Castle of The Ashes

Chapter Two

  The mug of coffee was held tightly between small hands. It swished around, creating a tiny typhoon in the middle. The coffee was the color of gentle Caramel with swirls of creamy white mixing with the brown. It looked so transfixing— ethereal to a degree. It was a marking of a new day, a new morning, something to look forward to anytime someone woke up. It was also linked to a tired person during a twelve-hour shift. A cup of coffee would make a day better, a momentum to a hard day's work. The cup of coffee within the hands of a person seemed so entrancing, it would keep someone distracted. "So why did you leave?" A voice mumbled suddenly.

  A woman in her mid 20's parted her lips while running one of her fingers through her hair. The other was cupping a mug of coffee tightly as if it would melt through her hands. She fluttered her eye lids, then looked up. "You'd be surprised, Aspher confronted him about putting together the rescue plan," she paused to take a deep breath in. "When someone tells you that you hold someone back, it tends to stick. So, I packed my bags, wrote a couple letters, and left." She muttered, looking toward the window.

  New York never quite looked as beautiful as it did under the sunset. The light of the sun's rays reflected perfectly against each building, casting an orange hue across the streets. It seemed so familiar, yet so foreign. The therapist let out a deep sigh as they folded through their notes. It seemed he was thinking about something with the way he knitted his eyebrows together. "So, with our last couple sessions, you've shown signs of anxiety, insomnia, and exceptional signs of amnesia. Though you've explained that this... Jude guy erased your memory." The therapist clenched his teeth. "I have a feeling you're lying to me, the way you explain the kidnapping, it almost seems like you remember."

  The woman knitted her lips up into a smile. Six years later it seemed she couldn't quite lie even if she wanted to. "I remember everything that happened. The wall fell about a year ago. Hence why I came to talk to you. A lot has happened, so I keep thinking about them and seeing them, but I know they've forgotten me." She mutters ever so softly. Her lashes flutter again over her icy blue eyes.

  "Harlow, you say that every time you see me. Nothings quite stopping you from seeing them." The man muttered, pointing his pen in the direction of the window. It was as if he were gesturing that just beyond the window, her friends stood there waiting. That wasn't quite what he was insinuating— which was why Harlow didn't waste her time looking to the window. The sun was far too powerful for her eyes at the moment to even take in the view of the outside.

  "I'd love to, but on news they do far too good without me. You should see them, Jude used to be able to only control one person but now he can control five to ten. Ashe can control flames on every part of her body, Juilliard figured out how to flash his eyes like a camera to blind enemies, and I," She trailed off for a moment as she harnesses her gold material over her hand. "I can use my hands as gloves to stop the fan from moving at my work. They progress, while my abilities seem to slowly fade away. It takes me much longer to form my knuckle busters." She says as she commands the material to turn to sharp points on her knuckles.

  The therapist let out a cough for a moment, insinuating her to put away her weapons. The material quickly retracted into her palms. "Our session is over, but we can talk more next time, if you want. Maybe I can push you to go see them. Might bring you some clarity." He says as he stands up. He watches Harlow slowly stand up as well. "Next time?"

  Harlow nodded her head as she stood up. Her eyes lifted to meet his but saw he was filing through his paperwork. She didn't bother to say goodbye to him as she headed out from the office. She made her way to the front desk, scheduled her next appointment, then headed out into the streets. She made her way down the sidewalk to the apartment complex right across the street. The streets were unusually empty today, but she didn't pay it any mind. Her eyes ended up upward to peer at the end of the street, and her heart nearly fell to her stomach at the sight of a familiar fight punching in a bulked-up man. Her eyes widen when Luna looks up, and they stare at each other.