Graveminder

Chapter 19

DAISHA WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE FUNERAL HOME WHEN SHE FELT AN insistent pull. Inside that building was a yawning mouth stretching open; she hadn’t known it existed until that moment, but she felt it now. It wanted to swallow her whole, take her to wherever that place was that the not-walking dead went, and keep her there forever.

Make me truly dead.

Something like loneliness crept up on her as she stood there trying not to clutch the tree beside her. Once, she’d seen him , the Undertaker, scurry up the tree and shimmy onto one of the branches to get a kite that was all tangled up. He had been a teenager then, and he had dropped to the ground to give the kite back to the kids she was with, not looking at them like they were less because they didn’t have money like his family did, not looking at her like she was something disgusting. He had been a hero that day.

Not yet a monster.

Now he’d kill her if he knew what she was. Now he’d end everything.

Hours passed as she stood trying to ignore the temptation to go into the building, to find the mouth of the hungry abyss inside of it.

She needed something to keep from falling apart. Food. Words. Drink. The things she wanted since she woke up dead were weird, but weird or not, she needed them like she’d once needed air. The blood and flesh weren’t so hard to find, but stories were a little different. She’d never done too well talking to people before she’d died; doing it now was even harder.

There was a woman, though, a stranger. She walked purposefully, as if she knew exactly where to go, as if she knew things. She was only a few years older than Daisha, not even as old as the new Graveminder.

Daisha followed her for a few moments, watched her walk and pause. She stapled papers to poles, and as she went she listened to whatever music pulsed in her earbuds. Daisha could hear the bass, but nothing more.

She approached the woman, stepped in front of her, and said, “I think I’m lost.”

The woman let out a small squeak and yanked out one of her earbuds.

Startled, Daisha stepped away quickly.

“Sorry. I didn’t hear you come up.” The woman blushed. “I probably shouldn’t play the music so loud.”

“Why?”

The woman held up the stack of papers she clutched in one hand. “There’s a, um, wild animal roaming around.”

“Oh.” Daisha looked behind her. “I had no idea.”

“I’m on the town council. We’re trying to alert everyone, but it takes a while.” She smiled self-consciously. “I was going to wait, but I have plans later and ... Sorry. You probably don’t want to hear.” She broke off with a laugh. “I’m pitiful, aren’t I? Nerves.”

“I can help.” Daisha extended a hand. “If there’s an animal out here, I don’t want to be alone either.”

“Thank you.” The woman handed her a few flyers. “I’m Bonnie Jean.”

“I’ll put one on that pole.” Daisha started to walk toward a light pole.

“Hold up.” The woman followed. “You forgot the stapler.”

“Sorry.” Daisha kept walking until they were in the shadows, until they were farther away from the already empty street.

“It’s okay,” Bonnie Jean said. “If we hurry ... I have a date.”

It’s okay. Daisha heard the words, the permission. It’s okay. Like Maylene. She wants to help.

“Thank you,” Daisha whispered before she accepted Bonnie Jean’s help.

Afterward, Daisha walked through the peaceful streets, wishing that Maylene were still alive. She’d tell me stories. Bonnie Jean didn’t tell me anything before she was empty. After a few moments, she’d become motionless while Daisha ate. She didn’t share any words. She wasted her breath on whimpering noises, and then she stopping making any sounds.