Cindy’s face was ghostly pale as she rose to her feet insteadily and made the sign of the cross
“wish to ask for a pair of Everlight Candles, and a guardian clam.”
It was said that lighting Everlight candles before a remembrance plaque for the dead would bring peace and comfort to the deceased,
Jonce 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 has desk. As for the guardiancham, 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.
Ar 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.
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!”
paratched 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 and went blank She turned slowly, her gaze landing on the Everlight Candles still clutched in his hand. Kevin v
was gone.
Authur stepped toward her, the candles in his grasp, his voice key 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 stopped the Everlight Candles in two.
Cindy lunged forward, desperate to stop him, but it was too late. She could only watch as the broken candles but the trash. In her rush, she didn’t notice something slipping from fer pocket.
Arthur’s land show out, catching it mid–air. He recognized in the men he saw it–guardian chan
Antour’s voice sliced through the air, told and laced with contempt. “You go on and on about making ends, but here you are, clinging to some guardian charm? Cindy, you’re just terrified of dying as you’ve always brett.”
He let out a derisave laugh, finging the dun away like it was nothing. It landed with a splash in a puddle at their feet.
“Imu you even deserve protection! You ought to spend the rest of your life paying for what you’ve done.”
Without another wold, Arthur turned un lis heel and strode olt, his departure as icy as the woods he’d left belilnd,
– now nained and wasted.
Cindy stood rooted to the spot. Sie staged blankly at the two things she’d fought so lund for
Ijrit like teaching the end of a long road, unly to realize the journey had been nothing more than a meaningless illusion – Just like her life.
