Kin's mysteries

Chapter 4: Windows

The man parked in front of a wooden building, a tiny house with small windows and a typical triangular roof. The lights inside were on and some shadows were moving behind the curtains. Rosalind slowed down, staying on the opposite side of the road, but without stopping. When the door opened, someone let the man in and a soft music reached them. It didn't seem like a party atmosphere. More like a club where men played cards and smoked. When the door slammed, Rosalind pulled the brake lever and turned the engine off. They left the scooter at the side of the road, in order to not be noticed, and approached the house. Some voices, mostly men's, were shouting something like "come on!" or "show us!". Rosalind suddenly stopped and stood motionless for some minutes. Kin stared at her. She seemed she had discovered something terrible coming towards her.

He looked in the same direction and saw an orange light coming from the window. A thin shadow was moving and some others were sitting.

-"There's a dancer...it's a private club." murmured Rosalind.

Kin realized why she was so shocked and began to feel the same. It was disgusting knowing that his brother had something to do with it.

-"What are we supposed to do now?" he asked, confused.

-"I have no idea..." the girl replied.

They were completely astonished and couldn't make a sound until the door opened and a girl was pushed outside. She fell and hit the ground. She was wearing a tight dress that showed her legs entirely. It was freezing and her shoulders and back were exposed too.

Kin followed Rosalind behind a bush and observed carefully the scene.

-"You can't be here if you think you'll do what you want!" shouted a man.

He was on the doorstep; his big hands were full of rings and bracelets too. He must have hit the girl with all those trinkets...

She was sobbing and trembling, lying on the gravel. Kin heard Rosalind's breathing becoming heavier. She probably wanted to intervene but she knew she couldn't. The man tried to hit the girl again but she jumped aside, avoiding his arm. He pushed out to grasp her; again he failed. Kin grabbed Rosalind's arm. She was going to jump out of the bush to protect that girl. He had to learn that about her...she was reckless and generous.

The girl wasn't able to get up, she seemed so weak and ill. Her face was pale and her arms collapsed, making her head slam to the ground. The man snorted and left her outside, banging the door behind him.

Rosalind popped out from their hideout and, in a moment, she was dragging the fainted girl towards the scooter. Kin followed her and grabbed the girl's legs. They were cold and lifeless. The two looked scared because the girl seemed almost dead.

-"We have to bring her to the hospital..." said Kin.

-"Are you out of your mind?! They'll ask us how she ended up like this...what are we going to answer then?" exclaimed Rosalind.

Kin couldn't reply. She was right, he's spoken without thinking, as always. He tried his best to hold the girl while Rosalind was speeding. She had completely lost her senses and was pretty heavy to sustain. Moreover, Kin had to be careful not to fall himself. He tried to grab Rosalind's coat but he didn't want to threw her off balance.

Once they arrived at the shop, Henry was outside, probably looking for his scooter. Rosalind was able to notice him and to turn into the alley where the window of his room overlooked. She picked the girl up and left him alone on the scooter.

-"Go by yourself, and think about something to tell him..." she ordered.

Kin tried, without success, to drive that thing. He almost hit Henry, who was coming towards him.

-"Why did you took it if you're unable to drive it?" he shouted.

-"I wanted to learn..." Kin tried to explain.

-"Don't do it...it's useless..."

After extorting him the keys, he left him staring pointlessly at the door.

He went back where Rosalind and the girl were. He found them standing on some garbage bags, trying to reach his room from the window.

-"What are you doing?" asked Kin.

Rosalind was holding the girl tight by her waist. She was still unconscious and her arms and head were leaning down.

-"I thought you were inside..." she answered.

It was impossible for her to be able to push the girl up, but she was trying anyway. He admired her tenacity and her courage.

-"Who do you think I am? I wouldn't have left you two alone out here..." he replied bitterly.

-"I had no idea you were such a gentleman..."

Kin jumped on the bags and reached the top of the heap. He hold out his hand to Rosalind and after that, clutched the girl by the chest. She made a faint sound and laid her arm on his shoulder. Rosalind jumped on the upper level and hold onto the ledge, trying to lift herself inside. It wasn't easy for her to touch the sill, so she fell on the bag and was almost ending up crashing to the ground. Luckily, Kin seized her arm with his free hand.

-"Thanks..." she said, panting.

He put the girl down and crossed his fingers, pushing out towards her. Rosalind stared at him, confused.

-"I'll help you to get inside..." he explained.

Her eyes lighted up and she put her foot on his crossed hands right away. She sprang up and grasped the ledge easily. Kin pushed her higher but something wasn't working.

-"The window is closed..." whispered Rosalind.

Kin suddenly felt stupid. It was a commonplace error and he had been too busy to think about it.

-"Is there no way to open it?" asked Rosalind.

-"It's not locked, you just need to push hard and it might unblock..."

She jumped towards the window again and pushed harder than she could, succeeding almost immediately. She then, helped by Kin, reached the room, beating her head on the floor. Kin was already lifting the girl's lifeless body up; Rosalind grabbed her and began to pull her up while he was raising his arms, hoping they won't collapse.

They managed to bring the girl inside at last.

-"I'll get in from the shop...wait for me." said Kin.

When he came into his room Rosalind had placed the girl on his bed and was looking at her, worried.

-"I have to go home...you should let her rest and, if she wakes up, feed her..." she remarked.

-"I should...what?! She can't stay here, I can't look after her..." exclaimed Kin, agitated.

-"I can't host her...I share my room with my sister. I'm afraid she'll notice." she explained.

Kin began to think about another solution, but he couldn't find any.

-"I'll be here tomorrow morning...take care of her just for tonight, ok?"

After saying that, she smiled at him and left, getting out through the window.