''Don't worry. I won't be so vulnerable'' Nicole assured them.
''The rain has an obnoxious aura with it, I wonder if something is going to happen'' Candy looked at the window.
''You feel it too, right? I thought I was overthinking things''
''What are you two talking about?'' Lizzy asked.
''Usually, when it is raining like this, it means an evil spirit is out to eat souls. We call her the woman who eats souls. She devours the souls of humans using the spirit of their loved ones to trap them and lure them away''
''There is such a thing?''
''En. Usually, when people lose their loved ones, the sorrow and sadness blinds them and they wish they could bring them back to life. Riding on their wishes, she makes a deal with them and then trap them into a world that connects them to their loved ones''
''Then, isn't that dangerous. It is clear deception'' Lizzy said.
''That is why she is called, 'the woman that eats souls', I hope the grim reaper catches her earlier if now it will make things a little difficult. This house might be surrounded by ghosts tomorrow. That 'woman' once tried to trap my mother and brother using me but I was quick to find out and remedied the situation, so we have bad blood between us''
''How does she look like?'' Lizzy asked curiously.
''She never gets old. A lot of people say that it is the souls of the living beings that keep her healthy and young. She is always in a white ancient Parisian gown with sparkling earrings. She had this aura that is unique. In any case, when you see her, you will know right away that she is the one. She is different'' Nicole explained though she wasn't sure if she had changed or not. She simply described her based on how she remembered her.
''Then, let's not get in her way. Nicole, even if you see her doing something, you must pretend not to see it''
''Alright, stop nagging like a grandma. I'm going to bed. You two better stay and watch over me as I sleep'' Nicole went over to her bed and laid down, closing her eyes.
#####
Next day.
Nicole took a bag of the groceries she bought and got ready to go to the hospital to visit Lara's husband. When she opened her door, she saw Leo also ready to knock at that time.
''What are you doing here?'' she asked him and he stepped back, giving her way. Nicole turned and locked her door before facing him.
''I came to apologise. I'm sorry about everything. For calling you names and for making assumptions about you''
''Why? Did you find out your two childhood best friends are lying to you? Is that why you are here to apologise for not believing me earlier?'' Nicole asked him and he took the bags from her.
''Where are you going?'' he asked.
''Hospital''
''I will take you there?''
''Why are you suddenly so nice to me?'' Nicole walked out to the car with him. He opened the backdoor and placed the bags inside before opening the front door for her and she got inside. Although she knew his reason for coming, she still pretended to not know.
''Fine, you were right. Ray has something to do with Lizzy's death and I was wrong to have said those things to you. I am sorry, I apologise'' Leo said in one breath and turned to look at Nicole.
''That's more like it'' she said with a smile, 'let's go''
Leo shook his head and started the car.
Meanwhile at the graveyard, a woman walked out of the cemetery wearing a Parisian gown with sparkling earrings. She stood at the roadside and smiled, ''it feels so good to be alive'' she said and disappeared.
….
Leo pulled over at the car park and got down with Nicole. She went to collect the bags he had removed from the backseat and said to him, ''wait here, I will be back soon''
''No, I am going with you'' he said and snatched the bags back adding, ''lead the way''
Nicole nodded her head and led the way. They entered the hospital and went straight to the ward of Lara's husband. Nicole knocked at the door before opening it. She saw Lara's cousin feeding Lara's husband.
''Hi''
''Nicole is here'' the man said as he ate the porridge. His health had improved over the month and he was now able to eat liquid food. He couldn't walk again due to the impact of the accident but he was positive.
''I am here. Are you doing well?'' Nicole took the bags from Leo and placed them on the table.
''Nicole, you don't have to keep buying us things each time you are visiting'' Monica, Lara's cousin said to Nicole.
''It's nothing. You don't get time to go shopping because you are always busy here. This is the little I can do to help'' Nicole smiled and felt grateful towards Monica for agreeing to come and take care of Lara's husband.
Nicole had used all of Nick's connection in finding her and after begging her, she agreed to come and be by Joe's side. Joe was the name of Lara's husband.
''You came with your boyfriend today? I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Nicole?'' Joe asked looking at Leo.
''Hi, nice to meet you. I am Leo Ankrah'' Leo went forth to shake Joe's hand.
''No, he is not my boyfriend. he is just a friend'' Nicole quickly clarified.
''Just friends? You two look ambiguous to be just friends?'' Monica added.
''Huh? We…'' Nicole looked at Leo and realised that he was wearing a green shirt which somewhat completed her green checkered dress that she was wearing. Anyone would mistake them to be couples because their outfits looked like couple outfits
Nicole cussed and glared at Leo before turning to Joe and Monica, ''we really don't have any ambiguous relationship''
A nurse walked in holding an injection plate with a syringe and injection in it. When she walked closer, Joe suddenly murmured, ''Lara?''
Nicole frowned and looked at the nurse and her face turned green. She stepped back and almost fell and Leo held her steady.
''Are you alright?'' Leo asked her.
''No, wait'' she said to the nurse who turned to face her with a polite smile. ''Who are you?'' Nicole asked the nurse.
''I am the nurse on duty and I am here to give the patient his morning injection'' the nurse replied but Nicole didn't believe her. She had clearly heard Joe called her Lara. Her senses were heightened as she stared at the nurse.
''Nicole, what's wrong?'' Monica asked.
''Lara, you are finally here. I missed you so much, Lara'' Joe continued to murmur as he stared at the nurse dreamily. It seemed like he had been bewitched as he couldn't see anyone else apart from the woman in front of him who had the face of his late wife.
''Where is Lara?'' Nicole asked Joe and he pointed at the nurse.
''Lara is here, right in front of me. Quick, Lara. Take me with you'' Joe said.
''No, stop Joe. She is not Lara'' Nicole turned to the nurse, ''I know who you are. You are just taking over the body of the nurse while showing him the face of the one he misses the most. You want to fool me, right?''
''Miss, I don't know what you are taking about. You got the wrong person'' the nurse said and placed the plate down, ready to pull the medication into the syringe.
''Is she someone you know?'' Leo asked. He was equally as confused and didn't know what was going on.
''Leo, go and call the doctor or security. This woman isn't a nurse. She is an impostor''
''What?'' Leo looked at the woman.
''Hurry, what are you waiting for'' Nicole said again and the nurse smirked.
''Call for help if you can. Save him if you can, little girl. Long-time no see, I didn't expect that I will bump into you like this, little girl? You are still that nosy girl'' the nurse changed form into its original being''
''It's you'' Nicole said at once.
''Yes, and you should think of how to save that boy, if not, I might just take him. We still have scores to settle, remember?'' she curved her lips and Nicole turned to see both Leo and Monica at the same spot. She had cast a spell on them. The same spell that Candy used the other time.
''Lara, I missed you Lara'' Joe continued to say and the woman laughed.
''See, he missed me''
''You are not Lara. You are not the one he misses''
''Does it matter? Anyways, he is mine, alright?'' she smiled and leaned closer to Joe with the syringe and Granny appeared behind her.
''Who said he was yours?'' Granny asked.
''Who look who we have here? Did you come to save them? What to do, he can't even think of anything right now. He doesn't recognise anything and he can't differentiate between reality and fake anymore''