by Ellery Fenn
I didn’t have to be a victim of fate. My body wasn’t the end-all be-all of evidence. So far, I was able to touch and handle things. I wasn’t powerless. Somehow, someway, I could bring Doug to justice. I could get revenge.
Still, some bleeding part of me wanted to crawl away forever. Why should I ruin his life?
I looked down at the forest and saw my body on the way. The dress was gone. The edges of my form were fuzzy, undefined. I closed my eyes to concentrate. If I could manipulate my image, then I wanted to look like Claudia Wells in Back to the Future. I opened my eyes and examined myself. Jeans, a shirt, a vest. I gingerly touched my hair. Felt about right. Nice.
The only problem was that I couldn’t get revenge on my own. I needed help. Corrie’s help.
I bit my lip. Crawling back and begging for her help was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d been so rude. Oh well. She deserved it. People shouldn’t eat their friends.
I flew back down, confusion swirling in my mind. How could I be dead? How could I be so attached to a zombie, so soon after meeting? How could I almost vanish into nothing, and why didn’t I? Was revenge even a good idea? Sunday school echoed in my head. ‘Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling.’ Did he even deserve it? Wasn’t it my fault for going out with him?
I always had a poor enough sense of direction that there was no way I should’ve been able to find her again. We’d been on the west side of the park. Or maybe it was more southerly.
Yet somehow, I knew exactly where to go. It was like my internal compass was actually working for once, and for whatever reason, was pointing directly at her.
It wasn’t long before my feet skimmed the trees. I wandered around for a moment before my heart dinged like a microwave. There she was. I lowered to the ground.
Ferns partially covered her on the forest floor. I rushed to her side.
“Corrie?”
She was completely still. Her face was more sunken than normal, and all around her mouth and nose, dripping down over her face and neck, was this smelly juice that really shouldn’t be on someone that’s not decomposing completely. Her skin was gray except for the bottom of her body, the parts that were touching the ground, like all her blood had pooled there.
“Corrie?”
I shook her shoulder. The fluid was sticky on my hands. She was solid. Stiff as a board, light as a feather.
“Corrie!”
My head was blind in panic. This was all my fault. I left her and she didn’t eat and now she was gone forever. Stupid!
I glanced frantically around me. There had to be carrion somewhere. But how could I find it? I didn’t have the same nose as her.
The road. Roadkill. I surged toward it and was out in the open in a moment, hovering over the buckling asphalt.
I scanned the sides of the road, moving as fast as I could, eyes glancing back and forth. There had to be something. There had to be something. I saw it. A cat.
I flew to it in a second and grasped it in my hands. My fingers glided right through the stiff flesh.
“No, no, no. Not now.”
I clenched my teeth and gingerly held the animal. My fingers dented the fur. An ant crawled on to my hand. There we go.
I turned and flew back toward Corrie. I’d barely cleared the road when the cat tumbled back to the dirt, its tongue lolling, limbs splayed in a cartwheel.
“Why does this always happen to me?”
I gripped it firmer this time. On the third try it stayed in my hands. Why was this so difficult? I wove between trees slower this time, eyes pinned to the cat. Roadkill had always been gross to me, but this little fella was kind of cute.
I rushed to Corrie’s side. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t stirred at the smell of carrion. Her expression was contented, like she was having wonderful dreams. She looked dead.
“Come on, Corrie. Smell this yummy kitty corpse?” I hardly recognized my own voice, weak with panic. Was that me talking? Whoever it was was terrified, overcome with fear, but I felt nothing. I waved the animal in front of her nose. “Just a taste. That’s all. Just a taste.” She was gone. “I’m not giving up now.” I pried her jaw open, ignoring the rush of fluid that poured from the hole in her cheek, and shoved the cat in headfirst. I pushed her mouth closed and moved her jaw to chew.
She was cold and hard as a mannequin in my hands.
Her jaw began to move on its own. Relief rushed over me. She sat up abruptly, eyes open but unseeing, like a mindless animal, ripping flesh. It didn’t bother me as much as it did the first time. I only gagged once.
It was a few minutes before there was nothing left but a handful of bones that she sucked on like a lollipop. Her eyes cleared and she looked up at me. Her expression was apologetic. She wiped her mouth and threw the bones to the side before standing.
“Sorry.”
I laughed in relief. “Don’t be! Oh god, don’t be. I was so worried. I thought you were gone for good.”
Why did I care so much? We were strangers, not friends. Strangers. I buried my face in my hands. My throat burned. Her hand fell lightly on my trembling shoulder.
“I thought you were dead! I tried, I tried to wake you, but you didn’t move.” It was that scared voice again, the one filled with concern for her. It couldn’t possibly be mine. She pulled me into her, and I threw my arms around her neck.
“I’m okay,” she creaked.
I nuzzled my face against her sticky shoulder. As repulsive as the idea of her zombie juice was, it actually smelled kind of nice. Warm and familiar and uniquely her.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you. I was so angry. You can’t help being a zombie. It wasn’t your choice to eat me.”
She pulled me away from her and looked into my eyes. “Don’t ‘pol-gize.”
“But I have to apologize.”
Maybe it didn’t matter that we were strangers. We did know each other, somehow, some way, and we were in this together. As long as I could control my emotions.
“I’ve got a plan.”
Chapter Seven
Corrie
“I’ve got a plan.”
Lisa hovered above the ground. She wore a simple outfit, her hair fluffy and casual.
It was jarring to suddenly be ‘alive’ again. There was an inherent wrongness to my consciousness, but I couldn’t be bothered with it. I was happy, too happy, to see Lisa. The anger was missing from her face, as though maybe she could forgive me.
“I don’t need my body to get revenge on Doug. I can haunt him or tell someone about it. I’m not sure how yet, but I know I can do it. That’s why I came back. To see if you’d help me.”
My throat caught. This was why she returned? For my help?
Her voice was low. “I can’t forgive you, but I’ll put it aside to work with you on this.”
The injustice churned inside me. I’d done nothing to deserve this scorn. Even if I had eaten her body, she was correct when she said I couldn’t control my urges. I couldn’t help what I was. I hadn’t chosen this.
She returned, not to be with me, but to ensure my assistance. How could that be all she wanted? I thought there was something else there. Clearly, I’d been wrong.
“Okay.” I couldn’t trust myself to attempt any other words.
“Good. That’s good.”
Had she expected I would say no? I couldn’t deny her, not when she was all that kept me from lying down again and letting nature take its course.
“Well, how do you feel? Do you feel like you could start walking?
She was only concerned with what I could do for her. I was mistaken when I thought her earlier outburst was anything more than relief that she didn’t have to attempt this alone. I fixed my gaze to the ground and walked. My joints were stiffer than I’d prefer. The ease of motion was gone, taken by inactivity.
“I’m not sure how to get to his subdivision. I know it’s not super far.”
I ignored her.
“Wait.” She flew next to me. “I h
ave to go find the right way.”
“Go.”
She flinched. “Okay. But be careful. Don’t, you know…”
I gave her a pointed look.
“Okay, okay. I’m going.” She began a few times, pausing to look at me before finally flying away.
I stepped over a rock. The peace of loneliness was a welcome respite, yet there was something missing. I wasn’t completely at ease. My mind wandered.
It would take a lot to get Doug in jail, if it was even possible. We didn’t have evidence. Not to mention his father, county commissioner and owner of the largest grocery chain around. Power came with perks.
Lisa returned in a few moments.
“We’re not far at all! Less than a mile, I’d guess. We’ll have to cross a few creeks, but they’re pretty shallow.”
I grunted in acknowledgement.
She floated alongside me, rubbing her sleeve.
“Did- did you notice anything different about me?”
I ducked under a tree, draped with clumps of lichen.
“I wanted to look like Claudia Wells.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Did it work?”
I barked out a laugh.
“Oh.”
She led the way. It was five minutes before we reached the first creek. The water sparkled with morning sun, littered with watercress and mossy rocks. There was a strange smell about it. I inhaled deeply.
It wasn’t the smell of the carrion I knew, but it was appealing. I crouched down in the water. It flowed over me, washing away loose skin and dried blood. My skin remembered the cool, pleasant sensation. I’d always enjoyed it. My eyes darted across the surface, my nostrils flaring.
My hand shot out and snatched a dead fish from the water. I devoured it in two bites. It wasn’t as satisfying as my other meals, but I could feel energy tingling through me.
“Now that smells gross.”
A flake of scale fell from my mouth as I grinned at her. “Yum-my.”
She shivered. “Knock it off. You’re acting weird.”
I ducked my head to hide my smile as we continued. It pleased me to know that I could scare her, or at least unsettle her. It shifted the balance of power back in my favor. Besides, it was fun.
We walked in silence much of the way. Lisa attempted conversation a few times, but I refused. If she wanted this to be just business, I could make it just business.
It wasn’t long before we reached the second creek. Lisa flew ahead for a moment to confirm we were on the right course. I ate again. I wasn’t sure why there were so many dead fish in the water, but I was grateful. They were enough to keep my muscles strong and relaxed.
We followed the creek the remainder of the way. Apparently, it led straight to our destination. I turned to follow its curve.
“Wait.” Lisa stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Do you hear that?”
My attention had been so occupied with the creek that I hadn’t noticed the sound. It was high, like birdsong.
“That’s kids playing. We’ve got to be close.”
We walked a little further before I caught a glimpse of something decidedly not-forest through the trees. Lisa darted where I pointed and peered through the foliage. She flew back with a grimace on her face.
“We’re here.”
Chapter Eight
Lisa
Doug’s subdivision sat beyond the edge of the trees. The creek curved, the closest point of the bend sitting maybe five hundred feet from the tree line. Between the houses and the forest lay a row of empty lots filled with cars, dumpsters, and construction equipment. Doug’s house was one street away.
“This is it.” My skin crawled.
Corrie grunted noncommittally. What was with her? Was she having second thoughts? I jumped into this friendship, or whatever it was, way too fast.
“Let’s check it out.” I edged to the tree line and poked my head through a branch. It looked like a typical subdivision. Each house was the same, each car was the same, each yard was the same. Everything just right, with enough mess to not be too perfect. Did his neighbors know what he was really like?
Corrie shuffled up behind me. I glanced over as she wiped dead fish juice from her chin. Her eyes were intensely focused on the streets.
“We’re too close. Someone might see you. And me.” I dimmed my glow slightly. It was easier to control my appearance now.
She nodded and walked back to the creek. It was nice to see her moving without stiffness, comfortable, healthy. The silk of her slip swayed back and forth. I had one just like it. She crouched by the creek when she reached it and dangled her hand in the water. Tiny rises followed her twirling fingers. She stood.
“Camp.”
“You’re right. Yeah, we should probably make camp.”
I floated side to side, looking for something that would make a good shelter. Something hidden, protected. Somewhere Corrie would be safe. It would jeopardize this whole revenge business if she were found.
She splashed through the creek, barely wavering despite the swift water rushing past her knees. She was much stronger than a human.
I followed her as she climbed from the creek and walked less than a hundred feet to a huge dead tree. She lifted a swath of bark. It was empty.
“That’s amazing!” I ducked inside. It was roomy, with enough space for three people. “How’d you know this was here?”
“Good eyes.” She lowered the bark and plunged me into darkness. Rude. I glided through the tree over to where she scouted for fish. “Why are you so moody?” I should’ve just been grateful she was willing to help me, but no, I had to go wanting more.
She grunted.
“That’s not an answer. You’ve been all riled up since I brought you that cat.” I stilled. “Is that it? Did you want me to let you die?”
“No!” She lifted a fish and threw it like a pro pitcher. The slimy salmon flew through the air and sailed straight into my chest. It thumped on the ground behind me.
“Then why are you mad at me?”
She opened her mouth, grunted, and turned back to the creek.
“Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me. Just tell me! Did I say something? What did I do?”
After a moment of splashing, she turned back to me.
“Here to work.”
“What? Yeah, of course we’re here to work. I wouldn’t consider Doug’s house a vacation spot.”
She shook her head. Her voice was almost indiscernible when she spoke again.
“Thought friends.”
I was still as a statue. That’s what this was about? She thought I wasn’t her friend? Her brain must’ve been rotten. I was the one that wanted too much. I was the one she had to put up with, not the other way around.
“Oh, Corrie.”
She shoved me away. “Not big deal.”
I rolled my eyes. “It is a big deal. I didn’t just bring you along to be my slave. I brought you because I need you. Because I can’t do this alone.” Because I like you, the words came unbidden to my mind. I shook my head. “You are my friend. I’m sure I could haunt him on my own, but I don’t want to. I want to do it with you. You’re smarter than me, and I don’t want to be alone. Besides.” I smiled. “You’re my favorite zombie in the world.”
Her lips tugged into a reluctant smile.
Chapter Nine
Doug
A knock on my bedroom door woke me.
“It’s morning. Time to get up,” Mom called.
“Five more minutes.”
I pulled the covers over my head and curled up against the wall. I couldn’t have been asleep more than a few hours. When did I get to bed?
Oh. Right.
I sat up and swung my legs off the side of my bed. The floor was cold under my feet. I shivered and grabbed the nearest t-shirt, pulling it on as I walked out the door.
Clifton barreled past me on the way to his room. I shoved him into the wall. “Get out of my way.”
“I’m telling Mom.”
I raised a fist. “You’ll regret it.”
He stuck out his tongue and slammed his bedroom door.
“You’re up early.” Mom whipped together pancake batter. I stepped off the last stair and turned into the kitchen. “Did you sleep well?”
I yawned. “I guess.”
The sound of the lawn mower cut off from the backyard. I plopped into a chair as Dad walked in. He always insisted on cutting the grass himself, even though we could afford to hire someone. Said it was his ‘me time’.
“There’s my guy.” He ruffled my hair as he walked past, smelling like gasoline and grass. His shirt was already stained through with sweat.
The stove sizzled as Mom poured the pancake batter. “Did you finish the backyard?”
“Goddamn woman, do you have to nag me the second I step inside?” He took his seat at the head of the table and stretched his legs over Heath’s chair.
“Knock it off.” Heath gave him a shove. Dad kicked his arm.
“How was the dance? What was the name of that girl?”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Melissa, Dad. Melissa. You met her at parent teacher conference.”
“Her dad’s the mortician?”
I lowered my head to the table.
“Yeah.”
“You get any?”
“Robert,” Mom chastised from the kitchen.
“What? Where are those pancakes?”
“Coming.”
“No, I didn’t ‘get any’.” Heath pulled a pancake off the plate Mom offered. “I’m fifteen.”
“So? I had girls lined up for miles when I was your age.”
“You did not,” Mom said.
“How would you know?”
I banged my head softly against the table. Mom slid a pancake onto my plate.
“You sick, honey?”
“No,” I groaned.
“He was out late with his girlfriend last night.” Michael went straight from the stairs to the fridge. Couldn’t he just stay in his room?
“Put a shirt on,” Mom said. He flipped her off behind her back.