"WAKE up, Jace." I woke up with a light shaking of my shoulders. Elaine was standing over the sofa, where I volunteered to sleep. "Breakfast is ready."

I rubbed my eyes awake to check my watch for the time. It's still six in the morning, the Butterfly Garden, the place I was planning to visit today will be open by eight.

"What time are you going to work?" I asked rising up from the sofa.

"I should be there by 7:30," Elaine replied. I checked her attire, she's already dressed for the day. I promised that I will walk her to her workplace because it may not be safe for her to walk alone.

"Give me thirty minutes then," I said before walking towards her bathroom.

The reason why I am in her house is to guard her and also, I haven't seen a place where I could rent. Yesterday, we already let the police know what happened. They said that there have been cases like what Elaine has. They'll let us know if they found out something. I know there are other cases they are working on other than Elaine's case so we don't want to put pressure on them. Besides, I hate to say this but the police are not that reliable so I don't really want to depend on them that much. They told us that they will bring an officer to guard Elaine so until that officer arrived, I'm not planning to leave her side.

It was already seven o'clock when we arrived at her workplace. She was an employee at the Butterfly Garden. Some people come there to buy flowers or seeds, some came here for the tourist spot, like me. So this garden consisted of two areas, at the entranceway you will spot the flowers and seeds in the sale. It's a huge house garden, different kinds of flowers like marigold, sunflowers, roses with all kinds of colors are placed in a vase neatly. Shrubs are embracing every corner of the garden, giving it an enchanting look.

But the other one is my favorite, it is an open area where there are only native plants are planted. That is to attract butterflies. The roof is crisscrossed woods, there is an open space to lure the butterflies inside the garden. As I got there, I almost held my breath, there were hundreds of them, no even a thousand of them, flying all over the place.

"You can look for free since the owner knew you." Elaine smiled. "They read your article, even the pictures you've taken, they are all amazed."

"Well, I guess being famous is a good thing."

"No, they just want their place to be featured in your magazine as a promotion."

I chuckled, "Just leave it to me and it'll be famous in less than a week."

I looked at her when she urged me to go on and do my thing, that is to take pictures. She knew that I have nothing in my camera but butterflies.

"Come on, I am safer inside here. It's not like those goons will try to hurt me in public."

"You don't understand," I said. "These are powerful men, they can manipulate--"

"I know now," She said and again she forced a smile. "Then I'll follow you while you take pictures."

I heaved a sigh, she's still selfless and that never changed at all. And I don't think if I could be like her.

"Just stay by my side," I said finally, after a second of contemplating. When she nodded, I proceeded to take my camera that is on my backpack.

I momentarily forgot about the problem about last night and became engrossed in taking pictures of the butterflies. I caught every angle I desired. Once, I decided that the shots are enough, I reviewed every picture. The one shot with the squad of butterflies flying over a couple inside the gazebo while the sun lit the color of each fragile wings of the butterfly is my favorite.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Couples sure attracts butterflies," I said in a smile.

"They sure are," Elaine said agreeing. "This place isn't called Garden of Fate for nothing."

I was swiping through my pictures when a butterfly suddenly landed on my hand. My system was filled with enthusiasm when I realized what kind of butterfly is it.

"Woah, a blue Morpho butterfly?!" I exclaimed.

"You know that?" Elaine asked. "As expected of butterfly enthusiasts."

"It's a rare species, it's too bad that they might go instinct soon," I said with a sad smile. "I like it when they fly, they seem to disappear and reappear again because of its wings."

"You know what? Rather than those couples...," Elaine started, looking over the couples at the gazebo. "or the tourists over there, or the children at there or even me...," then she turned to look at me. "They all seem to be gathering at this place. To where you are..."

When I looked around me, I began noticing that she was right. The blue, not just the blue ones, all kinds of butterflies inside the garden almost flying around near my direction. I didn't notice that before because I am more focused on taking pictures whenever I set an eye to a stray butterfly.

Other than that, this may sound weird but sometimes, I can feel something while they are near. Something strange, as if I got the feeling that I can feel that they have emotions and that I could feel that emotion.

"It's already attached to you," Elaine said that made me looked at the blue morpho. Yes, indeed, when I got up on my knees, it's still resting on my hand. "I am so jealous of you, are you some kind of butterfly whisperer or something? Whenever I tried catching one, it won't even get near me." She pouted.

I snickered, "Maybe because you're not that attractive enough."

She gasped, "You're so mean, Jace!"

I patted her head. As someone older than her, I get the feeling that I should take care of her. I don't know it's every elder brother's sense of responsibility. And now that she's in danger, I think it's my obligation to take care of her.

I felt a sudden pang of guilt when I remembered someone. Elaine seemed to notice the sudden change of my mood that's why she asked me what's wrong.

"Have you heard of Lee?" I asked, "Do you have any news of him?"

Elaine sighed, "I'm sorry, Jace. We don't really know where he is now."

I looked down. Not knowing if a person is still alive or not, or worrying if they are doing fine is the worst of all.

"Hey, Jace. It's not your fault." Elaine tried to comfort me.

"I don't know...Elaine..."

"Look," Elaine smiled. "Why don't I get you something to eat? I'll ask the owner that the famous Jace Beaufort wants to be served a high-class meal in order to feature this place in his next issue, how does that sound?"

I grinned, "I sound cunning. Hey, don't give me a bad reputation."

She laughed. "Okay, wait here while I get you something."

I sat there for a little while just watching the blue morph resting on my wounded hand.

"Hey," I tried talking to the butterfly since I've got nothing to do really. "Do you think it's true? The belief that you will meet your destined one here?"

I blinked my eyes, both of its antennae twitched, I think that's a nod. I'll assume it is.

"It's kinda cheezy though," I said rubbing the back of my neck. "Then do you think I will meet that person now?"

Again, it's antenna twitched.

I sighed. What am I doing?

"Then give me a sexy one, would you?"

Another twitch.

I looked at the butterfly closely. Honestly, this butterfly is weird. I've never seen one that sat on a human's hand for a long time. I started to wonder, is this one dead?

"Hey, since you have too much free time, why would you take me to that person now?" I demanded.

To my surprise, the butterfly moved. Not just twitching its' antenna but moving its' body towards a direction.

"Mommy, he's talking to the butterfly." I heard someone said. I turned around and saw a child while holding her mommy's hand.

"Ignore him, let's go!" The mother said quickly, probably think that I'm crazy.

I sighed and looked at the butterfly who was really pointing at the direction where the mother and child were earlier.

"I am not into a pedophile, if you mean a child." I sighed. "Or was it the-- Hey!"

Suddenly, the butterfly flew away from my hand.

"Hey! Where are you--"

I was frozen in place because at the time when I turned around there was a tall man, even taller than me, standing in front of me. And for some reason, I felt my head tingle in a familiar agonizing way. Just like how my dreams would start, there was a flash, an image, a memory, of someone else's that feels so dear to me. Very dear...

If it's something dear, then why does it hurt?