Ashes of the Stray

Lucian Haze had never considered himself weak. Life had forced him to be strong, to endure. As an orphan, he had learned early that no one was coming to save him. He built himself up through sheer will, excelling in both studies and martial arts. But life had a cruel way of breaking down even the strongest foundations. The teasing and cold shoulders from his colleagues? He could endure it. The workload unfairly dumped on him? He handled it without complaint. But betrayal? That was something he wasn’t prepared for. --- ### 

During Christmas break, Lucian made his annual visit to the orphanage where he had grown up. The scent of old wooden floors mixed with the aroma of freshly baked bread as the warden, Mrs. Caldwell, greeted him with a warm but knowing smile. "Lucian, dear, it's good to see you. The children have been asking about you nonstop," she said, patting his arm. Lucian forced a small smile. "I wouldn’t miss it." As soon as he stepped into the common room, a group of children rushed towards him, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "Big bro Lucian! Did you bring us anything?" a little girl, Annie, chirped. Lucian ruffled her hair. "Of course. Who do you take me for?" He pulled out a few small wrapped gifts from his bag, earning cheerful squeals from the children. For a while, he let himself relax, watching them tear into their presents. But as he sat on the worn-out couch, his mind wandered back to the office, to the betrayal, to the sneers and whispers. His fingers tightened around the cup of tea in his hands. Mrs. Caldwell sat beside him, handing him a fresh cup. "You seem troubled," she said gently. Lucian exhaled. "Just some work issues. Nothing I can't handle." She gave him a knowing look but didn’t press further. "You’ve always been strong, Lucian. But remember, you don’t have to carry everything alone." Her words settled into his mind as he watched the children play. They still looked up to him, still saw him as someone dependable. That alone was reason enough to keep fighting. He couldn’t afford to break. --- 

Lucian arrived at the office that morning, his usual indifferent expression in place. The hum of printers filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of coffee drifting from the break area. Overhead, the fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting a sterile glow over the open workspace. As he walked past a group of employees near the coffee machine, he caught hushed whispers. “How long do you think a poor and aloof bastard like him can last here?” one of them snickered. “I heard he lives in some rundown hole. No connections, no background—just a stray dog waiting to be kicked out,” another added with a chuckle. Lucian’s steps didn’t falter, but his ears picked up every word. He had heard it all before. He wasn’t blind to their sneers, their condescension. But today, the words cut a little deeper. Was it because, deep down, he was starting to believe them? No—he refused to. He had fought too hard to be here, to survive. These people knew nothing of struggle. As he continued walking, his gaze met Lora Winks’. She was watching him from her desk, a curious look in her eyes, as if studying a puzzle she had already solved. But the moment their eyes met, she smirked slightly before turning away. For nearly a year, Lucian had considered Lora his only friend. She had been the first to approach him with a warm smile, a friendly word, and concern that felt genuine. But lately, something about it felt off. A Moment of Loyalty Months earlier, when Lucian had been unfairly blamed for a minor accounting error, it was Lora who had stepped in. “That wasn’t Lucian’s fault,” she had said firmly in the team meeting, cutting off a senior manager’s accusation. “I checked the records. The discrepancy came from a misfiled report last quarter.” Her words had saved him from an unfair reprimand, and at that moment, Lucian had felt an unwavering sense of gratitude. He had believed in her, in their friendship. But had it all been part of a larger act? The Setup Lucian adjusted his tie, scanning his notes one last time. Everything was in order. Or so he thought. The client leaned back, arms crossed. “And what about the issue at the site?” Lucian frowned. “Issue?” Andrew sighed dramatically. “Lucian, I told you about this. Maybe you should take better notes.” Lora covered her mouth, pretending to look sympathetic. But her eyes glowed with amusement. Lucian’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t incompetence—this was a setup. The verdict was swift. Senior Manager Beck didn’t hesitate. “Lucian, pack your things. You’re done here.” Shocked, Lucian turned to Andrew. “You never told me about the site issue.” Andrew smirked. “I did. Maybe you weren’t paying attention.” Lora stepped forward, standing next to Andrew with a self-satisfied smile. “I got the promotion, Lucian,” she whispered mockingly. Andrew pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers. Lucian’s blood ran cold. He exhaled slowly, his fingers unclenching. One punch would cost him more than just his job. It would give them exactly what they wanted—a reason to ruin him further. Instead, he took a step back, inhaling deeply. “You needed to scheme to beat me. Enjoy your win while it lasts.” Lucian stepped outside, the cold evening air biting against his skin. The world continued as if nothing had happened—cars rushed by, people laughed on the sidewalks, and neon signs flickered in the distance. But inside him, something shifted. He had been played. Humiliated. Cast aside like garbage. For the first time in years, doubt crept into his mind. Had he wasted all this effort? Had his struggle been for nothing? Then, he remembered the orphanage. Mrs. Caldwell’s words. The kids who still believed in him. His jaw tightened. No. He wasn’t done. If they wanted to break him, they should’ve buried him properly. And so, as the city lights reflected in his dark eyes, a plan began to form.

That night, lying on the thin mattress of his rundown apartment, Lucian stared at the ceiling. His anger was no longer blind rage; it was something far more dangerous—focus. By morning, he had a plan. He returned to the project site, disguised under a hoodie, mask, and sunglasses. Nobody would recognize him. He wasn’t there to plead for his job—he was there for answers. The materials at the site didn’t match the documentation he had prepared. The quality was subpar, the pricing suspicious. As he took photos, a flashlight beam swept across the site. Lucian barely had time to duck behind a stack of crates. A security guard was making rounds. If he was caught here, things could take a dangerous turn. He stayed still, waiting for the guard to pass before slipping away. He visited an old acquaintance, Harry, who worked with the supplier. “Harry, who’s handling the deliveries for this project?” Lucian asked, voice low. Harry raised an eyebrow but answered. “Lora Winks. She’s the owner’s daughter, overseeing the whole supply chain.” Lucian exhaled slowly. It all made sense now. They had used him, framing him for incompetence while they skimmed money from the project. With meticulous patience, Lucian gathered every shred of evidence—purchase orders, quality control reports, and supplier contracts. Then, he sent an anonymous tip to the client, urging them to conduct an independent inspection. The results? Exactly as Lucian predicted. The client was furious. Fraud charges were filed. The company scrambled to contain the PR disaster. Reporters swarmed the corporate office, demanding answers. And finally, the police arrived, escorting Andrew Williams out in handcuffs, cameras flashing Standing nearby, hood still up, Lucian watched the scene unfold. As Andrew was being shoved into the squad car, Lucian lowered his mask just enough for Andrew to see his face. “Enjoy your stay in prison, you son of a bitch.” A slow, satisfied smirk spread across his lips before he turned and disappeared into the crowd. Lora’s breath quickened as she saw the footage. Her hands trembled as she gripped the phone. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Panic clawed at her chest. She stormed into the prison’s visitor booth, grabbing the phone tightly. “Tell me you can fix this,” she hissed. Andrew’s face was pale, eyes darting. “Lora, I don’t know how he did it—” She slammed the phone down and stormed out, shaking. Lucian had done this. Jaw clenched, she turned to her father. “I need your help.” Barry Winks leaned back, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he took out his phone. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk. “That brat named Lucian thinks this is over. He has no idea what’s coming for him.”

To be continued…

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