Ezra found himself in a bewildered state, unable to comprehend the conversation that unfolded with Maximillian. Numb and in shock, he left without providing any explanation or delving into further discussion. Despite his unsteady gait, he rejected any offered helping hand, his mind too preoccupied to register the gestures of concern.
Celeste, noticing Ezra's shaken state, took immediate action. She pulled him away from the party, her worry evident as she guided him with urgency. Unconsciously, Ezra maintained his ingrained etiquette, bowing his head to Maximillian's siblings as he passed by. Despite his mental disarray, the respect for these people remained a part of his subconscious.
Celeste apologized to Maximillian's siblings on Ezra's behalf, explaining the urgency, before bidding them farewell. The duo hastily left the gathering, leaving behind a cloud of worry among Maximillian's siblings.
Observing Ezra's distressed state, Lara and Lucas immediately approached Maximillian, offering support to the visibly shaken young man. Their concern reflected in their questioning tones.
"What's wrong with the boy? Why does he look so shaken? Maximillian Carlisle, you better not have done anything stupid."
Maximillian, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Ezra disappeared, slowly shifted his attention back to his worried siblings. The weight of the situation and the evident pain in his eyes confused his siblings.
"What do I do…? He got hurt again. I don't know what to do? Sister…?" His voice quivered, the desperation apparent, reaching out to his sister for guidance in this unexpected crisis.
Minerva stepped forward, her expression serious as she firmly held Maximillian's hand. In a tone filled with concern, she urged him to share the details of what had transpired.
"Max, tell us everything. What happened?"
The atmosphere in the car on the way home was thick with tension. Celeste, noticing Ezra's evident distress, bombarded him with questions, her worry evident in her persistent inquiries.
"Hey, Ez. I saw that jerk following you. Is he the reason why you look so disturbed? Ez, look at me. Tell me what happened. Ezra, speak to me! What happened?"
Ezra struggled to articulate his thoughts, the weight of witnessing Micaela's gruesome death looming large in his mind. Nausea, despair, shock, and confusion overwhelmed him, making it nearly impossible to verbalize his experience. The harsh reality of the situation pressed upon him, leaving him feeling detached from everything around him.
A bitter chuckle escaped Ezra's lips as the absurdity of the circumstances compounded, a flood of complex emotions surfacing. His eyes reddened, and he fought back tears, the haunting images of the recent tragedy etched in his memory. Witnessing his distress, Celeste ceased her questioning and enveloped Ezra in a tight embrace.
"Ez... Close your eyes for a bit. Listen to the beat of my heart. Don't think too much about whatever is currently bothering you. Think of something else. Calm down."
Celeste lightly tapped his back, her worry palpable as she held her cousin close. This vulnerable state of Ezra was rare, and it concerned her deeply. She hoped he could overcome whatever was troubling him and find solace in confiding in her or Auntie Evy. Guilt gnawed at Celeste, questioning if her decision to bring Ezra to the party had contributed to his current state.
Ezra found himself consumed by absentmindedness in the days following the party. The day after their return, he uncharacteristically skipped his classes to attend a funeral, Damien silently trailing behind him without questioning his friend's actions. The two of them arrived at the graveyard and, amidst the somber crowd, spotted Louis and Maximillian.
Louis and Maximillian wore expressions of concern upon seeing Ezra, but refrained from verbalizing their worries. Instead, they joined the collective prayers, Faye standing among them. Ezra had specifically requested her presence, and she readily accepted the invitation. Grateful for the support she received from Ezra's late parents in the past, she felt compelled to repay the debt.
The attendees at Micaela's funeral mainly consisted of her former classmates, teachers, and neighbors from the impoverished part of the city where the Wintour family resided. Financial constraints had tethered them to this locality, and Micaela's academic brilliance had been their ticket to a better school through scholarships.
Micaela's parents, despite their financial struggles, showered her with love and affection. They had embraced parenthood later in life, and Micaela became the center of their world. This was a tragedy that really shook the couple.
Ezra observed Micaela's parents, their tears falling freely, voices breaking with every sob, and breaths hitching in the midst of their indescribable pain. Kneeling on the ground, their hands hovered over the freshly turned earth that covered their beloved daughter. The rawness of their sorrow echoed through the air, casting a somber veil over the entire scene.
Ezra couldn't escape the tangible anguish that surrounded him. The weight on his heart grew heavier with each passing moment, a silent acknowledgment of the profound loss Micaela's parents were enduring. The gravity of their sorrow seemed to press against him, leaving him with a sense of helplessness in the face of their profound mourning. Maximillian, standing beside him, observed Ezra's distress and whispered,
"Why are you torturing yourself over something that was beyond your control? Ashton, your empathy is a double-edged sword. Sometimes, it feels like it might be your downfall one day."
Ezra shot Maximillian a tired glance and replied, "Not now, Carlisle. This is neither the time nor the place. Just... shut up for now."
Maximillian remained silent, stepping back to make room for Faye beside Ezra. Offering him a solemn smile, she stood by his side, her gaze directed forward as she followed the somber proceedings of the funeral. In unspoken understanding, Faye accompanied Ezra as he sought insights into Micaela's life from those who knew her.
Without hesitation, Ezra began questioning Micaela's acquaintances, seeking any memories or anecdotes they could share about the departed girl. Some recognized Ezra from his part-time modeling endeavors, while others acknowledged Faye as the emerging writer of their city. Faye, driven by a sense of philanthropy, had started an online blog two years ago in memory of her deceased parents. Leveraging her growing influence as an author, she aimed to ensure that the lives and stories of many individuals, both from their city and beyond, were remembered.
The blog became a platform to recount the memories and lives of various people, with some even having short stories published about them. The success of the blog led to philanthropic campaigns being initiated in their names. As Ezra delved into Micaela's world through the eyes of her acquaintances, he hoped to convey her personality, circumstances, and the unjust nature of her demise.
Ezra's motive went beyond personal understanding; he wanted Faye to experience firsthand the life of Micaela Wintour through the words of those who knew her best. It was a poignant endeavor to ensure that the girl, whose life was cut short unfairly, would be remembered. Additionally, Ezra aspired to use the ensuing blog post as a catalyst for encouraging people to extend their help and donations to the underprivileged residents of the area where Micaela's parents resided.
Ezra also decided to redirect a significant portion of the earnings from Minerva's job offer to aid Micaela's grieving parents. Aware of Maximillian's and the others' probable generosity, Ezra envisioned offering the elderly couple a chance at a more comfortable life. The existing surroundings only intensified the painful reminders of their enduring hardships, prompting Ezra to hope that financial support could pave the way for their relocation to a more nourishing and uplifting environment.
During their conversations with the locals, Ezra and Faye pieced together a portrait of Micaela Wintour. She emerged as a quiet and considerate individual, known for her unwavering work ethic and deep devotion to family and friends. Despite her diligent and soft-spoken nature, she held a surprising fascination with the paranormal, often embarking on investigations into places she believed to be haunted.
Micaela's popularity at school reflected her amicable nature, with friendships spanning across the student body. However, an intriguing aspect of her personality surfaced during conversations: she had a penchant for exploring supposedly haunted locations. Prior to her tragic demise, she confided in a friend about investigating a particularly dangerous place over the weekend. The exact location remained undisclosed, but recent findings suggested that she ventured into the abandoned school building, the discovery of her body within its confines.
Neighbors recounted that the building had been subject to numerous investigations in the past. However, the specific area where Micaela's body was found had been obscured by rubble and sealed off, rendering entry seemingly impossible. Consequently, the tragic circumstances surrounding her death took everyone by surprise, as the closed-off section had not raised suspicions about her potential presence there.
In their conversations with various individuals, a prevailing sense of confusion lingered around Micaela's case. The location where her body was discovered showed no signs of fire or burning, raising suspicions of possible foul play and discardment. Sensing the undercurrent of speculation, Faye studied Ezra intently and cautiously broached the subject.
"Ez?" she inquired.
"Please do not add anything about suspected murder or such... Nothing has been confirmed yet," Ezra requested softly, being aware of the real situation.
"I understand. Hey Ez… Out of curiosity, who was this young girl to all of you? Even with Maximillian and Louis showing up, it got me wondering." Faye inquired further.
Ezra shook his head solemnly. "It's... a bit complicated. We didn't know her personally. She was a classmate and sort of a friend to Alice. But, considering her life, Micaela seemed like a friend to every speck of dust on the street. Our grumpy Alice probably wasn't much of a challenge for her."
Faye simply smiled and refrained from pressing further. She solemnly promised Ezra that she would handle the writing about Micaela with care. Placing her hand on Ezra's shoulder, she quietly asked, "Your eye bags are really something, Ez. Why don't I treat you to some of Maria's hot chocolate? It might help you feel better, you know?"
Ezra responded with a wry smile, appreciating Faye's offer but politely declining. He couldn't bring himself to burden her further, knowing how busy she already was. Ever since Faye had taken on the role of guardian for her four younger siblings after the untimely demise of her parents five years ago, Ezra had sought to support her as a good friend. In those challenging times, he had requested assistance from his own parents to help Faye and her siblings.
Initially accepting the generosity of others, Faye's pride led her to take matters into her own hands. She decided to publish the novels she had previously deemed not good enough, with Ezra's help in publicizing them. The books gained attention, providing Faye with much-needed financial support. Additionally, Ezra introduced her to Maria, who offered Faye her current part-time job.
With a part-time job, writing commitments, and university responsibilities, Faye led a hectic life and managed on a tight budget. Ezra knew it would be unfair to ask her to join him for a hot chocolate, especially if she had to cover the expenses. He skillfully changed the subject, trying to maintain a genuine smile. "By the way, who was that guy at the party yesterday? Could he have been your boyfriend?"
Faye's response was accompanied by a warm smile. "Yes, indeed. His name is Alex, and, well, I really like him, Ez. He brings so much happiness into my life."
"Congratulations," Ezra replied sincerely. Knowing the hardships Faye had endured, he genuinely felt that such happiness was well-deserved in her life.
They engaged in conversation for a while, Ezra putting forth his best effort to appear genuinely engaged, masking the emotional turmoil he was experiencing recently. After bidding farewell to Faye, Ezra shifted his attention to the three members of the group chat that had at some point, appeared behind him.
Running a hand over his face, he spoke in a hoarse tone, "I've come to realize the gravity of our situation. I can't afford to take it lightly anymore, not even for a minute. Carlisle, given that you've got your car here, let's use it. Talk in there. This isn't the place to delve into the details of what transpired in that other world yesterday."
Louis, concerned, grabbed Ezra's arm and inquired, "Ezra, what happened to you there?"
Shrugging off Louis's grip, Ezra responded numbly,"I saw that girl die there. I don't wanna see anything like that anymore. It wasn't a very pleasant experience as you can see. I just want to better understand... I am desperate to understand that world and brainstorm ways, if any, to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. Do you catch my drift? If we're done here, let's move on. Besides..."
Ezra gave Maximillian a significant and intense look, adding, "I have something very important to discuss with you today, Maximillian Carlisle."