Fire Ceases to be Visible, but Ash Does Not

Dawn brought the sunlight a crown, stretching upward at the ash clouds, feeling how the passing night welcomed the day with each minute and hour. Marvel was on a phone call when I arrived at his bedroom, so he instructed me to sit on the couch beside the fireplace and wait.

From the way he talked to the other line, I could tell it was Larysa. News sure flies so fast, I thought to myself.

Before Larysa, though, the news of Marvel being attacked had reached Mikhail and Edward's ears, but because Marvel ordered them to do some overseas work, they couldn't go back to the country before completing the jobs.

They probably know by now that it was because I failed to protect Marvel that he got shot that night, and I wonder what they would say to me when we meet…

"What's wrong, Angelo?"