The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 22

Kas

Kas struggles to open his eyes. His eyelids feel heavy and swollen and his throat is parched.Using whatever little strength he can gather; he finally opens his eyes. His vision is blurryinitially but then clears and he realizes he is not at the campsite any more. Gone is the darknight sky and the dry ground beneath his body. There is a white ceiling with warm lights andhis body is ensconced in a comfortable duvet on a bed. The room feels pleasantly cool. Helooks around warily. It looks like a hospital room of sorts but there are no other patientsaround. It seems to be a private room. He takes in the sofa seating and small center tablewith fresh flowers and the big tv screen. It's a VIP hospital room of sorts. Also, he is notalone, there is someone dozing on the sofa.He tries to sit up and immediately feels dizzy. He slumps back against the pillows with agroan. "Hey, you're up", a sleepy male voice tells him. He opens his eyes again slowly to seea young man peering down at him. Both look at each other, Kas, disoriented and uneasy, thestranger a little fearful and watchful. Kas tries to sit up again and the young man helps himup. "Water", says Kas hoarsely and the stranger immediately pours a little water into aglass and brings it to Kas's lips. Kas eagerly takes a few sips, the life-giving liquid soothinglycaressing his throat. Feeling better, Kas looks up and observes the young man. He is thin, ina plaid shirt and jeans with round glasses. He has a gentle kind demeanor but seems wary ofKas. "Eli, how are you feeling? I'll just buzz for the doctor."Kas looks down at himself. He sees a sturdy well-built six feet body. He gingerly moves hislegs and hands. All seem to be working, though a little stiff. Wait, why is he in a hospitalbed? Is he now in a terminally ill body? Ash, you bastard, he curses mentally and feelingexhausted lies down and closes his eyes. "Kas", a voice whispers in his ears. He tries toopen his eyes but they seem to sealed shut. "Kas", the voice whispers again. It's Ash, herealizes. "I am giving you a review of where you are and who you are now", Ash's voicespeaks gently in his ears. "I am giving the important memories of the body you are in. Justwatch the show. It'll help you adjust. And by the way, you are not terminally ill", There is ahint of laughter in Ash's voice. Kas feels as if he is in a deep sleep, dreaming as images anddialogues start filtering into his subconscious state of mind.

Kas A.K.A Eli

Kas opens his eyes. He feels energized and light as he sits on the hospital bed. The youngman who has been by his side is still dozing on the sofa, book in hand. He now knows thatthat the young man is Neil, his assistant. He himself is twenty-five-year-old Elijah Gray. Hewonders if the Gray is coincidental. He slowly gets out of bed and stands up. He feels fit andstrong. He goes into the bathroom, steering the saline stand still attached to his hand. Hesplashes a little water on his face and looks in the mirror. He clinically assesses the face thatstares back. Good enough to win a modelling assignment. The deep-set gray eyes, just likeAsh's is the stand out feature. He recalls what he knows now about Elijah Gray.Elijah Gray, the only son of the now deceased Carl and Lucy Gray, raised by a dotinggrandmother Martha Gray who is his only living relative in the world. Elijah Gray is also heirto a chain of luxury malls. Elijah Gray is a notorious womanizer, arrogant and feared by hisemployees. Kas recalls flashes / visions in which Elijah is ill-treating his subordinates,spending money lavishly on women and alcohol much to the deep sadness of his dotinggrandmother. Neil, his assistant is his childhood friend and confidante but is also treatedbadly by Eli. In a nutshell, Elijah Gray is a super-rich nasty narcissist.