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(XLI.)

Death is inevitable. It is a law and a part of nature. Every living thing has to die.

However, the knowledge of death being a natural occurrence and how you had to face it were two different things.

Jess realised that.

Throughout that week, her thoughts were plagued by the fact that the people who wanted her dead were very nearby. They had so many opportunities to strike. So many to attack. Open chances to end her life.

The question was: what was stopping them?

Not that she was very willing to die now.

Since her dad's message reached her last week, she'd wondered who was after her. What they were, what they stood for, why they'd killed her father, why they wanted to kill her. Of all people, why her?

She may have done some horrible things in the past, but that wasn't enough reason for her life to be earmarked by some messengers of death. Everything had a reason for happening, for existing. That was what she believed.

If there was a way, she'd meet these evil messengers and interrogate them. A big part of her knew that they wouldn't want to answer her. Instead, they'd quickly and happily end her life.

That Saturday afternoon, she considered meeting someone like her. Dylan had mentioned two names. She'd start with one.

Ophelia Bettencourt.

After much scrying, she only saw a house and a street sign with her mind's eye. That had to be enough to let her know Ophelia's location.

She changed into shorts and tank top, tied up her hair, picked up one of her handbags, and left the house. Her bike was the only means of transport. She couldn't drive yet. Which was why the Lamborghini Mike had gotten for her as a birthday present still sat somewhere in the underground garage. Well, that was one of the reasons.

It took her less than two hours to get to Northwest 12th Avenue. Traffic was mild today, which was weird. It was Saturday. Three in the afternoon. People had to be busy on the streets.

Meteorologists already predicted there'd be rain, so she didn't forget her umbrella. Florida was having a lot of rainfall this season.

The house she'd seen in her vision came into view after a few minutes of riding around. She rang the doorbell several times but no one answered. She went to the one next door.

"Can I help you?" the middle-aged lady at the doorway asked sweetly.

The sudden strange vibes she got from her had her frowning slightly. "Where's your neighbour?"

"Ophelia?"

How did she know it was Ophelia? It could've been the person living at her other side. "Um... yeah. Is she in?"

"No. She just left. Should I tell her you stopped by?"

Jess blinked twice. "Well... I'd rather see her myself. When do you think she'll return?"

"I don't really know."

"But do you happen to know where she went?"

"I guess it's the cemetery."

Jess frowned. "Oh. Um... okay."

The woman's sticky sweet smile stretched further on her brown face. "Don't find it odd that she's there."

She shrugged. "It's not a bad thing. I guess she has a loved one that she wants to visit there. Anyway, I'll be leaving. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime, Miss."