Candace

I look at the photo and give it back to Noah. He put the photo back to the book and he sit in front of me.

"What happened to her?"

"2 years ago everything was perfect, I had a perfect relationship with a beautiful girl, she's a very cute girl and I can't never forget her smile. We were childhood friend and we went to the same school. She was a student at "XY" University too, she attend the same major as me and we were so happy back then."

He paused then he walk to his kitchen to take a glass of water and gives it to Sera. Then he continue to tell the story of his past,

"But everything started to fall apart when she met Ben. Benjamin Fleming. He was a student at "XY" University but his major is accounting. He met Candace when she was working on her final project. She was doing her project in an empty classroom when suddenly someone was knocking at the door. It was Ben and he asked her the location of the audio room. She guide him to the audio room and she went back to the classroom. She texted me and told me that she'd visit me that night but she never came."

"What happened to her?"

"Be patient, Sera, this is a long story."

"But, is it okay to tell me about it? It can open your old wounds."

"It's ok."

"Please continue."

"The next day, I went to the university and I saw Candace talking to a guy near the main door and I went to her and I asked her about the lad. She said that he was an accounting student and his name is Benjamin. I remember she held my hand and we headed to the classroom together. Later that day, I asked her to have a lunch with me but she said that she need to meet someone in building C so I had lunch by myself. I texted Candace to ask her whether she want to go to the cinema with me that day but she refused."

"Don't tell me that she met Ben in building B."

"Indeed, that day she met with Ben and they were having lunch together with one of Ben's friend."

"But why?"

"I have no idea. I didn't receive any text from Candace that day, usually she texted me about her activity but that day she didn't even tell me anything. The next day I went to university and I didn't see Candace around. Maybe she's sick but she didn't even inform me. I tried to call her but she didn't answer. I asked one of her friend and she told me that Candace is going abroad and will return in 3 days. That's weird, she never behave like that. I waited for 3 days for her to return and that day, 3 days later, I saw her at the university and she didn't even greet me. I asked her why she didn't tell me anything and she didn't say anything. Her gaze was blank and she just walked past me to the classroom."

"That night, I went into one of painting in my room, that painting," He said while pointing at a painting of a house.

"What's that painting about?"

"It's a house of a clairvoyant, Madam Francis. I went into the painting and I visit Madam Francis. I asked her everything about Candace and she just shook her head, she told me that she started to forget about me, forget about everything and she only knew about a lad with blonde hair and blue orbs. I remember Candace was talking to a blonde man several days ago but I have no clue whether his orbs are blue or not. When I stepped out from the painting, my phone rang and it was Candace. I could hear her voice, she spoke slowly and she's seeking for help. I remember everything she said back there."

"Can you tell me?"

"She said to me 'Whoever you are, please, help me.' then I asked her location and she told me that she's inside a room in building C in the university. I immediately rushed to the building C and opened every door until finally I found her inside a room that's located at the end of the hallway on the third floor of building B. She was covered in blood and on near her body, there's a yellow kitten that stare at her. I drove the kitten away but suddenly it transform into a person, his hair was blond and he has blue orbs. I asked her what he has done and he told me that Candace was an easy target and thanks to her he get something that he needs. He took out a bottle of red liquid from his pocket and I identify it once I saw it, it's blood. I was filled with anger and I rush toward him but he was faster. He transformed into a kitten and ran away. I saw a note on the floor and read it. It was written by Candace,

-I'm sorry, he said that needs me. I was too weak and careless. Please tell my parents that I love them and for you who read my note, I might forget who you are but thank you for finding me.

"So, Ben killed Candace for her blood?"

"Yes."

"My deepest condolences. . . But why Candace? Why her blood?"

"I have no idea at first but several days after Candace's funeral, someone left a note under my door and it's from Ben."

"What was the note about?"

"He told me that one day, he will be back and he will make sure to get the right blood. He need to finish the ritual as soon as possible."

"What kind of ritual?"

"A ritual that can retrieve someone back to this world."

"I don't get it. . ."

"He want to retrieve his brother."

"But why the blood of the person that you truly love? He has Candace's blood but why he need other person's blood?"

"Candace's blood not working. If her blood is working then he won't sent me that note."

"But it's the blood of someone that you love. You loved Candace. . ."

"I was . . ."

"And how did you know about the ritual that he's working on? How did you know that he's trying to retrieve his brother?"

"Madam Francis told me everything about the ritual and she told me that I threw a person once into the deepest part of the dimension. Madam Francis told me that the person was Benjamin's brother."

"What?"

"It was a long story but I'll make sure to tell you in the future, not now."

"Alright and how does the ritual work?"

"The intention of the ritual is to use the blood to call a demon that can take someone's ability and give the ability to the person who performed the ritual. The blood that's being used is the blood of someone who has a very strong bond with the target. In this case, he want to take my ability to go through the painting dimension. Once he get my ability, I will lose it forever and I can't go through the painting anymore or create a new place."

"But can't he just find a book about your ability and just learn it and why you?"

"This ability is a gift and I am the only person who possess it."

"So, his brother is still in the deepest part of the painting dimension because Candace's blood is not working and he needs the right blood. That's why he's after me."

"Yes. That's right."

"Why me? Does he think that I'm that person? Am I the person that you truly love?"

". . ."

"Noah?"

"I think he saw me with you and he saw me protecting you from him so he thought that you are the person that I love."

"Be honest, Noah. Do you love me?"

"I . . ."