''Yes, and that is how you are going to end up if you keep messing with me, Priscy'' Nicole took a step closer to her and pinned her between the shelf and the other trophies saying, ''be careful not to make me angry, or those behind you won't be safe either''
''You… who are you?'' Priscy stuttered as she felt the overwhelming pressure on her body. Her body was drained of all colour as she stared at the gaze of Nicole which didn't seem like hers at all.
''You were the who killed Lizzy, right?'' Nicole looked at Priscy and the latter chuckled.
''You don't really know who killed Lizzy, right?'' Priscy asked back.
''You weren't the one who killed Lizzy, then who did?''
'Yes, Lizzy. I'm only a shadow of the one who killed you. But you know what? I'm never telling you the rest because you're dead already'' Priscy said and Nicole pushed her onto the couch and strangled her the neck.
The door suddenly opened and Leo rushed inside and saw them. He frowned and held Nicole stopping her, ''Nicole, stop'' he managed to pull Nicole off and Priscy coughed touching her next.
''You crazy bitch'' Priscy murmured and ran out of the room.
Maris stepped out of Nicole's body and the latter fell into Leo's arms unconscious.
''Nikki, Nicole, wake up'' Leo carried her and ran out of the office.
''Why is her body so weak? I really shouldn't try taking over her body again, if I might really get stuck inside her'' Maris said and looked over at Priscy's computer. She went behind the desk and opened one of the drawer. There was a stack of shredded papers inside.
''What is she doing with all this waste?'' Maris murmured and picked a few to look at. Her gaze turned sharp as she stood up and started piecing them together.
.....
First hospital.
Emergency room.
Leo stood by Nicole's side as she laid on the bed while the doctor checked her body.
''Doctor, what's wrong with her?'' Leo asked worriedly.
''She fainted due to stress. Her body seem weak. She has to rest and also eat and drink a lot of water. She is also malnourished'' the doctor said.
''Yes, I will make sure I feed her well''
''She will wake up soon. You can go home with her then''
''Thank you'' Leo held Nicole's hand and stared at her face.
Lizzy and Candy arrived inside the OPD and looked around until they saw them.
''Lizzy, they are over here'' Candy said after she saw them.
''Nicole'' Lizzy wiped her tears when she finally saw Nicole. When they heard that she was taken to the emergency room, she had been worried about. She felt guilty after granny told her the situation surrounding Nicole's existence.
The reason why she hadn't come back to see Nicole since that day was because she had found out from Granny the true reason why Nicole's body was reacting like that. She knew Nicole had little time left. She had been busy looking for souls that needed help so that she could bring them to Nicole. she wanted to help her attain redemption fast before something unforeseen happened.
''Nicole, I'm so sorry. I didn't even come to see you when you are helping me'' Lizzy said and Maris shook her head.
''I didn't tell you to come here and cry as if she is dead? We are not at her funeral, you know?'' Maris said as she sat on the next empty bed at the side.
''If you were asked to protect her, why did you cause so much trouble instead?'' Lizzy glared at Maris.
''Hey, I helped her okay. do you have any idea the secret that I just found today because of what happened?''
''What did you find?'' Candy asked.
''Evidence. I found some shredded pieces of papers inside Priscy's drawer and pieced them together and then…'' she paused and stalled.
''What did you find?'' Lizzy asked.
''Evidence of her secret accounts but there were all in the name of a man called Willow something, I forgot''
''Where did you find that? Take me there'' Nicole opened her eyes and asked Maris.
''Hey, you startled me'' Maris and Candy shouted at the same time.
''Nicole, you are awake?'' Leo looked at her.
Nicole nodded and took off the IV connected to her wrist, ''Leo, let's go''
''Where are you going. The doctor said you still need to rest'' Leo said and stood up, following her as she ran out of the hospital.
''Has she gone crazy after knowing she has little time left?'' Maris asked rhetorically.
''Nicole knows she has little time left?'' Lizzy asked.
''Now is not the time to be talking about this, let's follow them'' Maris said and they all rushed out.
...
''Where did you send the papers your pieced together?'' Nicole asked Maris who was at the back with Lizzy and Candy.
''Your apartment''
''Leo, let's go to my apartment'' Nicole said to Leo.
''Wait, I didn't finish speaking'' Maris said.
''What? Did you have more to say?''
''I went to your apartment first but, it seemed someone was there before me. It was a mess inside there''
''My apartment was a mess?''
''Yes, it seemed someone had gone there to look for something because everything was turned upside down. Your drawers were opened and your clothes scattered about''
''What?''
''What is it?'' Leo turned to look at Nicole.
''Someone broke into my apartment and messed up the whole place''
''Priscy, she might have done that because of what you did to her'' Leo said.
''No, it wasn't Priscy. It was the culprit, Ray. He is the one who came over and did that'' Candy said.
''Ray?'' Nicole turned to look at Candy, ''are you sure?''
''Yes. We met Maris at your apartment, by that time the apartment was already in a mess but I smelt his scent all over the place''
''What did she say? I heard you mentioned Ray?''
''Candy said that the person who broke into my apartment was Ray. I think he came to search for something''
''Or maybe to kill you, if you were around'' Lizzy said and Nicole wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself.
''This is so messed up'' Nicole murmured.
Leo pulled over in front of the apartment and said to Nicole, ''let's go in. You will pick a few clothes and the things that are important to you and we will go to my apartment''
''Your apartment?'' Nicole frowned.
''Yes, why didn't we think of that, earlier. Lizzy, you are cool with it, right?'' Maris asked Lizzy.
''Yes, I am fine with whatever Leo decides to do. Your safety is the most important thing right now''
''Did Lizzy agree to it?'' Leo asked Nicole.
''She did but still. A man and a woman living in the same house is a little…'' Nicole didn't know why but she didn't think it was the right thing to do, ''I can go to my brother's apartment or go to a hotel.
'No!!'' the three ghosts behind all shouted at once.
''Nicole, I am your guardian now, so you have to listen to me'' Maris said sternly. Your body temperature keeps fluctuating, Ray is looking out to kill you. Don't you realise the kind of danger that you are in right now. If you die here, that is the end for you. You won't be able to get your life back again''
''That's right. Granny told us to look out for you, so Lizzy and I have been out looking for souls that needed to resolve their grudges before going to the afterlife. It hasn't been easy for all of us'' Candy added.
''Is that why you've not come to see me these few days? Because you were worried about me?''
''Yes, so do as we say. Candy and I have found 24 people for you already''
''Thank you, I will do as you say'' Nicole turned to Leo who was looking at the back curiously.
''Let's go, I will pick a few things and we can leave together''
''Alright'' Leo got down and Nicole followed with the three at the backseat. When they entered the apartment, Nicole was speechless.
''What the hell did he come to look for that my apartment is in this state?'' Nicole said.
''Should I just kill that man for you?'' Maris asked.
''No, don't even do anything without telling me first'' Nicole warned her as she entered her bedroom.
Leo looked around the apartment. He walked to the hall and bent down, looking under the table in the middle. When he saw the small red light, he left it there. Just as he had suspected, Ray had placed cameras all over the apartment to monitor what happened?
Leo walked out and took his phone, making a call to Nesli, ''Nesli, the house has been raided just as your predicted, but there are also cameras inside, so I will leave that to you and your men. Make sure you get the evidence. Let's meet at my apartment tomorrow''
''Leo, I've finished. Let's go'' Nicole said as she held her luggage bag.
''Let me have that'' Leo took the bag from her and they went out to the car.