Nikki picked the first aid box from her table and opened it. She sat on her bed and started to dress her cut while Lizzy leaned against the door watching. Nicole applied the ointment on her hand while stealing glances at Lizzy.
There was a big wall framed picture at the top of the wall facing her bed. When Lizzy saw it, she walked to the wall and touched it, ''only you can pull it off this well. This picture is beautiful; I like it'' Nikki looked at the picture. ''What you saw that day. It was an accident Nikki. Leo was the one who kissed me.
Nicole chuckled, ''I didn't ask for any explanation, just go''
''I can't go Nikki''
''You can't go?''
''You heard me, so you can hate me all you want but I won't go until you decide to help me'' Lizzy said, looking rather determined and unfazed by Nicole's cold attitude towards her.
''Well, good luck with that'' Nikki closed the box and place it under the table before standing up.
''Leo might die if you don't help me'' Nicole turned to face Lizzy asking.
''Why are you telling me all this? Are we that close to be sharing secrets? What makes you think I will change my mind if you mentioned Leo? As far I am concern, the both of you don't matter to me. You scram, he too can go to hell''
''I'm sorry Nikki''
''Forget it'' Nikki walked out and Lizzy followed her. Nikki sat on the couch and turned her TV on.
''For not coming to see you at the hospital, I'm sorry'' Nikki paused the TV and said to Lizzy angrily.
''Don't you dare bring up that issue Lizzy. Sorry? For not coming to visit me at the hospital? Are you serious? What makes you think I care about that? You have so much guts taking me back to that moment, but what to do? I am not in the mood to go down memory lane with a ghost''
"I was scared you wouldn't want to see me if I came. I felt that you would get hurt again, seeing me''
''You seem to have a sea of excuses seeing how you are trying to make me reason with you. Well, let's talk about it, since you are trying so hard to explain yourself. Should I tell you something? You said you were scared that I would not want to see you again? You didn't even try to see me. You could have tried but you did not. Why do you think I'm like this? Me walking around like an outcast, who is responsible, huh? To think I thought of someone like you as my best friend and even called you family, I'm so disappointed in myself right now''
''I was scared you would hate me for taking away the man you loved''
''Again with that nonsense? Is that even an excuse? You didn't take Leo away from me, he liked you and I understood that, but what about you? You hurt me so bad and couldn't even say sorry'' her voice quivered and her throat felt dry.
"'I'm sorry, Nikki. I came back to the hospital two days later but your mother had sent you away already''
''I hate you so much right now, you know why? Because instead of facing reality, you are giving excuses. Anyway, that's not my business. Listen to me Lizzy, we stopped being friends 5 years ago, so that means I don't care about you anymore so please just go and don't bother me again''
''I can't even remember how and why I was murdered Nikki; don't you find me pitiful?'' she sobbed between her words.
''No, I don't find you pitiful. Do you know why? Because I did not kill you, I'm innocent. I wasn't the one who killed you or ordered you to be killed''
''Grandma said, if I can't get you to help me before tomorrow, then I won't get my memories back and I won't ever make those people pay''
''You're dead already, why do you need your memories back? And even if you get them back, how are you going to make them pay? Forget of this and just go Lizzy, coming here is useless''
''I can't go just yet''
''That's the song you've being singing since you got here. Why can't you go back just yet? What is so precious here that is making it hard for you to leave this place?''
''Is a secret''
''Even ghosts have secrets they don't talk about! Your life has always been full of secrets anyway''
''So, Nikki, I won't leave until you help me''
''You are going to be selfish to the end, right? I hate you''
''That has always been our special connection since university days''
''Scram, I'm tired'' Nicole said and closed her eyes.
''Sleep, I will watch over you and prevent all the other ghosts from disrupting your sleep, ok?'' Nicole's lips curved slightly and Lizzy noticed her subtle smile, ''see, you just smiled. I can still make you smile'' Nicole turned her face away and straightened herself on the couch while Lizzy looked at her.
That night, Lizzy watched over Nicole as she slept soundly. It soon started raining heavily outside with lightning and thunderstorm and two ghost appeared in the room. Lizzy looked at them and frowned saying, ''what are you people doing here? I won't let you disturb her again from today onwards. Don't you have pity on her? She has to see you every day and help you without getting a rest. Go'' The ghosts disappeared and Lizzy smiled and looked at Nikki. ''Get all the sleep you want Nikki; I will protect you tonight. I'm sorry to have come to you for help. You are right. I should just go and forget about everything and let the living solve their own problems. Even after 5 years, I am still selfish and shameless; coming to you this way''
….
''Do you think she can make Nicole to help her?'' Candy asked as they sat on the gravestone.
''I don't know Candy, maybe she did, maybe she did not''
''Nicole looked quite stubborn''
''After going through so much, she has the right to be stubborn, but everything will work out according to the deity's will''
''This will also be our last assignment, right, granny?''
''Yes, Candy, so we have to do a good job''
....
Next day.
Nicole opened her eyes and saw herself on the couch. She yawned and sat up. ''Did I sleep here last night?'' Nicole scanned the hall looking for Lizzy, ''where is she? Is she gone for real?'' She stood up and went to her room. She got into the washroom to brush her teeth murmuring to herself, ''that's strange, she said she wasn't going to go till I said yes''
####
District B FUNERAL HOME.
Lizzy paced around the funeral hall where her body laid. There were a lot of people who came to pay their last respects to her. Inside the funeral room, Leo wore a black outfit and stood at the right hand side with Ray greeting those who came to the funeral.
Watching her own picture amidst the flowers, Lizzy felt a strange feeling. She felt helpless and sad. In all, it wasn't a good feeling at all.
A lot of her co-workers were present, some people from Leo's company were also present. This should have been her wedding instead, but it became her funeral. She and Leo were just a few months away from getting married before her untimely death. Why did she have to die? Who wanted her dead? Lizzy couldn't rest in peace without finding out those answers. She knew her actions towards Nicole were selfish, but she was desperate. A little too desperate to care about personal feelings at the moment. She needed to know who her enemy was.
''Is she really not coming?'' Candy looked at Granny as they stood at the door watching the people.
''She won't come'' Lizzy said, ''if I was Nicole, I wouldn't come after what happened''
''I'm going to possess that stubborn woman and bring her here? Even if she doesn't want to help Lizzy, shouldn't she at least come and pay her respects?'' Candy turned to go and Granny pulled her back.
''That is against our ethic, Candy. Besides, it's still early to determine whether she will come or not. Coming here isn't as much of an importance compared to been there when she is buried''
''You made a mistake this time, Granny. She isn't going to come. After Lizzy begging her the whole night, she still refused to help her''
''I've never made a mistake; Nicole isn't a heartless person. She is a much softer person than she appears to be''
''Well, at least someone is saying something good about me?''
The three ghosts turned and saw Nicole standing behind them. She was in her signature black outfit but this time, she looked quite presentable and beautiful. With her hair tied with a black band behind her, she wore black shades and her outfit was a simple black straight dress and a pair of black shoes and clutch bag.
''Nicole, you came?'' Lizzy smiled.
''Let's talk after I pay my respect'' she said and walked inside towards the picture of Lizzy.