Chapter four: Starting from ashes
752 Words
The cardboard box in Ariana's arms felt heavier than it should.
It wasn't because of its weight.
It was because everything she owned was inside it.
A few clothes.
Her university certificates.
Family photographs.
Her late grandmother's letter.
And the silver key.
Nothing else.
The landlord stood at the apartment door with folded arms while movers carried out the last of her belongings.
"I'm sorry, Miss Woods," he said, avoiding her eyes. "Business is business."
Ariana managed a weak smile.
"I understand."
No, she didn't.
This apartment had once been her safe place.
The home she had dreamed of sharing with Ethan after their wedding.
Now she was leaving through the same door with nowhere to go.
As the taxi drove away, Ariana rested her forehead against the window.
She didn't look back.
Some memories weren't worth carrying.
---
By noon, Ariana had checked into the cheapest guesthouse she could find.
The room was barely large enough for a single bed.
The paint peeled from the walls.
The ceiling fan squeaked every few seconds.
But it was all she could afford.
She sat on the edge of the bed and counted the money Mr. Harrison had given her.
After paying for the room, transportation, and a few basic necessities, there wasn't much left.
She opened her laptop.
"Job Vacancies."
Dozens of listings appeared.
Laboratory technician.
Quality control analyst.
Administrative assistant.
Research assistant.
She applied for every position she qualified for.
Hours passed.
One rejection email.
Then another.
And another.
"Thank you for your application. Unfortunately…"
The words blurred together.
By evening, Ariana closed the laptop and rubbed her tired eyes.
She had graduated at the top of her class.
She had worked hard.
She had experience.
Yet somehow, starting over felt impossible.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
She answered immediately.
"Miss Woods?"
"Yes?"
"We received your application, but the position has already been filled."
Another rejection.
"Thank you," she whispered before ending the call.
The room felt smaller.
Lonelier.
She wrapped her arms around herself and whispered, "I can do this."
She wasn't sure if she believed it.
---
Across the city, champagne glasses clinked.
Laughter echoed through the grand ballroom of the Kingston Estate.
Vanessa stood beside Ethan, showing off the massive diamond ring on her finger.
"To new beginnings," she announced.
The guests applauded.
Ethan forced a smile.
His mind wasn't there.
Every few minutes, he found himself looking toward the entrance.
As if expecting someone.
Vanessa noticed.
"Who are you looking for?"
"No one."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're thinking about Ariana."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"I said no one."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Forget her."
"I already have."
But even he didn't believe the lie.
---
Late that night, Ariana sat beneath the dim light in her room.
She unfolded her grandmother's letter once more.
Her eyes stopped on a single sentence.
**The people who break you often become the very people who fear you.**
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"No, Grandma," she whispered.
"They don't fear me."
"They won."
Silence answered her.
Then her gaze drifted to the silver key.
She picked it up.
The metal felt strangely warm in her hand.
Almost... alive.
Suddenly—
A sharp knock sounded at the door.
Ariana frowned.
No one knew where she was staying.
The knock came again.
Slower.
Heavier.
She cautiously approached the door.
"Who is it?"
No answer.
Her heart began to race.
She looked through the peephole.
No one.
The hallway was empty.
Confused, she opened the door.
On the floor lay a black envelope sealed with silver wax.
There was no name.
No address.
Only a single symbol pressed into the wax.
A crescent moon wrapped around a crown.
Ariana's breath caught.
She had seen that symbol before.
It was engraved on the silver key.
With trembling fingers, she broke the seal.
Inside was a single card.
**Tomorrow. 10:00 a.m.**
**Blackwood Foundation Headquarters.**
**Don't be late.**
No signature.
No explanation.
Only mystery.
Miles away, a private jet landed quietly under the cover of darkness.
A tall man stepped onto the runway.
His piercing silver eyes scanned the city lights.
The air around him seemed to hum with power.
One of his guards approached.
"Your Majesty, shall we inform the Council that you've arrived?"
The man shook his head.
"Not yet."
His gaze settled on the skyline.
"I've waited twenty-five years."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"I'd like to meet her before the rest of the world discovers who she truly is."
End of Chapter Four
- Writer
