Burning Ruins

chapter 1

Italy, January 1600

Finally, the most anticipated day of Luciana's life had finally arrived. She was going to meet her suitor. The man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, who would provide for her and at some point even love her. A loveless marriage was bound to be doomed, she thought. After hours of preparation, a decent amount of makeup that would highlight her already beautiful appearance, a stunning blue dress with a corset so tight she could barely even breathe in, she commenced to descend the stairs of her mansion. Her raven curls falling on her rosy cheeks, her carbon grey eyes shining with happiness. She heard the voices of her parents and her sisters, calling her beautiful, encouraging and advising her on how to act when Mr. Amalfitano arrived. A while later, the doorbell rang and her servants opened the door. The face she saw staring back at her was one of an angel, she thought.

Present Time, St. Martin College

Shocked. That is how Georgia, a 19-year-old college student felt. The second she heard the news, her heart dropped. Filled with grief, regret, and sorrow, as the memories of the hard forgotten past she kept trying to run from, managed to resurface. A couple of detectives came knocking at her door the morning after one of the parties. She was asked of the whereabouts of her roommate from the night before. Possessed with curiosity, she answered with her assumption of Jessica crashing at her boyfriend's place, per usual. That is why she wasn't worried. Both of them were sure that Jess and Edward would eventually move in together, considering they spent most nights at the young man's apartment. She knew nothing of the breakup. Nothing of her friend's death. When she found out though...

Police Station

'' Hey, you seem skeptical. What is troubling you?'', asked Athena. '' Nothing in particular. Just thinking of how similar the death of that girl looks in comparison with-'', said Carlos and then froze, as if his voice was about to break if he spoke one more word. At the very least, he knew Athena would understand. ''Oh.'' she said, '' Look, I know that this is hard to hear but you shouldn't think of that. Stop dwelling on the past, you could get stuck living in it. And as for that girl, her death was a suicide. Her boyfriend dumped her, she was drunk. It adds up.'' she paused.'' I am begging you, Carlos, for the life of you, don't go back to that. Think of Zoe, think of me. Of how hard it would be for all of us- including you- to start this again. It will not end well. You have to come to terms with what happened and leave it alone, before it becomes the end of you''. '' You are right'' Carlos admitted, for the first time in a while, '' I should let it go. But something about the Jessica Jones case seems off. I know you can feel it too. If I know you half as well, you can't deny that I am correct''.