Painted in Fate

Chapter 10: Haunted Hearts

The weight of the memories sat heavily on both Billy and Babe, even after they had parted ways. Time had passed, but neither of them could shake the feeling that something was creeping closer—something darker and more profound than either had anticipated.

Billy was back at the ancestral mansion, pacing restlessly in his family's archive room. Shelves filled with leather-bound books, old scrolls, and stacks of yellowed papers surrounded him, a haunting reminder of his family's long history. Every flicker of light seemed to cast longer shadows in the room, as though even the walls held onto secrets.

He had never liked this room. As a child, it had felt like a crypt, filled with the echoes of long-dead relatives and the weight of their decisions. Now, though, it was his only source of answers.

With a heavy sigh, Billy ran his fingers along the spines of the old books, searching for anything—any document, any note—that might give him a clue about what really happened to Babe's family in their past lives. His mind replayed the fragmented memory over and over again: the fire, the blood, Babe dying in his arms. It was too much, too painful.

He had to know the truth.

Meanwhile, Babe sat across from Nana in their usual cafe spot, stirring his iced coffee absently. Nana, ever the vibrant contrast, was practically bouncing in his seat, eagerly recounting the latest gossip he'd picked up from around town. But Babe wasn't really listening. His mind was elsewhere, trapped between the fragments of his past life and the confusing emotions he was now forced to confront.

"Hellooo? Earth to Babe!" Nana waved a hand in front of Babe's face, drawing him back to the present. "Where have you been lately? You've been so spaced out. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you've got yourself a secret lover."

Babe's fingers tightened around his glass, his mind flashing back to Billy. His heartbeat quickened, but he shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Nothing like that. I've just... got a lot on my mind."

Nana leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Spill, babes. Is it about Mr. Mysterious?" He waggled his eyebrows playfully.

Babe bit his lip, hesitant. He couldn't tell Nana the full truth—how could he explain that he was possibly the reincarnation of someone from a past life, and that his dreams were fragments of memories from another time? Nana would think he'd lost his mind. But he needed to talk to someone, anyone, who could help him make sense of what he was feeling.

"I... I think I've met him," Babe admitted quietly, keeping his gaze focused on the ice in his drink. "The man from my dreams."

Nana's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what? When? Where? Oh my god, you're just telling me this now?"

Babe shrugged, feeling the weight of his confusion pressing down on him. "A while ago. But it's complicated. I don't even know if he's real... or if any of this is real." His voice wavered with uncertainty.

Nana leaned back in his chair, studying Babe carefully. "What do you mean? Is this one of those existential crises or something? Or are you thinking this guy isn't... you know, real-real?"

"I'm not sure. It just feels like there's more to him than what I've seen," Babe murmured. "It's like we're connected, but not in the way you'd expect. I can't explain it."

Nana, ever the optimist, reached across the table and placed a reassuring hand on Babe's. "Look, maybe you're overthinking it. Or maybe there's something bigger going on that you haven't figured out yet. But whatever it is, you're not going through it alone. You've got me."

Babe smiled at Nana's words, appreciating the comfort even though it didn't ease the ache gnawing at him from within. "Thanks," he whispered.

Still, even as he tried to push his thoughts aside, Babe knew that something was stirring beneath the surface. The dreams were becoming more intense, more real. He had to find answers—if not for his peace of mind, then to understand what was happening between him and Billy.

Back at the mansion, Billy had pulled out another old, dusty book, flipping through its pages with increasing frustration. He had been through dozens of texts, all of them detailing family histories, alliances, and business dealings, but nothing that could give him clarity on his uncle's involvement with the healer clan or the tragedy that had befallen them.

It wasn't until he reached a particularly worn page that something caught his eye.

Scrawled in faded ink, a passage mentioned the Healer's Covenant, a secret pact made between Billy's ancestors and another family—the Tanatat family. His heart raced as he read the words carefully.

"The blood of the healer clan was to remain protected, for their sacrifice and their power is intertwined with the survival of our lineage..."

Billy's eyes narrowed as he skimmed through the text, but something at the bottom of the page stopped him cold.

A name.

Patchanon.

His family name was written at the bottom of the covenant, alongside the name of the healer clan. And beneath it, the signature of his uncle.

Billy's blood ran cold.

His uncle had been involved—directly involved—in the deal that had led to the destruction of Babe's family. The fragmented memories, the fire, the blood—all of it was connected to this pact. And his uncle had been at the center of it.

"Damn it," Billy whispered under his breath, slamming the book shut. He stood up quickly, pacing the room as the weight of the revelation settled over him like a dark cloud.

His uncle had betrayed them. Betrayed the healer clan, betrayed Babe, and now... now it was clear why the guilt had always haunted Billy. His uncle had orchestrated everything, and Billy—naïve and trusting at the time—had unknowingly played a part in it.

But he wasn't going to let it happen again. Not this time.

With a determined look in his eyes, Billy grabbed the book and made his way out of the archive room. He needed answers, and he needed them now. If his uncle had played a role in their past, there was no telling what his plans were for the present.

Whatever the cost, Billy was going to stop it.