Chapter 6

The next day, Cindy took time off and went to church. Not far from Jorleston stood Southcrest Church, a place rumored to be a sanctuary for miracles. Over the years, she had been there more times than she could count, spending each visit in quiet prayer for what felt like hours. She had prayed for Winter to find peace in the afterlife and for Arthur's safety and well-being. But now, she might never have the chance to come back. This time, Cindy knelt beneath the elm tree in the church's courtyard. Rumor had it that those who could prove the sincerity of their hearts might receive something rare and precious. By nightfall, heavy snow began falling without warning. The wind whipped the snow against Cindy's body, leaving her disoriented and numb from the biting cold. A sharp, unrelenting pain tore through her, so intense that even in the freezing air, sweat beaded on her forehead. Her body shook uncontrollably until she finally coughed up her first mouthful of blood. Still, she didn't rise. She stayed on her knees for a full day and night. At dawn, a priest from the church spotted her partially buried in the snow and walked over. It was only then that he noticed the patch of blood staining the ground beneath her. "Miss, what are you seeking with such devotion?" he asked. Cindy's face was ghostly pale as she rose to her feet unsteadily and made the sign of the cross. "I wish to ask for a pair of Everlight Candles… and a guardian charm." It was said that lighting Everlight Candles before a remembrance plaque for the dead would bring peace and comfort to the deceased. Once she received what she had come for, Cindy made her way to the company, stumbling with every step. These were the only things she could leave behind for Winter and Arthur before she died. But Cindy knew Arthur would never accept anything from her, so she waited until noon, when no one was around, and quietly placed the Everlight Candles on his desk. As for the guardian charm, she planned to slip it into his car when the right moment came. After leaving the building, Cindy didn't go far. She needed to know if Arthur would take the Everlight Candles with him, so she lingered outside the company, keeping an eye on the entrance as she waited for him to get off work. At 6:30 pm, Arthur finally stepped out, the bag with the Everlight Candles in hand. Cindy's eyes lit up with hope. Yet, he saw him pass the bag straight to Kevin and gesture in a particular direction. It was the direction of the trash disposal area. She immediately followed Kevin. Sure enough, he headed straight for the garbage bins to throw the candles away! Panic shot through Cindy. The moment Kevin was about to throw them, she dashed forward, her voice frantic. "Don't throw them away!" She snatched the bag back, only to find it empty. Then, from behind her came Arthur's cold, cutting voice. "I knew it was you." Cindy's mind went blank. She turned slowly, her gaze landing on the Everlight Candles still clutched in his hand. Kevin was gone. Arthur stepped toward her, the candles in his grasp, his voice icy and piercing. "Did you really think this foolish stunt could make up for what you owe Winter?" Cindy didn't try to explain herself. Her voice shook as she said, "I just... wanted to give her one last thing." Without hesitation, Arthur snapped the Everlight Candles in two. "No!" Cindy lunged forward, desperate to stop him, but it was too late. She could only watch as the broken candles hit the trash. In her rush, she didn't notice something slipping from her pocket. Arthur's hand shot out, catching it mid-air. He recognized it the moment he saw it—a guardian charm. Cindy's hands curled into fists. Arthur's voice sliced through the air, cold and laced with contempt. "You go on and on about making amends, but here you are, clinging to some guardian charm? Cindy, you're just as terrified of dying as you've always been." He let out a derisive laugh, flinging the charm away like it was nothing. It landed with a splash in a puddle at their feet. "Do you even deserve protection? You ought to spend the rest of your life paying for what you've done." Without another word, Arthur turned on his heel and strode off, his departure as icy as the words he'd left behind. Cindy stood rooted to the spot. She stared blankly at the two things she'd fought so hard for—now ruined and wasted. It felt like reaching the end of a long road, only to realize the journey had been nothing more than a meaningless illusion—just like her life.