Ashfall: A Wife's Forbidden Stand

I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to endure the pain in my leg, and tried once more to convince them.

"Grandpa, Mr. Donovan, I'm not lying. Canlis Mountain really is going to erupt tonight. I work at the volcano research institute. I've run the numbers myself. The eruption will start at midnight. I'm estimating at least level three, and it could reach level four!"

Vincent hesitated when he heard how specific I was.

Richard uttered, "Talia studies volcanoes, too. She said it won't erupt. Would my granddaughter lie to me? You don't want her to go to the hospital with Adam, so you made up this nonsense. Canlis Mountain has been dormant for thousands of years. What makes you think it's going to erupt?"

I took a deep breath, then dropped to my knees in front of Vincent. My voice shook as I said, "Mr. Donovan, I've loved nature documentaries since I was a kid. I studied geology in college, and upon graduation, I joined the volcano research institute.

"I'm 30 years old, and I've spent more than 20 years studying volcanoes. I know what I'm talking about. I'd never be wrong about this! If the volcano doesn't erupt tonight, I'll answer for it!"

Vincent frowned, clearly wavering.

But Richard let out a cold laugh. "I know you've just been fired for filing a false disaster report! Talia already got the notice, and she told me herself!"

Vincent's face darkened immediately. "Get out! Leave! Stop causing trouble here!"

I made a split-second decision. Pulling a bank card from my pocket, I shoved it into Vincent's hand. "Mr. Donovan, take it. There's 50 thousand dollars in the bank account. Use it to evacuate everyone.

"People, livestock, and anything valuable. Get everything out now. There's still time. If the volcano doesn't erupt, 50 thousand dollars is more than enough to cover the round trip, and no one will face any losses."

Vincent froze, staring at the card with a conflicted expression.

Richard grabbed me, trying to drag me outside.

I clung desperately to the doorframe and shouted at Vincent, "Mr. Donovan! If the volcano erupts, Bareyard Village won't have a single living thing left! Everything and everyone here will be gone! Are you really willing to gamble all their lives?"

Vincent stood up and looked at the card before saying, "I'll trust you this once. This money counts as a loan. But if the volcano doesn't erupt, Joshua, you'll be in trouble!"

Richard stared in disbelief as Vincent strode out of the room.

I let out a sigh of relief and urged Richard, "Grandpa, hurry. Let's get you home and pack up!"

Richard reprimanded me for embarrassing him in front of Vincent. I endured every insult and every curse and followed him home in silence.

However, at the entrance, he shut his door in my face and locked it.

I stood outside, shouting and trying to convince him, but he ignored me completely.

Hours dragged by, and my throat grew dry. With no other option, I called Talia, hoping she could convince Richard.

The call connected, but before I could speak, Adam's voice came through, "Talia's busy. What do you want?"

I forced down my anger. "Adam, something catastrophic will happen to Bareyard Village tonight. Grandpa has to evacuate with me. Put Talia on the phone, or you call Grandpayourself!"

Adam sneered. "Joshua, stop playing tricks. Talia already told me. You're a liar! Want to guess where we are right now?"

I didn't care where they were.

Adam continued, "We're staying at a hotel near the hospital. Talia's taking a shower. The checkup isn't until tomorrow, but she insisted on staying with me at a hotel tonight. She said it wouldn't be convenient for us to go home. Do you know why?"

With that, he hung up the phone.

I stared at my phone, my fingers white from gripping it.

It was already past 9:00 pm.

I looked toward Canlis Mountain in the distance. Darkness had fallen, and a faint, ominous red glow shimmered near the summit.

There wasn't much time left.

Fortunately, Bareyard Village was remote, and there was only this one village at the foot of the mountain.

In the distance, the last group of villagers had finally evacuated. Now, only Richard and I remained in the village.

But that isolation also meant the nearest town was dozens of miles away.

If I didn't leave by 9:30 pm, I wouldn't make it out either.

I turned on my camera, pointed it at myself, and shouted, "Grandpa! The sky is already turning red! Look for yourself! If you don't believe me, can't you at least believe what you're seeing—"

Before I could finish, a massive flowerpot flew out from the yard and smashed into my head.

Pain ripped through me. Blood blurred my vision, everything a wash of red.

From inside the yard, Richard cursed at the top of his lungs, as if I were a villain.

"How did Talia end up with a liar like you? My family has farmed Bareyard Village for generations! That mountain has always been dormant! Why would it erupt now? Why are you doing this? Screw you!"

The blood kept pouring, and I couldn't hold on any longer. I turned off the camera, staggered to the village entrance, and found the driver waiting.

When I got into the car, he stared at me in shock. "What happened to you? You're bleeding all over! Hey! Don't get blood on my seats!"

I forced a weak smile. "It's fine. I'll pay for it. Let's go. Head toward the town. Don't stop until we get there."

The driver agreed and sped off.

My vision blurred in the backseat, and I blacked out.

I had no idea how long I was out for, but I remembered hearing a deep rumble roll through the air.

The volcano had erupted.