I'm in the backyard searching for some old boxes to use inside the house; Mom hasn't even called me, it's obvious that she doesn't need me. I heard footsteps behind me, and I imagined who it was.
"Carolina Lane..."
"Are you okay, Thomas?" I looked at him.
"More or less. I talked to Kayler about some things a while ago," he says. I tensed up at the mention of his name.
"Well, that's great."
"He told me what you're planning to do."
"Thomas," I rubbed my temple, "Please, let's not talk about that, okay? I'm trying to relax and clear my mind. I came here to unwind, not to stress out even more."
"Alright," I think he got offended, "I just want you to make the best decision. I know you're hurt, but it's not that bad."
Having said that, Thomas left.
•
Anne and I decided to go to the town in the morning. It felt like old times.
"I feel like stopping by a place," she says, as she's the one driving. "They used to sell delicious sweets, and whenever I came back from class, I would buy a few."
"How's your brother?" I wanted to know now that she reminded me of those times.
"He's fine, with his girlfriend in Washington."
The town remained the same as always, the sky was cloudy, the weather was cold, and so on. I've always liked sunny days and summer, but lately, I prefer cloudy and rainy days. It's strange. Anne stopped next to a moderately small store, it had various colors and caught a lot of attention. We got out of the car and went inside. It smelled like caramel and gum.
"Anne Stevens," a girl said, someone I seemed to have seen somewhere. She had black hair, fair skin, and many freckles on her face. "What a surprise to have you here again," the girl went around the counter and hugged Anne.
"It's good to see you too."
"I see you're not wearing glasses anymore," she commented.
"No, I'm completely cured of that."
"I'm glad," now the girl looked at me, "I know you, you're Kayler Brown's girlfriend."
"I was," I corrected her politely.
"Oh, sorry, it must be a habit," she seemed like she wanted to say something more but didn't say it, "Are you here for the same candies as always?"
"Yes, do you still sell them?"
"Of course, people love them."
I looked closely at the store, there were some rather strange paintings with figures I had never seen in my life.
"But tell me, how are you? What have you been up to?" Anne asked her.
"Always at the store, I have to work to support my children... Do you remember them?"
"Of course... Eva and Lucas?"
"Yes, when you left, they were only five years old, and now they're ten."
"I'd love to say hello to them."
"They're at school, maybe in the afternoon."
"Alright."
The girl gave the candies to Anne, and she paid for them.
"Thank you, we'll see you around," Anne said goodbye.
"Goodbye," I also said goodbye. Anne and I left the store, and just then a boy crossed the street and a car hit him. Anne and I were shocked to witness the incident. I stood frozen as I saw him lying on the road, blood starting to spread across the street. People panicked, and the girl from the store also came out.
The person driving the car that hit him fled.
"Call an ambulance!" someone shouted.
"I'm already calling," Anne took out her phone and dialed emergency. I don't want to be here, I looked at so many people around me, the screams, the shoving that I received. I turned around and covered my ears with my hands. Then someone hugged me, making me feel safe. I have no idea who it is.
"What's happening?"
"Shhh, calm down, it's over," that voice...
"Kayler?"
I smelled him and immediately snapped back to reality, the anxiety attack subsided a bit.
"Come, let's go over here," he guided me to an empty spot away from the crowd. I pulled away and looked at him.
"What are you doing?" I wanted to know, deep down I like having him close.
"I saw that you were upset, I just wanted to help."
He was wearing black jeans, a white shirt, and his military boots. His hair was styled to one side, it's the first time I've seen him style it, his hair is usually free-flowing.
"Thanks, the accident was... I don't like seeing blood or anything like that," I admitted. I think I've developed a bit of a phobia towards those things, after going through so many bad experiences, they've traumatized me.
"I know. Carolina, I want you to allow me to at least be near you to take care of you," he tells me. "Things aren't going well, to say the least. Gadreel and his group have been lurking in places they shouldn't be stepping into."
I furrowed my brow because I don't understand what he's talking about.
"Explain it better."
"The man who hit that boy is one of Gadreel's group, why? I don't know, ask him."
I lowered my gaze.
"Why would they do that? Gadreel told me his friends are now on his side."
"Some... not all. Carolina, we're planning to exile them from this place, send them back to hell."
I immediately looked at him.
"What?"
"Kill them."
"You're crazy."
"No, but it's the only way to stop them from causing harm," he tried to hold my hand, and despite wanting to pull it away, I let him. His touch is warm. "I wonder if all this will ever end. I'm tired of living in a war, can't you see?"
I didn't say anything.
"I know you think I enjoy this world, but it's not true. You're the only reason I have to live," he kissed my hand. "If you decide to forget about me, I won't have any reasons to stay here." Kayler wanted to tell me something else with his words, I know, I'm just not entirely sure why.
"Kayler," Piper's voice made me immediately withdraw my hand. I looked behind Kayler: there was Piper with Kylie. Kayler stood beside me to face Piper. Kylie had a report; she looked so small and fragile that a lump formed in my throat for being the cause of Kayler not being with them.
"Piper..." Kayler said firmly.
I turned to go back to Anne.
"Carolina," I heard Kayler calling me, but I ignored him. I held back the tears and forced myself to be strong. When we reached Anne, the ambulance was already at the scene.
Why would Gadreel want to harm this boy?
"Where were you?" Anne asked me.
"Taking a breath. Shall we go?"
"Alright, let's go."
We got in the car and drove away. Being far away, I was able to breathe calmly. Kayler's words kept swirling in my head.
"Anne."
"Yes?"
"Have you talked to Kayler?"
"No, but Thomas did. Why?"
"For no reason."
"By the way, when you disappeared, Silvana told me something that got me thinking."
"What is it?" I asked without taking my eyes off the window. When your heart is broken, your bones ache, and you become weak, powerless. Even speaking feels weak. When I'm with Kayler, my body comes alive; he is my life.
"She had no idea that Piper's daughter is Kayler's. She thought she was her boyfriend's..."
"What boyfriend?" I looked at her now.
"A guy named Elías. He lives on the outskirts of town, and they always see him with Piper. She says they've been dating for years, even before Kylie."
"Do you think...?" I looked at her, feeling a glimmer of hope.
"Let's find out," she said. With that, she turned the steering wheel and drove in the opposite direction towards Elías' house.