Past Island: Regrets and Guilt (Past Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 22: Inferno of Memories

Ashton’s Point of View

Ashton was near the ruins of an old settlement, the memories of the fire that took his sister flooding back. The eerie silence of the place pressed down on him, and every shadow seemed to whisper accusations.

Each step he took seemed to stir up the ghosts of his past, and the guilt he carried was a constant companion, a weight that never lifted. It clung to him like a shroud, seeping into every part of his being, making it difficult to breathe.

The ruins were a haunting sight, with remnants of what once might have been a thriving community now reduced to rubble and ashes. The buildings, long abandoned, stood as silent sentinels to the devastation that had occurred. Their crumbling facades seemed to mock him, reminding him of his own shattered life. As he took cautious steps through the crumbling remains of buildings long abandoned, his thoughts were consumed by the night that had shattered his life.

The flames that had consumed his family home and took Maya's life were forever burned into his memory. He could still hear her terrified screams, smell the smoke, and see the charred remains of what had once been their happy home. The guilt was overwhelming, a suffocating presence that left him breathless. Every breath he took was heavy with the acrid smell of burning wood, and every beat of his heart echoed with the sound of her desperate cries.

The ground beneath his feet shifted, and suddenly, Ashton found himself in a different place. The air grew warmer, the scent of burning wood filling his nostrils. The forest had transformed into the Inferno of Memories, a place surrounded by fire and echoes of his guilt. The flames seemed to feed on his regrets, growing higher with each painful memory. The transformation was jarring, and he felt as if he had been transported into a living nightmare, one from which there was no escape.

The crackling fire roared to life around him, creating a circle of flames that trapped him within. The heat was intense, and Ashton could feel the sweat starting to bead on his forehead. The flames danced menacingly, their flickering light casting eerie shadows that seemed to twist and writhe with every flicker. It was as if the fire had a life of its own, feeding off his fear and sorrow, growing stronger with each passing moment.