Pablo immediately leafed through the book in his hands. Indeed, it said that Grace had departed. He couldn't believe it. The reincarnation of Madame Maya died. Just like that?
In her soul form, Grace looked at her dead body. Her past memories, all six years of it, flooded her mind. And not only that, some foreign memories assaulted her too. It was overwhelming. So suffocating that she felt pain and despair. She yelled but nothing came out of her mouth. She couldn't take it anymore!
Suddenly, Lilly appeared out of nowhere. She pulled Grace's hair.
"Come back, Gracie!" Lilly mustered all her strength to anchor Grace's soul, which floated like a balloon. Bit by bit, Lilly shoved Grace's soul back into the dead body. As if she was stuffing a turkey.
"It won't work, Lilly. That's her fate. You can't just..." said Pablo.
But Lilly wasn't paying attention to Pablo. She slapped Grace's face. "Wake up, Gracie. If you wake up now, I'll give you some of the spirits I caught."
Gracie felt like her world was trembling violently. "Stop... Stop! Who said I need your help?" Gracie suddenly spoke.
"What the...?" Pablo looked at his booklet again. Grace's thread of fate was severed moments ago. But now, one line, barely visible, joined the broken ends together.
"Are you all right, Gracie?" Lilly patted Grace's back.
Many emotions washed over her. When she looked at Lilly, her eyes turned teary. "I'm Grace..."
"Yes, yes. You're Grace. I won't call you Gracie."
After the fear and despair she felt, the well-lit room and the presence of Lilly provided the reassurance a six-year-old girl like Grace needed. She broke down in tears. Still, trying to act tough, Grace protested, "I didn't need you to come to my rescue."
"Yes, yes. Wait, don't cry, Grace."
But that only made Grace sob even louder. Never had anyone consoled her like Lilly did here.
"You... You made me look so weak. Like I need people to save me." Grace still refused to let go of her pride.
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