Time to Come Home

The Confrontation

Olivia wakes up in a dark room. There's only a ray of light coming from the window. She gets up to walk closer to the window to see where she is.

"You're up" the voice startles Olivia that causes her jump. "Please sit down"

"You're Verna. Why do u keep haunting me?" Olivia says while stumbles back to sit down on the bed.

"U know, there's something interesting inside u, Olivia." Verna sits opposite of Olivia. "U felt overwhelming. U had fear on what u could see. And somehow when that girl appeared in your life, everything has changed. She saved u. She died. Then u accepted what u were. Why?"

"I don't know" Olivia whispers.

"I revived her to see if she's worth the deal. There's part of my job brings me no joy, especially the death isn't caused by me but a willing accident. I need to see if she's worth living" Verna kneels in front of Olivia and gives her a black feather. "I've brought Lily back to u now I need to see if she's worth it"

"What deal? You're not taking her away. I can't take it again" a single tear rolls down Olivia's cheek.

"Get some rest then u will understand" again, Verna taps on Olivia's forehead then Olivia is out.

Verna goes back to the Crain pretending to be Olivia.

"Where have u been, mum?" Steve says. "Sarah said she's taking us to try traditional food ummmm I don't remember the name but she said it's good"

"Alright let's go then. Where are your sisters and brother" Luke and Nellie run to hug their mum. "Hey" Verna is doing her best to be lovable. She strokes the twins' hair.

"There u are, Olivia. Shall we go now?" Sarah comes out from the aisle.

"Yes, my love" Verna says then she takes the kids to Sarah's car.

Sarah does notice something is off. She smells something interesting. It's neither fragrant nor stink. It's a smell that never exists and she smelt that once which was on the funeral of her parents. Also, Olivia never calls her 'my love'. Perhaps once or twice at the beginning that Olivia learnt that Sarah's past life was Lily. But she stops doing that in case making the girl uncomfortable.

She shakes away the thought and goes to her car. "Let's go try the chicken rice noodle, shall we?"

Sarah keeps looking at Olivia during whole lunch. She notices there's a really faint claw-like veins between Olivia's brows.

"The chicken rice noodle is so nice! Can we go have it one more time before going home, dad?" Shirley asks Hugh.

"Well, u better Sarah. She's the boss here" Hugh shrugs.

"Can we, Sarah?" The kid turns to Sarah.

"Of course! U can eat as much as u want" Sarah rubs Shirley's head.

"I'm gonna take a nap. I'm tired" Nellie says.

"Me too" all the kids are tired. Surprisingly, Hugh is as well.

All of them go back to their guest rooms leaving Olivia (Verna) and Sarah.

"Aren't they all so precious?" Verna says giving a soft chuckle. "You too."

"Because I can tell who u are just like my mother, right Verna?" Sarah looks at Verna's eyes firmly.

Verna smiles and starts walking around the witch. "How did u figure out?" When she is behind Sarah, she changes back her appearance to black raven-like outfit.

"I smelt that and the claws on your forehead"

"Just like your mother, sensitive to the surrounding."

"Where is Olivia? What have u done to Hugh and the children"

"You're gonna find them to prove that you're worth living" Verna smiles again. "Hmmm look at u. Looks like I've underestimated your psychic power. You and I are the same. We are the executors of fate and karma. We execute people's fate just like I did to your parents."

"U killed my parents" Sarah remains calm.

"I didn't. It was a deal. But u killed a soul"

"Poppy Hill forced me to do it. I did it to prevent inevitable consequences"

"U performed dark magic"

"I didn't! My parents told me not to use it although I know how to do it" Sarah takes a deep breath. "Now tell me what's the deal? Where are the Crain?"

"Well, I drop u an address. Come and save them" Verna says light-heartedly then she disappears. The air is still as if she never exists.