''Yes, he is the only one who can exorcise the ghost away from the man''
''Give me your phone'' Leo said to her and she hesitated, ''look, I don't care what kind of grudge you have with him but right now, I am not willing to risk your life by allowing you to go to that man and make a fool out of yourself. I am going to call him and ask for his help''
''He might not agree to help me''
''We will see about that. He looked like he cared about you'' Leo snatched the phone from her and looked for Detective Gail's number to call him, ''you should try to delay the couple but do it discretely, okay?'' Leo said to her and she nodded her head.
''Do it discretely'' Nicole repeated after Leo and turned towards the couple. She saw them leaving after taking their order and a thought came to mind. She walked up to them.
''Hi, can I ask you two a question?'' The couple looked at her strangely. ''I am not a strange woman. That man making the call over there is my… he is my… we just know each other'' Nicole looked at the ghost behind the man. She was still closed to the man and sniffing away his life. It was a horrid scene for Nicole who could see her.
''Are you hitting on my boyfriend, lady?'' the woman beside the man asked and Nicole shook her head.
''Then, why are you looking at him like that?'' the woman was getting angry and Nicole feared being misunderstood so she asked the man straight ahead.
''I hate being misunderstood like this but I need to ask you if your wife is dead?''
''What?'' the man furrowed his brows.
''I am his girlfriend. What wife are you talking about?''
''Your wife passed away recently right?'' Nicole asked the man again and saw the fear in his eyes.
''Look here, I don't know what you are talking about'' the man denied.
''What is she talking about?''
Nicole looked around and saw the gazes of the people and their murmuring. Leo finished the call and turned. When he saw what was happening, he sighed and went closer to them.
''Can we talk outside, please?'' Leo asked the couple.
''Let's go, babe; there is nothing to talk about. What kind of embarrassment is this?'' the lady said.
''Let's talk outside'' the man suddenly said and walked out pulling the woman along.
''Was this the best you could do?'' Leo turned to ask Nicole and she frowned following him and the couple outside.
….
Leo found a serene place away from the restaurant and sent the couple there, while they waited for Detective Gail to arrive.
''She has something very important to tell you and I hope you listen to answer her questions rightly, because your life depends on it'' Leo said to the man.
''You asked me if my wife was dead?'' the man looked at Nicole whose expression turned serious.
''Yes, I know this might be hard to believe but I see the spirit of your wife tugging you everywhere you go. she is eating away your soul''
''My wife indeed died but that was a day before our wedding a year ago. I always had a feeling that she was close beside me but I didn't know what to do about it. I constantly get nightmares and after I wake up, I find myself coughing out blood''
''That's right. The blood you are coughing out is your life. As we speak even now, she is still beside you. Can you tell me how she died?''
''On the night before our wedding, we went and met with my family for dinner, but she suddenly complained of stomach ache afterwards and when we arrived at the hospital, she was already dead. The doctors didn't find anything strange wrong with her but her death still remains a mystery''
''Your late wife had become a vengeful ghost because she finds it unfair that you are alive and she is dead. You two made a covenant, right?''
''Yes, we did to never be apart but she is dead''
''Because of that covenant, she is still beside you and because you had already moved on, she finds it unfair. If we don't get rid of her spirit, it won't be long before you die''
''Can you see dead people? How?''
''It just happened that way''
''Darling, what rubbish is this woman spouting and you actually believe her? Also, why don't I know that you almost got married before?''
''If you love this man, then I suggest you keep quiet and listen to her'' Leo warned the woman and she became quiet.
''Wait for a few more minutes, someone will come and help you. He will be able to get rid of the spirit of your late wife who has turned into a vengeful spirit'' Nicole assured the man. she looked up and saw the ghost laughing.
''You think you can help him?' She asked Nicole who furrowed her brows. 'Why don't you think of how to get rid of the black cloud following you first? It will consume you before you know it'
''What?'' Nicole looked at the ghost.
''Those two men. You are going to end up saving one and dying by the hands of the other. When the cloud finally covers up your entire life, it will suck you in, you half dead monster'
''What do you mean by that?''
Leo and the couple looked at Nicole as she continued to communicate with the ghost they couldn't see, but her actions gave them goosebumps.
''You think you are a hero saving humans from danger? Let me warn you, the real danger are humans themselves. Imagine what people would think or feel if they all knew about how you suddenly came back from the dead?''
''You… who are you?'' Nicole screamed at the ghost hysterically. Just then, Detective Gail arrived and got down from his car. when he saw the ghost communicating with Nicole, he shouted at Nicole as he ran forward with the amulet hanging around his neck.
''Don't listen to anything she is saying, Nicole. She is trapping you''
Nicole couldn't hear anything anymore, as her eyes stayed glued to the ghost who was now crawling out from behind the man. she stood on four and was about to jump on to Nicole when Detective Gail came between them. He hugged Nicole tightly as his palm opened and a series of letters appeared. The ghost dissipated and entered into the amulet.
''Is okay, Nicole. You are fine now'' Detective Gail said to Nicole and she finally came back to her senses. She took a step back and was about to fall and Leo held her steady. He and Detective Gail looked at each other.
One thing was certain. They didn't like each other!!
After exorcising the ghost, Detective Gail came some instructions to the couple that they were to sprinkle stony salt at the front of their apartment and smear ashes on the door to prevent evil spirits from going into their apartment again.
The couple thanked them before going away leaving the three people alone,
''I didn't think you would call me again. I'm happy you did''
''She didn't call you. I was the one who did because I didn't want her to risk her life going against a ghost I couldn't see'' Leo said, still holding Nicole's hand.
Detective Gail looked at him and chuckled, ''I see. In any case, it was good you called''
''Detective Gail. That woman knew me. How does she know me?'' Nicole looked at Detective Gail with a serious expression, ''don't lie to me. If you do, it will really be over for the two of us''
'Are you in a relationship? What do you mean it will be over for the two of you? This woman really knows to word her sentences' Leo thought to himself as he looked at the two of them.
''The black cloud is becoming more visible by the day'' he looked at Leo and turned to Nicole, ''can we speak alone? There is something I need to tell you''
''We came together. I am not leaving you here'' Leo said to Nicole.
''Wait for me in the car… please'' she said to him. Leo looked at Detective Gail once more before going away to the car.
''Tell me now. The secret behind the dark cloud''
''Before that. I need to warn you about something''
''What is it?''
''That man. You should consider staying away from him. He is bad news to you''
''What do you mean by that?''
''That woman you are helping. The fiancée of that man. The one who killed her is someone close to that man. It is dangerous''
''What?'' Nicole turned and looked towards the direction of Leo and asked Detective Gail, ''are you sure about what you are saying?''
''There are two people whom I see the woman's shadow on. One of them wants that man to herself and the other wanted that woman. I still haven't figured out which one among them is the real killer''
''The ghost told me something else. She said that I was going to end up saving one and dying by the hands of the other. Is that true?''
''She is an evil spirit. You don't have to take what she says seriously'' Detective Gail said but his eyes were filled with worry as he gazed upon the shadow of Nicole which was overlapping his. He couldn't tell her the truth.