Chasing Embers | 1

04 | H u n t e r

Please note the pov change above. Hope you're enjoying the book!

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Ember stayed in the truck to "think alone"–even though Jonah was with her–when we got to the house. As I walked toward the front, Tyler was playing with a soccer ball in the front yard. He kicked the ball between his legs, hands stuffed in his pants pockets. When he saw me, his lips turned down into a frown and he picked up the ball.

"What are you doing here? Where's Ember?" he asked, looking around.

I shrugged. "She decided to chat with Jonah."

"Probably about you," I heard him mutter.

"You have no idea."

"What?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Anyways, she'll be back in a bit."

We walked together up to the front door. It was cracked open and I could see flashes of light that came from the television. Tyler pushed the door open wider and we stepped inside the house. A woman, his mom I assumed, stood in the kitchen, flipping through channels on the television. I could smell the chili cooking on the stove from where I was standing. A cat was curled up on the couch and sleeping soundly. Tyler ran off to his room and shut the door loudly, leaving me standing in the house awkwardly. I decided to look around.

On the wall with Ember's door, pictures of her and her family dotted along the wood. A smiling elderly couple sat on the front porch of the townhouse in one of them. Next, a photo of Ember and Tyler hugging. She was ruffling his curly blonde hair, laughing, while Tyler stuck out his tongue. I smiled at the picture, being reminded of my own family. I hadn't seen them since I started recruiting, so for about two years.

Next to the photo of Ember and her brother was an older photo. The wood of the frame was worn and cracked, the photo in black and white. A young woman who looked a lot like Ember was sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch, staring at something intensely in her hands. I took a closer look. In her hands was a small and unfinished dream catcher. It was different than the ones piled at her feet, special.

"That's Ember's grandma, my mom," The woman called from the kitchen. "You must be Hunter. My name is Dawn." Ember's mother motioned towards the photo. "She liked to make those dream catchers to, I guess, make her mark in the world. The one in her hands was made specially for Ember, her first grandchild. She always liked her the best." I could hear the sadness in her voice. "My mom died about a year ago. My husband's parents are still alive but they don't live with us."

"Oh. I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am," I mumbled.

She nodded and turned her back towards me, stirring the chili. I continued looking at the pictures. In one, Ember had to be at least six. She held up a huge bass by a lake with her dad smiling and pointing at it. On the corner of the photo "Ember's first catch!" was written. Hanging in a white frame was a picture of a baby wrapped in a blue blanket. A small, curly-haired girl stood over her little brother with a huge grin plastered on her face, green eyes twinkling. December 14, 2008 was the date.

The last picture on the wall burned into my brain. Two small kids with blonde hair, both about four, sat together in the front yard. They were hugging each other and laughing. I realized who they were: Ember and Jonah. Ember's hair was as wild as ever, with a small clip trying to sustain it. She was in a flowery summer dress with brown sandals strapped to her feet. Jonah had on a nice sky blue button-down with khaki shorts. "Easter day with Jonah" was written on the top of the photo. I stared at the picture a bit longer before beginning to walk towards the couch. I didn't get far when I heard the front door creak open.