Hearts before dawn

The Ember that Remained

Smoke.

It wasn’t just in her lungs—it was in her soul.Kaleen gasped as she sat upright, chest heaving, drenched in sweat. But this time, it wasn’t the heat of the present. It was memory.The fire had not been kind. It had licked through the trees, turning her village into a graveyard of embers. She remembered the screaming. The scent of burning wood and flesh. The moment her mother shoved her into the underground tunnel, whispering, “Run. No matter what you hear, don’t turn back.”She didn’t.But she should have.That night replayed in flashes—blades gleaming, cloaks fluttering, and eyes… eyes she once trusted.The betrayal was not just from outside the village.It came from within.A name echoed in her mind: Orien.He had held her hand just days before. Promised her the stars. Then he lit her world on fire.Why?She gripped the pendant on her neck—one of the few things she escaped with. It glowed faintly in the moonlight, pulsing… alive?She hadn’t noticed that before.A soft rustle outside her hut pulled her from the memory. Her hand went to the dagger under her pillow. Her heart thudded.

Footsteps.

Quiet. Careful.She crept toward the door and slowly peeked out. The forest was still.Then—a flicker of movement.A hooded figure stood at the edge of the trees, watching.Kaleen’s breath caught.It wasn’t just a nightmare returning.The past was hunting her.