The second short story in the series.

GOD ASHES -

Divine Relics

“LEAD ARROW”

Story by: Phongphon

Two legs pounding away, carrying a sweat-soaked body through the chaos. Two hands spread the sulfur dust from getting into the eyes. Left and right the young girl saw people being grilled on a smoldering fire. Men, women, children, elderly people—almost no one in the mine beneath the volcano escaped the massacre. The smell of completely charred human flesh made him nearly vomit.

The air was contaminated with chemical particles and it burned my throat. But she won't stop running, never, never. These little legs must keep moving until she escapes the eyes of all the hellish creatures that dare to call themselves honest people.

Damn Dylan, Joyce and his gang...

“I found her there! Don't be seen as a child. Shoot her to death!”

It was like tinder erupted in the middle of the fire. The sound of screaming just now made my heart beat wildly. Even the young girl felt that her calves were stiff and that she was about to tear. But you had to get away from this place–away from this shitty hell mine.

Suddenly a hail of bullets rained down from behind. But none of the shots were right or even ricocheted. She was grateful for the thick curtain of dust that hid the shadows so well. ...The left hand clenches tightly without thinking about loosening it. The girl squinted her eyes to see a yellow gleam reflecting through the cracks of her fingers. In her fist was a bloodstained bullet casing that she had to save for life. It was the last foreign gift from the stepmother who had just been brutally murdered less than ten minutes ago.

The sounds around him began to disappear. The scene in front of me was blurred by tears. The words spoken before the last breath of the person I loved with all my heart are still etched in my mind, not faded.

“Go ahead, Abigail. Go as far as an arrow out of a quiver.”

The girl felt herself stagger slightly as the bullet sliced ​​into the flesh of her thigh. But she doesn't care.

“Go ahead...Abigail.”

That sentence still resonates and has not faded. Until I began to see a distant light at the end of the tunnel.

“Go...Abigail.”

Another bullet lodged itself in the base of his arm. But those two legs continued to run.

“...Abigail.”

The dry wind smacked my face as soon as I stepped on the edge of the tunnel. The sun shone brightly in welcome. The smell of dirt and sand in the air hits the nose. The girl felt that it was...

“Abigail”

...the smell of tomorrow

“Abigail!”

...the smell of freedom

“Abigail!!”

A shrill sound in her ear snatched the girl from her nightmare. Abigail opened her eyelids to welcome the bright blue light from the iron lamp. When his eyes adjusted, he found himself lying soaked in sweat on a woven wooden bed. A pile of utensils lay scattered on the floor. Surrounded by a rusted metal wall. She let out a huge sigh of relief when she realized that this was no hell like a sulfur mine.

If it were a peaceful house built from an abandoned train car with wood and cement, And the owner of the alarm was none other than the old woman of the house who was carrying an iron lantern in her hand.

This old woman is Holly Greenwood, a farmer who makes a living growing tubers. Her back hunched. His hands and feet wiggled like he was forcing himself to stand. Holly, however, is still energetic, unlike her age at 70, as evidenced by the shiny black strands that still line her gray hair. Even so, brain health deteriorated to the point of being alarming.

Although skills and memory are still intact But the ability to connect is spotty. A few weeks ago She began to think that her real dead son was coming home.

It's been quite a year since the young woman came to ask for a place to stay. Devoted to gardening almost every duty in exchange for food and a place to sleep, tilling the soil, dropping seeds, composting fertilizer, and killing plant fungi. Nourish the roots and leaves Including clearing the front of the plot to prepare for the new season. If you don't know how to do something, Holly teaches you how to do it. Even so...until now, Abigail has never told her about the past of her bloody sulfur smell.

Not to mention the secrets he inherited from his stepmother. Even her last name was not revealed.

“Ah–uh.” Abigail still hadn't fully composed herself. "What's the matter, Hall?"

"bandit! What a thief! H-Quickly pick up the gun. It's pulling up our cassava roots right now!”

“Then why didn't you wake me up!” Hearing this, the young woman stood up. It was the first time in years that I heard the word thief. In this Ban Suan Klai Puen Thiang The firearms carried at home were only used to repel mutant animals. “How many of them are there?”

"No-I don't know. Quick, quick, quick. Where's the gun? We've got to get him out of here." Holly shook her lantern across the room. Eyes wide in deep sockets. But no matter how much she searched, she couldn't find what she was looking for.

“The gun is in the corner of the train car, Auntie. Under the lid of the tool box Not in this sleeping compartment!” Abigail replied as she frantically grabbed the lamp from the nightstand. The glass shade contains cannabis flowers. Just use a match to burn it and it will suddenly glow brightly. The sky's light was scattered and twisted in the shape of smoke. She, knowing full well the harmful toxins in marijuana, slammed the lamp cover shut to prevent any smoke from escaping.

Still a little confused? Why does marijuana still burn even though there's no air to feed the flame?

But this is not the time to look for answers.

“No-no, it has to stay here.” The old woman expressed her discomfort. Two feet rested on the threshold but did not move. Until she repeats the same sentence: “A thief is a thief! Go find the gun quickly, it'll uproot all the cassava! Hurry, if our house is like this Enough–when my aunt's son came back. There is definitely hope that is not happy.”

The girl didn't know what to worry about first. between the thieves out there Or Holly's ghosts and ghosts. When she's good, she's a smart aunt, speaks eloquently, and can be relied on. But when she's bad, she's unconscious. I looked up and looked at something. He also said things that he shouldn't have said.

“Alright, alright, let's go together Hall. I'll go get the gun myself."

Abigail pushes Holly out of the train car so she can get the weapon. But the moment I walked, my eyes fell on the mirror on the wall. What bounced back was the image of a young woman with her hair pulled back in a ponytail in a ragged T-shirt. The soft yellow skin looks strange. Dark eyes trembled above dark circles. Looking down, he found a bullet sheath necklace shining brightly above his chest...

This is what forced her to live a hidden life ever since.

Until the old woman had to pull her out of her distraction for the second time.

“Abigail!”

"...yes!"

The midnight wind carries coldness against the sun's calloused skin. The constant noise of insects looking for mates bothered Abigail, who was pointing a revolver in front of her. In sight was a wide open space. Grass scattered in patches On the left is a short pine forest. There is a marijuana plant with blue leaves growing along the base. On the right side are the remains of a railroad track running along the edge of the canal. while in front of the eye - as far as the eye can see It is a two rai cassava plot.

and among the bushes of tubers Two figures appeared using a hoe to pry produce from the ground. Then he threw it into the back of a pickup truck parked nearby.

“That- hey! That, that, that!” Holly shouted. She took a slow step towards the thieves as she flicked her lantern high. “These bastards, they haven't even left the old man in the coffin yet! Chiu! Go!”

A loud gasp sounded from the darkness. When the light of the lantern shone on the two figures, it was found to be a tall man. One person is strong and strong. Another was so skinny that even holding a hoe was difficult. They both stopped as soon as they saw Holly. Don't move your position anywhere. He also turned over the handle of the shovel and prepared to use it as a weapon.

But the old woman was not at all fazed by the pair of shovels that had been raised and prepared to strike. “Not yet! Fuck–fuck me, raising them to grow up like this is so tiring!”

"Auntie, I think we'll help each other. We both have to eat and need it," the burly thief replied.

“So you make a living off of other people's business?!” Holly shouted, “Bragging stinks! W–Put it back in the same place and go. If you delay, I'll shoot!”

Finishing their sentence, the two thieves swept over the old woman's trembling body. Only to find that she didn't even have a stick to defend herself with.

Laughing, they approached Holly and planted their shovels on the ground. His gaze was unmistakably threatening.

“And where is that gun, Auntie~?”

“Heh,” Holly grinned. Tilting your head back to shout out your trump card, “Abigail! Please focus on these brats!”

The thieves heard this and retreated. Even though it was night, it was clear that his face was discolored. They both jumped and hid behind the car. Desperately setting up your guard with the handle of a shovel, knowing that it won't save you from the deadly gunfire.

...but for a long time The only sounds behind them were insects chirping under the moonlight.

“Abi-Abigail?” The old woman lost all confidence in her voice. Turning around, I saw only a cassava field with no people. The girl who was supposed to accompany him disappeared. At this moment, she felt that beads of sweat were frenetically dripping all over her body. “Ah–ah, no, this–this is not like this.”

“Oh my! I thought it was something from Auntie. My heart almost dropped!” When I saw that everything was just a bluff. The skinny thief hurriedly darted to intercept Holly's retreat. Fierce eyes stared at those misty eyes with a look of apologetics. Both hands squeezed the handle of the shovel until the blood vessels bulged out.

The muscular thief also flanked him and stood to press, “That's right, Auntie–Auntie, do you know how much your heart fluttered just now? But it's good that they're in a good mood. No one is going to do anything tonight. However, all I have to do is give me some time to walk around in this plot. There were twenty or thirty tubers of cassava piled up on the pickup truck. We'll part ways now..."

Holly's mouth stiffened. The current situation is no different from sheep in a pack of wolves. If he acted rashly, this old soul would never have the chance to see his son a second time.

“...Can you do it, Auntie? We're each other, aren't we?” A thick, rough hand rested on the old woman's shoulder. She was so startled that she almost forgot to breathe. Tears were about to fall but I tried to hold them back. In my heart I can only call out-

click

The clear sound of a bird chopping sounded at point-blank range. The burly robber slowly turned his head to see a .38 revolver pressed against his stomach. The owner of the gun was Abigail, covered in mud. His face was covered with dirt and grass clinging so tightly that his features could not be seen. The necklace was still hidden under the collar. She chose to speak slowly in a stern voice.

"Release-hand-from-Auntie-Hall"

When death is close by The two thieves had no choice but to carefully distance themselves from Holly. They dropped their shovels and raised their hands to stop the girl from being rash.

“Understand, understand. We won't do anything.” The burly thief replied in a trembling voice. Another replied similarly, “Here, tonight, no one will bleed. We're going now.”

Abigail flicked the tip of her gun towards the pickup truck. His arms were obviously shaking. Beads of sweat appeared on his palm, “Tapioca, take it down.”

"but-"

“But what the fuck? There's nothing.” The woman tensed her elbows. Until the two arms were almost one with the gun. "Bring it down."

“Yes, please, don't shoot, please.” With that, the robbers rushed over and easily returned the cassava. The young woman painstakingly draws the tip of the gun along her body. Watch every step to see if anyone is tricking you. There are moments when Abigail glances at Holly. See if she'll say anything like an old person with a fuzzy brain.

Especially in a situation like this – a life or death situation where the decision is on who knows how much of who's scam.

But in the end it happened.

“Uh... Abi–Abigail, Abigail,” the old woman called out. Giving a wistful look, "Is it going to be good? I mean-"

“No, no! Hall! Shh–!” The girl's heart almost went crazy. She hurriedly shook her head back and forth until some of the dirt fell away.

Holly moved to whisper. If her definition of whisper was a sound that the thieves could hear clearly in both their ears. “We have to find another way. Ba-like this, they know for sure...that the gun doesn't have any children.”

Damn it...why are you opening your mouth now? Abigail growled in her heart. At the same time, the sound of the wind sounded beside his ears. Before he could even look, he was hit hard on the body by the ridge of a shovel. Sending the young woman's body flying to sleep against a cassava tree. Pain shot through his body like he had been struck by lightning. She felt that her ribs were either cracked or broken.

All of a sudden!

“You are very good at lying, mother.” The strong thief kicked the young woman again. As the skinny thief pushed the old woman until she fell to the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye, Abigail saw Holly's face covered in tears. So he shouted a request without caring about his own condition.

“Don't do anything, Hall, pay respects!” She tried to squeeze out some air. “What is this anger about me?!”

"Oh, then it's a blessing."

As requested, the two thieves left the old woman's hands and came to rub their feet at the young woman. Abigail was able to block some with her arms. She tried to roll away, tried to get up and escape, but in the end the thick fist sent her back to lying on the loose surface of the ground. The fishy taste of blood coated my tongue. Many teeth are stuck in the gums. After years of hiding herself from the outside world, she never thought that she would be exposed to something like this just because she wanted to protect her benefactor.

Counting eight years of wandering I want everyone to live forever. If you can't find a job, you steal. Unable to find anything to steal, he gritted his teeth and endured hunger. Until we reached this peaceful garden house – Hollynie's house. She didn't want to leave him or lose anyone again.

This physical pain was nothing compared to what he had experienced in the past. It's not that she's numb. It's not that she doesn't feel it. I just know how painful it is to see someone important pass away in front of my eyes.

As for just being stomped and beaten...just be patient and it will pass.

“Next time! You don't! Come do it! You guys! Shocked again! Each syllable was a foot and a fist that the thieves had deliberately given to Abigail in anger. The dirt and grass on his face was replaced by warm blood. It stains the t-shirt until the lining is dark. The young woman was still struggling as best she could. If each punch gradually depleted her strength until she could no longer put up her guard.

Until finally his slender arm dropped to the ground. Without any protection, in front of her was a giant fist that was ready to knock her unconscious in less than a moment.

“Did you pass out? Just now I still had a hot mouth! How can you ignore me like this? I tell you–”

But the giant fist stopped in mid-air. The light from the lamp on the floor revealed beads of sweat and trembling lips. His eyes widened and he stared at the bullet casing necklace that had slipped from his collar as if hypnotized. Soon they were breathing heavily as if they had regained consciousness. Then he frantically backed away from Abigail. “Woe...woe is gone.”

“What's wrong?” a voice asked from behind.

“What is it? Well, this is Dylan's kid. Joyce has been turning the world around for years! Then I slammed her to death. If you don't hurry, Neither you nor I will die at the hands of that barbarian godfather—”

His sentence was cut short when the burly thief realized that it was not his friend's voice. If it were an old woman who should be lying unconscious on the ground And once again, he felt the tip of the revolver touching his body. Knowing that, he gritted his teeth. Not wanting to be easily tricked again, his muscular arms tightened until his veins bulged. He suddenly swung backwards, intending to pull the old grandmother and throw her on the ground.

but

scorching..!

The lead bullets hit and destroyed the internal organs until they were rendered incoherent. Blood spurted out in streams and bullets popped out on the other side. The burly thief's body went still before slowly collapsing under the force of gravity. Leaving the skinny thief standing and peeing with a pale face. He raised his two arms in an expression as if he had severe Parkinson's disease.

“No no no no no no no. T-Everything was not my idea. It's just one person, it's only one person!” The skinny thief gasped. while kicking his foot at his friend's corpse “Originally, someone told this guy that there was a garden at the end of this forest. I–I warned you not to come. Let people make a living. I've spoken but you haven't listened. You still want to drag me here–”

Holly pulls a chopped bird. Move the bullet in the revolver to the ready-to-fire position. His voice shut the thief's mouth shut. "No, no, no, it's not wrong at all. Coming to me is the right thing to do."

“H...ha?” The thief was confused, not understanding why being robbed was considered right.

At this time, the old woman was calm. There was no shaking as usual. His rough face under the moonlight revealed a smile with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She deliberately wiggled her gun back and forth between Abigail and the Skinny Thief. “To be sure. Tell me, young man. Who is that child drowning in her own blood?”

“I-I already told you it wasn't my idea!” He was extremely frightened. “I swear I didn't know! I really don't know!”

“Can you not be stupid!!” Holly roared. But he immediately used his normal voice in the next sentence, “Just answer.”

The skinny thief was left with no choice. He, who had just realized that tears were streaming down his face, decided to answer in a trembling voice. “This kid...the stories say he was the only slave to survive from Dylan Joyce's sulfur mine. I-I don't know how it really happened. Something Dylan really wanted, so he shut it down. No, no, no.

Ordered the killing of all the slaves in the mine. Anyone who doesn't give something is as good as death. But this child managed to survive. Plus, he escaped with the said item. Dylan was so angry that he ordered his men to hunt it down until now. A young girl with jet black hair and pitch black eyes, always carried a bullet casing with her. B–He's been announcing this kid's personality all over the place. I don't want anyone to get to me first. Or accidentally...killed...and caused– But I didn't do it!

I told you it wasn't my idea! Let me go, I beg you! I–I still don't want to see–”

“Okay, that's enough.” The old woman's short words silenced the skinny thief completely. Even if you lower your gun But the awe is almost no different from before. “This is what's going to happen, you petty thief, you're going to find Dylan Joyce and tell him to his face that you've found Fletcher. and showed him the way to come here. Repeat - that - next - page You understand what I'm saying, right?”

“There is only death and death! Th-If I go, he will definitely kill me.”

“That's not the answer.”

The skinny thief almost collapsed at that sentence. It is at an impasse with the choices in front of us. If you don't agree that you will do it. You only have to gamble with an old man who has a weapon in his hand. ...after seeing his friend die before his eyes That meant there was only one choice left. “I-I understand. I'm going to go find Dylan Joyce and tell him I found this kid. And show him the way...for him to come here.”

“Good.” The old woman narrowed her misty eyes and gave her a soft smile, “Then go.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you, thank you very much!” It was like a dog breaking out of its cage. The skinny thief rushed over and grabbed the car keys from his friend's corpse without thinking twice. He tripped over a cassava root and hit his head a few times. But until then, he was able to bring himself to start the car. Drive as far as you can see and never look back.

A satisfied expression appeared on Holly's face amidst the dust. He waved his hand as he approached Abigail, who was still breathing heavily. She noticed that the girl still had complete consciousness. Only his body was so exhausted that he couldn't move.

Abigail lifted her head with difficulty. She tried to force air into her lungs to ask. “Aunt Hall...that...what was that?”

“Just as I've always told you,” the old woman replied, “Auntie's son is coming soon.”

without leaving any space for further thought Suddenly, the pistol's handle slammed into Abigail's temple. Abigail's unconsciousness was difficult to maintain. Into the quiet darkness where only one question arises all the time...why?

“The arrow that fell out of my quiver that day... finally fell to the ground. See you soon, Abigail Fletcher.”

The sound that pierced her ears was the first thing Abigail heard when she woke up. The girl felt that her brain was as heavy as lead. When he looked at his limbs, he found that they were completely strangled by ropes and unable to move. I looked down and saw a metal ceiling. I looked up and saw the surface of the water in the tub. The light from the lanterns made it clear that she was hanging upside down in a train car that was a bathroom—a train car that she had always thought of as a peaceful home.

In front of her in close proximity was Holly and a man in a white polo shirt. He wore an elegant gold ring. Brush your hair smooth and apply shiny oil. The surface of the face was rough. Its neck showed long teeth scars. The blindingly white pupils were flesh-eating...they were exactly the same as Holly's. In her heart, Abigail cursed herself for being careless without realizing it.

She would never forget that look. The eyes of the devil in that person's body.

Dylan Joyce's eyes

“Auntie...selling me,” was the first thing Abigail said. But not before Holly could answer. Dylan then thrust his fist into the woman's stomach with all his might. He expelled the blood he had swallowed from his mouth until it was all over the floor. Before he splashed water on his face, hoping to prevent him from falling unconscious first.

“Look closely, you bastard!” Dylan squeezed the woman's head. Forced to open his eyelids to stare at his own face alone. “This is the face of someone who has lost millions because of you! just! one! single!"

Abigail trembled. both from the cold that makes the body soaked Both from fear of what he would do to this crazy man. And when you look out of the corner of your eye Her necklace was then found in Holly's hand. The shell cap was opened. The secret inside was revealed...there was no reason left for Dylan to keep her.

Phew!

But unexpectedly, the crazy man only slapped his cheek. Then he shouted angrily, “Look at me and tell me where the ashes are kept!”

Abigail's expression changed from front to back. From hopelessness to opportunity Since even Dylan doesn't know that secret. It means she still has a handicap. It is a card in the hand that everyone is looking for.

“What is a termite-faced man like you going to do with bones?” The woman spat on Dylan's forehead. She sneered at her own small victory at this moment, “Oh~ I really want it, you bastard. Legendary miraculous energy ball It is said that it can power a large city for seven generations. Wow~ It's amazing, but Wow~

I don't know where this is. No matter how much I search, I can't find it. There is only one person in the world who knows. And that person is the pretty girl in front of me~” Her tone suddenly changed from playful to solemn. His eyes were dark and intense, fighting Dylan without stopping. “That means The place where the bones are hidden is recorded in my head if I die.

You will never be able to see the bones forever. Put them in your pocket, you murderer.”

“My stubbornness hasn't changed. Just like that stepmother!” Dylan smiled, revealing his gold-plated teeth, clenched so tightly that they cracked. He responded by slamming his fist into her cheek and slapping the back of the ring on the crown of her head. Squeezed Abigail's blood until it covered her head. Her face started to turn pale, but that smile widened even more. “Holly, go give it to me.”

With that, the crazy man retreated. Leave space for the old woman to stand instead.

“Hol…” Abigail moaned. “There's something else I don't know about you.”

“Many more,” Holly replied, grabbing a revolver from her pocket. There is a bullet waiting in the mill. “Just like you used to hide from me.”

“And this guy who took care of me all this time! Who teaches you how to garden! That created a bedroom for me! For acting like a good aunt! What is it, a monkey drama?!”

"Yes"

The single syllable answer made Abigail flinch. Eyebrows wrinkled close together Tears began to stream down his forehead. The lump of flesh called the heart felt like it had been stripped of its warmth – leaving only emptiness in it.

“Tickling your heart? What will you tell me? I'm too lazy to take care of converting it to the original cost. And then she suddenly appeared. I taught gardening. She took care of the garden. I sold. I gave my address. You will stay I always have labor. Do you think there's anything romantic about it?” Holly answered bluntly, nonchalantly. She crouched down close to his face with a wry smile.”

After not seeing Dylan's face in more than ten years, let me tell you, it's like a real orange falling because of you. Yes! you! Abigail Fletcher, the only premium ticket that will bring your son home.”

But the girl doesn't understand. Do you have to do this for a crazy man who doesn't even think about calling his own mother?

“Why...Hol?” Abigail gave a wistful look.

“Hey Holly, don't be boastful. I don't have time to lose.” Dylan was starting to get annoyed that the old woman hadn't started thrusting.

"Why? "Yes...why do I have to do this?" Holly asked the woman. She carefully clicked the bird and the gun clicked loudly.

“Tell me, Aunt Hall,” Abigail repeated. “Why?”

“Why are you making a crown? Really useless, old lady! Bring the gun here–” The crazy man lost his patience. He strode tensely, intending to snatch the gun and do his job. But Holly suddenly jerked her head back towards him, the same little smile she had received when he was a baby, fading him for a moment. Until he regained consciousness, he felt that...the tip of the gun was pointing at him.

“Why?” Holly gasped. "Because my son is a brat."

Bang...!!

The sound of gunpowder expelling the train carriages The only remaining bullet pierced his shoulder and knocked Dylan over. The old woman used this opportunity to untie Abigail from her restraints. She tosses Abigail a bulletless gun.

"go! She's no longer useful. I don't want you anymore!” With that, Holly kicked Abigail off the train. Immediately he grabbed a cannabis lamp and raised it high above his head. Abigail's heart sank. She knew from experience that the blue marijuana fire would never be extinguished until the fuel ran out. And for the old woman to act like that, there was no other way...other than wanting to burn down this train house along with herself and her son.

"do not! Auntie Ho–”

At the same time Abigail rushed to stop him. The marijuana lantern was smashed to the ground. Spreading bright blue flames, bathing the train carriages. Soon it spread and licked along the dry wood. Burning and destroying, rustling under the roaring flames.

Suddenly, a shout sounded from the middle of the fire. It was Holly who was still standing, her skin burning. “Go, you stupid girl. Glide like an arrow!”

She doesn't know why But the scene in front of me was blurred by tears. The fighting feelings in her heart pushed Abigail to turn and run. Leaving behind the raging curtain of fire. while his hoarse voice still shouted loudly in every moment.

“Go Abigail! Go away and don't come back!”

A loud roar sounded behind him. Dylan didn't die easily.

“Go...Abigail!”

The sound of broken bones interspersed with the sound of the fire. She tried not to care.

"go! Felt...Cher!”

Humidity hits your face as soon as you enter the pine forest. The first rays of the sun radiate welcome warmth. The stench of burnt air in the air hit the nose. The girl felt that it was...

...the smell of yesterday

...the smell of things that can never be returned

[ finish ]