Adoration

5

 "They are upstairs, but before I introduce you, I want you to keep an open mind and trust me. Can you do that?" She agreed, a little confused, but stood up and was led upstairs with Kai's hand in hers.

He led her to the end of the hallway, where there was a vase with one single rose, drilled into the door.

Emily touched the petals of the slightly wilted flower, and Kai smiled at the tender touch Emily gave the flower and spoke up. "Please, just understand, at the time, we couldn't afford anything better. We thought they would be happier here, with their family. This is basically their mausoleum, or like their grave." Emily started to understand what he meant, but she had to see it just to make sure.

She knew people coped with death in many ways, and didn't want to judge, but nothing could stop her from gasping and covering her mouth when she walked in to see a dark room, where two dried up figured laid in bed. They looked like modern-day mummies.

One thing that surprised Emily was that there was no rotting flesh smell. Only that of dust and strong chemicals. Kai slowly led her to two chairs located next to the bedside where Emily assumed Kai's mother laid. Kai didn't let go of his Emily's shoulders, in fear she would run away and dash out the door if he loosened his grip.

He sat her down and slipped into his normal seat next to his mother.

"I know you're probably wondering what happened?" She nodded, and tightened her grip on his hands, knowing this must be hard for him to talk about.

"When I was just finishing college, my dad got into a motorcycle crash right around the time I graduated. I decided that I would go home and help my mom out. Winter was off at college and my older brother had his own life to worry about. The crash paralyzed my dad from the neck down, Mom had to do everything for him, and he did nothing but rag on me for the choices I made in my studies, saying religious studies was a load of horse shit and wouldn't get me anywhere in life, it was worse for my mom, she waited on him hand and foot, and was only rewarded with him accusing her of cheating on him. One day, I came home to them arguing, and then a gun shot. I ran into the room where my mom had shot my dad. The last thing she said to me, was that it was the only way out. Then she pulled the gun on herself." Kai began to sob as he finished, Emily pulled him in her arms and raked her fingers through his hair until he calmed down.

He sniffled and continued, still tightly clinging onto his beloved girl. "I didn't know what to do. I called my brother. It was his idea to lay them in bed, cover them in lye, and make a mausoleum. There was no way we could pay for a double funeral. Two of us just got out of college and one of us was still there. We decided that we would keep it secret so we could receive the disability checks to help with all our student loans. I decided it would just be easy to stay home and do my work here, so Winter and Rudy could still have a home. So, we could be a family. I come in here to talk to mom all the time. I tell her all about you. You know? My dad on the other hand? It gives me pleasure to see him sit and rot, he was a horrible son of a bitch and deserves it." Kai's voice shook at the last part, he finally made eye contact with Emily, and a wave of relief hit him when he was embraced into her arms.

Weeks passed and Kai and Emily's bond grew stronger and stronger throughout time. Through many long night discussions with pinkies linked and hearts intwined.

Kai explained everything about the past events that had gone on. She knew everything. From the first kills of councilman Chang and his wife, up to the recent death of RJ. At first, Emily had been shocked every time he revealed the truths to her.