''How come you never appear to me when I need you the most?'' she asked the old woman.
''You little wench, what have you been using your gift for that I still have to attend to a lot of ghosts lately? Why is your life such a hassle?'' Granny asked in a displeased tone.
''I stopped using it, the gift. Actually, I need answers from you'' Nicole shifted closer to the woman.
''About what?''
''About the gift?''
''What about it?''
''I don't think I need it'' Nicole finished saying and felt a cold chill down her spine, she quickly changed her statement with a smile, ''well, I don't mean that I am not grateful. I just think that I don't deserve it'' she added cautiously.
''Are you throwing my good deeds back to my face?''
''Huh?'' Nicole looked away and murmured to herself, ''tsk, you call this kind of thing a good deed? She is as weird as her gift''
''I heard that'' Granny said to her as she stared at Nicole. The music suddenly went off by itself and Nicole shook her head and moved back to her seat.
''Can you stop scaring me? We are in a civilised world. Everything can be sorted out once we come to an understanding, right? There is absolutely no reason to show such power in front of a mere mortal like me''
''Have you being living well Miss. Benson?''
''Do I look like I'm living well? My life is a mess thanks to a certain someone''
''Stop complaining. You don't look so bad. You still look pretty''
''Now that you are here, please for the love of God. Can you take your gift back? My life is hard enough without it. I hardly get any sleep. I am already in my late 20s but I don't have a normal life because of that gift''
Because of that 'gift', she had been labelled as weird by many people. Some even think she has a mental problem. In short, Nicole felt that, her normal life was over the moment she came back to life and started seeing dead people. She couldn't have a normal relationship with anyone except her twin brother but lately, even he was scared of her.
''I need you help'' Granny said to her.
''Me? I hope is not to catch some bad ghost cos the last one you made me catch for you is still haunting me in my sleep'' Nikki paused and looked at the old woman adding, ''look at me, I'm 28 years; no boyfriend, all the relationship I've being in didn't even last 3 months because the men find me strange. Don't you have pity on me grandma?''
''If you help me this time around, I will set you free''
''Really? You will really take away the gift if I help you?'' Nicole asked, the excitement clearly in her eyes that glowed.
''I always keep my word''
''Deal!!!'' Nikki stood up from her floor and said proudly, ''I'm going to treat this as my one and last assignment with the ghost world, Grandma'' she knelt at the woman's feet, ''I will do this one coolly and neatly for you''
''But you don't even know what I want from you? It could be difficult?''
"No, no'' Nicole shook her head, ''nothing taste sweeter than freedom. Whatever it is, I'm totally in body, spirit, soul and mind'' the chance to be free again? She wasn't about to let it slip out of her hands no matter what happened.
''You won't change your mind after knowing what it is?'' Granny looked at her with an interesting gaze but Nicole didn't catch on it.
''Bring it on'' Nicole said and stood up with the old woman.
Granny smirked and turned towards the door saying, "come in'' Nicole looked towards the door with a smile and as soon as she saw Lizzy and Candy walk in, her smile disappeared and her body stiffened.
''Hi Nikki. Is being a while, right? How have you been, friend?'' Lizzy walked closer to her.
Nicole fell back on the couch in shock. She pointed at Lizzy asking, ''what. Is. This.?''
Candy walked closer to Nicole, looking into her face, she smiled, ''whoa, you look quite different from the last time I saw you''
"Who are you?'' Nicole looked flustered.
''That is a rude question to ask of your saviour Nicole Benson'' Candy said and sat closer to her..
''Candy was the one who found you first and brought you to me that day of the accident'' Granny explained.
''I see'' Nicole said finally coming back to her senses. She turned to Lizzy who sat on the couch next to Granny. ''What is going on? Why are you here?'' Nicole asked after composing herself.
''What do you think?'' Lizzy asked.
Nicole looked at her and frowned saying, ''no way, it can't be. You can't be one of them, right?'' she had a look of shock as she stared blankly at Lizzy.
''I passed away a few days ago''
''What happened?'' Nicole paused and turned to Granny and asked, ''wait! She is not the one I'm going to help, right?'' The three ghosts smiled at her. ''No way, I can't, I won't, never''
''She needs your help'' Granny said pointing at Lizzy.
''She needs my help?'' Nicole chuckled sarcastically and looked at Lizzy, ''who is the reason why I'm like this? I can't believe this. Grandma, I know I promised you but if it has to do with her, then I would rather die with the gift okay?'' Nicole stood up angrily.
"You two should talk. Lizzy remember, you must get her to agree with you before tomorrow Granny stood up and beckoned on Candy.
''Wait, Granny''' Lizzy turned and noticed that Granny and Candy disappeared from the hall, ''they are gone, Nicole''
''Go with them, I don't have the energy to argue with you Lizzy. You are dead, why don't you just rest in peace?'' Nicole picked up the pack of potato chips and went to the kitchen and Lizzy followed her.
Nicole pretended as if Lizzy didn't exist as she opened the fridge and placed the bag inside before removing a bottle of water. She picked a glass and poured the water into to drink.
''I can't rest in peace, Nicole'' Lizzy finally spoke and Nicole chuckled. She placed the glass beside the working table and folded her arms across her chest.
''That is strange, coming from someone who really knew how to rest well?''
''I was murdered, in cold blood'' Lizzy's voice choked as she spoke.
Nicole's hand quivered and she mistakenly hit the glass and it fell to the floor. She stared at the broken glass as Lizzy continued.
''I was shot Nikki. I don't even know who did it and why he did it''
Refusing to be moved by her words, Nicole quickly regained her composure and bent down to pick the broken pieces of glass.
''Don't pick that with your hands Nikki, you need to sweep it if not you will hurt yourself'' Lizzy said and tried to hold Nicole's hand. She stopped herself after a second thought. She realised, she couldn't touch her.
Nicole ignored her and started picking the pieces until one cut her finger and she hissed. ''Ahh''
Lizzy looked at Nicole worriedly saying ''you see, I told you not to pick it with your hands but as usual, just so stubborn. Let me have a look'' Nikki stood up and said to Lizzy.
''What are you doing? Stop acting like you know me so well, I find you so hypocritical right now''
Lizzy ignores her and said ''you need to fix it before it gets worse Nikki. I remember this weather doesn't suit your skin''
''Stop it Lizzy'' Lizzy moved back after Nicole screamed at her. ''Just go, I don't want to see you, I can't help you. In fact, I won't help you and I won't change my mind. So just go and stop acting like you care. I find it burdensome''
Nicole went towards her bedroom after saying that. Lizzy stared at her silhouette for a while as tears formed in her eyes.