AfterLife (22 page)

“I’m sorry, Meri. How long had you two been partners?”

“Going on 5 years. You think you know a person, but then…”
The false expression of happiness returned for just a second, but was quickly
replaced by a brighter, more genuine one. “It’s okay though, you’re my partner
in crime now.”

“Me? With you?” This was news to Wes. Emily hadn’t said who
he would be placed with, and he was relieved to find it was with someone he
already knew.

“Yep. It’s going to be you and me taking on the city. Once
Emily is finished putting her things away, the Ancestors want to see the three
of us.”

“Chicago. I’ll be going back to Chicago.” It was a
statement, not a question. He had a lot of unfinished business in Chicago, but
he didn’t voice this to Meri. Instead he changed the subject. “There’re a lot
of people at the Hub today.” The sitting area in the middle of the room held
about 15 people, and circular tables with chairs around the room’s perimeter
provided space for another 20 or so. Their ages ranged from young to old and
they sat clustered together in small groups. The slight hum of chatter that
filled the Den was broken only by random outbursts of laughter from a blond
woman who was talking with three other people at one of the tables.

“It’s the change in focus,” Meri said, also looking around
the room. “The Ancestors are requiring every Mortui in this AfterLife Hub to
make a trip here and check in. If you ask me, I think they want to do more than
just clarify the details of everyone’s new assignment. They’re trying to make
sure that those who remain with AfterLife want to be here. Atumra is looking
pretty appealing to a lot of our members right now.”

Wes knew Meri had witnessed Jordan’s change. It must have
been difficult to watch the person she thought she knew become someone else
entirely. He could see Meri didn’t interpret Jordan’s defection to Atumra as a
simple change in allegiance, but also as a personal betrayal of their
friendship.

“I’m really sorry to hear about Jordan,” Wes said again.

Meri shrugged her shoulders. “There isn’t anything to be
sorry for. He made the choice he felt was best for him. It’s not anyone’s
fault. I hope he’ll be happy with his decision. He wanted me to go with him,
but it wasn’t a choice I could make.”

“I can tell you care, though.”

“I always care.” Meri looked at Wes, her expression slightly
sad. “That’s just how I am. I trust people too quickly.”

“Five years is not too quick to trust someone, Meri. Look at
me. I trusted you when you first found me, and I trusted AfterLife without
really knowing what type of group it was. I felt comfortable with it from the
beginning. Of course, I didn’t know anything else, but if I didn’t want to
still be here, I wouldn’t be.” Wes didn’t know if his argument would comfort
Meri, but he was trying, and he realized it was all true. He had put a lot of faith
in AfterLife and he still trusted them. “If anyone leapt without looking, I
guess it would be me.”

Meri nodded and smiled again. This time the smile was
genuine. Wes felt this would probably be one of many philosophical
conversations he and Meri would have while she showed him how to survive as a
Mortui in Chicago. He bet they were very much alike. They were both sensitive
to the feelings of others.

Emily, who had come up from behind while they were talking,
leaned her head between them. “Am I missing anything exciting?”

“Oh! No,” Wes said, startled. “Meri was just telling me I’m
going to be with her in Chicago.” He stood up and turned to face Emily. Meri
also stood. “Did you know?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, I knew. Oscar called me yesterday to tell
me the good news. I wanted to wait and tell you when we got to the Hub. I know
you two will be great companions.” After a short pause she added, “I guess
we’re wanted by the Ancestors?” The question was directed to Meri.

“Yep.” Meri nodded.

“Then we should head on over and see if they’re ready for
us,” Emily said, motioning to the door with a nod of her head.

The Ancestors’ office was quiet in comparison to the rest of
the Hub. Only two Ancestors were in the office today, Anne Marie was sitting at
her desk typing furiously on her computer when they entered. In another corner,
Zachariah sat reading some documents that were spread across his desk.
Apparently, the other Ancestors were occupied with other obligations. Neither
of them acknowledged the three as they entered. Emily headed for the kiva in
the center of the room and Wes and Meri followed. They simply sat in silence
waiting on the Ancestors. A few minutes later, Anne Marie finished typing at
her computer and stood up from her desk.

“Okay, that’s finalized.” Anne Marie said as she walked over
and found a seat near Wes, Emily, and Meri, “Zach, are you able to join us?”

Zach looked up from his papers and nodded as he put them
down. He found himself a seat opposite Wes, and greeted the new arrivals.

Anne Marie adjusted her position in the seat so she was
facing Wes. “So Wes, I understand you’ve completed your initial training. You
must be excited.”

“I don’t know,” Wes said. “I get the impression that there’s
still a lot I need to learn.”

“Most certainly; that is a completely normal and
understandable feeling,” Anne Marie said. “You will continue to learn new
things every day. All of us are still learning.”

Wes nodded briefly.

Anne Marie continued, “I think you already know we’ve
decided to place you with Meri in Chicago. You two know each other and I’m sure
you’ll work well together.”

Wes looked at Meri and gave another nod. She smiled back. He
also thought they would work well together, but he wanted to get to the point.
“Am I going to Chicago because you still want me to contact Jezebel?”

Anne Marie smiled at Wes’s candor. “Yes, Wes. We’ve been
able to collect more information on the Atumra’s plans. As we suspected, and as
you have witnessed, they are targeting individuals capable of becoming Mortui
and prematurely recruiting them to strengthen their position, but we aren’t
sure what their ultimate goal is or how it relates to antemorts. We need more
information.” She paused and looked at Zach, who had remained quiet during the
conversation. “The problem with the information we’re collecting is that it
seems to be only what they want us to have. It all seems connected to their
desire to recruit our members. The information we’ve received on the success of
the process to inhabit antemort bodies, for example, doesn’t tell us anything
except that they have something to offer Mortuis we don’t – and that
information has encouraged recruitment to their organization and an increase in
their numbers. We desperately need to know more. If you can get anything from
Jezebel, it might help us understand what we’re up against. Even the smallest
bit of information could be important.”

The past three months had provided Wes with plenty of time
to consider this request, and he knew he needed to do it. It was time to move
on from the night of his death, but to do that he needed to know what had
really happened and the role Jez had played in those last few minutes. “I’m
game,” Wes said. “Is there any speculation as to what the Atumra is planning? I
mean, even I know that when a group wants to increase its membership and
decrease the influence of competing organizations, it’s really all about
power.”

“You’re right,” Anne Marie answered. “We know what they’re
doing, but we don’t know why or what their final objective is.

“Mortui and antemort societies have coexisted as parallel
societies for as long as anyone knows. There are reasons Mortuis don’t make
their presence known to antemorts, and the history between the two peoples is
intertwined more than you can possibly know, but I can tell you that the way we
live is the natural order of things. If the Atumra disrupts the unspoken
agreement between the living and the dead then both groups will suffer. It
won’t be just the living. You’ll have to trust me when I say it’s important for
us to prevent the disruption of the current order. If it feels like you’re
seeing the beginning of what could be a major confrontation between Mortuis and
antemorts, you’re right. Mortuis exist because antemorts subconsciously allow
us to do so. If they knew about us and wanted to, they could easily eliminate
us all.”

Wes wanted to know more about this “unstated agreement,” but
recognized now was not the time to ask. He had put his trust in AfterLife. By
helping this organization, his organization, maintain the existing relationship
between Mortuis and antemorts, he would be working to ensure the survival of
both groups. And maybe by doing so he would find his purpose as a Mortui. It
was a good cause to support and a very good reason to return to Chicago.

After they left the Ancestors, Meri went to prepare for her
and Wes’s departure while Emily walked with Wes to his room. Neither of them
spoke as they walked down the hallway and through the Den, each deep in their
own thoughts, and Wes wondered about his upcoming meeting with Jezebel. He
wasn’t bothered by the thought of their meeting, and he knew it was because of
Emily. Somewhere in the past three months, he had come to care for her.

She was gorgeous, but the attraction wasn’t physical and
obviously there were no hormones involved. It was deeper than that. He liked
being with her, liked talking to her – he felt complete when she was there, and
that something was missing when she wasn’t. He’d never said anything because he
knew it could make things awkward between them. However, now they were going
their separate ways and he didn’t want to leave without telling her how he
felt. Only problem was he had never been very good at expressing himself.

“Do you mind if I come in for a minute,” Emily asked as they
approached his door.

“Not at all.” Wes opened the door and the two of them
stepped inside. Emily sat on the cot and after closing the door, Wes joined
her.

 “You’re not my trainee anymore, Wes, and I have to let you
go so you’ll continue to learn and grow. I just wanted to tell you that I’m
really going to miss you.”

Wes wasn’t sure how to respond. What was she saying? Did she
like him too, or was she warning him off? He didn’t have much experience with
relationships, dead or alive.

Emily seemed to pick up on the fact that Wes didn’t know
what to say. “First of all, this is for you,” she said, opening her hand. In it
was a single black string with an AfterLife medallion on it. “Wear it around
your neck. You’ve earned it.” It matched the medallion on her bracelet. Emily
watched as he put it on. “Wes, will you show me your Magic Kingdom again? I’d
love to see how far it’s come. I know you’ve been working on it with Ken, and
I’d really like to see it for myself.”

This was a perfect idea. It would be much easier to create the
perfect moment in an environment he controlled. “Sure.” Emily’s eyes were
welcoming as Wes leaned in to soul-sync. In a matter of seconds they were in
Wes’s version of the world’s busiest theme park, standing near a statue of Walt
Disney and Mickey Mouse. The sun was high and the walkways were full of
tourists.

Wes watched Emily as she turned around to see everything.
The park had come a long way since the last time she’d seen it. The internet
had enabled him to add many details to this world he created. One day in the
future, when he had the time, he would visit the real park so he could fill in
the remaining gaps.

“I’m speechless,” Emily said, still looking around. She
finally turned to Wes. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it. If I didn’t
know better I’d think I was in the actual park.”

Emily’s response was exactly what Wes had hoped for. She’d
inspired him to finish it after he’d shown it to her the first time. He wanted
it to be a place they could always visit together.

“Let me show you one of my favorite spots.” Wes took Emily’s
hand and they started walking toward the castle that dominated the center of
the park.

“I’m sure you have a number of favorite spots in a place
like this.”

“I do.” Wes looked at her and smiled. “But I haven’t really
been able to share them with anyone special before.” He turned his head and
kept walking. He didn’t want to see her reaction.

Wes guided Emily up a staircase that led to a terrace
wrapped around the rear of the second floor of the castle. From their new spot
they could see Fantasyland stretched out below.

“I think I like your theme park sanctuary more than I like
my beach.” Emily admired the park from the higher position and placed her hands
on the ornamented parapet. Wes decided to improve the scene. He slowly caused
the sun to set and soon they were standing under a starlit night sky. As the
darkness settled, the decorative lights illuminated the storybook facades in
hues of all colors. Then fireworks began exploding overhead.

Emily watched for a moment and then sighed. “Wes, this is
all really beautiful, but you can’t do it for me.” She turned and looked up to
Wes and lifted a hand to his face. “I was afraid this might be happening.”

Wes knew it would be pointless to play stupid and pretend he
didn’t know what she was talking about. He didn’t want to dance around his
feelings. “I care about you Emily.”

“You can’t care about me. You need to be focusing on other
things right now. Besides, I’m not the girl for you. You think I might be, but
I’m not. You only feel this way because we’ve been so close. You’ve been
dealing with a lot since you died and I’ve been the one to help you through it.
It’s natural to think you like me in a more intimate way, but I think you’ll
discover the feelings will pass.”

Wes stopped the fireworks and remained silent.

Emily continued. “You’ve become very special to me in a way
that no one else has in a long time, and you must know that I care about you,
but,” she motioned to her surroundings, “but not like this. I can’t return
these feelings you have. I wouldn’t be able to do it properly.”