Ascension

Chapter One

How much longer will this take? Milah groaned to herself in agony. She shifted in her seat, desperately trying to find comfort. It didn't work.

They were close.

For six hours they'd been driving to their new home. And that was just today. By now they'd had their fill of rest stops and gas station food.

Her bike roared beneath her, as their vehicles wound through the road at a high incline. Thankfully, it was sunny today. The rays pierced between the trees, casting large shadows along the pavement. The light that shone through the turning leaves created colors like a stained glass window. Cars whizzed past them, people unenthused by the beauty that surrounded them. Maybe it was because she wasn't from around here, but this view took her breath away. She could see Skylar in her father's car ahead of her, peeking her head out the window, her face catching the fast breeze. She turned back to look at Milah, and she grinned through her helmet. She saw her bark but couldn't hear her over the blasting engine.

Her dad said they would be living in the Adirondacks, outside the state parks that encompassed most of them. They had just passed a sign welcoming them to Mount Veil. An inheritance was left here for them - well, for her father.

Pearl was her great aunt. She'd never met her, but she knew she liked to keep to herself. From what her father could tell her, she was a quiet old woman. With no close family, she lived by herself her entire life and died alone at a very old age. Many people probably pitied her for that but Milah could easily understand why she preferred a life of solitude. The thing she couldn't wrap her head around was why Pearl chose her father to inherit her house.

The feeling of close proximity made her that much eager to get there. She was sure her dad was hungry by now. Milah surely was.. And despite their exhaustion, Skylar's enthusiasm prevailed. She was never an angry dog. And during the trip she kept Milah occupied with her ever changing expressions of curiosity, and excitement.

She yawned to herself. Yup, a good nap was what they needed.

His car blinker went on quite early, quickly breaking Milah's reverie. Ever since she began riding he had always hit it early when she was behind him on her bike, so she'd have enough time to adjust herself to changing lanes. He always took precautions when it came to her riding. He never liked the fact that she had a motorcycle. But he'd never stop her from doing what she wanted. Even if what she wanted entailed risks. The young side of him applauded her zeal for exciting exploits. The fatherly side twitched at the inevitable danger those exploits brought her.

Time to turn off. They took a right at another street, and then another, until they were pulling into a long unpaved driveway. She sighed to herself in distaste. Dirt and cruisers don't mix. She saw her dad's gray eyes in the rearview mirror, looking directly at her - he knew what she was thinking – and started to chuckle. She could tell by the creases that formed when he squinted in laughter. She scoffed, her helmet muffling the sound.

Milah switched into second, and steadily rode down the driveway. It must have been a half mile long before they got to the end.

They both parked quickly, her dad got out of the car and let Sky out to relieve herself. But Milah stayed seated on her bike, unhooked her helmet, and hung it on the end of the bar. She looked up at the place they were to call home.  

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