Ashes Chapter 1

Jerry; I think this is it…

6 months after Con's defeat, Jerry had searched through Lenard's room, he then found a notebook, thought to be the novel she wanted to write. Jerry was hesitant to read it, and it wasn't until another 6 months later during his mentorship days with Sammy, as he visited the Ga-den estate, he then found an old building, it was where Lenard used to live with her parents before they died. She would often go in and out of there from time to time. Jerry then went in, looked through her room and found a second book, but this one wasn't a notebook, it looked like this was a diary. Jerry then took it with him home. He went up to his room, locked the door and opened it.

Jerry; what's this?

He saw a piece of paper folded on the 1st page, he then kept it aside and began flipping through.

9 years ago (as indicated on the date) …

Lenard; Daddy, look what I made today!

Lenard's dad; ah, what a beautiful drawing, it's just as good looking as you, my dear Hinata. You will be the best artist in the world!

Hinata; Alright!

Hinata speaking to her father's tombstone; Daddy, I brought, another drawing, I hope you like it. I worked really hard this time just for you.

There was a woman looking in a distance with her son.

"mommy, what's that girl going?"

"She's just taking time to process what's happened, we should leave her, it's better that way."

Hinata, who heard everything; *please say something*

She then burst into tears. In front of the tombstone.

"It wasn't that I didn't know he was already gone; I just wasn't ready to accept it"

Hinata while holding onto the tombstone, crying; Daddy, please come back.

I spent 3 months alone in that empty house, I would spend time begging for bread and ate whatever I could find. I spoke to no one, I was too scared to approach anyone, till one faithful day, when I was walking on the street, found Lara. I bumped into her, she was upset with me, and scolded me even, I wouldn't be surprised as I later found out she was being trained to become head of the clan's defence force.

Lara; hey kid, what's your name by the way?

I hesitated to answer,

Lara; hey, didn't you hear me? I asked your name.

…hina

Lara; what?

…Hinata.

Lara; I see.

Guard; young madam, please what do you suggest we do in this situation?

Lara; trace her roots and figure out what happened.

Guard; yes, mam.

Lara to Hinata; you're coming with us.

I was interrogated for 3 days, it wasn't that bad, I was given food and a place to sleep, I was much better than I was back home by myself. Then one day, they found out who my father was. It turned out, he was the brother in law of the clan head. However, they also found out he was a crook and a fraud who played scams on many people prior to his passing, in fact, he was targeted by one of his victims and that's how he died. When they found out about this, they informed the princess who was kind enough to let me live with her. Over the next 6 years, I barely ever spoke or approached people. I just stayed and did what I was told, my true identity was kept secret in order to protect me. And to hide the fact that the princess was sheltering the child of a criminal…

Jerry; *the diary stops here a for a bit, I can't make out what some of it says, these pages must be damaged or something. I'll just skip through*

Today, I met someone. At 1st I was scared of him, like anyone else, he wasn't aware of my gender either. But I felt uncomfortable around him either way. He then spoke to me, when he spoke, it was like, all my pain and anxiety melted away, this boy, he didn't even know me, but he wanted to help me either way. He was also someone who lost someone precious to him, I understood what the princess went through, but I felt like I found the 1st person who understood me and my pain in this world. I was so happy. It was a feeling I hadn't felt since my father had died. I wanted to know him more, I wanted to be with him. I wanted him all to myself.

Jerry; this writing, most of it was written months apart from others. She must have filled it in once every several months or so from the looks of it, also the way its damaged, it seems too specific to be just by chance, it's like she did it deliberately to conceal things the was trying to hide. I'll just have to keep reading to find out.

TBC…

[to be continued obviously]