The Visitor

Chapter 2 - Windows

"Arti definitely seems like quite the brave young man. I trust he's essential to this story?"

He's... He's braver than anyone I've ever met before, miss. He is. He's special, a force to be reckoned with. Hell on legs as it were!

"He means a lot to you?"

If it wasn't for him, miss, I wouldn't be alive today. I wouldn't have a sliver of hope in me.

"I see. He's lucky to have a friend like you, Halo. Now what happened next?"

***

Kiara grimaced and winced as light flooded into her eyes, waking her from pleasant dreams, dreams more comforting than her actual life was at this point. Shikari stood before her, blonde and pink hair fixed perfectly into place, green eyes bright, ready for the day ahead. How was she so cheerful even after everything that had happened? Her best friend and partner in crime, so to speak, was definitely a mystery to her, even after 18 years of them being together.

"Up you get, sleeping beauty. Family meeting." She dragged the purple covers off Kiara's limp body, making Kiara flail around in a funny way. Shikari couldn't help but laugh at her stupid-acting friend. "Come on lazy! Everyone is downstairs waiting for you!" Kiara groaned and dragged herself out of bed with help from Shikari, who grabbed her hand and pulled her forcefully down the stairs.

Shikari and Jake had been living in the Goldsward Manor for the past three days, ever since they were released from the hospital, much to the joy of Kiara and Arti. Shikari's house was under police investigation and so she was forced to move out and move in with the Goldswards instead, which she much preferred to her own usually empty and too large home. Jay had personally requested for Jake to live with them to help out with the current cases. Jake had a good head when it came to investigations and would definitely prove useful. Plus considering what the family and kids were going through, both Jay and Raven had decided to take full responsibility for all four children, to protect them and keep them all safe. The family were powerful and they were good hearted. They would definitely provide a safe environment for the four, much safer than Jake's dodgy apartment block with his shifty-eyed roommate, safer than Shikari's almost permanently empty home where she would be living with no one but high tech robots to keep her safe.

Sure enough, as the two girls burst into the large ornate kitchen they saw the other four were all sitting around the large family breakfast table, all looking bright and bashful like Shikari while Kiara looked like a sleep-deprived raccoon. Maids and chefs bustled busily, preparing dishes and washing up, bowing when they saw the girls and being greeted politely in return.

"Morning all..." She muttered, throwing herself in the chair beside Arti and grinning groggily at everyone who were staring right back at her clearly suppressing laughs. She ignored them, oblivious as ever and leant back in her chair, wrapping her arm lazily around her brother's shoulder. "So what's this family meeting business, do I need to be here and can I go back to sleep?"

Jay grinned before replying. "It's important, so yes you do and no you can't!" He grew serious. "It's about this case. I'm concerned for all four of you kids. This family was clearly targeted, and I'm not having any of you kids hurt again." Kiara sat up suddenly seeming intense, her arm moving from around her brother's shoulders.

"Dad... What happened at Shikari's house was...beyond insane. I agree, but if you're trying to say you want us all locked away from the world then..." Jay held up his hand, the atmosphere of a defensive, concerned parent emanating from him. Everyone tensed up, it was clear that what was being said was important and not to be taken lightly at any cause. He spoke quietly but clearly and with an edge that made everyone feel the intensity of the situation.