The One Who Came Walking Through Fire
"You... who are you? How do you know me?"
Ryan took a step back. The black flames in his hand were still burning. The entire city had turned to ashes, and the man standing in front of him... was smiling.
Kai took the cigarette out of his mouth and threw it on the ground.
"Maybe you could ask something more important, like what's happening here. It pains me to say this, but you're only a guest for a few days... the reason..." He pointed toward Ryan's palm. "...this mark."
Ryan tried to hide his hand. But the mark... was shining brighter than before. The pain was increasing too. As if someone was pouring fire into his veins.
"This... what is this?" Ryan's voice trembled. "Ara had the same mark... and she... she..."
His voice broke.
Kai's smile vanished.
"Ashen Mark." He said in a calm voice. "A curse... that gives power... but takes life in return."
Ryan looked at him. "So... I'll die too? Like Ara?"
"Yes."
Kai's answer was straightforward. No false consolation. No soft words.
Ryan stood silent.
He should have felt anger. He should have cried. But... there was nothing. Just an emptiness. As if everything inside him had been drained.
"How many days?" Ryan asked.
"You have?" Kai looked at the sky. "If you don't use the mark... six months. If you do... your life will shorten each time."
"Who's afraid of dying?" Ryan said. "My only reason to live was my sister. I've lost her... so what difference does it make?"
Then—
Kai grabbed his collar.
Quickly. Without warning.
And slammed him against the wall.
THUD!
Ryan struggled to breathe. Kai's grip... was so strong that his bones were being crushed.
"Difference?" For the first time, anger was in Kai's voice. "Your sister was burned alive, and you say what difference does it make?"
"She died!" Ryan screamed. "I couldn't do anything! I... I'm useless!"
"Yes. You're useless."
Kai's answer was so direct that Ryan stopped.
Kai released him. Ryan fell to the ground.
"But..." Kai looked back. "Now you have to decide. Whether to die uselessly or find out how your sister and the people of this city died."
And after a few minutes, he added, "Or find out why your dad burned your mom alive?"
Flashback memories: His dad standing in the hall. Lighter in one hand and petrol in the other. And Ryan, holding his sister's mouth tightly, watching silently from the other room.
Ryan slowly lifted his head.
Kai was now standing far away. His back toward Ryan.
"Ashen Mark... it's not just a curse, Ryan. It's a power system. If understood... controlled... then you won't die."
Ryan spoke. "How do you know all this? Who are you?"
Kai remained silent.
Then he said—hiding some things.
"I read it in the newspaper. I don't have much time. If your life really matters to you."
He turned toward Ryan.
There was a strange gleam in his eyes. Like a dangerous promise.
"But... I'll teach you."
Ryan's heart started beating fast.
"Why? What difference does it make to you?"
Kai smiled. But this time... there was pain in his smile.
"Because I don't want... anyone else to lose their loved ones because of this mark."
He extended his hand.
"Come, Ryan. I'll show you... what the Ashen Mark is. And... how you can fight it."
Ryan looked at his hand.
Then... at his own hand. Where the black mark was still burning.
Ara's voice echoed in his ears.
"Brother... forgive me..."
Ryan closed his eyes.
Then... slowly grabbed Kai's hand.
Three days later
Ryan was standing in a strange place.
Outside the city. In the middle of the jungle. Where there were ash trees everywhere. Burned ground. And in the air... that same black stench.
"What is this place?" Ryan asked.
"Ashen Zone." Kai said. "Where Curses are born."
Ryan looked around. There were black marks on the ground... as if someone had poured acid.
Kai went near a tree.
"Ashen Mark is no accident, Ryan. It's... a connection. Between Curse and human."
"Meaning?"
Kai placed his hand on the tree's bark.
And then—
A black shadow emerged from the tree.
Slowly... it took shape.
Human-like... but broken. It had no face. Just an empty skull.
"Curse." Kai said in a calm voice.
Ryan took a step back. The mark in his hand started shining.
But Kai stopped him.
"Wait. Don't use it yet."
"Why?!"
"Because... if you use the power without thinking... you'll lose control. And when control is lost..."
His left eye... was completely black. As if there was no eye there. Just a deep darkness.
"...then you become a Curse yourself."
Ryan's blood froze.
Kai adjusted the bandage again.
"That's why I'll teach you. How to use the power... without losing control."
The Curse was now advancing toward Ryan.
Slowly... but deadly.
"So what do I do now?!" Ryan shouted.
Kai smiled.
"Run."
"What?!"
"I said... run."
And then—
The Curse roared.
Black flames came out of its mouth.
Ryan turned back and started running.
But the Curse was fast. Very fast.
It was getting closer to Ryan. Its hand... near Ryan's neck...
"Kai! Help!"
But Kai... was sitting under a tree. Relaxed.
"No." He said. "This is your fight."
Ryan's heart pounded.
The Curse's hand touched his shoulder.
Cold... like ice.
Ryan screamed.
And in that moment—
The mark on his hand burst.
Black and red flames... came out together.
Pushed the Curse back.
Ryan fell to the ground. His breaths were rapid. His whole body was shaking.
But the Curse... wasn't finished.
It stood up again.
And this time... it was even faster.
Ryan looked at his hand.
The mark... had spread more. Now it had reached his wrist.
"This... what's happening?!"
Kai took a deep breath.
"The price of power. Every time you use the mark... it consumes you."
The Curse was now in front of Ryan.
Its hand... extending toward Ryan's face.
"But if you learn control..." Kai's voice echoed.
Ryan closed his eyes.
Ara's smile came to mind.
Her last words.
"Brother... forgive me..."
Ryan opened his eyes.
This time... there was no fear.
"No." He said slowly. "I'm the one who should apologize, Ara."
He extended his hand.
Directly toward the Curse.
Black flames emerged from the mark... but this time... controlled.
Slowly. Like a snake.
The Curse screamed.
But the flames... wrapped around it. Enveloped it.
And then—
The Curse... turned to ashes.
Ryan exhaled.
He fell to the ground.
Kai came to him.
"Not bad. For the first try."
Ryan looked up. "You... you would have let me die."
Kai shrugged.
"If you died... there would be no point in training you."
Ryan laughed. A tired laugh.
"You're... very strange."
"I know."
Kai helped him stand.
"Come on. Now the real part of your training begins."
Ryan looked at his hand.
The mark was a bit calmer now. But... bigger than before.
"Kai... one question."
"Yes?"
"Your eye... that black eye... do you also...?"
Kai stopped.
Then... he looked ahead.
"Yes. I had the Ashen Mark too."
"Had?"
Kai gave a smile. But this time... there was deep pain in it.
"To save someone... I gave everything. My power. My life. Everything."
Ryan remained silent.
"But..." Kai looked back. "I couldn't save them."
Silence filled the air.
Then Kai moved forward.
"Come on. We have less time."
Ryan started following him.
But one question was in his mind.
"Kai... who were you trying to save?"
Kai didn't stop.
But his voice... came from afar.
"Someone... who deserved it more than me."
And then... he disappeared into the darkness.
Ryan stood there.
There was a strange feeling in the air.
As if... Kai's story... was even more painful.
That same night — on the other side of the city
In a dark room.
A man was standing. His back toward the wall.
On the wall... there were thousands of marks. All Ashen Marks.
"So... he's finally found."
The man's voice was cold. Dangerous.
He turned back.
His eyes... were completely red.
On his face... there was an Ashen Mark. But this... was different.
Spread across the entire face. Like a tattoo.
"Kai... you thought you could save him?"
He smiled.
"But he's mine. Always has been."
He raised his hand.
And wrote a name on the wall—
RYAN
"Let him come... let him get a bit stronger."
"Then... I'll take from him... what's mine."
The room plunged into darkness.
But his red eyes... kept shining.
Chapter 2 - END
Next Chapter 3: "The Truth of the Mark"