The Undead Journey - Chapter 3

After I'd had my fill, I pulled away and rubbed the remaining red liquid from my lips. Blood dribbled slowly from the horse's neck, but it quickly stopped. I stared at it for a moment, unsure of how to handle what I had just done. I had taken blood from this innocent horse. I had told it to stay calm. I shivered, and nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt Alex's hand on my shoulder. I spun toward him, unsure of what he was going to say. He only smiled reassuringly and nodded toward the door, before he vanished. The weight of his hand on my shoulder disappeared just as quickly as he did, and I found myself staring at where he had been standing. Shaking my head slowly, I looked once more back at the horse. Sorry, pal. It had to be done. I turned and stuffed my hands into the pockets of the jacket. The cement ground was cold against my bare feet, but it didn't really register. Or maybe it did and I was just ignoring it. I wasn't sure, but either way it didn't matter. I slowly opened the barn door and slid out, shutting it behind me. Taking in a breath that I didn't need, I glanced around for Alex. I didn't see him anywhere, but I was somehow sure that he was still around. He wouldn't just up and leave; he wasn't like that. At least, I didn't think he was. I normally could read people like an open book, and although I couldn't read him very well, I could read enough to know that he wasn't the kind of person to just leave someone in their time of need. I was in need. I admit it, I needed help. When I still didn't see him, though, I moved forward toward the small wooden fence around the barn. Opening the gate, he appeared at my side, falling into step with me. I stiffened but managed to choke back my shout of surprise.

"Sorry," he said with an easy smile. "You'll get used to it."

"...What is it that you do, anyway? Can I do it?"

He paused. "I'm pretty sure you can, but I don't know what it is. I just...I dunno...I'm just suddenly not solid and I can move around freely without being seen. I don't really have a form or anything, and have to concentrate."

I frowned. "Sounds complicated."

He shrugged slowly. "Maybe. I don't think about it, I just do it. It comes in handy at times."

"Guess so."

"So, kid-"

"Why do you keep calling me kid? You don't look any older than me."

"...How old do I look?" he asked.

"...About seventeen," I said with a shrug.

He smiled. "Why, thank you."

I frowned, puzzled. "What do you mean? How old are you?"

"Kid, I'm twenty-six."

My eyes widened. "Twenty-six?" I mumbled in disbelief. "But how?"

"Comes with the condition, I guess. How old are you?"

"...Seventeen..."

"Heh. You look about twelve, maybe thirteen. Fourteen at most."

I glared at the ground. No wonder he kept calling me 'kid'. With a sigh, I tried once again to remember how I had come to be this way. "...What happened to me?" I asked, as if he had all the answers.

He frowned. "You were killed, I take it, judging by the discoloration on your chest. It's healing, though. It'll be gone soon. I don't know what happened to you, Tom. I really don't. I don't think any of us remember our deaths. Well, maybe Skylar does, but I'm not sure. He had a natural death. It was food poisoning. And Angela. She was in a bad car wreck." his frown deepened. "Those who were murdered or had unnatural deaths don't remember how they died. I know I was killed by some people who wanted to shut me up, but that's all that I've managed to gather."

I sighed heavily, suddenly feeling exhausted. I was murdered. Great. And I looked younger than I was. I probably sounded younger, too. How was I going to explain this to my parents? Feeling a lonliness in my chest that I had never felt before, I wrapped my arms around me in a tight hug. In an instant his hand was squeezing my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

"Kid, don't take it so hard. This is a big change for you, I understand. It was a big change for all of us."

"...There's...how many more?"

He frowned. "I'm not sure. I only know a few."

"Oh..."

He sighed heavily and continued forward, having stopped to talk with me. I followed after him silently. "What are you going to do for the day?"

"...What happens in the day?" I asked, feeling uneasy.

"The sun weakens us. It hurts. It can kill, at times. It can blind you. I suggest you find a dark hole and climb in until night."

"...But...I...I don't have anywhere to go..."

He paused. "You can stay with me, if you want. I won't bite."

I smirked at his pun. "Okay...if...if you're sure."

"I never say anything unless I mean it, kid. It's getting late for us. C'mon." he grabbed my arm and began leading me through the streets. He was right; it was getting early. Er, late. I let him lead me around as I thought through everything that had happened since I had woken up in that basement. Clearly I had been left to die. No, that wasn't quite right. I had died. I had been left to burn so whoever killed me could dispose of the body, or perhaps make it look like the fire had killed me. I shuddered at that thought and closed my eyes.