(Ryan Mobley^^^)

Paul's POV

I stare at my type writer.

Why can't I think of anything to write?

Sighing, I push back from my chair and step in the pile of crumbled up papers as my feet.

One sticks to my foot.

Since the beginning of time people have asked, who are we, what is our purpose?

I cringe and stop reading.

I walk out to the kitchen, Ryan is sitting at the island counter eating the leftover pizza. He looks up from his pepperoni and says, "Dude, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You. Need. A. Life."

"I have a life, I have two books on the New York Times Bestsellers List. I'm living my fantasy life." I point out, grabbing some water.

He combs his fingers through his shoulder length blond hair. "You were living your dream life, until that one chick came along. You've been out of it ever since."

"Lady." I correct and plop in the stool next to him and lay my face on the cold black and white marble. "What do you suppose I do?"

"Go out. Find a girl and have some fun." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"I can't just walk out the front door and ask someone out. I am more likely to be pepper sprayed than accepted."

"Go to the bar down the street."

"It's 2:00 PM on a Wednesday." I say flabbergasted.

"There will be girls there, don't you worry."

"If I say I'll go will you drop the subject?"

"If you go and promise to socialize."

"Fine." I agree and walk back to my room.

~

An hour later I can't think of any more possible ways to procrastinate.

I've cleaned my room, because goodness knows I wouldn't have survived another day with those papers on the ground.

I take one last look in the mirror, adjusting my button up dress shirt.

You are going to a bar, I scold myself, what kind of human dresses like this when going to a bar?

I unbutton the top button. Much better.

~

I climb out of the uber and walk into Zeekes Pizza. Not exactly a bar but what can I do?

I walk up to the bar and sit down.

"What can I get for you?" A bored looking barista asks me.

Her appearance leaves me speakless for a moment. Hip length copper dreadlocks, tattoos all the way up her arms and her face is covered in piercings.

I recover, I am not sure why it shocked me, I live in Seattle, I see crazy things than nose piercings every day. I guess it's the fact that I think she looks so beautiful when I don't usually look twice at women with this kind of vibe.

"...Uh water?"

"You came to a bar for water?"

"I guess."

My eyes wander around the room whuke she pours me a glass.

I am trying to follow Ryan's advice and find a girl.

The barista slids the drink in front of me and I turn back. "Thanks..."

"Vicki."

"Thank you, Vicki."

She leans on the counter, her chin in her palms.

I take a sip of my water. A burning sensation ignites the back of my throat and I choke.

She smiles slightly.

"That's not water!" I state.

"It's called vodka. You look like you need it." She shrugs and wipes some peanut shells from the bar with a rag. "Do I get to know your name?"

"If you wish to. My names Paul."

"Hmm that's kind of..." She trails off.

I am about to ask what she was going to say when my phone rings.

Unknown number. I let it go to voicemail.

A minute later the number calls again. I ignore it again.

A third time. I answer.

"Hello?"

~

One hour eariler...

Embers POV

I feel every flame as it burns my skin. I see every flash of orange and yellow. I hear my own screams but somehow they sound distant.

Then it all stops.

The world goes silent and black.

I take a shaky breath. These are my last moments before I get to experience my own personal hell.

Water. It surrounds me.

I get to drown for an eternity without dying.

That sucks.

I see a light and try to swim towards it, but my pants get caught on a rock. I struggle to get my leg free, but to no avail.

My lungs start to burn from a lack of air. My hands shake and my vision starts to go blurry.

I release my leg but it is too late, I float up and away in unconsciousness.

~

When I come to, I am face first in a pile of sand and pebbles. Groaning I get up. There is a very pregnant lady leaning over me.

"Are you alright?" She asks after taking a picture of me.

Rude.

"I think so." I push myself up onto my knees.

I look around. Trees tower above me. Water splashes behind me.

Seriously, again?

Deception Pass.

The lady continues to stare at me. "Girl do you need me to call someone?"

"Uh yeah..." I say blanking at the names of everyone I have ever known. "Do you have the Yellow Pages?"

"I can look up the White Pages." She offers.

"Does that show you peoples phone numbers?"

She looks a little confused, "...Yes."

"Okay could you look up..."

Blank mind.

Emptiness.

"Uh Paul. Paul Harte?"

A couple minutes later the phone is ringing in her hand. She didn't trust me enough to hold her phone.

The first couple times he didn't answer but I convinced her to call a third.

"Hello?" It's Paul.

"Hey Paul? It's Ember."

Silence.

"Look I know this is kind of weird and probably makes no sense, but can you come pick me up?"

"...Where are you?"

"Deception Pass."

"On my way."

I hand up and thank the girl. She shrugs and tells me, "Good luck."

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Yay, one chapter down! Hope you liked it!