Page 37 of Into The Darkness

“Are you taking me out here to kill me, Ash Ortiz?” I teased, attempting to inject humor into the situation. He shot a quick glance in my direction before focusing back on the road.

“I would never hurt you, Ember.” His words hung in the air, closing the topic abruptly. It was clear he wasn’t eager to delve into this conversation any further.

We kept driving around the mountains and through the woods. It was beautiful. The fog providing a thick blanket above us.

“I bet my mom loved this place,” I murmured. I glanced at Ash, noticing the subtle tension in his jaw.

“Past tense?” he questioned; his curiosity piqued.

“Yeah, she passed away when I was little,” I explained, my voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

His response took a moment, but he eventually asked, “What was she like?”

“My mom?” I confirmed, and he nodded.

“Oh, she was beautiful. Her name was Roberta. I was a young girl when it happened, and I overheard the entire incident.”

“You did?!” His voice cracked.

“Yeah, I was hiding in the closet Walsh had put me in. I used to be terrified of the dark, so when I heard the intruder leave, I snuck out of the closet and made my way downstairs, guided by a saying my mom always used to tell me. And when I finally reached the living room, I saw her lying there despite Walsh’s and my dad’s attempts to shield me from the sight.” I recounted.

“I’m so sorry, Ember. I can’t even begin to imagine.”

“After she passed, my dad took over my grandfather’s business, but Walsh, Dad, and myself all remained super close. We are all we have.”

Ash took a deep breath before confessing, “I wasn’t technically born when my mother passed away.”

“She’s not around either?” I inquired, not realizing the shared trauma we carried.

“No,” he replied, his gaze fixed ahead on the road. “She was shot while pregnant with me. At the hospital, she died while they were delivering me.” The weight of his words hung heavy, revealing the deep scars he carried.

“Wow. That must be so hard.” I tried to hold in the tears for him, because I loved the moments I shared with my mom. Even the smallest number of memories I had were mine, and I couldn’t imagine not knowing her at all.

“It’s fine,” he replied quickly.

“Are you close with your dad?” I changed the topic, and he let out a snort.

“He was my only parent as I grew up, and now he’s with Rain’s mom.”

“Rain, your best friend?” I sought clarification, and he nodded.

“Yeah, they got together when Rain and I were kids. His dad had passed away, so we kind of grew up like brothers.” He turned onto a narrow, unpaved road as we entered a flatter section of the forest. Despite the rough path, he seemed to know exactly where he was going. “To answer your question, though, my dad sees me more as an asset to his business than as a son. I can’t even remember the last time he hugged me.”

“Ash . . .” I rested my hand on his thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. He glanced at me, his expression a mix of surprise and gratitude.

“It’s okay.”

Eventually, he pulled the car to a stop.

“Get out,” he instructed. After the vulnerable revelations he had shared with me, I found myself inexplicably willing to trust him, even if it meant breaking all the rules my father and Walsh had set. Something about Ash made me feel safe and comforted, something that had always been there.

I closed the door behind me and walked over to where he was standing.

“What was the saying?” Ash asked as we moved toward an area where the trees appeared to thin out.

“What?” I responded, my foot catching on a hidden rock. In a graceful gesture, Ash extended his hand to steady me, and I entwined my fingers with his. As our hands connected, a thrill coursed down my spine, sending a strange electrifying sensation through me.

Our steps continued, and neither of us relinquished the hold we had on each other. Instead, we walked alongside one another, creating a unique bond between us.

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