A Reanimated Kind of Forever

by Frank Feliz

  A Reanimated

  Kind of Forever

  Frank Feliz

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  DEDICATION

  A Reanimated Kind of Forever

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BEHIND THE BOOK

  COPYRIGHT

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  DEDICATION

  To those who feel broken or invisible or both... because you’re not, and you never will be.

  A Reanimated Kind of Forever

  The Gift...

  This was definitely not what I’d ever expected. My best friend—my only friend—and death just had to call the shots. Zeke Totterstalk rested underneath the cemetery of Viridianville Island in Lake Michigan, with no more harm to reach him and a gravestone with his name and life date engraved on it.

  Why had the town’s societal progression bothered the lone perpetrator enough to lose it? Yeah, justice was served, but Zeke was still gone... permanently. Why couldn’t it have been me instead? How would life ever be the same again without his existence?

  I cast my eyes back on the gravestone. My first tear threatened to shed the longer I gazed at it, and I wiped my eye. This unusually cool evening in the beginning of summer was my eighteenth birthday, but Zeke was more important. Under my hoodie, I even wore the T-shirt he’d personally given me that read, Tall + Dark = Asexily Handsome, even though I hadn’t always seen what he’d seen in dorkish me.

  Zeke and I had talked about dating and eventually living together someday. We’d made plans to further explore our new adulthood together, especially with college starting in the fall. But what ached the most? He hadn’t gotten the chance to make it to our first date. We’d professed our love for one another last week after several years of mutual feelings kept to ourselves, and hours later, he was murdered. Our lifelong friendship now gone.

  “You must miss him terribly, young man.”

  I was startled by an older male voice, and I turned my head. An elder with a dark purple cloak stood behind me with an apathetic face. His blue eyes were abnormally pale.

  I nodded, my eyes returning to the grave. I wanted to stay here with Zeke, forever if I could.

  “Zeke’s death was the top story on the newspaper.”

  “Yeah.” My tone was too weak for any conversation. And who still read actual newspapers in the digital age, anyway?

  “I’m thankful the authorities investigated the case as quickly as they did. We rarely have murders among these small islands of both Michigan and Wisconsin, and I’d say even Canada which is practically next door to us.”

  Okay, I kind of exactly knew where Canada was located, thank you very much.

  “But it’s good to know the authorities take their jobs seriously to ensure the safety of our community.”

  When would the elder go away? Was it too much to ask for some solitude? This was my time with Zeke, and solace meant I shouldn’t be disturbed. My heart sank deeper the more I eyed the gravestone, and my breathing grew by the second, while the emotions pricked my heart some more. Another tear threatened to shed, but I wiped my eye in time, what with the elder still here.

  “You’re deeply saddened.”

  I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I gave him a forced nod without lifting my eyes off the gravestone.

  “Would you do anything to have him back in your life?”

  What kind of question was that? Was the grieving not obvious? Still, why be rude? I nodded. “Anything,” I muttered.

  “Anything, huh?” Why was his tone filled with intrigue?

  Still, what I’d do if I could kiss Zeke’s gravestone and watch him rise from the dead as if never dead to begin with, just like the fairytales Mom would read to me when I was a little kid. To have Zeke back in my life. Even if it weren’t for our cancelled romance, even if we’d agreed to remain platonic friends, I’d still want to see him alive again. Zeke had a family, after all.

  “Your name is Adam Cavazos, isn’t it?”

  I lowered my eyebrows. “How did you know my name?”

  “Are you surprised everyone in town knows each other?”

  “No, but I’ve never seen you before. You seem new.”

  “That’s because I am new. Why do you think I was concerned about Zeke’s death just after I travelled here? This wasn’t something I wanted to face in a new town, much less a peaceful island.”

  I nodded.

  “Your parents are lovely people, by the way.”

  My eyes widened. “You met my parents?”

  “Relax. I was getting to know the residents here and I came across them. That’s how I learned about you.”

  My cheeks reddened. “What did they say about me?”

  “Oh, nothing negative, of course. Just that you keep to yourself and you like to make people happy. I can see why they’d want to start a family here because of the freethinking mentality the townsfolk have. Puerto Rico is quite the distance from Viridianville Island, but I’m sure they’ll still have a great life here, nonetheless.”

  I swallowed. What more had they told him? Knowing them, they’d recount my entire childhood. Had they offered him some food and coffee, too? I wouldn’t have been surprised if so.

  “You know, I’ve travelled throughout the United States and Canada and experienced all parts. Everyone seems rather kind in this particularly verdant place. More progressive than many of the larger towns in the Midwest, that’s for sure.”

  How long was the elder going to stay?

  “This island reminds me of a very special place back in my world. Similar name and society, similar fin-shaped and verdant land, too. I suppose it’s why I chose to move here.”

  World? What, like Mars? Anyway, how much longer would the conversation be? I really wanted to be alone now.

  “It may be unfortunate that Zeke’s death occurred shortly after I moved here. But the good thing is that I can make things livable to my satisfaction anytime I please.”

  “You mean, you can get over something like this very quickly?”

  “That, too.”

  I frowned. “I wish I could.”

  “Oh, but you could.”

  My eyes watered some more, and I shook my head. “I’m not that strong. I was sad for years when my red parrotfish Ariel died.” I placed a hand on Zeke’s gravestone with quivering lips.

  “There’s no reason to cry when I just said I can make things livable.”

  “And I... I said I can’t.”

  “You can. You just don’t know it yet.”

  I kept my hand on the gravestone, and I didn’t bother stopping the first tear from rolling down my cheek.

  “Suppose Zeke were to rise from the dead.”

  I scoffed. “That’s not funny.”

  “I didn’t say it was. But suppose he did. Perhaps looking... well... not so alive, but alive enough. Would you still love him regardless of his looks?”

  I swallowed hard, my eyes bulging. “How did you know I—?”

  “Loved him? Do you think I’m oblivious? I see it on your face. I see it from the way you touch his gravestone, the way you look at it. You have this longing you can’t hide. Perhaps you don’t want to hide it because your love for him is too strong for you not to care about what I think, not that anyone in this town would have a problem with your attraction to men.”

  My hand was still on the gravestone, and I couldn’t remove it if I wanted to. I released a series of clipped gasps until I burst into heavy sobs. “I loved him with all my heart.” I barely said it in mumbles. Why was I breaking down in front of a stranger? I’d never done such a thing before. Mom and Dad had been the only ones to witnes
s any tearful outbursts, and because I had no siblings, I’d never had to worry about anyone else making fun of me for showing such private emotions. I’d also cried in front of Zeke numerous times, and he’d never judged me. If I were still living at home, Mom and Dad would coddle me in their arms at this moment, regardless of my age. But that’d been the point of moving out fresh out of high school. I needed to be the adult I’d barely become. And just when I was on my way there, Zeke couldn’t have joined me on the journey of a life I’d longed to share with him.

  “There, there, now.” But the elder said it so apathetically. The only emotion he seemed to have was intrigue. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you go home, get some rest, and clear your mind, all right?”

  I gave him a headshake and sniffled. “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can, and you will. Because I have a special birthday gift for you.”

  I arched my eyebrows. “How did you know it was my birthday today?” Who was this person?

  “Your parents told me that as well.”

  Oh. Right.

  “Go home now. The only way you can receive the gift is if you do as I say. Go and rest for at least three hours—no less. That’ll give me enough time to prepare it.”

  I wiped my eyes and nose, letting out a few whimpers of emotions with continually mumbling lips. “What is it?”

  “And spoil the mystery? No, no. The only thing I will say is that you’ll be quite surprised, and in the most pleasant way.”

  But why a gift? We didn’t know each other.

  I shifted my eyes to him. “What’s your name?”

  “Just call me Granter. I like to grant things to those who deserve them. Now run along and do as I say. I promise you’ll no longer be in sad tears when I give you your gift. And I never break promises.”

  I didn’t know why I nodded so obediently and left in a rush when Granter wasn’t an authority figure to me. Maybe I wanted to believe him. Maybe I was desperate to cure the sudden crying spell I’d had for days. If only Zeke could be alive again. That would be the greatest gift of all.

  The Reunion...

  The door knocked several times in an off-kilter manner, and my eyes fluttered. I lifted myself and sat on the edge of my full-size bed, yawning. Should I change out of my PJ bottoms and into something decent? Or just throw on a T-shirt? Oh, who cared? Maybe if the person saw me like this, they’d get the hint and leave. Sure, it might’ve still been my birthday and my first night living here to take full advantage of adulthood, but I didn’t need company.

  I grabbed my phone from the end table and glanced at the screen. Three hours I’d napped. I might as well have gone to sleep for the whole night. I placed the phone back on the surface and stood up. I glanced at the large window just a few feet to my left in the center of the living space, the only window in my downtown apartment unit and still uncurtained. The well-lit streets shone the path for the horse-drawn vehicles strolling down the brick road with routinely pristine pavement on either side. Zeke and I had regularly ridden a carriage and our own bikes, since motor vehicles were forbidden in Viridianville Island to maintain the historic charm of the 1800s. We’d hung out at various places as part of our own adventures, especially at the main park.

  Another few knocks.

  I rolled my eyes and trudged toward the entry door. If only I could afford a larger unit than my 300-square-foot one to fit more stuff, but the prices for the one- and two-bed continually chased my wallet away.

  I rubbed my eyes and let out another yawn.

  More knocks.

  I nearly jumped from the harder poundings. Incoherent grumbling from the other side of the door filled my ears, and I leaned toward the peephole. A guy stood there with his lowered head in a hoodie larger than what I typically wore. It was quite the hoodie for someone who didn’t seem large enough to justify the size. He was about five eleven like me, with baggy jeans and worn sneakers, all in black. Who was this dude?

  My heart raced. Should I answer the door? Should I open it and take that risk?

  More pounding.

  I flinched and swallowed more. “Who, who is it?”

  The guy grumbled something like earlier. What was he saying?

  I bit my lower lip. “I’m not opening the door till you tell me who you are.”

  “A-dam...”

  My heart pounded harder than the door at the familiarity of the throaty voice. No, no. It was impossible. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t!

  “A-dam.”

  I took a few steps back with widened eyes and a quaky body, my breathing converting into a series of drawn-out puffs. No, no, no!

  “Ad—”

  No! He was supposed to be dead! But who else could that voice belong to? There was only one person with a voice like that.

  More knocking, more pounding. “A-dam!” This time, it was as whiney and whimper-like as a drunk.

  I gasped. “Zeke...” My tone was barely audible. My speech reduced in ability.

  “O-pen... please?”

  But how could it be? Was this the gift Granter had referred to? A... reunion?

  I had to find out who this person was despite the lack of courage—despite the absence of it—to do so. I panted, gulped, and marched closer to the door with a tight chest. I grabbed the knob with more force than necessary while shoving aside any ounce of cowardice, and I swung the door open for all it was worth.

  The guy raised his head, and an un-Zeke-like Zeke was introduced with a mannequin-like appearance only cosmetic restoration could replicate. His blue eyes were inexplicably as pale as Granter’s.

  My eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets, and my mouth flew open with no sound. My heart hammered away, and I remained paralyzed.

  Zeke cocked his head with a crooked grin spreading across his face more widely than natural, and he made a joyful sound that couldn’t be comprehended. “A-dam!”

  “Z-Z-Z-Zeke!” I whispered. “Y-you’re... you’re alive!” With Zeke’s natural blond hair peeking through the hoodie, he could pass for a live Ken doll a la Eminem, only creepier. What happened to him?

  “‘Live!”

  I rushed toward Zeke with a gush of emotions and threw my arms around him, but as I was about to question the stiffness of his body, a hint of refrigerated and chemically treated meat wafting through my nostrils forced me to let go with a wrinkly nose.

  “Hello there, Adam.”

  I jumped and turned around with a jackhammering heart.

  Granter stood with a serious face in front of the window, still dressed in his dark purple cloak.

  I sported a blank face and scratched his head. “H-how did you get in here?”

  “That’s not important. What is important is this reunion. I imagine you have a multitude of questions.”

  I shook my head. “But... how? Zeke died! Did you switch bodies or something? He didn’t actually die?”

  Granter smirked. “Oh, he did die. He did indeed.” His eyes glared, and Zeke was pushed inside the apartment, nearly collapsing, while the door slammed shut on its own.

  My eyebrows shot up. Who was this man? How did he do that? And what did he do to Zeke to make him look like a live mannequin with a chemical meat stench?

  Granter formed another smirk, and the more he expressed himself that way, the more I wanted to cringe. “Aren’t you going to take advantage of your birthday gift?”

  “Aren’t you going to tell me what’s going on? You’re not being very clear.”

  “And you’re not being very grateful. Go and show Zeke some affection. Isn’t that what you’ve wanted all along?”

  I faced Zeke once more and swallowed. This was the guy I’d longed to be with, but it wasn’t the condition I’d envisioned. He looked just like the embalmed, dead version at the funeral, only reanimated.

  “Go on. He needs you right now.” Another smirk.

  My heart fluttered. I’d never imagined I’d rather see Zeke in this particular condition than not to see him at all. I rushe
d toward him and wrapped my arms around his stiff body, fighting the stench that threatened to break our embrace.

  “A-dam.” Why did Zeke have to say my name in an impaired tone, along with every other word? It wasn’t like him at all.

  But I tightened the hug and breathed through my mouth rather than my nostrils as soon as the queasiness occurred. I remained in his arms when I locked eyes with him. “It’s really you.”

  Zeke grinned, his toothy expression the same as when he’d been alive, only a bit more contrived because of his stiffened facial muscles. “Me.”

  I pursed my lips with watery eyes from when Zeke had opened his mouth to speak in this distance. Twenty minutes of oil pulling or even a super-strong breath mint was in order. I continued breathing through my mouth, sounding as if I had a cold. “I cried for days when I thought you were dead. In fact, I still don’t know how you’re alive right now.”

  “‘Live.”

  I nodded. “Alive. But I wouldn’t say well. You feeling okay?” I frowned.

  Granter cleared his throat. “I can assure you there’s one very crucial part of him that still functions. I made sure of that.”

  I shuddered at the thought of physical intimacy, hoping that wasn’t what Granter meant.

  “Just in case.”

  I tried to tune Granter out. The more he talked, the more I wanted him to leave because of the aura he gave off. I couldn’t understand what caused me to feel this way. Sure, I was thankful for Zeke’s return, since it was the best birthday gift I’d ever received, but something wasn’t right, and I couldn’t figure out why.

  The Experiment...

  Granter’s eyes were glued to us, and he formed another smirk, as if never allowing to show anyone whether he was trustworthy or not. Why was he so hard to figure out? “Zeke can still bend despite the stiffness. It’ll be a little challenging, but I loosened his joints as I saw fit.”

  Zeke managed to give me a peck on the cheek, and my heart entered a molten state. I never knew I could feel this way about a reanimated corpse. But Zeke was still Zeke, the very guy who continually planted himself in the center of my heart and took up enough room to be more than significant.