21 A man with many secrets 1

Walking slow and steadily out of the graveyard towards the back door that Nicole had directed him, Leo held on tightly to Nicole's hand. Nicole saw three ghosts lurking around a distance away from them. She presumed they were new souls that had just been possessed by evil spirits because even though their outer appearance looked well, when she looked deeper into them, she could sense a lot of vengeful spirits inside them.

''Wait'' she said softly to Leo and he did. ''let's remain here for a while first. There are three ghosts coming towards here. I sense a lot of vengeful spirits hiding inside them. It doesn't look good''

''Okay'' Leo squatted besides her. He was frightened if he was going to be honest but seeing her acting so brave, he didn't want to let out any signs of weakness. She was her lead out of this place, so he felt he was responsible for protecting her, even if he didn't believe in the things she claimed to be seeing.

Outside the cemetery, Lizzy paced back and forth as she herself hid behind the car Leo brought. She was getting anxious and worried and didn't know what to do. She saw a car coming towards her direction and looked at it. When the car pulled over, she saw a tall figure coming down from the car and furrowed her brows.

''Detective Gail? What is he doing here at this time?''

Detective Gail walked to where Leo's car was parked and looked at Lizzy. She got scared and thought he could actually see her. This wasn't the first time she had felt that way. He walked right through her and removed an amulet from his pocket.

Lizzy continued to look at him because his behaviour was extremely strange to her.

Detective Gail wore the amulet around his neck and murmured, ''I told her it was going to be dangerous if she kept doing whatever those things wanted''

''Those things?'' Lizzy asked and pointed her hand at herself, ''he doesn't mean me, right?'' she turned and saw him going inside the cemetery. ''Oh, he is. What is he going to do there?''

Lizzy walked towards the entrance and was about to follow him inside when a force flunked her back, making her fall on the sidewalk. She cussed, ''shit. What the hell was that? Did he just block the path? Right, I knew there was more to you'' she got up from the ground and groaned touching her butt.

…..

Inside, Leo and Nicole kept squatting facing each other. Though they were silently, it felt awkward between them as they were facing each other and not saying anything to one another.

''Have we really not met before? I feel I know you from somewhere?''

''I don't know you. Trust me, if it wasn't because of Lizzy, I wouldn't be here or anywhere near you''

''So, you knew Lizzy? You were the one who came to the funeral, right? and also the owner of this bracelet''

''If you are not going to return it to me then stop asking me questions you already know the answers to''

''I knew it. So, what exactly are you?''

''Why are you curiously about me? Don't tell me you fell in love with me at first sight?''

''I am not that kind of person''

''I see''

''For how long are we going to be this way?''

''Until those three go away? They are so tenacious today''

''Which three?'' Leo looked around them.

''Ghosts. Haven't you figured out the situation we are in right now?''

''Well, I figured it out a little but now that you've spelt it out, I am beginning to get scared. I don't believe in ghosts; you know''

''I believe in them. I also see them'' Nicole said and placed her hand on his head, ''bend your head down a little, you are so tall''

...

Detective Gail entered inside the graveyard and started walking away, as he did, he kept chanting some words and the ghosts on the way started disappearing one after another into the amulet on his neck, all the while, his eyes turned crimson red. He was like a different person all together at that moment.

When he reached Lizzy's gravestone, he frowned, ''it seems I need to deal with this one first if I have to remove all obstacles from her side'' he murmured and started walking towards the back door where Nicole and Leo were currently at.

…..

''Are they gone?'' Leo asked as his neck remained bent. He was beginning to experience neck pains from that posture.

''Not yet, but the grim ripper should be closer now. The clouds are slowly clearly away''

Leo looked up and noticed it, ''you are right. Does it mean we are safe?''

''Perhaps'' she said and smiled. Leo looked at her and suddenly a memory of her came to his mind. Her eyes, her nose, her lips, her heart shaped face. She had always been unique in her own face. He now remembered her. He remembered her voice, he remembered everything Lizzy had told him about her.

''She is Nicole Benson. The lady Lizzy was searching for. I found you'' he suddenly said and Nicole looked at him.

''Huh? What did you find?''

''Nothing'' Leo came back to his senses and shook her head.

Nicole frowned. She clearly heard him say ''I found you'', but he is denying it. She shrugged it off.

''The coast is clear, let's go. The grim ripper must be somewhere closer''

''Nicole, Nicole!!!''

Nicole and Leo looked at each other.

''Did you hear that? Someone just mentioned my name. isn't it?'' Nicole asked him and he nodded his head.

''It seems to be the case. It might be the person you spoke about''

''No, if that person mentions your name, you will die. He never mentions my name. He only appears in front of me, but, the voice is familiar''

''Then, who do you think it is?''

''We have to find out'' Nicole said and they both stood up at the same time, bumping into each other.

''Sorry'' Leo said and stepped back.

''Nicole, are you alright?''

''Oh, detective Gail. What are you doing here?''

''Are you alright? You scared me'' he walked up to them and pulled Nicole into a hug. I searched everywhere for you''

Leo looked at them and furrowed his brows.

''I'm fine, but… you, what are you doing here?'' Nicole stepped back.

''I had a dream about you and woke up. I got scared so I went to your apartment but I didn't see you there, so I decided to check here. What a relief, I found you here'' his voice and mannerism proved to be someone who was really worried about her. He now turned to look at Leo, ''who is he?''

''Ah? He someone I know'' Nicole said, sincerely not knowing where to classify Leo.

''I see. Let's go, I will take you home'' Detective Gail said and held Nicole's hand about to walk away with her.

''Wait'' Leo also held Nicole's other hand and looked at her, ''we need to talk''

'What do you want to talk about with Nicole. She just risked her life trying to keep you safe'' Detective Gail said rather aggressively.

''Excuse me? We were in the middle of something before you came along. I don't know what relationship you two have but you can't just take away from me like that. I find your actions rude and unpleasant. Shouldn't she be the one to decide who she wants to go with? I believe even she has something to say to me, so if you want to leave with her, do that after she is done talking with me. I couldn't care less where you take her too afterwards''

Nicole looked at her hands and frowned. Just what kind of situation was this? She couldn't understand anything that was happening.

''Nicole, do you have something to say to this man?'' Detective Gail asked.

''I guess so, but we can talk about it later'' Nicole looked into her small bag that hanged around her neck and removed her phone, ''if you leave your number with me, I will call you later and explain things to you, Mister Ankrah'' Nicole said awkwardly.

Leo snatched the phone and dialled his number but instead of giving the phone to her, he used it to call his own phone which rang in his pocket before he handed the phone back to her saying, ''I will call you''

''Oh'' Nicole nodded her head and Leo turned taking a different route out of the graveyard leaving them alone.

''Who is that man? How did you end up here with him?'' Detective Gail asked and Nicole looked at him suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the way he was asking her. He also seemed to have realised his actions as he changed his statement, ''I don't mean anything. I was just worried about you that's all''

''It's alright, let's go. I'm tired'' Nicole said and took the lead and Detective Gail followed.