39 The woman who eats souls

Nicole rushed out of her apartment and saw Detective Gail getting down from his car. She took a step back, fear evident in her eyes as she asked in a quivered voice, ''what are you doing here?''

''I think you know why I am here?'' he replied while adjusting his amulet, ''one of the little ghosts you are keeping defiled a rule yesterday. I am here to send her in for punishment''

''Under whose orders? You can't take anyone away from me without my permission'' Nicole glared at him.

''That's why I brought something in exchange for her'' he said slyly.

''What?''

Detective Gail went back to his car and removed a white transparent gourd and showed it to Nicole.

''You… what did you do to Lizzy?'' Nicole could clearly see Lizzy's spirit inside the gourd.

''What I did to her doesn't matter. What matters is how much time she had left. I'm sure you know already. The more time she spends inside this place, the lesser she has here. So, are you going to give me that child in exchange for your friend or should I keep her here forever?''

''You are so despicable. This clearly against the rules too. You can't capture a soul whose time isn't up yet?''

''Technically, I didn't capture her. I just set a trap and she fell into it herself''

''I am not giving Candy away and I am going to bring Lizzy back even if I have to make a deal with the grim reaper''

''You know the grim reaper only makes costly deals. You just have to exchange one for the other with me''

''I don't want to. Do you think I don't remember what you tried to do to me? You are despicable, I regret ever been nice to you''

''Really? Then, I am glad I made you realise how dangerous it is to trust just anyone. Guess what I also found out? He little fiancé is going to be drugged a few nights from today. Those two so-called friends are the worse. That man is just like you? He trusts people too much''

''What?''

''Why? Are you going to save him? If you go, you might just end up as a victim. He is going to be quite a mess''

''What is the reason for telling me this? What exactly do you want to achieve''

''Well, I can't tell you that. It's a secret''

''Go, I am not making any deal with you. I am going to find the grim reaper'' Nicole walked away and Detective Gail looked at the apartment. He couldn't go inside because of the caste granny had done on the outside. He looked at the door.

''I know you can hear me. You know the kind of deals the grim reaper makes right? Is it alright for her to lose an important memory of hers just to save you? You can still make the right choice while she is gone. If you come out, I will release Lizzy and take you instead. You just have to be punished for a few days before being set free''

Inside the apartment, Candy was confused and scared. She turned to granny saying, ''grandma, what do I do?''

''If you want Nicole's efforts to be in vain, then you can leave. I won't stop you and both Nicole and Lizzy will never forgive you. Do you think he will free Lizzy just because he is saying it? He won't even if you give yourself to him. The only person who can help now is the grim reaper and he makes deals with only humans. Let's wait for Nicole to return.

After not seeing anything for a few minutes, Detective Gail became angry. he looked into the gourd maliciously saying, ''seems the bond between you two is so strong? She is even willing to go to the grim reaper and make a deal with him because of you'' he scratched his head and threw the gourd into the backseat before driving away.

###

Nicole arrived at an intersection where an accident had just taken place. While on the way, she had browsed the internet to find out where a recent accident had taken place since that was the only place she could find the grim reaper. She saw quite a line in front of her. The grim reaper was giving white flowers each to the deceased souls as they walked to him. Nicole went and sat down at a bus stop closer and waited.

It was a little late into the night when the grim reaper sent the ghosts away and returned. He sat beside her.

Noticing his presence, Nicole opened her bag and removed a can beer and handed to the man and removed another one for herself. The man opened his and sipped before asking, ''are you here because of Candy?''

''En, what can I do to help her?'' Nicole sipped her beer.

''With such gullibility, how did you manage to survive all these years? I guess the good karma you gathered came in handy.

''Huh? Good Karma?''

''En. Someone actually asked me to help you. She gave up something precious in exchange for Lizzy to be freed''

Nicole looked at the man, ''who helped me?''

''The flower shop is now mine''

''Huh? What flower shop… Lara's flower shop? Did Lara make a deal with you using the flower shop?''

''Yes, in a way the shop is connected to you, so I could make an exchange with it. I will get daily supplies of flowers from her shop now''

''Lara, the shop was precious to her. how could she exchange it so easily?''

''She said she was paying you back for what you did for her and is doing for her husband. You bought a lot of groceries to send some to him at the hospital, right?''

''How did you know that?''

''She is paying her gratitude. I hope you don't come to me again to make any deal in the future. You only have your life now''

''Thank you''

''Go home, Lizzy will be home by the time you arrive and stay away from that shaman, his soul has been taken over by Azar. He isn't himself at the moment. He is acting according to Azar's direction''

''You mean; he isn't Detective Gail anymore?''

''En, so be careful. I will accompany you home tonight'' the grim reaper stood up and walked away and Nicole followed him.

###

When Nicole opened the door and entered, Lizzy and Candy ambushed her into a tight hug.

''Nicole, I missed you so much. I'm sorry for my words''

''Thank you for protecting me, Nicole. I promise to exchange my life with yours when you need it''

''What life? You are already dead'' Nicole said and Candy smiled sheepishly.

''Right, I am dead already. But, it doesn't matter. I will definitely pay you back''

''Lizzy, how are you?'' Nicole looked at Lizzy.

''I'm fine. I was so scared. I thought I wasn't going to see you again. I thought I wasn't going to be able to apologise before being taken away''

''It's fine as long as you are here now. I'm hungry'' Nicole left them and went to the kitchen.

###

Leo was in his office when Priscy entered without knocking. She walked to his saying, ''this is the budget for the promotion of the new game, Sun''

''Thank you'' Leo didn't look at her. he had his gaze fixed on his screen. Priscy looked over and saw that it was a picture of Lizzy.

''You must miss her a lot, right? Lizzy was such a bundle of joy''

''I am feeling sentimental now that her memorial is just a day away''

''I understand, but don't worry too much. Everything will be fine soon'' she said with an underlining meaning that Leo didn't catch on. He was too focused on the picture to notice the way Priscy was looking at him.

''Right, how about we invite that friend of yours? You said she was a friend of Lizzy's?'' Priscy said and Leo looked at her.

''Nikki?'' he asked her.

''Yes, it will be great to introduce her to everyone as Lizzy's friend''

''I will think about it'' Leo said and leaned against the chair.

''Then, I will leave you to work'' Priscy said and walked away. When he got to the door, Leo called her.

''Priscy''

''Yes, what is it?''

''You know… I don't remember telling you about Nicole being Lizzy's friend. How did you know she was Lizzy's friend?''

Priscy stiffened and her face turned pale. She smiled forcefully saying, ''have you forgotten? You told me about her''

''Really? Did I?'' his voice was full of suspicions.

''Yes, you did''

''Okay, you can go'' Leo said and looked at Priscy as she left the office. He frowned and furrowed his brows. He didn't know why he was suddenly suspicious of her. He removed the wrist watch he took from Nicole that night and looked at it.

''This was in my drawer a few days ago, then it suddenly was found in Nicole's bag'' I hope that I am wrong about you, Ray. I hope I am wrong'' he murmured.