The Deadly Charm

Part 42 : The Price of Mistakes (Part 1)

The Poison Cookie

Sunlight filtered through a narrow kitchen window, casting a golden glow over the counters and tiled floor. The room should have felt warm. Inviting. But at its center sat Yanawadee—calm, still, and quietly dangerous.

Her hands moved with practiced ease, gathering ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. For anyone watching, it would look like a simple morning ritual. Baking cookies.

But today's recipe had a different purpose.

Today's cookies were meant to kill.

As the mixture came together under the rhythmic stirring of her spoon, the sweet scent of vanilla and butter filled the room. But beneath that familiar comfort hid something wicked.

Yanawadee reached into her bag and drew out a small, black glass bottle. Inside was a liquid as dark as midnight—thick, slow, and glinting like oil under the light. A gift from Suban, the witch doctor.

One drop. That's all it took.

She uncorked the bottle carefully, and let a few drops fall into the batter. They dissolved instantly, vanishing into the soft yellow mixture without a trace.

Then, she stirred.

A soft smile touched her lips.

Once the dough was rolled and shaped, she placed each ball onto the baking tray with meticulous precision. No one could tell these cookies were laced with death. They looked perfect. Inviting.

Exactly how she wanted them.

As the cookies baked, the smell was divine—warm, sweet, nostalgic. But as she watched them rise in the oven, all she could imagine was Akira, her former friend, taking a bite and falling—gasping—crumbling under the weight of the same pain Yanawadee had been forced to carry.

She would make her feel it. All of it.

When the cookies were ready, she arranged them on a delicate plate, dusted them with powdered sugar, and sealed them in a beautiful gift box—wrapped in soft paper and tied with twine.

It looked like a gift from the heart.

But it wasn't.

It was vengeance in disguise.

"This," she whispered to herself, eyes gleaming coldly, "is what she deserves."

The Sweetest Gift

The next morning, Yanawadee arrived at the office like always—well-dressed, soft-spoken, poised. She moved through the building with confidence, a folder in one hand, the cookie box in the other.

She approached Akira's desk and found her deep in work. Numbers danced across her screen, her focus unshaken—until she sensed someone standing nearby.

She looked up.

"Expense reports for this month," Yanawadee said sweetly, handing over the folder.

"That's fast," Akira replied, surprised.

"Thought I'd get ahead before heading to a client meeting this afternoon. You know how Nat gets when it's late," she added with a light laugh.

Akira chuckled. "Thanks. I'll review it soon."

"No rush," Yanawadee said breezily. Then, with deliberate calm, she placed the box of cookies on the desk.

"I baked these last night. Thought of you."

"You didn't have to..." Akira hesitated, touched but cautious.

"You've helped me a lot," Yanawadee said, still smiling.

Akira nodded and began unwrapping the box. A warm aroma burst into the air the moment the paper was peeled back.

"They smell amazing," Akira said.

"I made them just for you."

Akira reached in and picked up a cookie—soft, golden, dotted with chocolate chips.

Just as she brought it to her lips—

SMACK!

The cookie dropped from her fingers to the floor.

Akira gasped. It felt as if something invisible had struck her hand.

Don't eat it.

"Lloyd..." she whispered. She knew that voice—knew that warning. It was the guardian spirit who had protected her before.

"Oh—sorry," Akira said quickly, looking at Yanawadee, who stood frozen, her smile faltering for just a moment.

"I'm such a klutz."

"It's okay. There's more," Yanawadee said, her voice tight as she knelt to pick up the fallen cookie.

"I have to get back to this urgent task," Akira added, nodding toward her screen.

"Of course," Yanawadee replied. "But... don't forget to try them later, okay?"

Her smile returned—thin and brittle—before she turned and walked away.

Akira watched her go, then stared down at the cookie box.

She didn't touch it again.

Later that evening, after work, the office emptied slowly. Akira gathered her things and made her way downstairs to the small café inside the building. It was quiet—soft music, warm lights, the kind of place meant to soothe frayed nerves.

And waiting in the corner, as always, was Kongkiat.

She still didn't understand why he kept asking to meet her. Every time, he made excuses—talk of spiritual matters, her past experiences with the paranormal.

Today was no different.

"Hello," she greeted politely.

"Thank you for making time," he said, his tone charming, his grin easy.

"What's this about?"

He paused, then handed her a small gift box wrapped in elegant paper.

"A thank-you. For helping me with the Nuannaphan issue. You were... incredible."

Akira blinked. "That's kind of you. But really—"

"Open it," he urged.

Inside was a handcrafted piece of jewelry—delicate and beautiful.

"It's lovely," she murmured.

"I'm glad you like it," he said, his voice low.

Akira hesitated. Then, she reached into her bag and handed him the sealed container holding the leftover cookies.

"Here," she said. "You've been generous. I should return the favor."

"Are you sure?" he asked, his smile widening.

"Completely."

"Is that all for today?" she asked, her tone suddenly cool.

"...Yes," he answered, clearly hoping for more.

"Then I'll be going. I have somewhere to be."

She stood, offered him a parting smile, and walked out.

Kongkiat watched her go, frustrated.

"Why's she so hard to win over?" he muttered.

He looked down at the box of cookies and grinned.

"Still, she gave me something. That's progress."

To him, this was a game. A conquest. A twisted challenge.

He didn't know what he was holding in his hands.

He didn't know who the cookies were meant for.

He didn't know that death had just been re-gifted.

And as his phone buzzed and he saw Yanawadee's name flash on the screen...

He smirked.

"Fine. I'll deal with the past tonight."