Chapter 8
The following day, Tia Clark took a leave of absence from work
She made her way to a church.
Near Kingsbury City, there was the renowned Mountvale Church, known for its spiritual solace.
Over the years, Tia had visited Mountvale countless times, each visit kneeling for hours at the altar
She prayed for Victoria’s eternal peace.
She prayed for Nathan’s safety and health.
But she knew this might be her last chance to visit.
This time, she knelt beneath the ancient oak tree in the churchyard.
Legend had it that if one proved their sincerity, they could receive a rare blessing from the church.
As night fell, a sudden snowstorm swept through.
The biting wind and snow lashed against Tia, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
Her entire body ached fiercely, and despite the cold, sweat beaded on her forehead.
She shivered uncontrollably, and eventually, with a gasp, she coughed up her first mouthful of blood.
Yet Tia Clark remained where she was, kneeling through the day and into the night.
By dawn, a priest from the church noticed her, half–buried in snow, and approached her.
It was then he saw the patch of blood in the snow.
“Bless you, my child. What is it that you seek with such devotion?” he asked.
Pale and trembling, Tia Clark struggled to her feet, clasped her hands together, and bowed.
“I wish for a pair of Eternalight Candles… and a charm for safety.”
It was said that the Eternalight Candles, when lit before a loved one’s memorial, would ensure their peace in the afterlife.
With her requests granted, Tia shakily made her way to the office.
It was the only thing she could leave for them before she departed.
But Tia knew Nathan would refuse anything from her, so she seized a moment at noon when no one was around to discreetly place the Eternalight Candles on Nathan’s desk.
As for the charm, she planned to slip it into his car when the chance arose.
Afterwards, Tia didn’t leave immediately. She wanted to see if Nathan would take the Eternalight Candles home, so she waited outside the office building for him to finish work.
At half past six, Nathan emerged, holding the bag containing the Eternalight Candles.
Tia’s eyes lit up, only to watch him hand the bag to his assistant, pointing in a particular direction.
That direction was…
Towards the garbage disposal.
Tia immediately followed the assistant.
She arrived just in time to see him approaching a dumpster, ready to discard the candles.
“Don’t throw them away!” she shouted, rushing over.
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She snatched the bag back, only to find it empty.
Suddenly, she heard Nathan’s cold voice,behind her. “I knew it was you.”
Her mind went blank as she turned to see the Eternalight Candles still in his hand.
The assistant walked away.
Nathan approached her with the candles, his voice icy, “Do you think doing something this foolish will make up for what you owe Victoria?”
“I just wanted to give her one last thing,” she replied, her voice trembling, offering no further explanation..
Nathan snapped the Eternalight Candles in half without hesitation.
“No!” Tia lunged to stop him, but could only watch as they broke and were tossed into the trash.
In the scuffle, neither noticed something else slip from her pocket.
Nathan caught it swiftly, recognizing it as a safety charm.
Tia’s hands clenched tight.
Nathan’s voice dripped with cold disdain and mockery.
“You talk of penance, yet seek a charm for yourself? Tia Clark, you’re as cowardly as ever.”
He chuckled harshly, tossing the charm into a puddle.
“Do you think you deserve peace? You should suffer for the rest of your life.”
With those words, Nathan walked away, leaving Tia standing there.
She stared blankly at the wasted tokens of her efforts.
Just like her life, it all seemed a futile dream in the end.
Chapter 9
