Fear of the Dead (8 page)

“
That should make you feel better. Would you like some tea with that?”

A pause. And then, “Tea would be great. Thanks.”

“It’s no problem dear. What kind would you like?”

“Any is fine.”

“Earl Grey?”

She didn’t think long enough to process the question.

“
Sure. I’m actually feeling a little dizzy right now though. I think I’ll go lie down for a bit.”

“
You go do that. I’ll bring your tea right over. You keep yourself warm.”
She agreed, and shortly after disappeared. Linus came in her place only shortly after.

“
Where’d she go?” he asked. Grace made for the kitchen to begin work on her tea.

“
She’s lying down right now. Please. Don’t bother her. The girl is tired. She needs a good rest.”

“
Yeah. Sure thing.”

“
So, you had any good dreams last night?” asked Linus, switching himself into casual conversation mode.

“
Didn’t have any. What about you?”

Linus took a seat on the kitchen counter.

“
Mine didn't really feel like a dream. More like a memory.”

“
I've had one of those,” which for Grace, had been putting it mildly. More and more often her dreams, whenever she had them, were flashbacks to some of the memorable moments in her youth. The ones that stood out above the rest. And every time she had them, it felt like she was actually there, reliving everything she'd ever done. Basking in the same old childhood victories, and perhaps most of all repeating all the same foolish mistakes. Being with all the familiar people that decades of wisdom would have told her to avoid.

Even though those had been but mere dreams, her mental relegation into the past made her think of the old saying; “Youth wasted on the young.” Even in her dreams, in going back to the times when she made her greatest mistakes, there been so little that she had actually changed.

But they were dreams in the end. And people weren't always in control of their subconscious selves. Nonetheless, there was a lesson to be learned on the foolishness of youth, and in some ways how much people ever truly changed.

“
So what was your dream?”

Linus stared.

“
Kerry and I were on a beach.”

“
Romantic,” Grace teased. Linus blushed.

“
We were walking, holding hands, and talking about eventually having kids. She said she wanted one, and I told her I hoped it was a boy. I was all set to call him Max. She said it was too cocky, and said that if we did have a boy his name would be either Stanley or Christopher. Something that sounded humble and kind. I told her it was a bad idea, and that boys these days were already weak enough without having to add humility into it.”

“
And what did she say?”

“
Tough. It's my belly.”

Grace broke out in laughter. And so did Linus.

“
Funny woman. If only I said that before we named our son.”

“
What was,” and Linus caught himself. “What's his name?”

“
Tatsuki. And it isn’t a bad name, but his father had him named after his uncle who passed away that year. He and I never got along.”

“
Why not?”

But Grace shook her head.

“
No. I shouldn't be talking about it. What happened between us happened years ago, and it isn't right to judge somebody behind their backs. It isn't the right thing to do.”

“
Oh lighten up.”

“
No. I shouldn’t.”

“
You shouldn’t lighten up?”

Grace chuckled.

“No. Not that.”

Linus smiled, and left it at that.

“
At any rate, I was thinking about that idea I had earlier.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
I
f I was able to broadcast through a wider range or something, then there’s more chance I’d get a response.”

He droned on over details regarding frequency and signal integrity, none of which made it through to Grace’s head. Still, she nodded and listened as intently as she could, trying to bring herself to understand what he was saying. She gave up mid-way through, and instead humored his apparent moment of brilliance with a series of nods. At the end of it all, Linus had a suggestion in mind.

“
Maybe if I manage to get to a functioning broadcasting tower, or if I can get my radio to work while I’m moving, I might be able to get a response. Say if I was driving cross-country or something like that. Someone out there might be able to hear it.

“
So what are you suggesting we do?”

“
I’m not suggesting that you do anything. I’m suggesting that I go out there, drive around and maybe try and pick up a signal, or at the very least find anyone else that might have a radio.”

Grace tried not to seem mad or disappointed, but she couldn’t help herself.

“
Atton and Eli just left us yesterday, and now you want to go too? It’s too dangerous out there. You don’t know what could happen.”

“
There’s no other option Grace.”

“
There is. There is always another option. And right now, it’s to stay in here and keep ourselves safe.”

“
For how long?”

Grace thought she had the answer in her head, but when she tried to let it out, nothing came.

“
We have to stay together,” became her last and only line of argument. “Linus, we’re in a safe place now. There’s enough food and water to last us a year. All we have to do is wait here until they find us.”

“
Who?”

It was a ridiculous question. He must have known that as much as her. And yet the more she thought about it, the less certain she was that she knew.

“
The government. Of course.”

“
Nobody is going to come to us if we just sit here and wait. Our supplies may be good enough for now. But there is no telling if there’s an evacuation out there somewhere. If we’re going to survive, we have to find out what’s going on out there, and fast.”

“
Does this mean that you plan on leaving us?”

Her tone had grown loud and hostile.

“
Try to understand what I’m saying,” Linus replied, his apparent attempt at calming her down only serving to fuel her irritation. Grace dropped the conversation, and tried to calm herself down. But only in looking past her own fears and worries did Grace finally come to understand what was driving Linus into what would have inevitably been a mistake.

“
I do,” she assured him. “Wherever Kerry is right now, she’s safe.”

His eyes turned bright.

It’d been almost five months since Linus and his wife had seen one another. Kerry had been away on business in Paris before the demons hit Oregon. He’d tried reaching her ever since, but once the possession hit Sacramento and all power went out, it’d gotten next to impossible to reach her or anyone else she knew. He hadn’t heard from her, and he had no way of knowing if she was still alive.

Linus sighed, and he began to whimper before forcing it all back.

“
Why is this happening?”

Grace dropped her hand on his shoulder.

“
I’m sorry,” he said, and sniffled.

“
Don’t be. It’s perfectly alright.”

Linus went back to his room, but not before settling himself, and thanking Grace for everything she’d done for him.

“
No need for that. I’m always here if you need anything.”

With Linus gone, she reset her mind back to delivering Vanessa’s tea. It had gotten cold now, so she decided to heat it up again before serving. The grill was still warm, so it got done sooner than she’d expected.

With the cup of Earl Grey in hand, Grace approached the bed where Vanessa was once more fast asleep. She set the tea beside her diary, which had apparently been written in since it was closer to Vanessa now than when she’d last seen it.

Out of curiosity, Grace picked up the diary and scanned the pages for the latest entry. She was right. Vanessa had written before she slept. The ink on the last written page was fresh. It had the day’s date written up top, but unlike the other entries, this was missing the time.

Vanessa must have been missing a watch, or something along those lines. Maybe it was something she’d lost when the demons attacked the other day.

As a favor, Grace took the ballpoint pen on the floor and jotted the time that was on her watch. Then, she started to read.

1:24 PM

Yesterday I thought I was going to die. Today is probably the happiest day I've ever had in my entire life.

I don't know exactly where I am, but it's at a Costco somewhere. I've never been to a warehouse store. Can you believe that?

I guess you could say I've never had any need shop in bulk. Not for a family anyhow. Have you seen the tubs of butter they carry in here?

Anyway,
the best part about it all this is that I'm not the only one who's still alive. There are four others. Two of them, I think their names are Atton and Steve. I can’t honestly remember. They went out for something. I'm not entirely certain what either. But the other two I did get to meet were Grace and Linus. As far as I can tell they seem like good people. Apparently Grace prays out loud, which I guess I’ll just have to get used to.

She's nice. And I think it was her I heard the other day before I lost consciousness. There was a voice that I thought sounded like mine. Hers might be it, though after having woken up, it's hard to see how I ever got the two mixed up. If I'm right, then I think she's the reason I'm still alive. I think she saved me.

I don't think I'll ever be able to repay her for that.  But I guess I can try.

Linus was toggling with a transceiver of some kind when I found him.

There's a wedding ring on his finger. He thumbed at it a few times when I met him, so it's not like he doesn't know that it's there. It isn't something that he's forgotten he's wearing.

We didn't get much of a chance to talk. But for whatever it’s worth, I hope that wherever his wife is right now, she's doing fine. Things around here are bad enough as is. But it seems that all we have nowadays is the hope that things will eventually get better.

Hopefully it’s all we’ll need.

1:31 PM

The diary ended at that. And by the end of it Grace wondered if she really should have been reading it at all. It probably wasn’t the right thing to do. But what was she thinking? It definitely wasn’t the right thing to do.

Grace had already read enough of Vanessa’s diary without her consent. Best to stop now, lest she get too used to prying.

On the roof, Grace looked out in search for any sign of a truck, specifically one marked Costco on the side. It was what Atton and Eli drove in when they left. They were out scavenging for supplies the same as they always did. Only difference was that as of today, it was the longest time they’d ever been out. Or so she thought.

She peered down at every road, block, and street within the vicinity for a moving truck. The only times she thought she saw them was when she mistook the parked cars on the curb for ones that were moving.

It didn’t take until the first sign of dusk for her to realize how long she’d been waiting.

5:32 PM

Dear Lord,

Every day I step foot on this roof, I think to myself that today’s going to be the day I find someone out there; someone in need of help. After three long weeks of looking, you gave me, us, Vanessa. And for that I am grateful. Had it not been for your guidance, we wouldn’t have been there to help her.

Lord, I try not to ask for too much. But it’s been a day and a half now, and Atton and Eli haven’t shown up. I don’t know where they are. I don’t know if they need our help. It pains me to think of the worst, and yet I can’t help myself. Who knows what’s going on out there?

We don’t come across many people these days. That’s made everyone we find all that much more precious. Lord, I know that you’re listening to me. I know that you can hear me. Please take this time to bless Atton and Eli. I pray that wherever they are, you’re right with them to guide them on their path back home.

In Jesus’ name I pray

Amen

6:42 PM

The growling in Grace’s tummy went off when she remembered she had to cook. She went back downstairs, and aimed to prepare a serving of boiled potatoes and beans. Something small and simple. Easy to make, and most of all quick. She was far too preoccupied to concentrate on making anything that required more time and effort.

When she saw the kitchen off in the distance, it shined with an aura of bright illumination.

From the order window, Grace saw Linus and Vanessa. They were talking to each other and smiling. She went in from the open door that read
Staff Only
.