Ignite: The Awakening Read online

  Ignite

  The Awakening

  Teri Taylor-Rose

  Copyright © 2021 Teresa Rose

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Second Edition

  Cover design by: Teresa Rose

  I dedicate this book to all those who dare to dream.

  It has taken me nearly thirty years to finally write a book that I've dreamt of writing since I was a small child. Always dare to dream.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  First day of Summer

  Nightfall

  Mourning

  Into the Woods

  Beneath the Stars

  Rising Light

  Illumination

  Into the Shadows

  Sanctuary

  Cloaked Passage

  Ascension

  Uprising

  Underground

  Captivating Fire

  The Offering

  Escalating Chaos

  Awakening

  Training Day

  Eve of Battle

  The Gilded Fields

  Last Day of Summer

  To be continued

  About The Author

  Acknowledgement

  First day of Summer

  Have you ever felt like you don’t quite fit into the life you’re living, as if you were meant for something different, something more? Lexi felt very much that way every day of her life. At sixteen, she was living a somewhat typical, ordinary teenage life. Her Mum and Dad had separated when she was only three years old, so she didn’t remember a time when they were together. Her Dad had moved away and lived somewhat of a nomadic life. She only got to see him, or even speak to him, during summer break, when she spent the whole holiday with him. The places they lived were always somewhere different, never anywhere nice, and often isolated from any largely populated areas. She therefore never had a room she could call her own, nowhere she could leave her mark and make it feel more like home. Summers with Dad always involved getting used to a new house, a new town, and little to no friends. Dad would always be out to work, even at weekends, but she had no idea what he did. Whenever she asked, he’d just say environmental work, which didn’t really help her understand his actual job, or who he worked for. Summer became something she dreaded. As she grew older, Lexi became somewhat of a loner. The uneasiness of summers with Dad, coupled with the largest portion of her life living with Mum and her boyfriend Marcus, took its toll. Marcus had moved in when Lexi was twelve, and it had taken some getting used to. They didn’t really get along all that well, butting heads on a regular basis. He was a nice guy, but often tried too hard, it was very annoying. Summer however was always the worst, feeling awkward and painfully lonely with a Father she felt she barely knew, mainly because he never opened up and talked to her about anything.

  The first day of summer break, Lexi set off for what she guessed was going to be yet another new home. The airport was extremely busy when Mum and Marcus dropped her off, Mum making the usual, overly exaggerated display of affection as they said their goodbyes. Lexi boarded the plane and settled into her window seat. As departure loomed the two seats beside her remained empty. Please, please, please, she thought, hoping she would get a bit of space on the plane for once. No such luck. With only minutes to spare, a man and women hurriedly made their way to the seats beside her, their screaming baby in tow. Lexi gave the woman as polite a smile as she could manage, pulled on her headphones, turned up the volume, Limp Bizkit drowning out the wailing of the small child, buried herself under her hood and watched as the world passed by her small window.

  Dad picked her up at the airport a few hours later in a rusty old truck and they’d driven for what felt like forever. There were very few neighbours in sight as they drove through miles of countryside, and even fewer words spoken, just long awkward silences. As they’d pulled up into what looked like a rest area off the road, she realised it must be their new place for the summer. Just off the rough driveway was a peculiar little house set amongst the trees. She could see it was a single storey wooden building, with a little porch out front. It looked like it had once been painted in a pretty sky blue, but time had ravaged it to a dull, sad colour, the paint peeling from the wood everywhere you looked. It made the building feel like something out of a spooky story book, the dark looming forest in every direction, not helping the atmosphere. Lexi hauled her oversized suitcase from the back of Dads truck and sighed, as she dragged it across the long grass to the front porch. Dad hadn’t even offered to help with the case, he'd just ran inside, seemingly excited about something. Odd she thought, that’s not like him to get excited! Soon enough he emerged through the front door with a woman and a young girl who looked around Lexi’s age.

  ‘Lexi, I’d like you to meet Celeste and her daughter Amber!’, his arms opened wide towards them with a big smile. He looked like a crazy magician, all he needed to say was ta-da! ‘They’re going to be staying with us this summer’ he said excitedly, ‘Celeste and I have been together for a while now, we thought it would be great for us to all get to know each other.’ He reached over and took Celeste’s hand. ‘You and Amber will be sharing a room if that’s okay?’ Lexi looked at the three of them stood together, looking so happy and she suddenly couldn’t help but think, this girl probably knows my Dad better than I do! She took a deep sigh, shrugged and mumbled ‘Sure’, taking her case by the handle and rumbling it across the porch to the front door. Great! she thought, I don’t even get a room to myself anymore.

  ***

  Lexi stood in what appeared to be the living room. It was a small room with a relatively small, tatty aubergine sofa angled towards an old-fashioned television with built in VHS player. There was a rusty metal dining table and chairs sat in the closest corner, and a door over at the far side, which she assumed must lead to the kitchen and bedrooms. This is by far the worst yet, she thought as she made her way over towards the far side of the room. Amber came bounding past, bursting with excitement, blocking her path to the door.

  ‘Lexi! I’m so excited to finally meet you, Bastian has told me so much about you! I can’t wait for us to be roommates over the summer!’ She declared, grabbing hold of Lexi and embracing her in a very overly enthusiastic hug. This completely took Lexi by surprise, as she stood there stiff as a board, one arm at her side, the other resting on the case handle, completely at the mercy of Amber’s embrace. After what seemed like an eternity, Amber released her grip and ran over to the door, swinging it wide open.

  ‘C’mon I’ll show you our room! It’s small, nothing special, but I’m sure between us we can make it awesome!’ She bounced through the door, her curly auburn hair bouncing after her. Lexi reluctantly followed, thinking, Oh my god, do I seriously have to deal with this ALL summer!

  An hour later, Lexi finally managed to make an escape into the bathroom across the hall. Bolting the door behind her and leaning firmly against it, as if in a bid to ensure no one would enter, she took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Today had been a very exhausting day. Catching sight of her reflection in the mirror on the wall opposite, she noted the fact that she looked like it had been an extremely hard day. Her complexion was paler than usual, dark rings encircled her pale blue eyes, and her short black hair, which usually peaked in a modest mohawk, looked
limp and tired. She approached the mirror and started to half-heartedly try to fix her hair, pulling it to a peak again, with her distinctive silver streak making a more prominent appearance. She’d grown to eventually adore the silver streak. Her Mum always loved to tell her how much she’d freaked out the staff at the hospital the day she was born. She’d had a full head of black hair, except for a silvery patch at the front of her hairline. It was something they’d never seen before and they’d made quite the fuss. For years she’d tried hiding it, combing it under the rest of her hair the best she could, but now she loved the fact it made her feel a little different, unique.

  Turning on the tap in front of her, waiting for it to run icy cold, she cupped her hands, collected some water and splashed it over her face. It felt so good. She repeated the action a few times, each time feeling more refreshed. Eventually she reached for a towel close by, and gently patted her skin dry. Taking another glance into the mirror, A little better she thought, less pale. Taking another deep breath, she collected herself and decided she’d better get back to unpacking, which also meant getting back to Amber, who it seemed never drew breath with her incessant talking.

  The room she now shared with Amber was a good enough size for one person, two however, already felt a little overcrowded. Lexi stood at the doorway and realised that for now, Amber had decided to leave her alone. She took a moment to take in her new surroundings properly. Either side of the door was a single, metal framed bed and side table, decorated with fairy lights around the bedhead. At the base of each bed was a tall, wooden chest of drawers, a small desk and chair, and in the far corner on each side, a large beanbag, one black and one orange. Lexi raised her eyes at the thought that Dad had obviously thought it a nice touch, to match their hair colour. At the centre of the far side wall, were a set of french doors that opened out onto the back yard of the house. Lexi went to her case, which already lay open on the bed to the left, and started unpacking her belongings into the drawers on her side of the room. After about half hour of trying to find the right place for everything, she suddenly had a curious urge to check out Amber’s belongings. She still hadn’t returned, but she could faintly hear her voice in the distance, most probably out on the front porch. Lexi cautiously crossed to the other side of the room, and opened the top drawer, but it was completely empty. Puzzled, and now even more curious, she opened the next down, also nothing there. She checked all the drawers, but they were all empty. There was no luggage to be seen in the room, and apparently no belongings either. Surely, they must have moved their stuff in already? She thought to herself, confused but too tired to really think too much on the curiosity. Lexi crossed back to her side of the room, slid her empty case under the bed, and laid down on the crisp lime green sheets. The linen smelt of fresh lavender with a hint of lemon, she inhaled deeply and in no time at all, she was fast asleep.

  Nightfall

  When Lexi woke, the room was dark, dimly lit by a beam of moonlight, cast by the rising moon shining in through the doors at the far side of the room. She shuddered at the touch of the cool night air, noticing that the french doors had been unlocked and left wide open. Glancing over to where she assumed Amber would be sleeping, Lexi realised the bed was empty and still perfectly made. Tiredly, she rubbed her eyes and stretched out her weary arms. It must not be that late she thought, looking at the glowing face of the watch on her wrist, squinting to bring it into focus. Five past one in the morning, wow, it’s really late! She swung her legs off the side of the bed and sat herself up. Maybe they decided to stay up late watching a movie? Sitting for a moment, she sleepily gazed around the room and out onto the back yard. From what she could see, the yard was very overgrown and looked more like a meadow, especially in the dim moonlight. As her eyes focused, she noticed small glowing lights flitting around the open space. fireflies! she thought, excited at the fact she’d never actually seen any in real life, they were fascinating. Enchanted by the little bugs, she zoned out for a moment, loving how they seemed to dance around like little fairies. Finally pulling herself away, Lexi made a mental note that she’d have to check them out more closely later. First, she needed to find out where Dad, Celeste and Amber were, and why they hadn’t woken her for Dinner. She rubbed her tummy as it rumbled at the prospect of food.

  Out in the hall it was much darker. There were no windows to light the long corridor with the night’s faint glow. Lexi fumbled for a light switch, eventually finding one. Flicking the switch, nothing happened. How old is this dump! she thought, a little frustrated as she used the wall to guide herself, in what she hoped was the right direction for the living room, it was difficult to remember in the dark. After some time searching around, she managed to find a door frame, and then a door handle. As the door swung open into the living room, she couldn’t help but feel a little on edge, that strange sensation that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The room, dappled with moonlight, gently shifting with the motion of the trees outside, was completely empty. Lexi quickly came to the more worrying realisation that the whole house was completely silent. There was not a single sound, no distant talking, no drone of a TV in another room, no creaks or groans that an old house should make, not even the hum that you become accustomed to from electrical appliances.

  ‘Dad?’ she whispered out into the silence, ‘Celeste, Amber? Is anyone here?’ A floorboard suddenly creaked somewhere in the corridor behind her. Lexi spun around, but she couldn’t see anyone in the darkness. She could, however, see that her door was not the only one open. There was another door, a little further down the hall, that sat partially open. It certainly hadn’t been open moments earlier, when she’d made her way towards the living room. The dim light of the moon shone through from within. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dark a little, she could just about make out the faint outlines of the walls. Slowly, and as quietly as possible, she started to make her way towards the doorway at the far end, feeling her way along the wall carefully. As she passed by her own room, she could see the glow of the fireflies she’d spotted earlier, however, they now seemed to be very still and clustered together a lot closer to the open doors, almost as if they’d stopped to watch her. Stop letting your imagination run away with you she told herself, why would fireflies be watching you?! Trying to ignore the creatures that were now creeping her out a little, she shuddered and resumed making her way down the hall. Reaching the door, she extended her arm to push it open, there was a sudden flash of blinding white light from within. Lexi instinctively closed her eyes, shielding them with her arms. She froze, too scared to move. what the hell was that?!

  ‘Lexi?’ her Dad called out from within the room. His tone sounding strained, and out of breath. Lexi cautiously pushed open the door, scanning the room for the source of her Father’s voice. Lit by the moonlight, curled up on the floor at the base of the bed, she could just make out a figure.

  ‘Dad? Is that you?’ she questioned, warily approaching. A hand reached up, glinting in the moonlight, covered in something that looked dark and shiny. He murmured her name, and she ran to his side, collapsing to her knees beside him. ‘What Happened?’ she questioned, panic setting in. He rolled to face her, a large pool of dark shimmering liquid visible on the floor where he’d been laid. He tried to sit, slumping back down with a muffled groan of pain. He took her hand, and she began to sob, tears rolling uncontrollably down her face.

  ‘Lexi, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry …’ he tensed, the pain catching his breath ‘I was only trying to keep you safe, I thought we had more time’. He began to draw more ragged breaths, his grip slowly beginning to release her hand. ‘I’m so sorry…’ he murmured, the realisation setting in for Lexi, he was dying.

  ‘Dad, please, please don’t die on me!’ She wept. Keeping a grip on his hand, she fumbled for the phone in her pocket. Pulling it out, she tried to dial for an ambulance, but there was no signal. She threw the phone against the wall out of frustration, and cried out for help. She called for Celeste and Amber
till her throat was raw, but nobody came. She bowed her head and wept.

  Lexi, filled with grief as she felt her Father’s life fading away, wasn’t aware at first of the light that began to fill the room. It grew slowly, very dim at first, and brightened to a point it was as if the sun were rising. She wiped her eyes, and through blurred vision, realised her Father’s body was the source of the light. She watched in disbelief as his body gently rose from the ground, pulling his hand from her grasp, the light growing brighter and brighter within him. Suddenly there was a burst of brilliant light, followed by a mass of tiny glowing embers that seemed to drift, not downwards, but towards the corner of the room, floating slowly out through an open window. He was gone, the room went dark, nothing remained. She crumpled into a heap on the floor and wept, distraught, confused and in shock. She cried herself to sleep on the floor, where her Father had laid only moments before.

  Mourning

  Lexi woke to someone gently shaking her. At first, she thought she’d had a bad dream, slowly it all started coming back to her. She opened her eyes, recoiling at the bright light of the sun, blazing in through the glass doors. On the floor in front of her sat Celeste, her face filled with concern and sadness as she reached out, resting her hand on Lexi’s shoulder. Lexi pushed herself up into a sitting position and rubbed her sore, swollen eyes.

  ‘What happened?’ she strained, her throat dry and painful, ‘he was here and then he…’ she paused trying to hold back the tears, unable to get her head around how to explain, without sounding completely crazy.

  ‘Gone’ Amber finished for her. Lexi hadn’t even realised she was perched on the edge of the bed behind her. She looked how Lexi felt, like she’d been crying for what felt like forever, and the raw pain was unbearable. She dropped from the bed to the floor and embraced Lexi. Unlike the night before, the hug was very much welcomed, and they both began to cry.