Placing a white flower by the photo of Lizzy, Nicole looked at her bright smile and her heartstrings pulled. Under the shades, her eyes were already red seeing the picture. For five years. She had often imagine how she would feel when she ever met her again. She often wondered if she had settled down with Leo and was having a nice life.
Truth was, no matter what happened between them, Nicole could never bring herself to hate Lizzy. She just fooled herself with the thought that she hated Lizzy, but seeing her photo just made her realise how silly she had been in her thoughts. It made her realise life was precious and yet could be taken away so easily.
She never thought that, the next time they were going to ever meet was going to be in this type if setting. The reality suddenly hit her so hard that she stood frozen at the same spot for a moment too long. She couldn't find it in herself to move away from the photo.
Nicole sighed and gathered herself together. No matter what, she should do what she came to do and leave this place immediately. She didn't want to have anything doing with anyone from Lizzy's world; especially Leo.
Nicole bowed in front of the photo for the last before turning towards Leo and the others. She walked to them and bowed in front of them, similarly, they did same and without speaking to either of them, Nicole turned and left the hall.
''Who is she?'' Ray asked Leo whose gaze was still on Nicole as she went further away.
''I don't know. Must have been a friend of Lizzy''
''What a strange friend, she didn't even speak to you and just left after paying her respects''
''What is strange about that? Some people aren't so social, Lizzy had a lot of such friends. It's good that she even came to see her for the last'' Leo dismissed him but deep down he was having a strange feeling. The person who just left looked familiar but he couldn't connect the dots because he couldn't see her entire face. Her shades were too dark; he couldn't see anything especially her eyes.
….
''What made you change your mind?'' Candy asked as they walked outside the funeral home.
''Nothing, really''
####
An hour ago.
Nicole sat down in her hall with a bowl of oat ready to eat when the thought of Lizzy came to mind. She shook her head dismissing it.
''Is not your business Nikki. She left, that's good news, don't think too much into whatever she said last night'' She tried to take a bit and sighed, putting down the food on the table. ''Hush, why am I so worried? Is not like we are close anymore? Will someone really die if I don't help? No one will die, right? She just said that to convince me'' she paused for a while ''If someone really dies, then is my fault, right? Damn you, Lizzy, why did you have to die and get me worked up like this?'' Nicole stood up and went to her bedroom to change into an outfit. ''She won't lie about something like that''
….
Turning to face Lizzy, Nicole asked her angrily, ''are you crazy? What did you tell me last night? Who said she was going to bug me till I say yes? If someone's life is really involved, then couldn't you have stayed longer to see if I would change my mind? As usual, you did what you knew how to do best; running away, cos that's your area of expertise''
''I didn't want to cause you much pain''
''You are really stupid, no you are so stupid, in fact very stupid. Tsk, acting like you care''
''We don't have much time the ashes will be sent to the cemetery soon'' Candy alerted them.
''Do we have to follow them all the way? What if someone recognises me?''
''With the way you took time in dressing up, even your mother won't recognise you today, Nicole'' Candy scoffed and Nicole turned to look at her.
''The way you talk is a sharp contrast to the way you look''
''I've been told that a couple of times'' Candy replied rather proudly.
As they were chatting, the convoy led by Leo, Ray and Priscy walked out of the funeral home and a few others. Leo carried with him the ashes of Lizzy, walking towards their array of cars.
''Let's follow them'' Granny told them and they turned to see the cars already moving.
''Where are they going?''
''Cemetery'' Lizzy answered, 'Leo knew I've always wanted to be buried next to my mother, so he is probably going to put my ashes next to her'', she explained.
''Let's go then'' Candy disappeared right after saying that.
''Are you two also going to disappear to that place while I juggle my way there?'' Nicole asked as if reading their thoughts.
''Why would I walk when I can just appear there?'' Granny asked.
''I will go with you'' Lizzy said and touched Nicole's hand.
''At least you have a conscience, let's go''
They soon got a taxi and followed behind the lot as they drove towards the cemetery.
A few minutes later, the taxi pulled over and Nicole got down first, holding the door for Lizzy to also get down. The driver saw her actions as strange but he didn't say anything and collected his money and quickly drove out of the cemetery. The actions of the lady gave him the creeps.
''Where do we go now?'' Nicole asked Lizzy.
''This way, they must be at my mother's grave by now'' Lizzy walked away and Nicole followed her closely. They soon saw Granny and Candy at a distance and joined them.
''Granny, we are here'' Lizzy said to them.
Now that we are here, before those ashes are kept in the tomb, you need to take over Nicole's body in order to communicate with your ashes'' Granny said to them.
''What?'' Nicole looked at the old woman strangely.
''Yes, that is the only way she can go back to that day and recollect her missing memories'' Candy said to Nicole.
''Nothing will happen to you, Nicole. I am here, what is there to be afraid of?'' Granny said to Nicole.
''Can I really do that? I don't want to do something that Nikki is against''
''Let's get this over with. The sooner the better'' Nicole said braving herself. She and Lizzy faced each other and soon afterwards, Lizzy walked straight ahead into her body. Her body tensed up a bit for a while before becoming steady. She was now fully merged with Nicole's body.
''Granny, I'm ready'' Lizzy said.
''Now, look into that pot of ashes and communicate with your spirit, it will lead you into remembering what happened that day''
As Lizzy looked into the pot of ashes, a flash of images came to her and a force brought her out of Nicole's body. She fell down on the floor and tears formed in her eyes. Nicole who came back to her senses a little while later turned to her worriedly and knelt beside Lizzy.
''Lizzy, what happened? What did you see?'' she asked Lizzy.
''I… I died such a horrible death. The last thing I heard was, 'now the investigation will be over', that's all''
''I knew it'' Candy said walking closer to them, ''your death just as I thought wasn't an ordinary one. You probably died because you were digging into a case''
''A case? What does she mean, Lizzy? Explain it to me clearly''
''I was investigating a lot of cases, so I don't know exactly which case it might have been'' Lizzy wasn't sure of the particular case because her work involved digging into a lot of cases that were highly confidential.
''There is only one way to find out'' Candy said and adjusted the fake glasses on her nose, acting like a detective. The others turned and watched her expectantly, ''we have to launch an investigation'' she added.
''You are right, Candy. I can't sit back and do nothing. I won't allow those who killed me to go free'' Lizzy said determinedly as she looked at Nicole.
''No, don't look at me. don't even think I am going to help you, so don't ask me for help. Today was the last time we are communicating. You should just forget about everything that happened and go to the afterlife''
''Nikki, please'' Lizzy pleaded.
''I will set you free if you help her'' Granny added.
''Granny, this is not fair. This wasn't part of the deal. You are clearly blackmailing me right now''
''You are already in this with us. Might as well see it to the end'' Candy also added her piece.
Nicole stood up and sighed, looking disappointed, she asked, ''you lied to me, this wasn't the end but just the beginning, right?'' after not hearing any response, she lifted her hands in the air, ''great, just great, way to go!!''