and my head gets woozy. "I can't."

"Oh, you're bleeding." He says it as if he couldn't care less. He bends down and pulls the hand off his face.

Surprisingly, I find him kind of cute. In an evil kind of way. Even though most people wouldn't, not with all the dry skin.

He reaches for my leg and I slap his hand away. "Don't touch me."

It makes him laugh.

I shift away from him. "Unless you're gonna help me, go away."

He looks at me suddenly. "What?"

"I-I said go away."

He grabs my throat and yanks me towards him. "Don't you-" He tilts his head, studying me. He mumbles something I don't understand.

"What...the fuck..." I grab his wrist and try to pull him off.

"You're that girl, aren't you? The one from the news. The girl who was kidnapped for such an unusual quirk."

"Get off." I yank him off and fall back.

He walks away. "Never mind. You're useless."

"Wait. Take me with you."