Rising From the Ashes

Orphaned and adrift, Lexi's world burned a decade ago, leaving her with fragmented memories and a missing brother. Now, on the cusp of adulthood, haunted by shadows of the past and a desperate need for answers, she navigates a city of secrets, rival gangs, and the unsettling truth about her own survival. But as old wounds reopen and unexpected protectors emerge from the darkness, will Lexi finally rise from the ashes, or be consumed by the flames of a past she can't escape?

Rising From the Ashes

Orphaned and adrift, Lexi's world burned a decade ago, leaving her with fragmented memories and a missing brother. Now, on the cusp of adulthood, haunted by shadows of the past and a desperate need for answers, she navigates a city of secrets, rival gangs, and the unsettling truth about her own survival. But as old wounds reopen and unexpected protectors emerge from the darkness, will Lexi finally rise from the ashes, or be consumed by the flames of a past she can't escape?

The chill of early morning bit at Lexi's skin as she slipped out of the abandoned building, the rising sun painting the city in hues of orange and grey. Her graduation day, her eighteenth birthday – a supposed fresh start, tainted by the dread of returning to Craig's house.

She moved like a phantom through the waking streets, her mind racing with thoughts of freedom, of the new apartment she'd claim tomorrow. Just a few more hours, she told herself, just a few more hours until she was truly free.

Opening her bedroom window, she silently eased herself inside, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. The room was still dark, a temporary haven before the harsh light of day.

“Where were you?” a gruff voice cut through the silence, sending a jolt of icy fear down her spine. Craig. He was here, sitting on her bed, his eyes burning holes through the darkness.