On a String

Chapter 15

There should be a beating heart inside (thumpthump-thumpthump-sheshould-behere-thumpthump-thumpthump).

Not death. Not emptiness.

But the heart (owner... she, Clarissa) has died and consequently, this (her... Clarissa's) house had as well.

(Graveyard)

Kai swallowed.

Death resonated in the polished windows, in the cute flower garden, in the painted ceramic bird bath... It was the little, fussy details which gave the truth away, such as the slightly overgrown lawn, the full letterbox indicating that the home (no, - house) hasn't been cared for in a while.

Because the heart hasn't been dead for very long, the signs of death are only just beginning to become apparent.

"You okay?"

Kai turned to see Cole looking at him worriedly. "I can't believe... I mean... she was just taken from here one day... and never came back," he heaved a small sigh.

"It's not your fault," Cole said softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"That doesn't matter. It shouldn't have happened at all," Kai's eyes hardened as he looked back at the dark (haunted) house. The polished windows glared back at him like accusing eyes; death seeming to echo in their depths. "And I'm going to prevent it from happening again,"

"Kai," Cole spoke again, and this time, his voice rose slightly in mild urgency.

"Yes?"

"Just remember that I'm here, okay?" Cole asked, and Kai knew that it wasn't a plea for him to not leave Cole behind or forget about him. Rather, it was a gesture of support (like it'sokaytoleanonme) which let Kai know that he wasn't on his own.

And Kai appreciated it. Deeply.

"Thanks," he whispered, as the two crossed the road and approached the wrought iron gate.

(The gate between life and death. The threshold between light and dark. The gap between live and die. The wall between love and destruction).

Kai, with trembling fingers, slid the bolt back and pushed the gate open. Like the arm on a dead body, the gate was unresponsive and made no sound as it swung out. Kai swallowed again, his tongue feeling like swollen sandpaper in his too-dry throat.

They shouldn't be here.

It was wrong to disturb the dead.

Taking a cautious breath, Kai hesitantly walked through the gate (over the threshold and into another world), feeling Cole do the same silently behind him. They stepped onto a cheery crazy paving path which lazily snaked through the overgrown (uncared for) lawn up to the porch and front door.

"You got the lock picking set?" Cole murmured softly, and Kai wondered if he too was affected by the loneliness of the house or if his voice was just lowered so as to not attract any unwanted attention.

"Yeah," Kai handed the small bundle to him and Cole took it wordlessly, understanding that for Kai, opening this house would be like opening a tomb.

Death.

Cole moved forward, inserting and fiddling with the small metal springs inside the lock, pressing and flicking the tools until the lock popped open with a soft 'click'. He opened the door, and gestured for Kai to walk in as he packed away the tools.

Kai walked into the (dead) house wordlessly, feeling like he was invading some sort of something... but couldn't tell what. It seemed as if something was watching them; warning them that they shouldn't be here for the dead were better off dead and undisturbed; that they deserved to rest peacefully.