When the Dead Have It Easy

by B. L. Brunnemer

“Lock ‘em both. I want to go hands free,” Ethan ordered into his mic.

  “Locked.” Asher’s voice rang in my ear.

  “Locked,” Isaac chimed in. “Is she okay?”

  “I’m fine!” I bit out as he took my hand off the cliff. I trusted my weight to Isaac as Ethan’s hands ran over me. Having enough, I smacked his hands away. “Get your ass back on your route before you fuck up your belay!”

  Zeke’s laughter bounced up the stone wall. Followed by Miles’ from above.

  “Do it, Ethan,” Asher ordered.

  Ethan leaned away from the wall and looked at my back. “Your shoulder is bleeding.”

  I looked over my shoulder and found the scrape he was talking about behind my left shoulder. Blood and grit covered the skin. “Nothing I can do about it now.” I turned back to him. “Back. To. Your. Route.”

  He smiled and headed back toward the other side.

  I got back on the wall. “Climb?”

  “Climb.” Isaac’s smile was in his voice.

  * * *

  Out of breath and hands burning, I finally climbed over the cliff edge at the top. Crawling from the edge a bit more, I dropped onto my side and tried to find the energy to move.

  “Whose idea was this?” I asked.

  Boots moved over rock and dirt.

  “Ours. But you were a bit insistent,” Miles said as he untied my rope and then the trailing rope.

  “Sure, blame the girl,” I quipped.

  Miles chuckled as he started attaching Isaac’s belay rope to the belay station.

  Hands grabbed me under the arms and dragged me further back from the edge.

  “What the fuck?” I looked up to find Ethan dragging me. “I can move.” I just didn’t want to at this point.

  Ethan lowered me back to the ground. “Asher didn’t like how close you were to the ledge.”

  “Yeah, sure, Asher didn’t.” I sat up and started trying to wipe the dirt off my clothes.

  “Come on, I need to look at your shoulder before Zeke sees you with blood on you.” Ethan sat down behind me and opened the field first aid kit that Asher always carried in his pack.

  “Okay, but I want water too.” I grinned over my shoulder.

  Ethan handed me a bottle of water while the sweat started to dry on my face and neck. “This is going to sting.”

  I gritted my teeth as my shoulder burned. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. That hurts more than getting it.”

  “That’s because you’ve got dirt and sweat in it.” Ethan continued to clean the back of my shoulder. “You know, from lying on the ground.”

  I rolled my eyes and took a long drink.

  “Red? Why is there blood on the wall?” Isaac’s voice crackled to life in my ear.

  “Um, I don’t know…” I gave it a shot.

  “She scraped her shoulder on the wall when she fell,” Ethan said. “She’s fine, I’m cleaning her up now.”

  “Just worry about yourselves. I’m off the wall and safe.” I sighed. They were the ones still climbing. Geeze.

  Ethan started cleaning up the trash. “Leave the air on that to dry it out. And don’t lie down.”

  “Hey, blue hair.” Zeke’s voice rang in my ear.

  “What, giant of the north?” Isaac grunted.

  “Race you to the top.”

  My stomach dropped. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

  “Go!” Isaac shouted.

  Asher cursed as he began pulling up the slack in the line. Miles worked just as quickly.

  It was about thirty minutes before Isaac was climbing over the ledge of the cliff with Zeke just reaching the ledge of his route.

  Isaac climbed up, got to his feet and raised his arms. “I win!”

  Zeke cursed as he climbed over the edge.

  I was shaking my head when Isaac took off his line and strode toward me. “Let me see.”

  I didn’t bother to move. Ethan shook his head as Isaac moved around me and looked at my shoulder.

  “Oh, that’s not so bad.” Isaac’s voice was edged with relief.

  I rolled my eyes as Zeke started toward me. “Up.”

  I grumbled under my breath as I got to my feet. The back of my thigh aching, I turned around.

  Zeke shoved my braid out of the way. He took a deep breath and let it out.

  “It’s not so funny when you’re the ones scared, now is it?” I looked up at them over my shoulder.

  The twins chuckled as Zeke let go of my braid.

  Miles and Asher joined us. “Everyone alright?”

  There was a round of yeses and yeahs.

  “Let’s set up to rappel down.” I smiled at them cheerfully.

  “No!” They all shouted in unison.

  I fought it as long as I could, but eventually I started laughing. The guys shook their heads as we got ready to go down the path.

  Chapter 17

  I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair. The hot water ran over my already sore muscles, finding new scrapes and bruises. I tilted my head back and just enjoyed the heat. Miles had said with the set up they used, I could take as long of a shower as I’d like and not run out of hot water. It was kind of great… I worked up a lather and started to wash up.

  Hades lay down on the tarp floor in the doorway of the shower area. The guys had surrounded the small area in tarps so I’d have privacy. Apparently, they normally just did the separation for the camp. I shook my head. I didn’t understand that.

  My washcloth found bruises and scrapes I didn’t know I had in addition to the big one on my thigh. I checked out the back of my left thigh. The bruise was about the size of a large hand, dark purples, dark blues, and lighter colors colored the area.

  I cursed. That was going to be fun with shorts. Zeke was going to have a fit. I washed the scrapes and cuts on my legs, admiring the bruises I hadn’t felt before.

  I was still enjoying the heat on my back when Hades sat up.

  “Red?”

  I went still and looked up at the top edge of the tarp. “Um, I’m still in the shower.”

  “Still?”

  “Yep!”

  He chuckled. “Loving that hot water, huh?”

  “I can see the benefit of glamping.” I tried for innocent, but by his laughing I could tell I hadn’t pulled it off.

  “How’re you doing?” Isaac asked, his voice tired.

  I picked up my conditioner. “I’m okay. You?”

  “Any bruises from the harness?” His voice was slightly rough.

  I smiled to myself. “Nope, just from my own clumsiness.”

  The only sound was the water from the shower hitting the tarp floor. He was quiet so long I thought he’d left.

  “Isaac?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you okay?” I put the conditioner in my hand and rubbed them together.

  “You scared the fuck out of me up there.” A stick snapped as he shifted his feet.

  “I didn’t mean to, I was just being stupid, reached too far for a hold and slipped.” I started to worked the conditioner through my hair. “You caught me.”

  He huffed. “Yeah, but I might not have.”

  “Of course you would.” I stopped messing with my hair. “You even checked my knots twice before you let me start climbing the second pitch.”

  “If I didn’t, Zeke would have killed me.” He sighed.

  “Zeke wasn’t on our route.” I ducked my head under the spray. “And you checked Miles’ too.”

  “I guess…”

  I stopped rinsing my hair and threw subtlety out the window. “You saved my ass today. I fell, you caught me. Don’t pick it apart to make yourself feel like you could have done more. You did exactly what you were supposed to do.”

  His feet shifted in the dried needles. “Okay. You’re right. I’m just picking at it.”

  I sighed. In some ways, Isaac was just as anxious as his brother. Just over different things.

  “Is she still in the shower?” Ethan’s voice joined Isaac’s.
<
br />   “Yeah, she’s loving the hot water.” Isaac ratted me out.

  “Snitch.” I finished rinsing my hair one more time.

  The guys chuckled as I turned off the water.

  “What do you guys want for lunch?” Asher’s voice came closer until he was on the other side of the tarp.

  “Food!” I grabbed my towel off the top of the tarp.

  “Hot or cold?” Asher sighed.

  “Hot,” Ethan answered.

  “Cold,” Isaac said at the same time as I started drying off.

  “What are you three doing?” Miles’ voice joined them.

  “Is Lexie still in the shower?” Zeke showed up.

  Oh, shit. I held my towel to cover my chest. “Yes.” Zeke is taller than the tarp went. Thankfully, he didn’t move any closer to the barrier.

  “We’re talking about lunch,” Asher said. “Hot or cold?”

  “It’s fucking hot out. Cold.” Zeke didn’t even have to think about it.

  “Well, a hot sandwich and a salad would be a good compromise,” Miles offered.

  Were they really just going to stand there? They continued to debate until I realized they thought I was dressed. Ethan headed for the doorway and Hades.

  Hades growled and blocked his way.

  “Uh, why’s Hades on guard, Beautiful?” Ethan called as everyone grew quiet.

  Wishing I had a bigger towel, I made sure I was covered from chest to not quite mid-thigh and stepped into the doorway with my hand on my hip.

  The guys’ jaws dropped.

  “He’s on guard because I’m naked.” Satisfied, I moved back into the shower area and put my towel up. I picked up my underwear and started to get dressed.

  “That bruise is as big as my hand!” Zeke barked.

  “That’s what you focused on?” Ethan chuckled as he started laughing.

  “Please get dressed, Lexie. We’ll leave you to it.” Miles’ voice told the others not to argue.

  “And my vote is for hot sandwich and fruit salad!” I started pulling on my bra as the guys chuckled.

  “Anything in particular?” Asher’s voice was getting further away.

  I started to relax. “I would kill for a Philly cheese steak.”

  “Ally has spoken,” Asher declared. “Philly cheese steak it is.”

  “And fruit salad!” I clipped my bra and slipped the straps on to my arms. After I pulled on my white tank top, I slid my feet into my sandals. Being sure to pick up my stuff, I headed back toward camp. Asher was in the picnic area with Miles, cooking. While the twins were talking in their chairs. Zeke was coming from one of the coolers with a bag of ice and a towel. Frowning, he took my clothes from me and handed me the bundle.

  I reached up and touched the tip of his nose. “Boop.”

  He didn’t smile, but his frown disappeared to his usual grumpy face. “Sit and ice it.”

  “Sir, yes, sir!” I saluted. Hades left me to go sniffing in the picnic area where Asher was cooking.

  Zeke made an exasperated sound before he went to my tent and tossed my clothes in. I sat down in my spot and put the ice under my thigh. Hissing as the cold began to take the sting out.

  “Lunch!” Asher started dishing up plates.

  When I went to get up Isaac got to his feet. “Stay put, Red.”

  “I can get my lunch.” I fought not to whine.

  “Stay.” Asher pointed at me with the spatula.

  I stayed in my spot.

  Ethan brought me a plate, fork and paper napkin. “Here, Beautiful. Now behave.”

  I bit back a laugh as I took my plate.

  Everyone sat down and started eating their cheesesteak and fruit salad. Hades came straight to me, begging for food.

  “After lunch I want to head over to where you guys found that set up yesterday.” Miles wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.

  Asher nodded. “I’ll take you.”

  “Louis should be here soon for our next lesson.” I took a bite of my sandwich and rolled my eyes in ecstasy.

  “How is that going?” Ethan asked.

  I took my time eating. “I think I’ll make more progress today.”

  “Well, there weren’t any dead squirrels this morning.” Asher got up and headed to the kitchen. “That’s better at least, right?”

  I nodded. I really didn’t want to talk about it. And Louis walking into the campsite made it so I wouldn’t have to.

  “Ready?” Louis smiled. Seeing my food gone, Hades left my side and went to Zeke. His eyes riveted to Zeke’s sandwich.

  I nodded and tossed my paper plate into the fire ring to burn later.

  “What’s the plan today, Louis?” Isaac tossed his plate to join mine.

  “Lexie, could you show Louis those pics? Maybe he’ll have an idea what it is that you found.” Miles added his plate to the fire ring.

  That was a good idea. “I’ll show him when we get to the clearing.” I put the cap on my water bottle, got to my feet and headed for the trees. “Asher? You’re taking Miles to the ravine?”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” Asher waved me off.

  “Zeke?” I turned around while walking backward.

  “I’ve got Hades.” Zeke waved me off. I sent him a thankful smile.

  We walked in silence. When we reached the clearing, I took out my phone and pulled up the pictures. I explained what happened and held up my phone so he could see.

  He stopped when I got to the symbol on the stone. “You found this?”

  I nodded.

  “I’ve never seen that before.” He shook his head. “You might want to ask Uma.”

  “I’ll send it to her to see if she knows what it is.” I held my phone up, trying to find a signal.

  He chuckled. “Stop stalling.”

  Sighing, I tucked my phone away and sat down in the same spot as yesterday. Taking a minute, I took several deep breaths. I needed to stop denying that death is in my life and just face that’s it’s there and never going to go away.

  I met Louis’ eyes and nodded.

  “Close your eyes.”

  I did as he said and took several deep breaths.

  “Now, you’re going to sink. Take deep breaths, feeling the air as you take it into your lungs.”

  I followed his instructions and focused.

  “Relax a little more. Keep taking slow deep breaths.”

  Everything fell away, my mind quieted.

  “Now, lower your barriers all the way.”

  My pulse picked up. “Are you sure?”

  “Trust me.”

  I took several more deep breaths then, finally, let my barriers come down. It was like getting out of a pool in the wind, it whirled around me before spinning off.

  “Good.” His voice was gentle and calm, an anchor in the windstorm. “Now, place your hand palm side down in the dirt.”

  I pressed my hand onto the ground. Instantly, I was thrown into more chaos. I was stretched and pulled almost as if I was being pulled apart. My pulse pounded in my ears as my energy spread out through the ground. Soft, the dirt was soft as silk… In my mind, I watched my energy spread out in every direction. Soaking into the earth, plants, trees. “Why do I feel the grass?” I whispered as I tried to understand.

  “Because death is a part of everything in the world. Everything dies. Life springs from it and the cycle continues.” His voice was soft as he squatted beside me. He was right. I could feel it. See it. That green energy moving into the stalks of the grass and spreading through the blade… it was warm and full of promise.

  “Do you feel the cold spot?”

  I did. About eight feet away, a dark spot over the green. I nodded.

  “Move your energy closer to it. Feel it’s shape.”

  I hesitated. “I don’t want to.” It was cold, and dead… I didn’t want to feel that…

  “You have to.”

  I inched my energy closer to that cold spot of darkness in a sea of greens.

  “Move your energy
into the grass and soil around it.”

  I swallowed hard then spread my energy further. The bones of the animal were broken. I could feel them on my fingertips. They lay in several places from scavenging animals...

  “Now, fill those bones with your energy.”

  “How?” I really didn’t want to do this…

  “Reach out with your will and focus on making those bones whole.”

  I focused on wanting to make the squirrel whole again. Its bones not broken; its skull not crushed. Then I sent that tendril of will out. That gold ribbon carefully touched the squirrel’s bones.

  Ice cold washed over me. Darkness swept into me making me cry out. Alone… in the dark… cold… it was so cold it burned…. It filled my vision, my blood rushed in my ears. I didn’t want to feel it… I slammed my barriers closed with an oddly physical clank.

  I shook. I took deep breaths as the darkness receded and the grove came into focus again. When I could, I finally looked at him. “What the fuck was that?” I had never felt anything like it in my life, and I never wanted to feel it again.

  Louis sighed. “That’s what a body feels like without a soul. It’s usually only for a split second before you fill the body with your energy. I barely noticed it as I got older.”

  “That’s what death feels like?”

  “Only for a few.” His voice was calm but it made me dread what he was going to say next. “My death was different. It was like falling asleep. I was warm, I was loved, I knew I wasn’t alone and I knew everyone I cared about would be okay.”

  “What do you mean, for a few?” I needed to know.

  “People who have betrayed everything they are. The people who kill, rape, and look for ways to hurt others. Those people have killed off their souls. They’re nothing but… emptiness. They start to rot from the inside out, spiritually speaking.”

  My thoughts went back to the serial killer I helped cross. “So, what happens when they die?”

  He gestured at the pile of sticks where the dead squirrel was. “They feel that when they die, and if they have anything of who they were left, it’ll pop out. It’ll look like a soul but won’t be complete.”

  “I saw that before we left.” I met his eyes. “I crossed this fucking psycho. And after the Veil pulled all the energy from him, he was almost just a shadow.”