Leo just finished taking his bath and came out of his bathroom wearing a towel around his waist while wiping his hair with a small towel. He suddenly felt a burning sensation on his wrist and lifted his hand. He frowned looking at the brown bracelet that had turned red and was shiny.
'What the…'' he blinked twice and looked at it. the sight frightened him and he attempted to remove the bracelet but found out he couldn't. He immediately thought of Nicole and went into his closer to change and leave the house.
….
Lizzy and Candy were chatting as they walked towards Nicole's apartment when they saw a body lying on the ground by the door and rushed forward.
''That's Nicole'' Lizzy said and rushed forth.
''What happened to her?'' Candy looked at Lizzy who also had a puzzled look on her face. They tried to shake up but she wasn't moving. Candy placed her finger by her nose, ''she is not breathing''
''Huh? Nicole, what's wrong? Candy, what do we do?'' Lizzy sighed and became worried and anxious.
''I don't know. Where did she go today?''
''She went to meet Detective Gail and I went to find you and granny''
''Did that shaman do something to her?'' Candy asked and took Nicole's hand. She looked at it and frowned.
''What is it? did he do something to Nicole?'' Lizzy was anxious.
''Let's send her inside first. I will go and look for granny. She might have knowledge of why she is like this''
''What about the hospital? Can't we take her to the hospital first?''
''No, if this has to do with something she ate or drunk, or maybe a vengeful spirit tried to possess her, this won't be something that the hospital can help us with'' Candy stood up and looked around before saying to Lizzy, 'let's send her inside first''
''Alright'' Lizzy stood up and together they helped Nicole into the apartment. They laid her on the bed and panted for breath.
''Damn, I didn't know Nicole could be so heavy'' Candy complained.
''I know right?''
''Watch her, I will go and look for granny. Don't leave her alone''
''I will stay by her side. Hurry up''
'En'' Candy left the apartment and Lizzy sat by the bed. A while later, the doorbell rang and she stood up and walked over.
Lizzy looked into the intercom and saw Leo at the door, ''Leo? What is he doing here? What if he takes her to the hospital before granny and Candy arrives? I can't also leave him outside the door'' she thought for a while before deciding to open the door. If worse comes to worse, she could just possess him and keep him in place.
When the door opened and Leo got inside, he found no one in the hall and furrowed his brows. He looked around and turned towards Lizzy. She looked at him with an unknown emotion.
The bracelet on Leo's hand continued to produce a burning sensation on him and he touched it. He turned towards Nicole's bedroom and was tempted to go inside. He got to the door and stood there for a while before shaking his head but just as he turned to leave, the bracelet produced an intense pain on his wrist making him scream.
''Leo, what is it?'' Lizzy rushed to his side.
''What is wrong with this bracelet?'' Leo murmured to himself.
Lizzy frowned and turned towards the bedroom of Nicole, ''it can't be right? Is this happening to Leo because of Nicole?''
''Yes'' Granny and Candy appeared and stood at a distance.
''Granny, why?''
''Lizzy, I told you that a time would come when you will have to make a decision, right?''
''I don't understand''
''Granny said that, Nicole needs the energy from the bracelet to become conscious again. She had lived without the bracelet for quite a while and now her body is weak. Also, her body was almost used by Azar. Azar is manipulating Detective Gail. He is totally under her control''
''Who is Azar?''
''The evil spirit who is the same age with Granny. She has escaped the hands of the grim reaper and is currently looking for a body to come alive and she has set her eyes on Nicole''
''What?''
''Yes, Nicole was lucky because the bracelet was with Leo and the energy within her was not enough for the mark of the bead to show, without it, no ghost can possess the cursed one''
''Then, what is Leo supposed to do? Granny, are you the one who brought him here?''
''It was the bracelet, but the rest is up to Leo. We can't wake Nicole up without his co-operation''
''How?''
''Haven't you watched movies before. He has to either remove the bracelet from his wrist and put it on her or he has to share some of his energy with her by kissing her'' Candy looked at Lizzy.
''He… has to kiss Nicole?'' Lizzy asked and looked at Leo who was now sitting in the hall, seemingly troubled.
''Yes, that's why granny wants to know if you will be comfortable watching your fiancé kiss your best friend?''
''I…'' Lizzy suddenly found it difficult to give a definite answer.
''I knew it. giving Leo to Nicole was all just talk but now that it comes down to really helping save her, you are wavering, Lizzy. Nicole didn't even think twice before deciding to help you''
''Stop it Candy. I am not wavering'' Lizzy tried to defend herself but her voice was quivering.
''Really. tsk!!'' Candy rolled her eyes at Lizzy.
''Let him do it. I don't care. I am dead anyways'' Lizzy said as she clutched her fists tightly, ''but, can I leave while he does that?''
''The choice is yours'' Granny said to her.
''I am going to the graveyard'' Lizzy said and looked at Leo once before going out.
''Go and keep her company'' Granny said to Candy.
''Can't I stay back and watch their first kiss?'' Candy said with a puppy face.
''No!!''
''Fine, whatever!!'' she tsk-ed and also left.
Granny turned visible and walked to Leo, ''are you planning to sleep here? If you came, you should check on her''
Leo almost fell when he heard the voice and looked up. When he saw Granny, he was frightened, ''who are you?''
''Don't worry. I came because I need you to do something that only you can do. There is no need to know who I am, take it that I am a ghost''
''Huh?''
'Come with me'' Granny went into Nicole's room and Leo followed even though he was confused. He saw Nicole on the bed and rushed to her side.
''Nicole, what's wrong with her?''
''She is like this because of you, so you have to take responsibility. If she wasn't out looking for ways to help you find the killers of your fiancée, she wouldn't be like this''
''What happened to her?'' All the fear disappeared from his face as he held Nicole's hand, ''she is so cold'' he murmured.
''The bracelet, she shares a deep affinity with the bracelet that is now with you. She needs to have it back to gain consciousness''
''But, I can't seem to remove it. I tried but I couldn't''
''That's because it has now acknowledged you as its new owner, so both of you needs to share it from now onwards. Whatever happens to her, you will feel it too''
''Tell me, how do I wake her up''
''You have to share the energy in you with her by kissing her''
''Huh? I have to kiss her?'' Leo looked at Granny sceptically.
''Do you think I have the time to joke with you on something like this? Anyways, now that you are here, take care of it'' Granny said and disappeared.
''Where did she go to?'' Leo looked around and rubbed his arms. He looked at Nicole and his face turned red. He sighed and scratched his hair, ''do I really have to go to such extremes? She is Lizzy's friend''
Leo stood up puzzled, ''just this once, Leo. You won't talk about this to anyone. Just a short perk and that's it''
After reaffirming himself, he knelt down beside the bed closer to Nicole's face. Looking at her, he gulped and his Adam's apple moved slightly up and down. He stared at her lips as his heartbeat quickened.
Leo closed his eyes and leaned closer to Nicole. with their faces just an inch away, he placed his arms on her shoulders and touched her lips before standing away. He flushed and fanned his face, breathing in and out. He looked at her and realised she was still unconscious.
''What? She isn't awake? This can't be a deep kiss spell, right? Wait, we are not even acting. What kind of cliché situation is this?'' he looked at Nicole, ''you… just don't wake up and say I took advantage of you. I don't want to do this either but your life is on the line. I will just take it that I am doing you a huge favour.
Leo sat closer to the bed and placed his hand under Nicole's head, lifting it slightly up. He leaned closer and touched her lips again, this time, taking his time to pry open it as he kissed her deeply. He subconsciously, lifted her upper body up and held her back tightly as he kissed her and a moaned escaped from him. He tightened his grip on her and closed his eyes going deeper and deeper with every kiss.