She could feel the heat of the building behind her; and his violence against her as he kept her pinned, hurling insults.



The flames kept bursting out of the building, even as the rain attempted to douse them. With his main shirt, hat, and trenchcoat off; Don was now serious about his attempt!

The smell of burning bezeetol made her sick to her stomach, and memories flooded back of when they were together in middle school. It was nothing like her love for Donte, but it was a time she cherished even so.

She felt the weakness of her earlier years flood back. True, her childhood telepathic tormentor was scarce to put thoughts in her head anymore, but she now realized in full how Miriam's weakness was in her as well. She couldn't kill Don. But she could try to incapacitate him somehow! She had a plan to hurl him, with the last of her strength if necessary!

Right as his hands started reaching for forbidden territory, she put her plan into action...



She let up the quick thrust with her centilegs, and threw him as hard as she could! She heard a thud, and assumed that was where he landed. As she got herself up, she realized her mistake! Her sense of direction had been all turned around! It was too late...she had thrown him directly onto the flames!!!



Don (shrieking): "No!!!!!!! Gifted Flippo!!!!! Centhuen curse!!!! Feel the revenge in your mind!!!! Kimi!!! She will...Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!"



Candi: "What have I done?"

She knew now what her future would involve. Even if she didn't immediately make her life around this...it would forever shape her future. This was her destiny! She vowed though, that she would one day...somehow...find a way to hide her true self from her enemies. She knew that if this were her calling, she would somehow have to find a way to bring justice about...without killing the perpetrators!

Feelings of weakness followed, as she remembered that she used to love the man she just fed to the flames! She knew she had to carry on - and make sure her sisters were safe!

But the way she was feeling at the moment, her heart could not believe she had truly acted in self-defense. From where her insecure feelings stood, what she had done could only be murder!

For her family's sake - and for the sake of what she knew she must do with her life, she would carry on. But she yearned to turn herself in...a desire she would have to deny!



As the shock further set in, she realized in full...sure, she had not physically compromised her virgin's honor like her sisters...but she had killed someone!

She simply had to flee Gerosha now! If she stayed, she'd have to either seriously explain her actions, or face prison!

A voice in her head tried to numb her, saying: "Big deal!" Her mind quickly lashed back against the spirit of stupidity.

She could end up at a crisis center, given what he attempted to do to her, or she could cover up her crime and bury the evidence. Neither the crisis center nor prison sounded like viable options. She knew she'd have to bury the incident...she couldn't allow her public shame to exceed that of her sisters!

Then again, this was imposed on her! She didn't choose this! Her sisters made choices! What would hers be?



She had failed! She was every bit as horrible as her sisters - worse! Miriam and Marina may have been a little loose; but they weren't murderers!

A message came to Candi from inside:

"I know about it, but I am not leaving you! I'll deal with this burden now! Don has caused you to suffer enough here!"

She had been taught valuable lessons. Now, she could hear the still, small voice, setting her straight when she had lost everything. The pain of guilt was still overpowering.



The flames relented. A fire truck and a police car managed to make their way to the scene of the burning building. They were surprised to find the Stolly's, now almost nothing. What they didn't find, to Candi's relief, were Don's bones in the wreckage.



The invasion was soon over. Candi had managed to escape, but at a cost - her life was gone. Where were her sisters? Could she live up to her responsibility to protect them, or was it already too late?

Her battle with Don was long and hard, but she had managed to overcome. Getting away from the bezeetol that was burning, her healing factor resumed, and the scratches on her face were soon a memory.

Still, the emotional pain lingered. She hid in the shadows while wearing Don's trenchcoat, to hide the indecent remains of her clothing. From a distance, she watched as the police attempted to analyze the scene. She ached to turn herself in - but could not.



Why did he mention Kimiyato? Why was her tormentor in childhood not doing her routine now?

Candi knew that Kimi was still sometimes getting inside of her, doing whatever possible to rob Candi of her courage. In younger years, Candi had tried in vain to resist this strange presence from within. A voice once called to her: "Stand back! Let me handle this!"

Convinced at the time it was Jesus, Candi dropped her defenses. A cold chill up the back of her neck later, and Kimi's telepathic grip over her quickly weakened. It wasn't gone forever, but the link was never as strong.

Nevertheless, Don somehow knew about it. This was in spite the fact that she had never mentioned it to him! Don believed the link would one day get stronger.

Even without Kimi to torment her, Candi knew that she had now crossed a line. She had to flee Gerosha...possibly forever! Miriam was right: Candi Flippo had to die, and must never be found!