For Gaia it is a miraculous relief to have a true friend to whom she has told her secret. We see her softening a little. We even see a hint of real happiness for Gaia, as she and Mary and Ed become almost an inseparable threesome. Unfortunately Loki discovers through Ella, that Mary knows more than anyone is permitted to know. This is a very big problem for him. In the meantime, Sam discovers Heather was unfaithful to him and is soon disappointed again by Gaia and so, deeply depressed, he goes out drinking one night with his friends. He gets drunk and allows an irresistible older woman to seduce him. Sam regrets it the next morning. Regret deepens when he runs into Gaia at the chess boards. Unexpectedly they have a blissful time together. This is what Sam has longed for and he is filled with hope - especially when they return to Gaia's house before moving on elsewhere. And then he meets her foster mother and nearly throws up. Sam SLEPT with Ella not eighteen hours earlier. He flees without a word. Gaia is once again heartbroken. Mary, meanwhile, is being pursued and it is starting to scare her. She is cornered and the identities of her pursuers shock her: Ella and Loki. They are closing in for the kill and Gaia is in serious trouble. Mary somehow manages to escape and tries to warn her friend. Gaia senses something is wrong. Mary almost reaches Gaia but before she can, Loki kills her, making it look as though the drug dealer did it. Gaia finds Mary's body. Unbearable grief.
