Incapable of feeling love

Nicole woke up in the middle of the night to get a cup of water and saw Lizzy sitting in the dark and she got a fright.

''Lizzy, what are you doing in the dark? You scared me'' Nicole turned on the light.

''Turn it off. I am dead already, what can darkness do to me?'' she said solemnly and Nicole furrowed her brows, not understanding what she meant by that. She went to get the water and returned to the dining table and sat across Lizzy.

''Did something happen? You don't look good''

''Hmmm'' Lizzy sighed.

''Are you depressed or going through a sudden mental breakdown?''

''Nicole, it's time''

''Time for what?''

''Priscy is in love with Leo. She is out to seduce him. Hush, I can't believe I called someone like her a friend. It hasn't been long since I passed away and she is already making attempts are him''

''It hasn't been long since you passed away but you want to throw your fiancé over to me. There isn't much difference''

''There is a difference''

''Actually, I already knew Leo was the one Priscy was in love with''

''Huh? How did you know? Why didn't you tell me about it?''

''I found out by chance. On the day you and Candy went to send off Lara, I went over to Nick's bar and saw them. They were celebrating the birthday there. I think she was about to confess to him when I accidentally bumped into a waiter and spoilt it''

''You did well''

''It wasn't intentional. I regret cutting short her confession. Give her credit. She has been in love with him for so long but all he could see was you. I understand her feelings of frustrations''

''Are you saying this because you were once rejected?''

''I'm saying that it is hard watching the one you love be with someone else or not have the same feelings towards you. You have never been rejected before, so you might not understand that feeling''

''That man who left without saying anything. Do you still think about him?''

''I don't know. Sometimes I do, but what can my thinking do for me? It will only make me more depressed. I've overcome that part of me. The day I woke up from the hospital and realised I could see dead people, I resigned to my fate. It's just that, for a moment, he made me feel normal and I forgot that I could never be normal again. I was never normal to begin with''

''It must have been hard, dealing with everything alone''

''It was hard, but, I lived through it. honestly, I don't know how I would feel when I see him again. I still can't forgive him for doing what he did but it's all in the past now''

''Don't worry. Leo is different''

''Are you serious about Leo?''

''I am dead serious. Leo can only belong to you''

''Lizzy, I have to be honest with you. The thing I am looking for is not love or a man. What I am looking for is myself. Up until now, I still don't really know who I am and what I want out of life. I am jobless even with a certificate because each time I manage to get a job, I end up getting kicked out from it because I am different and I act different. There is only one thing I can promise you; that is to help you find those who killed you''

''I understand. You don't have to feel pressured by my request. For now, let's focus on what's important and that is finding those who killed me. The rest will fall in place at the right time''

''Tomorrow, we will go and look for granny. She left feeling bad about the bracelet. I need to tell her it is okay for Leo to have the bracelet. He might really need it more than I do''

...

Graveyard.

Early in the morning of the next day, Nicole and Lizzy arrived at the graveyard looking for granny. They stopped at her usual sitting place but couldn't find her.

''Where did she go to?''

''I don't think she is here'' Lizzy turned and looked around.

''Even Candy is nowhere to be found. Something isn't right'' Nicole looked around the graves and an ominous feeling started to swell within her. She turned to Lizzy and asked, ''what day of the week is today?''

''Friday, why do you ask?''

Nicole quickly looked at her wrist watch and furrowed her brows, ''today is all souls' day. At exactly 15:00PM, this place will be surrounded by ghosts. I can't be here''

''I don't understand''

''Let's get out of here first. this place will soon be dark because of the awakening of the dead souls. Any human being seen around here on this day would be devoured by the souls of the ghosts who have refused to go to the afterlife and have turned into evil spirits. Lizzy, even you are not safe. You are new and is perfect for them to use you to get past the grim ripper''

Nicole held Lizzy's hand and they walked towards the entrance as they chatted.

''You mean all sorts of evil gets awakened on this day?''

''Yes, it is the last day of the lunar month. I completely forgot of it. That is why granny and Candy aren't around. During this time, they guard the gate of afterlife and help the grim ripper to catch all the souls that attempt to escape the hades''

''Oh, Leo is here'' Lizzy stopped and pointed at the figure walking towards her gravestone with a bundle of flowers.

''Leo, what is he doing here?'' Nicole turned and saw him.

''Nicole, please, you have to get him out of here. What if an evil spirit takes over his body?''

''Lizzy, I can't. The last time this happened and an evil spirit took over my body, I almost died. If the grim ripper hadn't found me early, my soul would have been eaten. I can't risk it happening again. he doesn't see them, so they might just ignore him. But once they found out who I am, I won't be able to save myself''

''But… he. It is dangerous to leave him here alone''

The whole place turned dark at once and ominous sounds could be heard coming from afar. Nicole cussed and said to Lizzy, ''leave this place immediately. I will find a way to get Leo out of this place''

''I will go and look for the grim ripper'' Lizzy said and ran off. Nicole started walking towards Leo's direction.

Meanwhile, Leo was startled when the whole place turned dark. He removed his phone and turned on the light. He turned when he heard footsteps drawing nearer.

''Who is there?'' he asked and felt someone take his hand.

''This place is dangerous, come with me'' Nicole said and started pulling him away.

''You, you are the owner of the bracelet. The lady I met at the restaurant, right?'' he asked as he followed her. ''Can you tell me what is going on?''

''You talk too much''

''What are those sounds I'm hearing?'' he asked again and Nicole stopped walking and he bumped into her. She ignored their close proximity and said to him.

''Listen to me because I won't repeat myself. This place is dangerous and I was asked to bring you out safely, so don't ask any question, don't look at anything and close your ears to anything you hear. Alright?''

''What are you?''

''Do you want to die?''

''No''

''Then don't ask me any questions'' she turned and started walking away. Leo kept quiet this time and simply followed her.

They soon got to the entrance and Nicole saw a few ghosts walking inside the cemetery and she cussed.

''Bend down'' she told Leo and he did.

''What is it?''

''Our scent is drawing them closer to us''

''Drawing what close? Look, I might be able to help both of us if you tell me what is going on. Even though I don't believe in superstition, I can still tell that something isn't right. What exactly are we running away from?''

''We are running away from ghosts. Do you believe in them?''

''No, I don't but I guess you must be telling the truth from the voices I am hearing''

''Good, then, just follow quietly behind me and don't make things difficult for us''

''Alright''

Leo looked at her side profile that was closer to him and felt that she was someone he knew even before the death of Lizzy but he just couldn't piece everything together.

He followed her quietly as they squatted and moved from gravestone to gravestone. Her hand held unto his firmly. He looked at their hands and noticed that she was shaking even as she held unto him. He took hold of her hand and held it instead and she turned to look at him.

''Just tell me what I need to do. I will lead the way'' he said to her and she nodded.

Nicole suddenly felt some calmness been held by him and gradually her fear subsided.