From the Flames

From the Flames LYNN RHYS EDITED BY ASHLEY OLIVIER Blurb Dear Kings, All three of you have a hold on my heart. I imagined our future, years from now, and the four of us living our best lives. It would be filled with nothing but love and happiness. Maybe we would marry, have kids, or even travel the world. Whatever it was, we would be doing it together. But that can never happen. My life is spiraling out of control. My sleep is haunted by nightmares, and any thoughts I had of the future are merely wishes that won’t come true. My life has an expiration date. The only thing I can do now is try to survive tomorrow. Daxon, Mason, and Colton, you all are my heart pieces. I’m just sorry I will never get a chance to live out my dreams with you. Love, Phoenix Copyright © 2023 by Lynn Rhys All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. From the Flames is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author. Edited by Ashely Olivier Cover design by KB Barrett Designs Created with Vellum Everything you’ve survived thus far has made you stronger. So be the spark that ignites a fire—within you, within others. This isn’t the end, but the beginning. And just as the Phoenix rose from the ashes, she too will rise. Returning from the flames, clothed in nothing but her strength, more beautiful than ever before. SHANNEN HEARTZ Contents Author’s Note Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Epilogue A Note from Lynn Time to Review Acknowledgments About the Author Also by Lynn Rhys Author’s Note This book contains scenes that may depict, mention, or discuss: abduction, anxiety, assault, attempted murder, attempted rape, blood, bullying, car accident, death, depression, emotional abuse, fire, gun violence, hallucinations, hospitalization, hostages, kidnapping, murder, physical abuse, rape, self-harm, sexual assault, slut shaming, stalking, suicide, violence. Chapter One MASON “Are they on their way?” My heart is racing as time ticks by and there’s still no sign of Dax or Phoenix. I turn to Colton, who is still yelling into the phone. I look back at the house that has flames shooting out the top of it, my phone in my hand, waiting for any sign from Daxon that he has her and they are on their way out. But it sits silent. Deathly silent. “We are off that side road. Yes. Please hurry. There may be two people inside. We know of at least one.” Colt stands there, extremely quiet. “Because he went in to see if there was anyone inside.” Colton looks back at me, and his face is red with anger. “Yes, I’m aware of how dangerous that is, but instead of lecturing me, just get help here. Now!” He hangs up the phone and lets out a roar. “Mother fucks!” “Colt, man. It’s been too long.” I run my hand through my hair, feeling a sharp pain in my chest. This is too much. “We need to do something. I just can’t sit here.” The sounds of crackling and popping come from the house as it burns. I have to hold back a gag from the smell of smoke. Where the fuck are they? I just got her back. And now she could be gone. Again. Just as my panic starts to pick back up, my phone buzzes in my hand. I look down to see that it’s Daxon and immediately answer. “Dude, where the fuck are you?” I holler into the phone. My entire body is shaking with a fear I have never experienced before. “Tell me she’s not in that!” “Good news and bad news, brother.” He sounds out of breath. “Now’s not the time for games, Dax. What the fuck?” “I have her. She’s in a room on the first floor towards the back. But I’m also here. And our way out is completely blocked. We’re trapped, man. And I don’t think I can get her out of here.” His voice trails off at the end. I can tell he is trying to keep it together for my sake. He starts to cough, and anxiety is now coursing through me. God only knows where he is in there. “Figure out a way to get out, Dax!” I scream into the phone. He’s quiet for a moment. I can almost see him shaking his head. “Mase, we’re trapped. I tried. We are literally backed into a corner. We can’t get out. The deck collapsed.” Dax wheezes a bit, continuing to cough. My heart stops. The deck collapsed. I look out at the house and see that the deck from the front looks intact. He must be towards the back of the house. Flames shoot out of the windows, and my heart is pounding out of my chest. “Dax! Dax! Fuck! Daxon!” I scream through the phone trying to get him to respond. “Mase,” is all he says before he starts coughing again. “Just hang on. You need to hang on!” “I don’t know how to get out. They won’t get here in time. I failed her again.” “No! No! Just hang on. We are