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The smell of ash was filling his lungs as he got closer to the mansion. The mansion that was once home to him. A place he could go back to everyday, to friends, good enough food, a place to sleep. But not anymore.
Not when he met with the person from Redhill.
"Drain the Hermlocke's funds, in any shape and form. And we will pay you $#########. Is that a deal?"
Kantje heart was pounding. That was enough for his Dad's medical bills. That was enough to feed his Mom and Sister. That was enough for his Dad's future medical bills. But...
"Drain the Hemlockes funds? How?"
The guy slowly grin. Knowing he caught his target.
"It's really simple really."
Only the sound of Kantje racing heart could be heard while the business man let the silence be, for a few seconds. To..keep his prey anticipating.
"Break the boiler. Easy as pie right?"
"WHAT? BREAK THE BOILER??" Kantje yelled, not believe what he was hearing. H-he couldn't do this. He step back from the man. This was too much.
"What if the house burns down??? I can't do this." Kantje couldn't do this. He didn't want to hurt anyone. H-He..
A flashback came back to him from the day before. In the hospital.
"I'm sorry, Mr.J but if you don't pay these bills in time, we will have to stop the surgery. All the medication will have to discarded. And your dad will have to be discharged."
Kantje look at the nurse with fear. His frame shaking. His throat felt dry.
"Y-you can't be serious right? W-wait please give me another week-I'm sure we can w-work things out." Kantje was stressing, he couldn't do this. He didn't want to lose his dad. Without that mediation, his dad...
Kantje was holding back tears.
"Please Miss. Just one more week, I-Im sure I can get it in time." He was lying and it was obvious. He didn't know how he was going to get money. He didn't...The nurse let out a sigh.
She looked at him with pity. "Alright, Mr.J..Just one more week. I hope to see the funds by Sunday." With that, the nurse walked out.
The silence in the room was deafening. Kantje fell to his knees, quiet sobbing came from that room that day. Nobody to comfort him. All alone. He had to do something. Anything. He couldn't lose his Dad.
-
"Do you want the money or not Kid? This isn't a joke. It's either a yes or a no."
Kantjie let out a deep breath.
Whatever it takes.
Even if it means hurting his love's ones.
"Alright, I will do it." Kantjie made eye contact with the man, determine.
The guy smirks. Already knowing he won from the start.
"Looks like we have a deal."
-
The days were quiet, only him and his thoughts could be heard. No one visit him in the hospital. His Mom and Sister probably didn't know about him here, laying in this hospital bed, trying to forget Ivory's screams.
On why he did it. Why did he have to do it. Why did he have to kill everyone. Why he even- BRING THEM BACK.
He awoke from his thoughts when he heard a knock.
"Mr.J? A person called Ivory is here to see you." The door opens to see Ivory and the nurse. With one with a emotionless face and the other with a small smile.
"Oh...Hey."
"Hello."
The awkward silence was very loud. The nurse sensing tense quickly excuse herself.
Now it was only the two of them. Kantje thought Ivory would have yelled at him to explain more or just curse him out. But she....
She was looking at the floor, just..waiting. Waiting for him to start talking. Waiting for a explanation.
"Ivory, I-...I'm sorry." Tears were already filling his eyes, he couldn't help it. "I-I didn't mean that to happen. I just d-didn't know." He let out a shaky breathe. "I was told, it wouldn't burn down the entire house. Only the kitchen, I-"
"I didn't mean, t-to hurt anyone. I-" A sob came from his throat finally letting the tears go from how much he was holding on, these days. Filled with guilt.
"I just needed the money. I-I was desperate. I-I just-"
Memories of his Dad lying in a hospital bed with his Mom crying and his Sister trying to comfort her. His Sister being too young to know what was happening but still trying to help. He couldn't handle his Mom crying. He didn't want her to cry anymore.
He-
"Son, I'm sorry I can't help. I-..." She let a quiet sob.
"Please, don't let your father die. Please."
He could feel her tears soak in his jacket as she hugged him tightly. He was at a lost. He was tired. So so tired.
But...
He didn't want to fail her.
He didn't want his Dad to die.
He-
"I just needed the money. I-I'm sorry- Ivory. I didn't k-know what else to do. I'm so sorry. I'm-" Tears ran down his face, he probably looked like a mess right now.
"I..met a guy at Redhill, he said he w-would pay me for sabotaging the Hermlocke's. I-I didn't know. I r-really..." For the first time, Ivory finally made eye contact with him.
Ivory didn't look at him with pity, not with resentment, or even kindness. Nothing. She saw them as facts.
She believed him.
She-
He let in a deep bitter breath.
"I know, I'm a horrible person. It's o-okay if you don't- forgive me. I-I just- wanted to save my Dad. That's all I-Ivory. I-I'm so sorry, Ivory. I just-" The tears were hurting now so much stress, guilt, and feelings pouring out all at once.
"I'm sorry too."
Those words made his heart stop.
"What?"
"For everything I did to you."
What? She didn't- She doesn't have anything to be sorry for. He killed her friends. He-
"You don't have to be sorry for anything. I-"
"I deserve it."
He knows he deserves it.
"I don't care."
His eyes widened with tears. Hah...
A loud sob tore through the room.
"T-thank you..."
"Nobody deserves this. Nobody deserves anything of this."
Thats when it click. She doesn't blame him for anything. Anything at all. She- didn't...blame him. Not for trying to save his family. She-
Hah..
"Yeah." Kantje could only let out a short laugh- a bittersweet one.
"I figure you have the funds to cover your medical bills?" She ask curiously.
He suddenly remembers the guys who came into his hospital room to show him the money. The money that cost many lives. His friends lives.
He squeezed his arm tightly while responding.
"Yeah.."
"Are the police going to visit me soon?"
He blink at her. He, himself have forgotten about the police. Too busy with his thoughts. The guilt. He would have never told them about anything.
"No...no..you're fine." He let out a shaky sob. "I told them i-it was a bear attack."
Ivory looked at him with surprise.
"Why?"
He let out a big sigh.
"I already took the life's of too many innocent p-people. I-I can't do it. Even if you ask me too." Kantjie couldn't look at Ivory anymore. The guilt would always be there. But looking at her, made it even worse.
He could have done anything else.
But he didn't.
He didn't need to be reminded of that.
"Thank you." Ivory said while getting up from her seat.
"Though, I can't forgive you, Kantje."
"I know. I don't want to be."
A few seconds of silence fall upon them. A truce.
"Goodbye, Kantje. I hope we never met again."
After that she left.
Tears begin flowing down his face harder.
Knowing, he would never see Ivory again.
His last friend.