Hell Fire (Wild Fire: 2) (FINISHED)

43 - Numb

"You've reached the voicemail box of... ALICE ANGELUS. If you would like to leave a message, please do after the tone."

Ember stared at the payphone receiver as she listened to Alice's automated message.

Since she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to go home yet, she put the payphone back, stepping back outside in the chilly wind as she let another person in.

She sniffled, covering herself with her arms in hopes to get her warmer.

Right after she lost Max, she found an alleyway to hide and cry in. She let all frustration out with no witnesses, and then succeeded to continue on with her life.

Right now, she was emotionless. Every inch of pain, gone, and she just felt nothing.

This usually happened when she cried; she would burn herself out, and then this happened.

She honestly didn't know where to go now; she'd walked ten miles from the spot where she last saw Max, running away because she didn't want to feel that pain anymore.

But she it started developing inside her at the memory.

She sniffled, breathing shakily as the sobs started etching up her throat, clogging her airways.

She kneeled down, holding her arms to her stomach that had been aching, rocking herself back and forth repeatedly to soothe her tremors.

"Shhh..." she whispered to herself, trying to imagine someone else comforting her to cover the feeling of being alone. "Shhhh... it's alright. It's alright...."

After the aching subsided, she stared up, back in the emotionless stage, wondering where to go next.

Her sister was busy, she guessed, so the plan of calling her and going home wouldn't work.

Unless... she went to the police.

But, if she did, what would happen?

Would they think she caused the bomb? Or would they think it was Max?

She honestly didn't know what information was leaked and what wasn't.

Ember closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks at the thought of her life being over now.

She turned over to her feet, struggling to stand as her body shook with dehydration.

And she kept a hold on a building wall as she walked over to a corner store, the wind cutting through her skin as she kept going.

But she collapsed onto the ground, covering her face as she sobbed into her hands, every part of her broken and aching.

She didn't know how long she'd been there.

She guessed the emotionless stage passed, and she was back to hurting again.

She didn't want Max to hate her. Why did every guy want to love her, and then just ran away?

Was she just a horrible person? Was she selfish and needy and she never even saw it?

Why was her whole life shattering into pieces?

"Hey, are you alright?" a voice said, making Ember look up to find a tall old woman standing there, holding a newspaper in one hand while the other clutched her purse.

Ember nodded, looking down to hide her tear-stained cheeks. "Yeah, I think so."

The old lady only skimmed her form. "What's your name, child?"

She sniffled wiping tears from her cheeks. "Ember."

"Oh, my god..." the woman said, eyes widening as she stared down, "are you John Angelus's daughter?"

Ember gazed up then, staring. "How do you know my father?"

"He was an old acquaintance of mine," she uttered, a small smile curving her lips. "A very sweet guy."

Ember looked down, another form of grief and guilt swirling inside. "Yeah, very."

"Wow," the woman said, exasperated, "you have his eyes, Ember. You're beautiful."

"Thanks." Her voice was small.

"May I ask you, Ember, what race you are?"

She gazed up, offended. "Excuse me?"

"Not human race," she corrected, smiling as if her reaction was amusing. "Are you an angel? Demon?"

Ember's lips parted as she stood, still struggling as her body weakened in the cold. "You know about this world?"

She nodded. "I've been an angel for millions of years, honey."

Ember's eyes widened. "My dad... was he one, too?"

She smiled. "Yes, he worked with me for hundreds of years as heaven's protecter."

Ember stared down at the ground in shock. "Huh...."

"Why don't you come to my house, Ember, and I can give you some food and drinks?"

She shook her head despite her mouth watering with the sound of "drink."

One thing she learned, never go with a stranger to their house.

"How about I buy you a water then?" the old lady suggested.

Ember agreed then. "Yes, please. That would be very nice."