Chapter 5 The Unseen Threat

To my relief, the study door closed and it was back to the silence of the living room. Those words remained with me – Kai’s words, the ones that left a shiver down my spine and the desire to know more. "Dangerous people," he'd said. What could he be doing that could be considered as dangerous? But most important of all, why was I an active member of it all of a sudden? DSA I felt that I could not wait idly for the answers to be acquired: I had to comprehend the context, to realize what I got myself into. But how? It was evident, at least to me, that Kai was not telling the truth, and any effort to find out what this truth was made him shut down even more and respond obscurely. I decided to take a walk the fresh air might help to soothe my headache. The night had set in and it was still rather cold, the asphalt of the city streets washed with the yellow light of street lamps. While I was wandering alone in the streets of the city my mind was constantly returning to the mysterious existence of Kai. The man was mysterious; sometimes aloof and even hostile but other times warm and defensive. As to the work of John Howard Griffin, one could not discern the difference between true and fake. Completely absorbed in my thoughts I nearly didn’t see the smooth, black car that was tailing me from the distance. Then I suddenly stopped cold and a shiver of fear ran through me and I could see it parked down a street a corner off. The car was too ordinary; it was too appropriately plain to be a mere coincidence. I picked up my speed, sideways shooting a peek back now and then and the car continued to maintain its distance, never tailing me perfectly but was always behind me. I calmed myself down to the best of my ability in an attempt to dismiss the thoughts in my head as just mere illusions. However, the sensation of invisibility – being trailed was very acute, which was impossible to turn a blind eye to. They were closed early so I decided to make a quick decision and went to a nearby small opened café. As soon as I got in, I immediately ordered a coffee and sat on a chair close to the window to keep an eye on the street for the car. Of course, several minutes later, the car drove slowly by the café and then drove off around a corner. I could finally relax my shoulders and breathe easily but inside my head was spinning like crazy. Who were these people? But most of all, what was their interest in observing me? The barista delivered my coffee and I grasped the cup tightly trying to warm my hands as well as ease my anxiety. I had to inform Kai of this but how could I be certain that he was not implicated in the crime? Finally, this uncertainty was growing on me and it was getting worse that I felt loneliness worse than before. I sat in the café for another half an hour taking the coffee and occasionally looking out of the window. When I was finally able to leave, I sedulously avoided any route that might make me walk near the apartment so that no one could be following me. The streets were practically deserted and, as much was I happy to see that, part of me was scared as I approached the building. Frank’s suspicion would be warranted at this stage, whereas Kai remains in the study room, the door shut tightly. I paused for a moment to think harder then softly rapped on the door. When I got no response, I knocked again, then eased the door open and looked in. Kai was still at his table, with his head on the desk, his face pale and lookin’ more tired than I have ever seen him. “Kai,” I whispered and went inside. "Can we talk?" He looked up, he had a guard upon his face. "What is it?" Pausing, then wondering how to begin. “I think, I think someone has been following me. ’’ His expression sharpened instantly. "What? When?" “Just now, when I went for a walk,” I said, and without invitation, I sat down in the chair opposite to him. “There used to be a car…; it reminded me that they were spying on me.” My eyebrows shot up at the words before Kai could take them back, cursing to himself and raking a hand back through his hair. I could not help averting my gaze: “This is precisely what I was expecting,” he grumbled, under his breath and to himself. My voice was sharp now; I reached for the table and clenched the edge of the table as I whispered my next words. This moonlight made me ask Kai some questions; “Who are these people? What is happening?” He stared at me, the gaze colored with aggravation intricate with worry. “Vanessa, I can’t tell you everything but you must know that these people . . . believe me, they will not think twice before harming you to get to me This is why I’ve been so keen to protect you from all this. ” "But why?" I pressed. This tactic was next used by the Governor when he angrily demanded: “What have you done to make these people so dangerous?” This confidence made Kai got up from the chair and started moving up and down the room. ‘As long as it’s alright for me what I know’ Having access to this kind of information puts some very powerful people in very hot water with the law It’s those people who now know that I possess sensitive information that can harm them; so they will stop at nothing to ensure that I do not testify. That tingled me from the tip of my head to the toes and I had goose pimples all over my body. "What kind of information?" He turned to me, paused, and looked seriously at me then he said, Think about it, knowledge that topples all these kingpins of crime I’ve been posing as a spy, collecting data but that data becomes dangerous to such people and in turn to you. His words hit the lining of my ears like a hailstorm and the room started to crumble in around me. That being said this marriage… this marriage… was it all just a façade? Kai looked at her and just shook his head gently. “A cover? No, sweetie, it was a way I had to shield you from harm. Your father’s debt was the perfect excuse to draw you in, and yet have been careful with your safety. ” It kind of made me angry and possibly slightly fearful. “Well, have you been utilizing me?” He shook his head and moved closer to me, “No,” he said firmly. “I never intended to make you a pawn, darling But, I could not let you out there on your own, vulnerable. ” I gazed at him, attempting to differentiate the man who I once thought I grew to know from the man now before me, “And now? What happens now?” Kai let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “Now the danger is here. I will do all that I can to protect you but I need your trust in me now We must not be seen we must not make a sound. ” I only nodded mechanically, a lump in my throat; the readiness of my thought process attested to the fear I carried inside me. “Okay. ” The man said. “But you have to give me one-word promise. ” “Anything,” he said simply without any humor in his tone. I looked into his eyes and replied to him calmly. He said no more secrets. If we are to survive this, we need to tell the truth. He paused for a second, then agreed. “Alright Mr. I will never have any secrets again. ” It was evident that there was no desire on either side to prolong the meeting, for a second we held a heavy silence. They were followed by Kai who captured me in his arms and convinced me to hug him. I had a rather paradoxical feeling of apprehension and security, though I was also aware that life in the far province was much more lethal than what I was going to encounter in Albas. I nestled my head in the crook of his arm and thought of the days that would be up and coming, which would be unsteady and perilous. But, there was also that other part of me that just kind of got a little thrill; it was an excitement of the uncertain. Whatever happened after that, I was not going to be able to avoid it or opt out of it, because I was in it now in body, mind, and soul. And once you have embarked on this train of thinking, there is no way of going back.