Chapter 1: Silver in the Storm

Silver rain roared against the minivan, turning the dark road into a gray blur. Jasper Cole clutched the steering wheel, nerves frayed. Ellen, his wife, sung a campfire song. Her hand rested in the middle console and he forced himself to grab it, relishing in the temporary peace her presence offered. A scoff from the back seats drew his attention to the rearview mirror. Maisie, their thirteen year old daughter pulled at her ninja mask and grumbled. Her eyes became illuminated by her phone while a new anime played. He looked to the opposite side. Zeke, their fifteen year old son was flipping through his sketchbook. He then brought a blue pencil to page, likely drawing a fiery spell.

Ellen’s hand clenched his own and he hummed to her tune. He understood her heart. She missed the days when their children’s innocence allowed them to join in her songs. He looked once more in the back before jerking at the sounds of a horn. Lights flashed ahead and he swerved. His relief soared at avoiding the head on collision. But it was short lived. A crunch resounded as he ran into another car in the other lane. Glass shattered, shrieks from the back seat echoed and sparks flew in the crumpled hood. Jasper groaned, the airbags failing to deploy.

He shook his head, looking to Ellen. The dash had collapsed, pinning her legs. Her moans promised life. “Kids!” she cried, quickly shifting to look back.

His eyes flew back. Zeke was covering his face with his hands, his sketchbook discarded in the chaos.

“Ow, ow,” Maisie muttered. She pushed her mask back in place as her eyes grew wide, realization hitting.

“Jasper!” Ellen cried as the car hood ignited. Seconds. That’s what he had. He moved to shield his family as the flames soared at them, engulfing. He grunted as it seared his right side—arm, shoulder, ear.

‘This is how I die?’

The pain vanished and the flames turned silver, washing away the wreck. His mouth gaped at the starlight above. He looked around, alone in a cosmic haze. The flames gathered and then turned into a fiery feminine figure. Her smile was gentle, kind, and eyes deep. He clutched at his right ear as her voice echoed in it.

Fires lit around them, showing his family and then a world he didn’t recognize.

A cathedral of silver spires, and countries that echoed the past, but different. That’s all his mind could grasp.

“Who are you? God?” he asked, finding his voice.

Her smile grew. “I am the Silver Flame, keeper of this world,” she said pointing to his wedding ring. As he looked at it, it burned white, runes etching into it. “Keep this. It holds your memories. My gift.”

“Wait!” he said, seeing her flickering out. “My family—will they be there?” Jasper pleaded, clutching the ring, its weight useless without them. Her apologetic smile stopped his questions.

“Awaken, Chosen. The world calls.” Scars raced up his right side, the cathedral and images of his family fading with her. Soon it was just starlight. He clutched at his ring as gravity retuned and fell into the abyss.