HIS THIEF

CHAPTER FOUR - GREAT LOSSES

KYLA'S ABODE*******

Kyla laid beside her sister Kosa, on their comfortable bed. She watched her sister sleep peacefully as she stroked her hair. Kosa was all Kyla had. When Kyla was 5, she lost her parents in a car accident. It happened on a bridge. Kyla was seated at the back seat when suddenly a car was coming towards them at a high speed. Kyla's father wondered if the driver of the car approaching was unable to see. In order to avoid a head on collision, Kyla's father swerved to the other side of the road, he was unable to step on the brakes in time, so his car hit an electric pole, causing both him and his wife to fall forward. All was silent, and Kyla was panic stricken. "Dad?" Her soft voice called fearfully. "Mommy?" But they was no response. "Mommy!"

Little Kyla began to wail painfully. Suddenly a handsome tall man walked to the car. He had strange green eyes and his hair was shiny brown. He checked on Kyla's parents and frowned when he found out they were dead. He took out his phone and dialled some numbers. Kyla couldn't hear what he was saying. When he was done with the phone call, he opened the back door and took the frightened child out, and held her in his arms. He embraced her and stroked her hair gently. Behind him, Kyla could see his car parked by the side of the road. His wife and son leaned on it, both looked distress. His son was sobbing. Little Kyla understood that the man who held her in his arms was the one responsible for her parents accident. She buried her face in his shoulder and began to whimper. The man hugged her tightly, without saying a word.

Soon, the ambulance came and her lifeless parents were taken away.

"Mommmmm! Daaddddd!" She shrieked in agony and tried to jump off, but the man held her tightly. Kyla wouldn't stop crying as she watched the ambulance lights disappear.

Few minutes later an advanced lady showed up in a car. She walked up to the man and he handed Kyla over to her. "She would live at your orphanage until her relations come for her," he instructed. " I would check up on her from time to time." He concluded as he pat her head gently. Kyla howled. No one was coming for her. She had no relations, only her parents. And they were gone.

The man kept to his words and visited her at the orphanage occasionally. At times he went with his wife. Each time he visited, he always got a new pair of shoes, cloth, toy and some food stuffs for her. He tried to make her smile again. Soon, days turned into weeks, and then no one had shown up.

After giving her parents a simple burial he decided to adopt her. The day he was to take her home, a childless couple came along and adopted her. The man let them adopt her because he had a child of his own and his wife was pregnant, whereas they were childless. He made them promise to love and protect her. And that was the last time Kyla saw the man.

Kyla was loved and treated as a princess, even when the couple had their own daughter, Kosa, 5 years later. Unfortunately for Kyla, 10 years later, she lost her foster parents. Kyla was aged 20, while Kosa was 10. Kyla had a huge responsibility now. She had to care for her sister at all cost, as none of Kosa's relation was ready to help. She did all sort of menial jobs that kept them going, until one day , Kosa fell seriously ill

Luck wasn't on Kyla's side, as all her jobs stopped paying well. She couldn't even afford a test to check what was wrong with her sister. Then she heard of " Jones Designs". She wasn't sure, but she knew she could get something from the building. She spent two days studying the building undercover. She learnt the boss had a vault where he kept money. All she had to do was crack the code.

Now she had the money. She anxiously waited for the sun to rise so she could take her sister to the hospital. Suddenly, from her sleep, Kosa began to cough.

" Kosa," Kyla called as she sat up. " Are you alright? Sit up."

She pulled her up and peered into her face. Kosa wasn't responding. She just kept coughing. Kyla thought of getting her water. But then, there was blood. Kosa began to cough out blood. " Kosaaaa!" Kyla shrieked as she gathered her sister in her arms . She quickly rushed her to the nearest local hospital.

"Doctor," she cried out. " Help!" A nurse jogged out with a stretcher and Kyla placed her sister on it. She was wheeled into the emergency room and the doctor went in to check her. Five minutes later, he was out. Kosa had tuberculosis and it was critical. Treatment had to start immediately, but Kyla had to deposit a certain amount first. Kyla tried to assure the doctor that she had the money at home, but he insisted that she deposited the money first.

Kyla rushed home, but by the time she got back with the bag, Kosa was no more. Kyla felt her whole world come crumbling down. She was responsible for Kosa's death, and the death of everyone else around her. If she had not been careless, if she had been quick enough, Kosa wouldn't have died.

At 5 am, Kyla sat next to Kosa's grave. She just stayed silent as the rain wet her slowly. She was speechless, and hopeless. Suddenly, out of impulse, she screamed. At the top of her lungs. Memories of those who passed away came flooding in her head. She screamed over and over again until she lost her voice. She rested on the grave weakly and drifted into deep sleep.

"Miss?", She heard someone calling and shaking her. She squeezed her eyes open and looked around her. She was still beside her sister's grave and the day was bright already. Two hefty men dressed in black stood before her. They had dark glasses on. Before she could say anything, one of the men spoke.

" You are under arrest ma'am," came his husky voice. "For the crime of theft. Anything you say or do, would be used against you in the court of law."