Shadows Cafe

By Alitsi Clara Ahono

'Who killed Alex, did he even die?' Cinta thought she had concealed his lifeless body before walking off. But why does she feel like he is still alive and watching? Anny doesn't want to talk about it, she seems convinced that Alex is dead but Cinta isn't, POSE. Lets take care of the world, it needs us to be present and free of any distractions. 'Just for now.' Cinta promises herself because Alex was the only parent she had known all her life. Wait an attempted assassination? Lets get to work

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alitsi Clara Ahono
• Release date: Mar 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463851005

Alitsi Clara Ahono

Reading for Alitsi Clara Ahono started as a hobby, which initiated her writing journey. As she got older she kept on getting intrigued by the process of developing a book. So one day still naive, still inexperienced she gave herself a challenge and here we all are!She is a lover of life and is grateful for her position in it:Life to her is a beautiful line: not straight, not crocked just beautiful.She is a sister to her only sister and two brothers, a mother to her two daughters, a lover and best friend to her life partner.Feel free to leave your comments to any of her books.Happy reading!

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SHADOWS CAFÉ

By Alitsi Clara Ahono

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By Alitsi Clara

Copyright 2019 Alitsi Clara

Smashwords Edition

CHAPTER ONE

Looking at Alex struggle to keep his eyes open, hit me hard that he was not going to be there for long. At least not the longest I had thought he would, until maybe if what they say is true, ‘I see him in the next world.’

I…I have mmm said every mmm thing to you.

He struggled to let his words out as my hands caress the back of his neck trying to keep him awake a little bit longer.

mmm… be strong little mmm Bengites Bar mmm tez, does not have to die.. mmm like me.

I looked into his eyes and saw where all the words he was mumbling came from; my heart went out to him as I struggled to decide what to do. If I could restore life I would have done so in a heartbeat but he had not taught me that yet.

mmm, you are.. vvvery little mmmm but you are all they need to stop all these killings mmm, he paused and tried to laugh but only blood shot out of his mouth. He coughed a little more blood then went silent.

My hands started to tremble beneath his neck; I looked at him, ‘How can they afford to look so peaceful…’ I thought tears effortlessly tracing either sides of my face. He had taught me how to feel for a pulse before, his was quiet, the kind of quiet which clearly shouted: you are all alone now girl, no more Alex, no more family. I laid him gently on the ground looking around to see if there was any other person. The purple and orange sky had beautifully paraded on the horizon and I knew it was only a matter of time before any other joggers took this path.

‘I cannot leave him here in the open.’ On impulse, I dragged him to the nearby blueberry bushes and concealed his lifeless body the best way I could. There was too much blood, on his shirt, on the ground where he had fallen, even on my tracksuit and shoes. The shooter was good he hit him between his left shoulder and his heart, may be it hit his heart too I couldn’t tell.

‘I need to get help, maybe he is still alive’ I thought as I reluctantly walked away; looking around to make sure no one was there just yet.

*******************

Tears casually streamed down my face as the morning breeze swept against my skin doing its best to dry the stream that had effortlessly created a path to my chin. ‘What just happened? Who had taken away the only family I had…’ I kept going through the last scene playing and replaying it trying to find that one thing that would make sense. ‘I missed something, maybe the first sharp corner we went through’ I kept thinking as more possible scenarios and places crisscrossed my mind.

One minute we were doing our morning squats and the next he was bleeding out in my arms… Not sure where to go, I walked down to SHADOWS café; a small coffee place tacked on the periphery of the 4th bend on the end of the estate entrance owned by the only other person I knew apart from Alex. Early today huh?! Come in little, she said as soon as she saw me approaching her café from the employees’ entrance.

You are on your own? she asked caressing my hair. I was not sure how to respond, keeping quiet seemed like the only thing that made sense. Probably I was still in shock or I just didn’t know how to respond. it is either bad or too bad. She said leading me to her office. There is nothing a mug of hot chocolate can’t fix, especially on a cold morning like this one, she added setting a mug before me. Go on baby. She said then left and for the next couple of minutes, all I could hear were the instructions she was giving her staff. You do not look too good my dear; everything well back home? she asked walking back to the office as I glugged the last of the hot chocolate. Go slow on your mug or we will be wheeling somebody to the accidents and emergency. She said looking at me keenly. He is gone. Isn’t he? she said not breaking her stare.

I nodded wondering how she could see through me. I took the piece of paper Alex had pressed in my hand from my breast pocket and gave it to her. She placed it in her brazier straps looked around then whispered.

Alex was a good man who took care of you. Never forget that. He will be watching over you; you will be fine. she said managing a faint smile.

Finish your cup. There will be a car waiting for you at the farthest end of the east parking lot. Do not let anyone see you getting on it. She added then left at once locking the door behind her cautiously. ‘How could she tell he was no more? I had not told her a thing’ I wondered silently finishing my mug, maybe this sold me out, I whispered looking at the blood stained tracksuit I had on. do not let anyone see you I kept repeating quietly pepping outside the window of her office. Not many people were outside yet, just a few street children, with glue in plastic bottles and rough hair moving about in small groups.

Just like her, Alex was a very cautious man especially in public places: we never had a relaxed outdoor experience even in the kids’ park. I remember he would drag me off the park saying, That’s about it for today young lady! I would complain viciously and break down but nothing made anything any different… That’s how fathers look after their little girls. He would say over ice cream when we got home. So