Flower on the ash

The plane landed after good 5 hours. It was 7:00 p.m. I was tired from the trip but Kelly was my first priority now. Alex offered me a drive to Kelly's home and I agreed to it. He left after dropping me. After reaching Kelly's apartment I rang her doorbell. Kelly opened the door and let me inside. She made me sit on her bed and she sat next to me.

" What happened Kelly?" I asked and put my hands on top of hers.

" Anna. Today there was a parcel on my door." she said holding my hand tighter.

" So? Don't beat around the bush Kelly. Tell me directly." I said. I was getting really impatient now.

" T-there was photos inside. " she said and started sobbing.

" Hey! Don't cry Kelly. " I wiped her tears and hugged her. After some minutes she calm down a bit and brought a box to me. I took the box from her hand and placed it on the bed. I opened the box and it contained numerous photos b-but many of them were covered from B-BLOOD!!!

I picked one of the photo with trembling hands. It was also covered in blood but the face on the photo was visible. It was a couple's photograph and by looking at it, I can guess that they are Kelly's father and mother . There were different photos of them covered in blood and also the photos of the car accident in which her parents died. Then there was a photo of a dog. It was Kelly's pet, Morphy , which was lost three years ago. His photo was also covered in blood. This naturally means that the dog had died too. Apart from the blood covered photos there were some clean ones too. All the photos were of Kelly in different places like grocery shopping, working at bar, having lunch with friends and me etc. Behind one of the photos there was written in bold letters that " YOU'LL BE THE NEXT ONE TO DIE!!! "

I closed the box and looked at Kelly. She put the box back away from our sight. She came and sat on the floor, near my legs and put her head on my lap.

" Anna, I'm scared. Scared of everything. " she said and hide her face on my lap. I slowly stroked her hair.

" Don't be scared. I am always with you. " I said, consoling her.

" But what if something again happens to my close one. I will not be able to stand that. " She said and just then the door bell rang, making Kelly stiff. I stood up in order to open the door when Kelly pulled me back.

" Don't open the door. What if they are the killers." Kelly said holding me back.

" Nothing will happen. Let's go. " I said and assured her. She started walking with me to the door but picking up a flower vase in the middle of the way and I just rolled my eyes. I opened the door and Kelly held her breath, ready to hit the person if someone appears to be unfamiliar.

I opened the door to see Alex was standing on the door. Kelly let go of her breathe she was holding in and put the vase on the shelf beside her. Kelly invited Alex in to the drawing room and served him water.

" What are you doing here?" I asked Alex.

" To take you back. " he said and I looked at the clock. It was fifteen minutes past eleven.

" Oh. " I said and I looked at Kelly. She gave me a look like, ' You can go now. I'm fine. ' With that me and Alex left to head back at home. I wanted to tell Alex about Kelly but I couldn't get the right way to say so.

" You want to say something to me?" Alex asked after several minutes passed.

" You kept staring at me time to time. It's distracting. " he said and stopped the car as we reached my house. Instead of getting off I remained seated.

" Kelly got death threats." I said and sighed.

"Huh?" Alex said. It was the first time I had seen Alex shocked with something. I had to ask Alex for help. Kelly won't be able to do anything with her current state. I don't want to loose her. She was the only one at the time when I felt forlorn.

" I need your help. " I said to Alex.

" Hmm. I understand. " Alex said and nodded his head. I opened the door to get off the car. Alex also got off and take out my luggage from the car's back. I picked my luggage and started walking away from the car to my house when I stopped in my way. I turned back and saw Alex staring at me.

" Thank you. " I said to Alex from the bottom of heart and he just nodded with a soft smile. Although things that happened, we both didn't want that, but still he helped me a lot. I turned around and started walking back to my house.