Chapter 6: Visitor

The pair of them had returned to Carol's department, Grace threw herself on a comfortable soft sofa and closed her eyes. The handle of her handbag wrapped around her wrist like a serpent. In an instant, Carol was reminded about the snake that behaved like a vampire. Her eyes paid attention to the black snake in the centre of the bag design. Why did it bite me? Why did it appear? Snakes don't drink blood, so why did it try to suck mine? “That serpent!”

“Huh?” Grace half-opened her eyes, she looked down and nodded at the serpent design. “I love their slick eyes; they're very haunting.”

“Before I entered Planet Butterfly,” Carol placed her hands on Grace's shoulders, “A serpent came and bit my leg, and he drank my blood and this green light showed up.” Carol panted, pulling herself away from Grace.

“The snake,” Grace replied sitting up, “the black snake comes and claims the blood of those who are welcome into Planet butterfly. Once it absorbs enough blood, it ill release a green fog which will transport you to Planet Butterfly.”

“I see,” Carol froze on the spot, “I've always had a fear of snakes. Kate used to be scared of them as well.”

“You need to be yourself." Grace demanded, “you can't keep copying Kate forever!”

"I am being myself!"

"What I mean is not copying Kate's style," Carol's make up settings and hairstyle had given her a strong resemblance to Kate, "you sometimes look like the walking ghost of your sister."

"She's the one who inspires me," Carol stated, trying to take Grace's fingers away from her hair.

Carol was wondering, what was poking out of Grace's bag? The sides were an exquisite shade of purple. The zip rested on the mysterious item, which was sticking out boldly like a rabbits tail. The glossy wooden frame around the item gave Carol sudden thoughts of what it's potential identity. She thought it could be fan because judging on Grace's personality, there was going to be material much more of a higher standard than her own.

“Time to make a change, ” Grace said, routing in her bag, “you need an extra confidence boost! Let's see if brought my make up with me?”

Carol sighed, her hands stuck onto her lap. “I have quite a lot in my room, if you need any. ”

“Good,” Grace stated placing her bag on the floor, “that's the make up thing sorted, now for clothes”

“Clothes?”

“Of course,” Grace dug through the bag until she pulled out an aqua dress. “Don't it look pretty Carol?”

Carol concentrated on the knock on the door. She approached the door and then stopped. A sudden thought that it could be the police at the door; she didn't want to be arrested. Paranoia struck her like a powerful disease; the gentle knocks seemed to have all a sudden felt like vicious bangs. Her arms shook with so much force, she was an earthquake.“Who is it?” Carol shrieked. Grace leapt in front of Carol to open the door on her behalf. To Carol's surprise, it wasn't a policeman. Instead, it was a young boy around Carol's age in a wheelchair.

Timothy Daffo was his name; a boy from her school. He lived a few apartments away from Carol and they never really spoke since he broke his legs in a car accident. There was something Carol always liked about Timothy: his smile. His smile was one of the rare things that made Carol smile. “Hello Tim, didn't expect you to be here.” Carol said.

“Hi,” Timothy smiled passing Carol a bunch of white and red roses as he went, “I've also got some chocolate for you as well.”

“They're pretty,” Carol was speechless. She didn't expect such gifts from a neighbour. “Thanks Tim, that's so sweet of you.” Carol claimed the chocolate and embraced Timothy in her arms.

“No problem,” Timothy replied, “you'll need them. I mean, I've notice you have a hard time at school. Bullies, sister's death and an unruly father. I thought you deserve something nice for a change.”All that Carol felt like doing was smiling. Grace grabbed onto Timothy's chair and moved him near the couch. The fresh fragrance coming from the flowers became refreshing; like there was perfume sprayed on the petals. “I remember you!” Timmy remembered. He had a feeling that Grace looked familiar, “you were Kate's friend, Grace.”

“Indeed I am,” Grace spoke bowing her head down. Carol found it rather odd that Grace bowed; she assumed it was something to do with her culture.

“You're a fine looking lady i must say,” Timothy approved of Grace's humble curls.

Carol couldn't understand the reason why Grace was out of her head for so long? Everyone seemed to know her; Timothy remembered her as Kate's friend. She seemed to be such an important family friend and only had an impact to her life for the past few days. Her attraction to females begun at puberty and only now had she paid proper attention to Grace's coal eyes. Carol knew there was a certain spark between her and Grace and she would love to be her girlfriend; just not now. All the care that she received from her, she was very grateful but for some reason she regretted the first kiss.

As much as she enjoyed the kiss, looking back on it now, it was far too soon. She hoped it wasn't the last kiss either because the next time, she wanted it to be meaningful like a proper relationship. Something told her that time was going to glue them together. A fatal attraction to the murderer of her father, was not an easy thing to consider. Her father's death made her realize that her and Grace would need time.

“Are you okay Carol?” Timothy asked, “you seem to be off with the fairies.”

“I'm fine,” Carol assured him, “just spaced out. Nothing to worry about, I do it all the time.”

“Perhaps, more concentration would help you,” suggested Grace. Carol thought it was no wonder she had lower marks at school; getting lost in her thoughts was starting to be a huge issue. “Don't worry yourself anymore Carol,” Grace continued. Her heels clanked on the floor when she hugged Carol, “you're safe now.”

“I know,” Carol patted Grace's back; she couldn't think of any other way to touch her. She didn't want to be passionate in front of Timothy, and Grace seems to be feeling the same way about it too.

Grace's eyes aimed at Timothy as she asked, “do you like that blue dress over there?”

“Yes I do,” Timothy smirked, “it's a pretty dress, I think it would look good on you Carol.”

“She was just about to try it on, before you came.”

“Yeah we were,” Carol blushed from the feeling of touched hips. She hesitated and stepped away from Grace and skipped to the dress and claimed it. “I'm going to get dressed, okay.” Without another word she zoomed into her bedroom. Afterwards, the door created a loud bang.

Carol managed to get into the dress with ease. She wasn't keen on the bright patterns at first, but she assumed that she was going to learn to like the dress. If she was, it was defiantly going to take some time. Frilly, dotty and bold colors weren't part of her daily fashion routine.

The fragrance of bleeding flesh invaded her senses. Grace's constant personality change began to haunt. The haunting calmed her, yet trampled her mind. The confusion was like a raging cancer, effecting her brain in every way possible. “I must resist her charm,” she muttered to herself, “I have to calm down, she's older than me and she killed my dad. How can I be attracted to her? Her porcelain skin, her beautiful curls and.... she's an intoxicating drug; I want her.” Carol's desire for Grace had to be imprisoned in her mind and lurk as her fantasy.

“You were saying something?” Grace's voice caused a sudden startle to Carol “You've started talking to yourself; are you sure that you're okay? You're not acting it.” The sound of her heels coming approached her, until fingertips crumbled on Carol's back. A mint aroma leaked into her ear. Carol's heartbeat stomped her ribcage with utter tension. “You're very quiet,” Grace whispered, “and rather shy too.” Her fingertips whirled down to Carol's hips, “there's nothing to be afraid off, you can tell me anything.”

“Stop it,” Carol requested feeling Grace's intentions to strip her. “P-please.....” her words were stuck in her throat, “I don't know how to say this to you.... but I think we should concentrate on the revenge plan. Yes you're pretty but I don't feel ready for all this tension. I just want our relationship to slow down, for now.” Carol squinted her eyes, her gut told her that Grace wasn't going to be pleased.

Grace was just as silent, she stared into her eyes and gave a simple stroke on the face. “I understand,” she whispered.

“So what's in your bag?” Carol decided to ask, “could you show me?”
“Fine,” Grace showed her the mysterious item. It came to her attention that it was anything but a fan. From what Grace showed her, and from the falling bullets, it was clear that Grace possessed a gun.