Beyond the Ashes

Chapter 4

I crouched lower behind the counter, my breaths shallow, watching Aika from the shadows. The robbers were loud, their voices jagged against the silence, but Aika held her ground with a strange, unearthly calm. Even from my hiding place, I caught her glancing my way, her eyes flickering like embers, ensuring I remained unseen. She was shielding me, even as her own heartbeat must have thundered. She hid her fear well, but I knew her enough to feel the storm brooding in her veins.

Yet she had no inkling of what raged within me. Beneath my silence, anger simmered like molten lava, waiting for release. I hated that she was in peril because of me, that fate had turned its wicked gaze on her as I lingered, concealed, while she faced them alone.

A robber noticed her glance, his beady eyes narrowing, a sneer twisting across his face as he prowled toward her. My pulse pounded, every beat echoing with the urge to act, yet I stayed still. Aika could handle it—she always did. But still, the anger coiled within me, rising as he stalked toward her, a predator circling its prey.

Aika’s frame was tense, each muscle poised like a bowstring, yet her expression was the picture of serenity. It was almost haunting, how she mastered her fear. The robber’s shadow loomed over her, but she didn’t flinch.

"What do you want?" Her voice was even, woven with a calm that sent a surge of pride through me. But I knew better; her fingers twitched ever so slightly, betraying her fear, though she’d never let him see it. "I’ve given you everything. Just go."

The robber’s mouth curled into a cruel smile, his eyes roving over her as though he had already claimed her. "Is that so?" he sneered, his voice low and venomous. "And what about your little friend under the counter?"

My blood turned to ice.

I feared my hiding place had been revealed, that somehow my presence had betrayed us. But Aika remained unfazed, her expression as unbroken as glass. She was extraordinary.

"He’s got nothing to do with this," she lied, her voice laced with conviction, smooth as silk. "Take the money and leave."

It was a daring move, though I doubted if it would suffice. The robber’s gaze narrowed, his smirk deepening as he advanced. He was toying with her, delighting in his dominance. Every step, every inhale of his leering breath made my skin crawl. My hands balled into fists, and I bit down on the inside of my cheek, straining against the urge to strike.

The air grew thicker, pressing down on me like the weight of a gathering storm. My pulse throbbed in my ears as he drew closer, his hand reaching out, as if to claim her like some stolen prize. When his fingers curled around her wrist, pulling her toward him, I could no longer stay silent.

Without thinking, I reached beneath the counter, my fingers closing around a bundle of yen I’d stashed earlier. "Take it!" I shouted, my voice splintering with tension. The silence shattered like glass. "Take the money and leave her alone!"

Aika’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide with disbelief, anger flaring in them, sharp and fierce, but beneath it, fear—fear that I’d made a dangerous misstep.

"Why would you do that?!" she hissed, her voice trembling with frustration. "You’re so reckless!"

But I could bear it no longer. Watching him touch her, daring to steal what was precious, gnawed at me. His attention shifted, and as the robber’s lips curled into a twisted grin, I knew time was running thin.

"You think this will make me leave?" he sneered, tossing the money aside like it was worthless. His hand flashed, aiming to strike Aika, but I surged forward before I could think twice.

I rose to my feet, the world blurring as I launched myself between them. His blow crashed against my cheek, pain arcing through my head like lightning, but I barely registered it. My focus remained on her—keeping her safe, ensuring she remained unharmed.

The fire within me roared, my fury nearly spilling over as I glared at the man who dared to harm her. My breaths came in jagged bursts, the heat churning in my chest. But I couldn’t lose control, not yet. Not while she still needed me.

"Take the money," I growled, my voice dark, menacing. "And go."

But he wasn’t done. His eyes glinted as they fell upon the pendant around Aika’s neck—the one that belonged to her mother. Precious. Irreplaceable. He reached for it, and in that moment, I saw Aika’s composure crack.

Before I could react, she moved, swift as a shadow. In one graceful, fierce motion, she seized his gun, wresting it free. She cast it behind the counter, out of reach, and my heart swelled with pride—until the gunshot shattered the silence.

Time slowed.

"Aika!" I screamed, my voice ragged as I watched her body jerk, a blossom of blood staining her shoulder, vivid against her shirt. Panic surged as I rushed to her side, grasping her hand, pulling her close. Her skin was chilling beneath my fingers, and the sight of her blood unleashed a fresh torrent of rage.

My hands trembled as I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly. My vision blurred with fury, but I couldn’t lose control—not now, not with her bleeding.

The robbers faltered, their movements clumsy with fear. But I cared little for them; my world had narrowed to Aika—her pale face, her shallow breaths. Tearing my sleeves, I pressed fabric to her wound, my hands shaking with desperation.

"Close your eyes," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. "I’ll get you out of here."

She hesitated, her gaze locking with mine, and I saw trust there, deep and unwavering. Even in her pain, in the ruin surrounding us, she trusted me. With a slight nod, her lashes lowered, and I gathered her into my arms, sheltering her from the chaos.

The sound of sirens grew louder, slicing through the night. The robbers scrambled, their bags in hand, fleeing from their crimes. I stood motionless, cradling Aika in my arms, watching as they disappeared into the night. Part of me wanted to chase them, to make them pay for what they’d done, but I couldn’t leave her. Not now.

As the paramedics arrived, I waved them over, relief and fear tangling within me. They swarmed around Aika, lifting her onto a stretcher, and for the first time, the weight of everything that had happened began to settle, heavy as stone.

She stirred as they began to lift her, her eyes opening just slightly. She looked up at me, her gaze soft even through the haze of pain.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely a breath. "If it weren’t for you..."

Her words faded, and I could see exhaustion draw her back into darkness. She winced as the paramedics tended to her, and guilt twisted in me—I hadn’t been fast enough. I hadn’t protected her enough.

With a small, fragile smile, she looked at me one last time before they took her to the ambulance, her presence slipping from my grasp.

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me in the empty silence, alone with the weight of what had transpired.

I hadn’t even asked for her number.

The ache in my chest swelled, fierce and unyielding, as I watched the ambulance vanish into the night. The only thought that echoed was how I could have done more.