The Rose

Chapter 13

My legs start shaking and my heart starts beating against my chest like a deer trying to escape the clutches of a mountain lion. This is not a coincidence. He knows I’m here, maybe I’m too caught up in this. Who am I to take on a psychopath? I can barely face my own demons.

My breathing starts increasing rapidly and I soon feel like I can’t breathe. Without thinking I race to my dresser and get out the paper with Kai’s number. Hastily I dial his number and I listen to it ringing. “Hello?” he answers.

“Kai” I breathe, trying to hold in my tears , but I fail.

“Kate? What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this alone anymore. Please I need you” I say throughout the sobs.

“Where are you?” he asks and I hear a door closing and then an engine starting.

“At home. Please hurry”

“Just send me your address. I’m on my way.”

A half an hour passes and I hear his car coming to a halt just outside the door. I open it and walk outside towards his car and before I can say anything he crushes me into a hug. Usually I don’t like being touched, but his touch is comforting. Warmth spreads throughout my body and I clutch onto his shirt and I start balling my eyes out. Something I wouldn’t normally do either, but I feel safe in his arms.

After a few minutes I stop crying and I pull back trying to calm down. He runs his fingers over my cheeks to wipe away the tears, his fingers leave tingles behind. With one arm firmly wrapped around my waist he asks, ”What happened?” in a soft, caring voice and it’s enough for me to break out in sobs again. “I can’t do this alone anymore” I mumble and he pulls me back into his chest. While rubbing my back soothingly he keeps whispering that it’s all going to be okay. If he only knew.

We stayed like that for a couple minutes more until I pull away and he drops his arms. I instantly yearn for his comforting touch again. I look up at him and his face is full of concern. I almost start crying again, but I stop myself and walk towards the front door with Kai behind me. I take his hand and intertwine our fingers.
We sit down on the couch and he tries to let go, but I keep holding his hand. He gives me an amused smile and he squeezes my hand. “Want to tell me what happened?” he asks. I look up at him, his brown eyes are full of concern and curiosity.

I open my mouth, but close it again. I don’t know how to tell him. Hey my parents were murdered by a crazy serial killer and I have been planning my revenge my whole life. Wanna help? As if he senses my hesitance he says, “don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m scared, he knows where I am.” He looks at me with a puzzled face. “Who knows?”

I look down at our hands and rub my thumb over his hand. “The Rose killer. My mom warned me not to dig, but I was too stubborn and didn’t listen and now he knows where I am. He was inside my room, Kai.”

“The Rose killer?” he asks and I nod. “How do you know who he is?”

I gulp and try to push down the tears. “My parents… he killed them” my voice trembles and tears threaten to spill. He looks at me, “He killed your parents? Who are you?”

“Katherine Black, daughter of Avon and Christopher Black. The sixth and eighth victim of The Rose killer” I reply and look at him. He beckons me to go on. “My dad died when I was six and my mom when I was ten. The police told my uncle that they were both murdered by the same serial killer.” I say and I feel the tears roll down my cheeks, but before I could look away Kai hugs me to his chest. “Katherine, I am so sorry” he whispers and I hug him tighter. I spent all night bawling my eyes out and telling him how much I know until I fell asleep in his arms. I heard Erin coming in, but I was too tired to lift up my head and Kai’s chest made a surprisingly comfortable pillow.