5

After that incident, George escorted Valerie home and in the end, after Valerie forced him and assured him that she was fine, the man wanted to leave her and go home. That night she lay in the dark, trying to sleep but her eyes were wide open. She then sat down and opened the drawer beside her bed. There was a small pill in a glass bottle, a sedative from her psychiatrist in a small dose, only taken if Valerie had a panic attack due to the trauma of her accident.

She hadn't taken the pill in a long time.

Does she have to drink it now? The memory of the incident at the restaurant still made her nauseous. It feels so excruciating to feel scared but do not know why. Valerie took a deep breath, closed the drawer again and tried to forget the intention to drink it. She has recovered, she will no longer return to being the depressed and fearful Valerie. Maybe the candle just reminded her of something from her past, something that had probably sunk into her memory so she couldn't even think about it anymore.

Valerie will try not to be defeated by her fear. She can do it. Especially with the presence of George in her life which brings a new glimmer of light to Valerie's life.

George.

Without realizing it, Valerie's lips curled into a smile when she remembered their beautiful dinner, which was interspersed with exciting conversations. Everything was perfect with George and Valerie hoping it would always be perfect.

***

In the morning when Valerie cooked her breakfast, eggs and toast, her phone rang and she immediately picked it up when she saw George's name on it.

“Hello?” Valerie couldn't even hide the drooping smile that was reflected in her voice.

“Valerie, how are you?” George's voice was crisp on the other side, making Valerie's smile widen.

“I am fine, I am sorry for yesterday to make you worried.”

“I am glad You are fine.” George cleared his throat for a moment, then said, “I stopped over there, I happen to be near your house now, we go to the office together.”

Valerie's smile widened irresistibly. “Yes, I'll be waiting for you.”

After turning off the phone, George drove the car a little faster, heading toward Valerie's house. Impulsive indeed, but her reaction yesterday worried him. There was something there; she was clearly terrified even though the girl might not realize why.

It's George's job to look after Valerie.

He used to do it because it was a job, but now he realizes there was a feeling involved and that feeling wanted to make sure that Valerie would always be okay.

His phone flickered again, making him glance at it. He picked it up and cleared his throat again, trying to calm his voice.

“Are there any signs?” the voice on the other side without further ado immediately asked. In fact, there really is no need for further ado, they must organize the conversation as effectively and briefly as possible to avoid leaking of information.

George subconsciously nodded his head despite realizing that it was impossible for the person on the other side to see it. “Yesterday she was in shock, there's something, I am sure. I'll try to find information.”

“Very nice,” the voice on the other side was firm. “And make sure she's safe. We have tried everything we can to hide her, lest what we have done fails completely.”

“I know,” George answered quickly and his interlocutor immediately cut off the conversation. The man then drove his car to Valerie's house.

***

Valerie opened the door cheerfully and smiled at George who smiled sweetly at the door, the man lifted the paper bag that was in his hand.

“Donuts with sweet powdered sugar,” he muttered, winking. “I hope You are not on a diet.”

Valerie laughed. “I guess I am willing to sacrifice everything for a donut in the morning.”

She opened the door and let George in. “Come in, I am brewing coffee.”

George followed Valerie and stepped into her tiny kitchen, it was still early and they could have a quick breakfast before leaving for the office. Valerie deftly poured the coffee into the white cup she had prepared, the fragrance of the coffee aroma wafted through the air immediately.

“Use sugar or cream?” Valerie asked George who was sitting in the dining chair and studied her with a sweet smile.

“Not sugar, just one spoon of cream.” George pointed to the paper bag filled with donuts, then laughed. “I've given my ration of sugar in this donut.”

Valerie put the cup of coffee in front of George and smiled sweetly then she sat in front of George, facing her own coffee.

George took out the warm donuts with the tantalizing powdered sugar, placed them on the empty plate in the middle of the table, then took one and took a delicious bite. He smiled seductively at Valerie. “Come on, taste it.”

Valerie took the donut and tasted it, struggling a little with the sugar all over her mouth and chin, but she then managed to bite it and rolled her eyes feeling the pleasure that melted in her mouth.

“Very good,” she muttered, her mouth half full, as George watched her and laughed with amusement.

“There's sugar on your chin,” he whispered softly, reaching out his fingers to wipe the spilled powdered sugar on Valerie's chin. For a moment his gaze turned serious and his strokes grew gentler. They stared at each other, as if a spark of feelings was flowing between the two of them.

George, who realized first, cleared his throat and tugged at his fingers, then smiled and looked at Valerie apologetically. “How is your condition?” he asked softly, shifting the strange atmosphere that surrounded the two of them.

Valerie knew that George was referring to her condition last night, she shook her head with a deep sigh.

“You must have thought I was weird yesterday,” she muttered softly.

“No, I am just feeling worried!” George interrupted quickly. “All night I was worried about you.”

Valerie gave George a sheepish look. “Actually, since that accident... I... I have had a bit of a psychological breakdown.”

“Psychological breakdown?” George frowned.

“That is the term my psychiatrist uses. He says I was traumatized by an accident that killed my father. I always experience fear and horror without cause, as if I was afraid of a danger that I do not even know what danger. But I have been undergoing therapy with my psychiatrist and have recovered. It's been a long time since I had panic attacks and anxiety anymore, I think I've completely recovered.”

George's gaze turned serious. “And you felt it again last night? Why?”

Valerie closed her eyes. The shadow of the blue candle emitting the faint light terrified her, she held the back of her neck, suddenly feeling a shudder in the hairs of her neck. “There was an empty table at the restaurant yesterday. I-I accidentally noticed it and the sight over there made me panic.”

“What sight?”

“The sight of the blue candles being lit and arranged in a semicircle... before even counting them I knew how many there were somehow.” Valerie grimaced. “There are nine of them. It was laid out specifically and the sight seemed to strike me as if it caused an unexpected reaction... just like you saw yesterday.”

“And you still do not know what the nine blue candles mean?”

“I don’t.” Valerie shook her head weakly. “I've been trying to remember whatever I have in mind that could link the blue candle, but none of my memories can connect it. I just know I feel scared, terrified, all the feelings I can't define are mixed up in my mind.”

How to explain that? Valerie did not know, it felt like her heart was being forced out of her chest cavity, causing a suffocating pain. George took a deep breath, looking thoughtful, but then his gaze softened.

“Maybe it has nothing to do with you, just a spontaneous reaction that makes you remember the trauma from your accident, who knows? Maybe you were traumatized by the color blue or something.” He smiled reassuringly at Valerie. “The important thing is You are okay, are you?”

Valerie nodded her head, sincerely hoping that she was really all right. “Yes. Thanks, George.”

George glanced at his watch.

“I think we should go to the office immediately.” He looked at Valerie seriously. “You do not mind if we go home together later?”

Valerie smiled brightly. “No, I do not mind.”

It felt good to be with George, his presence was like a drug that made him forget the fear that was over her.

***

“Blue candles. That is the cause, and the specific number is nine,” George muttered to the caller. He was inside his office which was tightly closed and of course he had made sure no one could hear this conversation.

His interlocutor on the other side was silent, looking thoughtful. “You think That is code?” finally he asked.

George thought for a moment. “Valerie's reaction last night was incredible. She was scared and gripped by terror, I was there to see her. And that candle must mean something, otherwise Valerie would not have reacted that strongly.”

“The Slayer is back,” the voice across was terrified. “It must be a code, which is specifically aimed at Valerie. We have to find out, George, no matter what, you have to get as deep information as possible from Valerie.”

“She looks scared when I bring up this matter. How could I have the heart to do that?” protested George.

The interlocutor took a deep breath. “I know you love Valerie, but you have to remember our priorities, and aren't we going to do this in the end to protect Valerie as well?”

George took a deep breath. “I know. We will see later.”