“He’s right son…he’ll be fine,” Frank spoke. Kai watched him, unsure.
“He has you,” Frank added with a wink. Kai smiled, still unsure but proud. He quickly wiped his wet eyes.
“There’s more Uncle,” Kai sighed.
“What is it son?”
“Samantha’s gone.”
“Where is she?” he asked calmly.
“I don’t know. Neither do the police. She never made it to the station.” Frank listened intently with a sullen face. Kai watched Frank’s tired eyes closely.
“They found the squad car she was taken away in. It was abandoned. They’re treating her like a fugitive,” his voice cracked. Frank thought long and hard for a moment. He gently tapped his fingers on a glass of water as soft music danced from the speakers of the hospital radio. Kai waited patiently next to his bed.
“Does Max know this?”
“A little,” Kai said, unsure. Frank’s face filled with hope.
“She will be fine,” Frank said, absolute.
“But how can you say that? How can you be so sure?”
“Kai, I have come to think of both you and Samantha as my family, fellow Valentine’s. And the number one rule of this family, is that we do not give up on one another,” he smiled before coughing up more blood in a tissue. Kai nervously shuffled in his stance. Frank collected himself quickly.
“No matter what,” Frank said. His eyes gleamed with determination.
“I know but…”
“But nothing my son! Samantha may be in the dark right now but she has a secret weapon,” Frank smiled. Kai felt lost by his enthusiasm.
“What?”
“Us,” Frank sounded proud. “We will get her back son. I swear it.”
“You're right.” Kai let out a nervous breath, but in the back of his mind he filled with doubt.
“I always am! Now where’s my little granddaughter? I could use another hit of youth,” Frank laughed but he looked weak again. Kai fell silent as he realized he didn’t have a clue where she or Asia were. He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled his cell phone out.
“She’s with Asia,” Kai said distantly. Quickly, he dialed and turned his back to Frank. The line rang over and over again. Asia never answered. Kai hung up and tried again with the same results. Frank watched him carefully.
“Good.” Frank smiled. Kai let a confused stare form on his face. Why was Frank being so upbeat?
“Those two girls are connected more than they could have ever imagined. One day they will know it…completely,” Frank spoke softly. Kai turned back to him, sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“She’s not answering.”
“Oh well, maybe later then,” Frank said with a short breath and slid back down into his bed. He looked extremely worn out and closed his eyes. Kai knelt next to his bed. He hated seeing Frank like this.
“I’ll keep trying.” Kai tucked his covers around him. Frank coughed softly as he settled himself. Kai waited a minute, not sure of what to say. Sprinkles of rain peppered the hospital room window. It woke Kai from his distant thoughts.
“Uncle?” Kai asked softly.
“Yes son.”
“What do you mean connected?” He was confused. Frank opened his eyes gently.
“One day you’ll understand,” Frank said closing his eyes, drifting away quickly. Kai felt bewildered.
“I guess I’m just nervous. I wish I could see Madison right now too,” he said thinking Frank was already asleep. It startled him when Frank answered back. His eyes were still closed and he spoke as if he were somewhere far away. He sounded as if he were dreaming.
“Trust in Asia son. She is your angel. She will never give up on you. Just let her…shine…” Frank’s voice fell away again. Kai looked out the window at the cloudy skies and rain upon the windowpane. Uncle Frank’s words rolled around his brain repeatedly but he didn’t think Frank was talking to him anymore.
“I hope your right,” Kai whispered.
Saturday afternoon - 4:53 p.m. - December 1st.
Ouray, Colorado.
Asia hadn’t slept in days and found her tired body couldn't keep going like this much longer. She was angry, she was hungry, and for the last ten miles she thought she might be lost. She was growing weaker every hour and more emotional every minute. She hated that the most. She knew I would have had a field day with how emotional she was acting the last few days. Thankfully she was almost done, almost at the end of her exhausting journey.
“Almost there sugar,” she smiled down at an anxious Madison in pigtails. She cooed with a large smile that pulled at Asia’s heart more than it should have. She reached down and tucked the soft pink baby blanket tighter around Madi’s body. Her little cheeks flushed with heat, causing Asia’s hand to fill with warm goose bumps.
“Just like your daddy,” she tried to comfort herself. Her new Jeep turned along the snowy mountain road before pulling off on a single street. She slowly passed a few large cabins that lined the wintery street, making her way to the end of the road. The sun had just fallen behind the massive mountains and a dark white hue covered everything.
She brought the truck to a stop and slowly filled her lungs with courage and stepped from the vehicle. The chilly wind greeted her instantly as her boots crunched the fresh snow. She wrangled Madison in her arms and turned slowly toward the unfamiliar house. After taking a few minutes to walk up the driveway to the front door, she inhaled a long deep breath. The mountain air tickled her throat as she rang the doorbell. Within a few seconds, the door slowly opened and a pair of curious eyes peeked out.
“May I help you?” the small woman asked. Asia only stared at her, studying her features. She had fading brown hair that fell just past her shoulders and big brown eyes. They looked sad and weathered but the woman's familiar smile froze Asia in the moment. The same smile I had. Asia could feel her mind wandering back to that familiar smile and the boy it belonged to. She missed me something awful.
“May I help you my dear?” the woman asked again. Her arms folded around her small torso as the cold slithered inside her home. Her face filled with worry. Asia’s eyes teared up.
“I hope so Mrs. Walters,” Asia started slowly. The woman tilted her head in curiousness.
“Do I know you?” she asked, alarmed now.
“Or should I call you Mrs. Valentine?” Asia spoke quietly but with strength. The woman stepped back as if she were slapped. The skies fell even darker.
“What did you call me?” she asked in a low and scared tone. At that moment Asia turned her body so the woman could see Madison neatly tucked in her arms. Madi looked up at the woman in wonder with a crooked smile and a red nose. Her round green eyes smiled too and that took the woman's breath away.
“Mia?” she gasped at the sight of her. Asia held her tears back with the last of her will.
“Madison,” Asia corrected her. The woman found Asia’s weary eyes and began to cry.
“This can’t be!” she cried, but she didn’t sound convincing at all. The moment she saw Madison's smile and little dark brown pigtails she knew.
“Surprise Grandma,” Asia tried to sound soft but knew she failed. The woman stepped into her and pulled Madi into her arms. Her hands were shaking and tears fell down her face. Asia could no longer hold back her emotions. They smothered her completely.
“We need your help,” Asia broke down in front of her. The woman watched her for a moment, not sure what to say. Tightly she squeezed Madison into her chest and inhaled her new baby smell. Snow started to gently fall above them with the faint sound of thunder in the distance. The snowflakes stuck in Asia’s dark hair like stars. Lightning flickered above and reflected in her breaking eyes, making Madison instinctively heat herself up in the woman's arms. She giggled and reached for Asia with her tiny fingers. Soft curls of steam billowed up to the stormy sky.
In that moment, my long forgotten mother understood…
“Max…” she whispered to the wind.
/>
THE END?
Downpour - 00
~Fragile: Sting~
Wednesday - 12:01 a.m. - December 5th.
The room was dark but clear enough to see the grayish details that washed over my face. This old face. I had spent too many nights in this hospital…in this damn bed. It was time to leave. Time to rise and shine. As I listened to the softest of raindrops tap on my window, I remembered.
I remember you son. I can still see you with your big wide eyes. How they spun around in excitement the first time I played my old guitar for you. How you let your little sister follow you any and everywhere, no matter how much it bothered you. I watched you break when she fell away from this world. I watched you run away as your family fell apart because of that. I watched you breathe. I watched you heal. I watched you love. I watched it all and relished every moment, as you became a man.
But I can no longer see you. No matter how hard I look, I cannot find you in this unforgiving darkness. It breaks my old heart a little. I will never give up. I will never stop looking. I will never stop caring.
“I’m so proud of you. My fire starter…my nephew…my son.”
Walk toward the sun. See through the rain. Learn, live and love. I’ll be here no matter what.
“I love you my son.”
The rain fell harder outside the hospital window. Quietly, the power slipped away leaving only the shadows. In the dark a peacefulness settled in. Hope was born. A proud man’s journey was ending.
A single breath was drawn…
…and Frank faded away.
“Thank you for continuing the trials of Max and his friends. More secrets have been revealed. More hearts have been broken. The 3rd act in his story is filled with more twists and surprises. Look for book 3 in the series…‘Aftershock.’ Remember, music is life and love never dies.” - Madison Daniel
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Madison Daniel is “slightly” new to the literary world. He hopes to exist in that world by bringing something exciting to it. A literary soundtrack is woven into everything he writes. Combining the love of music and the passion of the written word with the latest technology is his calling.
We live in an “instant culture,” don’t waste time fighting it.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU:
Doubt can be a wrecking ball that knows no mercy. It is constant and always in the shadows. When I find myself in trouble of being overcome with it, I turn to the amazing and protective powers of a laugh. Thank you Sierra.
ALSO AVAILABLE:
“Ember” - Book 1 in the ‘Ember Series.’
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DFNJHI
COMING SOON:
“Aftershock” - Book 3 in the ‘Ember Series.’
All music is used in complete respect and admiration.
“Lightning Crashes” written by Edward Kowalczyk, Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey. Copyright 1994 Radioactive Records J.V. manufactured by MCA Records, Inc.
“Safe and Sound” written by Sheryl Crow. Copyright 2002 A&M Records.
“Climbing Up the Walls” written by Chris Cornell & Tedder Washington. Copyright 2009 Interscope Records.
“Little Toy Gun” written by Ben Jaffe, Suzanne Santosuosso. Copyright 2008 Ironworks Music.
“Confide In Me” written by Steve Anderson, Dave Seaman & Owain Barton. Copyright 1994.
“Undisclosed Desires” written by Matthew Bellamy. Copyright 2009 Warner Music UK Limited.
“The Wind Blows” written by Nick Wheeler & Tyson Ritter. Copyright 2008 DGC/Interscope Records.
“Give In To Me” written by Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell. Copyright 1991 MJJ Productions Inc.
“Erase/Rewind” written by Peter Svensson & Nina Persson. Copyright 1998 Universal Music AB.
“Interface” written by Nuno Bettencourt. Copyright 2008 Open E Records.
“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” written by John Mayer. Copyright 2006 Aware Records LLC.
“Landslide” written by Stevie Nicks. Copyright 1975 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
“Bare Hands” written by Delta Goodrem, Stephen Kipner, Wayne Wilkins & Andrew Frampton. Copyright 2008 Mercury Records/Decca Label Group.
“The Reason” written by Douglas Robb and Dan Estrin. Copyright 2003 The Island Def Jam Music Group.
“You Cant Always Get What You Want” written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards. Copyright 1969 Decca Records/ABKCO.
“Santeria” written by Bradley Nowell. Copyright 1996 Gasoline Alley Records Inc.
“Believe” written by Sam Endicott. Copyright 2007 The Island Def Jam Music Group.
“All Fall Down” written by Brent Michael Kutzle, Andrew John Brown, Eddie Ray Fisher, Ryan Tedder, Zachary Filkins. Copyright 2007 Mosley Music/Interscope Records.
“Panic Switch” written by Brian Aubert, Christopher Guanlao, Joe Lester, Nikki Monninger. Copyright 2009 Dangerbird Records.
“Sweet Emotion” written by Steven Tyler & Tom Hamilton. Copyright 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
“Crash Into Me” written by Dave Matthews. Copyright 1996 BMG Music.
“Building A Mystery” written by Sarah McLachlan & Pierre Marchand. Copyright 1997 Arista Records, Inc.
“A Beautiful Mess” written by Jason Mraz. Copyright 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
“Sleepwalk” written by Santo Farina & Johnny Farina. Copyright 1959.
“Why Can’t We Be Friends” written by Papa Dee Allen, Harold Ray Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar & Howard E. Scott. Copyright 1975 Far Out Productions.
“Stand By Me” written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller. Copyright 1960.
“The Little Things” written by Colbie Marie Caillat & Jason Reeves. Copyright 2007 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
“Under Pressure” written by Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Brian May & David Bowie. Copyright 1981 EMI/Elektra.
“You Could Be Mine” written by Axel Rose & Izzy Stradlin. Copyright 1991 Geffen Records Inc.
“Wish You Were Here” written by Brandon Boyd, Mike Einzinger, Chris Kilmore, Ben Kenney & Jose Paillas. Copyright 2001 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
“Love Song” written by Robert Smith & Simon Gallup. Copyright 2004 Volcano Entertainment III, L.L.C.
“To Be With You” written by Eric Martin & David Grahame. Copyright 1991 Atlantic Recording Corporation.
“Fearless” written by Bryan Adams & Eliot John Kennedy. Copyright 1998 A&M Records.
“Hysteria” written by Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage & Robert Lange. Copyright 1987 Mercury Records.
“What Do I Have To Do” written by Andrew Kubiszewski, James Sellers, Christopher Hall & Walter Frank Flakus. Copyright 1995 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
“When It Rains” written by Joshua Neil Farro, Hayley Nichole Williams & Zac Farro. Copyright 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
“Innocent” written by Carl Bell. Copyright 2000, 2001 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
“Sing For Absolution” written by Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard & Christopher Wolstenholme. Copyright 2003 A&E Records Limited.
“Letting the Cables Sleep” written by Gavin Rossdale. Copyright 1999 Kirtland Records.
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” written by Mike Reid & Allen Shamblin. Copyright 1991 Capitol Records, Inc.
“Bulletproof” written by Tommy Who & Kerli Koiv. Copyright 2008 The Island Def Jam Music Group.
“Hey Man Nice Shot” written by Richard Patrick. Copyright 1995 Reprise Records, a label of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
“Heron Blue” written by Mark Kozelek Copyright 2008 Caldo Verde.
“Bittersweet Symphony” written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Richard Ashcroft. Copyright 1997 Virgin Records Ltd.
“Fragile” written by Gorden Summer. Copyright 1987 A&M Records Inc.
“LIVE. LOVE. RAIN.” - M.D.
Table of Contents
~LITERARY SOUNDTRACK~
~Chapters and Playlist~
Prologue: Angels
No More Tears - 01
Hush - 02
Ghosts - 03
Eden - 04
Dark Romance - 05
Masquerade - 06
Warning Signs - 07
Breaking - 08
Homecoming - 09
Thorns - 10
Poison Apples - 11
Skeletons - 12
Heavy Crown - 13
Escape - 14
Brothers - 15
Blackout - 16
Uninvited - 17
Castaway - 18
Sleepwalking - 19
Peacemaker - 20
Hide and Seek - 21
Phantoms - 22
Jump - 23
White Flag - 24
Fearless - 25
Sinner - 26
Undertow - 27
Innocent - 28
Absolution - 29
Scars - 30
Rest In Pieces - 31
Awakening - 32
Reckoning - 33
Sacrifice - 34
Shadows - 35
Downpour - 00
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A SPECIAL THANK YOU:
ALSO AVAILABLE:
COMING SOON:
Madison Daniel, Downpour
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