The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 46

Kas

He nods at Ash tiredly, "Somehow I knew that you would come to me." Ash gives him a sad smile, his gray eyes so identical to his own now, looking troubled. He munches on the piece of sandwich that he took from Kas and tells him, "Kaya sent me to you, Kas. That's how this whole thing unfolded. I was supposed to escort her after she died. But that little one defied the management and refused to go until I promised I would help you. But I couldn't find you. I am just an intern in the ranks. I was waiting there for seven years, chained by the promise I had made to the little troublemaker. Only when you came to where we were, was I finally able to leave the place and come after you and help you. She is mighty pleased with how you've turned out by the way. She tells you not to bore her with your crying and suffering any more. She's happy Kas and she wants you and your Ma to be happy too."

Kas sits there, silent tears streaming down his face. "Did he hurt her before she died"? He asks abruptly. Ash pauses, the sound of the crickets suddenly seeming loud in the silence. "No Kas, she died with one blow to her head where he shoved her against the tree. She died instantly. She felt no pain at all. I assure you; she is at peace. The only thing that can make her suffer is you being miserable." Ash takes a deep breath and tells him. "Give the little brat the much overdue funeral and then move on. That's all she wants". Kas looks at the setting sun and he and Ash sit quietly together, watching the sky turn from orange slush to milk chocolate and then finally black coffee. "I am really hungry now", he tells Ash, "And you ate the little sandwich I had left. Do spooks like you even need to eat"? Ash chuckles at the comment. They bicker a little on how well Kas is doing in his new avatar as Eli. As they chat, Kas feels drowsy and falls into a deep sleep. When he gets up, the sun is already up and he realizes he spent the night in the open, under the sky. Ash is no longer next to him. He stretches and suddenly panics. Has Ash turned him into Kas again?? He quickly looks at his body and gives a sigh of relief. He is still the handsome and rich Eli. He gets up and starts walking downhill to his parked car. He has tons of loose ends to tie up. But first, he needs to finally bid his Kaya goodbye.

Drake

He sits in the quiet bakery, with a cop just outside. The shelves are empty, the trays dusty and the only thing on display is the talent of the spiders who Dor had kept out so determinedly all these years. The shelves are full of elaborate and intricate webs from the crafty little fellows. He's been allowed time from the police to get his medical files and pills due to the severity of his medical condition. The cop enters with a hot coffee and Drake accepts it gratefully. The cop nods as though understanding Drake needs a few minutes alone and goes out again almost immediately. Drake sips on the coffee, the aroma of it bringing back memories of the delicious aromas that swirled around for as long as he can remember in the bakery. He closes his eyes, relishing the smell and suddenly all feels well again. He opens his eyes again and the bakery is bright and sparkling clean again. The shelves are full of their signature baked items, Dor is bustling around behind the counter and all their regular customers are there, cheerfully chatting with each other as they patiently wait in the queue.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating deep in his chest, happy tears in his eyes. He wipes his eyes on his t shirt sleeve and when he looks up, he is outside the Bernard house. The little girl, Kas's sister is sneakily plucking out a couple of flowers from the well-kept flower beds, a small book and some color pencils in her hand. She walks up to him and shushes him, whispering, "Don't tell anyone I pulled out these flowers please? I want to give them to my Ma". He nods. She looks up at him curiously, "Aren't you Dor's bakery boss?" He nods again grumpily. She continues chatting, "Kas loves Dor. I also love her. I am hoping she will marry Chess. I like both of them". 

Drake feels the rage building up in him. The girl goes on chatting, "I am just going up to Dor. I am going to tell them both to get married ". She laughs happily. Drake tells her very pleasantly. "Dor has given me some cake for you. It's in the van". He points out to the van parked next to a big tree on the opposite side of the street. "Come on and get it. "She looks a little reluctant, "I am not sure if I should go with you" He smiles at her. "Your Mama said not to go with strangers, is it? But I am not a stranger. I am Dor's boss, remember?" She gives a tinkling little laugh, "Of course. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude." She takes his hand trustingly and crosses the road with him. He removes a small pastry box from the van and kneels down before her. "You know what? I will give you ten more of these. When you go up to Dor, tell her that only Drake can keep her happy". The girl looks confused, "Isn't your name Drake"? He nods, "That's right. Only I can keep her happy. She and I are already married". The girl looks shocked, "Why would our Dor marry you? I hope she can only be with Chess. He is really nice. He is young and handsome too. Please let her be with Chess. I don't want the cake." Before he knows, his hand is fisted in the front of her dress and he shoves her hard into the tree next to the van. She collapses, her head bleeding profusely. She gasps weakly once and becomes still. He looks around quickly and realizes that the van blocks the street view.

He quickly puts the girl in the van and drives away to the bakery. He covers her with a sheet from the back of the van and quickly takes her into the small storage room at the back of the bakery. As he puts her now pale body behind one the tall racks, he puts a finger under her nose. The girl is not breathing at all. He leaves her there, covered in some black plastic sheet. That night, when an exhausted Dor is asleep, he takes the body back into the van and drives near the house. There is no one anywhere in the pitch black of the night. He digs in the rich soft soil, not much digging required to put in a small thin child. He puts her in, covers the soil back. He pats it all back neatly and stares at the now flat ground. "How dare you ask my Dor to look at another man? Interfering little brat. You had it coming. "He goes back to the van and drives off, goes home, takes a nice hot shower and gets into bed with Dor. She feels warm and comforting. He spoons her, feeling relaxed. This is where Dor belongs, in his arms. No one, especially a nosy little brat can create trouble between them. He closes his eyes, feeling a tired deep satisfaction and falls into a deep sleep.

The cop peeps in and sees Drake slumped in the chair, the coffee have spilled down his trouser leg. He rushes over and sees that Drake is unconscious. Twenty minutes later, the man is declared dead in the local hospital The cop sighs. Poor sick psychopath. Died miserably, alone in his little bakery.