Chapter 17 — kassia wave pov
Kassia stepped forward, offering a polite smile as she greeted the older woman.
"Good day, ma. Thank you for inviting me," she said warmly.
"Oh, dear, please—just call me Charity," the woman replied, waving her hand. "'Ma' makes me feel old."
"Thank you, ma'am… I mean, Charity," Kassia corrected herself, laughing softly.
Beside her, Chicago added in a small voice, "Thank you for inviting me too."
Charity's expression softened. "Oh, my baby, of course. Come—let's fill those tummies. Lunch is served."
They followed her to the dining room. Caleb, already seated, glanced up as Kassia entered.
"Kassia, how are you doing?" he asked gently.
---
The dining table was too elegant for the tension that settled over it like a fine mist. Cutlery clinked against porcelain, each sound loud in the otherwise quiet room. Caleb sat next to Kassia, stealing glances at her as she silently pushed food around her plate. Chicago, seated across from them, entertained herself by blowing bubbles into her apple juice.
Charity, always composed, dabbed her mouth with a napkin before speaking.
"So, Kassia… I heard you were in the hospital recently. What happened?" Her voice was casual, but her eyes sharp and observant.
Kassia froze, her fork mid-air. The table stilled.
"I—" she began, hesitating. Her eyes flicked to Caleb, who gave her a small, supportive nod. "It's not something I really like to talk about."
"We're just making conversation," Charity said smoothly. "But if it's too personal…"
Kassia set her fork down. She took a deep breath, voice steady but low.
"I was coming home late from work," she began, her fingers tightening slightly. "I thought taking a shortcut would get me home faster."
Cain had just returned and silently taken his seat. Now, his attention sharpened.
"There was an alley behind a convenience store… I thought it was empty," she continued. "But there was a man there. He was forcing himself on a woman."
Everyone froze.
"He saw me. He chased me. I screamed, but no one came. He pushed me down and tried to—" her voice cracked. "If Caleb hadn't shown up when he did, I don't know what would have happened."
Caleb looked down, jaw clenched. Chicago sat perfectly still, her eyes wide.
"I'm so sorry," Charity said softly, the mask of her composure slipping. "That's... horrific."
---
Cain, now standing on the staircase, had heard everything. His expression darkened as Kassia asked quietly where the restroom was and made her way upstairs.
Without a word, Cain followed her.
"Can you remember the face of the man who did that to you?" he asked from behind her.
Kassia turned sharply. "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Answer the damn question," Cain said, his voice low and hard.
Kassia hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I can. Why?"
Cain didn't answer. He simply turned and walked away, leaving her standing there.
Weird as hell, she thought. What was that about?
Shaking her head, she continued to the restroom.
---
"Thank you for the lunch," Kassia said later as she rejoined the others. "It was really nice. But I have to go—I work today."
"Where do you work, dear?" Charity asked.
"I work two jobs. On Saturdays, I'm at the city library from 4 to 8."
"Oh? And the other?"
"I work in the restaurant section at Mysia Hostel."
Charity lit up. "You work in another hostel? I hope my son is paying you well!"
Kassia smiled. "The pay's good. Better than most places I've worked."
"Mum, enough with the questions. She's going to be late," Caleb interjected.
They all stood from the table.
"I'll drop you off," Caleb offered.
"What about Chicago?" he asked.
"She can stay with me," Charity said cheerfully. "I'm bored in this house anyway."
Kassia hesitated. "I don't know… she can be a handful sometimes."
"Hey! I'm right here, you know," Chicago pouted.
Everyone laughed.
"Maybe next time," Kassia said. "Today she'll come with me."
"Come on, let's go," Caleb said, leading her to the car.
---
As they drove off, Caleb glanced over. "Where are we going?"
"To the library. I'll take Chicago with me today," Kassia replied.
"Alright, seatbelts, ladies," Caleb joked.
Kassia and Chicago laughed, buckling up.
"You're really taking me to the library?" Chicago asked, surprised.
"Yes, Chi. Come on."
---
They never saw it coming.
A driver, speeding through a red light, veered sharply from the opposite lane and slammed into the side of Caleb's car with violent force.
Metal screamed. Glass exploded. The world spun.
Kassia felt herself thrown against the door, her breath yanked from her lungs. Time slowed. A thousand thoughts screamed through her mind—Not again. Not again. Not like this.
She heard Chicago crying, Caleb shouting her name, the sickening crunch of metal folding in on itself.
Then—silence.
Sirens blared in the distance.
Kassia blinked slowly, dazed, her hand reaching out blindly in the wreckage. Her heart pounded, her body numb, but somewhere deep inside, the panic surged.
The trauma of that alley returned in a crashing wave—the helplessness, the terror, the pain. Except this time, there were no footsteps coming to save her.
Only broken glass. Smoke. And blood.
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Autho's note
Thanks for reading
Xoxo
CC