Kai didn't even register that Falte was still pulling him through town. All he could think of was that poor man and the young girl. What was she going to do? Did she have more family nearby? He felt just as upset as she probably did. He knew exactly what it felt like to lose someone he loved. But she had lost both of them. Kai had his father. That made him feel terrible for the girl. She didn't even have parents anymore. She had no hope of finding her parents whatsoever, like Kai once had. He had the opportunity to find his father, but she didn't. She was alone, unless she had any aunts our uncles. 

Falte said something to him that Kai didn't hear. He knew that his father had said something, because there was a mumble of a voice beside him, but he couldn't make out any words. When Kai looked up, they were standing in front of the door to their house. Kai felt his insides tie in a knot. They would have to tell everyone what happened. He didn't want to hear it again, to relive what had just happened; so he hoped that whatever was going on with his numb head would stay until Falte had explained. 

Keeping a grip on his son's arm, Falte pushed open the door. Kai followed him in, keeping his eyes on the floor. His hand slipped from his father's arm, but Falte didn't let go of him. In fact, he wrapped his arm around his shoulder, guiding him to the couch where Abby was sitting.

She was the first to notice that something was wrong. Her mouth moved as she reached up toward Kai, but again he heard nothing. As he collapsed onto the couch next to her, she wrapped her arms around him, letting him snuggle against her. She lifted her head and asked something muffled to Falte frantically. 

Kai lifted his head to look around the room, even though he knew he looked terrible at the moment. He wasn't crying anymore, just felt paralyzingly numb on the inside. He clenched his hands as Chase came out of the hallway hurriedly, his face a mixture of confusion and concern. Shintaro followed him out with his arms crossed over his chest. His expression changed in a flash from slightly annoyed to shocked and worried. He hurried over to Kai and knelt down by the couch.

Shintaro tried to meet Kai's eyes, but the younger boy looked down at his lap. Shintaro said something that sounded like "Kid?" and touched his shoulder. Kai flinched, and Shintaro removed his hand. When Kai looked back up slightly, his friend was standing again, facing Falte with a questioning look. Falte's mouth was moving, and Kai breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully he wasn't having to hear that explanation again.

Abby mumbled something to him. She pushed him away from her slightly, looking directly into his eyes. She said something again, this time a little louder. When he didn't respond, she shook him slightly. 

Just leave me alone, his mind complained wearily. I don't want you to talk to me right now. Can you please just let me calm down first? He sighed as she shook him again. This time, he shook his head and tried to lean forward again. She held him firmly, glaring at him with a new anger.

Her mouth moved again, and Kai sighed. He shook his head again, closing his eyes and slumping forward. He felt Abby slump too, and she let him fall into her. She put her arms around him and started rubbing his back in comfort. She was saying something in his ears, but he didn't hear it. He assumed that she was comforting him with her words, too, so he felt his body relax.

What was wrong with his life? He couldn't have even five years of peace. Something always had to come up and ruin it all. He just wanted to go back to his normal home with his mother and father, but somehow still have Abby there with him. He just wanted to live a normal life where there weren't insane people trying to kill them at every turn. He just wanted to be normal. What was the deal with all this? Hadn't everyone here already had enough?

A loud, angry voice snapped him back to reality. He lifted his head and rested his chin on Abby's arm. Shintaro was shouting at Falte, who was looking up at him with a look of realization. He opened his mouth to say something, but Shintaro shouted something again, making him flinch. 

Kai felt a little angry that Shintaro was shouting at his father, but couldn't think about that, because sound suddenly came rushing back into his ears. At the first loud shout, Kai flinched, but soon realized what they were shouting about.

"I can't believe you just left her there, Falte!" Shintaro yelled angrily, tossing his arms out at his sides. 

"There were doctors there," Falte said back, crossing his arms. He wasn't nearly as angry as Shintaro, and Kai was extremely relieved for that. When his father got angry, he was literally the scariest thing Kai had ever endured - until Thorn came along, at least. He always was surprised that demon horns didn't come sprouting out of his father's head whenever he got angry. "They could have handled her. Besides, why would she want two strangers taking her away from her father?"

Shintaro paused at this, his face twisting into a defeated frown. "I still can't believe you didn't do something." He rubbed his forehead angrily.

"Well, what could I have done?" Falte shot back. "I probably would have just gotten in the way. Besides, my son was already handling it. I don't think he would have wanted me to get involved, either. And I know you wouldn't, too." When he said "my son", he shot a look in Kai's direction, and Kai cowered a little. "You should be glad that we're not hurt, not yelling at us for leaving the girl with her family member. There were doctors there. They probably are taking care of her now, Shintaro." 

Shintaro sighed, shaking his head, but he didn't say anything else. 

Falte uncrossed his arms, regaining his gentle demeanor. "I'm sure she's alright, Shintaro." 

"I know that," Shintaro said. "I'm just saying I would have stayed with her." 

"Well, I'm not you," Falte said. "I had to get Kai out of there. I... Don't think he should have stayed." He glanced back at his son with a sad face. Kai realized that his father had never seen him that way, so he probably didn't know what else to do. 

Kai noticed finally that Gabriel wasn't in the house anymore. He must have gone home to repair his window. Linda was sitting down by his feet, her book face-down beside her. She was gazing up at Shintaro and Falte and shaking her head a little. Chase was standing behind the couch, his hands resting on the back of it. Abby was still hugging her boyfriend, but her arms were shaking a little. The shock of what had just happened was probably just settling into her. Kai put a hand on her knee to reassure her.

"I'm going to ask this one more time," Abby whispered in his ear. "Are you alright?" 

Kai crushed the urge to scoff. Of course he wasn't alright. He'd just watched someone die. Why would he be alright if the death was practically his fault? He removed his chin from her arm, buried his face into her shoulder, and shook his head. She got the message immediately.

"It's okay," she murmured quietly. "You're going to be okay. Just... it's alright." 

No, it's not, Kai's mind argued. Why was she saying that it was alright? Some innocent man had just died. Earlier that morning, his wife had died. The girl was alone. Why would Abby say that things were alright? What was she trying to tell him? That things would get better from here? Because it sure felt like it wouldn't. 

~

Chapter six is here! What do you guys think about this? Okay, I love Falte. He was my sister's idea, but seriously. In the first book, I always wanted to make him say something or something to happen to him, but then I was like "Wait, hold on, peoples, he's not in this book until the eeeend!" 

And NOW since Shintaro is gonna be gone, it's going to be so hard not to make him say something when they're having a regular conversation... agajkhgjahgAJKHGJKAHDG. This is going to be torturous. 

Especially when the sad part comes...

I'm sorry I keep repeating that... 

I'm just 

Preparing

You!

Well, until the next chapter!

Peace!!~~~