Buried in Sunshine

by Matthew Fish

  “You’re stronger,” Emma says as she notices the change in Elizabeth’s personality. “You are more confident now.”

  “Anything I am,” Elizabeth whispers as she kisses Emma on her cheek. “It is by your grace that I have strength.”

  Justine pops her head into the room. “I hate to be a bother, but there is something really strange noises coming from downstairs.”

  “We’re finished,” Elizabeth says as she nods.

  “Where can I find Alexis?”

  “She’s very angry—she’s going through the same realizations as you are. I would imagine that you should look where your anger would lead you…”

  “Come with me?”

  “This house is my place,” Elizabeth says as she looks out the window. “Don’t worry about me, Alexis can’t hurt me—not as long as I remain in this room.”

  “If I pinch one of you,” Justine chimes in as she looks at the unusual pair. “Do you both feel it?”

  “Doesn’t work like that,” Elizabeth says as she shakes her head and widens her eyes as though she is confused by Justine’s curiosity. “You’re taking this extremely well.”

  “I’ve seen stranger,” Justine says as she nods. “We won’t get into that though.”

  “Be back here on the sixth day,” Justine says as she smiles at Emma and places her hand around the glass sun charm. “Bring the others, if you can.”

  “I will, take care.”

  “You too…”

  Emma looks back once and shuts the door to the attic room behind her as she leaves.

  “Does this really mean we only have a few days left before the earth is destroyed?” Justine asks as she follows Emma down the stairs.

  “Wait…what?” Ethan adds.

  “I don’t know,” Emma responds as she follows the strange grinding noise coming from the bottom of the stairs.

  “What the hell is that sound?” Ethan adds. “End of the world?”

  “It’s a lot to explain,” Emma says as she continues her descent. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  As the three reach the bottom of the stairs, the floor begins to tremble beneath their feet. To Emma it is like one of her nightmares. She begins to head for the door; cracks in the wooden floor beneath her appear and spread out like branches of a winter tree. Ethan trips and stumbles to the ground.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” Ethan says as he gets back up to his feet and turns to look at the destruction behind him.

  “The floor is breaking away,” Emma says as the group huddles in the hallway by the front door. The red walls around her begin to crack, pictures of Emma and her mother come crashing down to the ground. The old phone falls to the floor and breaks into pieces.

  “Is this an earthquake?” Justine asks.

  “I’m going to wake up at some point here right?” Ethan adds.

  The rumbling stops and the floor groans one last time as all the pieces have fallen into place. A makeshift, meandering, staircase made of platforms of broken wood lead down into the basement.

  “That is strangely convenient,” Justine says as she marvels at the way that each platform is perfectly spread out. “Instant basement access…?”

  A knock on the door catches Emma’s attention as she turns away from the strange sight and places her hand upon the door. She begins to wonder if perhaps it is the police, coming to do some investigation in the house—she wonders how she will explain what exactly just happened here. As the second rapping comes at the door, Emma opens it up.

  “And now there’s a little version of you,” Justine says as plainly as though she had half expected it.

  “Hope…” Emma says as she kneels down and places her arms around the small girl.

  “It’s not time to go down…” Hope says softly as she places her arms around Emma. “Not yet.”

  “Okay,” Emma says as she follows the girl outside. Justine and Ethan follow closely behind, each dividing their attention on the strange sights both in and out of the house.

  “Thank you for bringing Elizabeth back,” Hope says as she places her hand in Emma’s.

  “I promised I would do it.”

  “I knew that you were nice,” Hope says as she leads the group away from the house.

  “Is there anything that I can do for you?” Emma asks.

  Hope gestures for Emma to come close. Emma kneels down and allows Hope to whisper something into her ear.

  “Is that all?”

  “That’s all…”

  “I’m pretty sure we can do that,” Emma says as she smiles and nods.

  Emma leads Hope to the back of her car and helps her in.

  “You want to follow us?” Emma asks as she turns to Ethan who is standing near his truck in a semi-state of shock.

  “What…yeah…?” Ethan says as he rubs his forehead and climbs into the truck.

  Justine climbs into the passenger side as Emma pulls her seatbelt over her chest. Justine looks to Emma, and then looks over the seat behind her to the small girl seated in the back. “So it’s like I’m sitting beside you, and in front of you.”

  “Are you alright?” Emma asks as she attempts to stifle an uncomfortable fit of laughter.

  “I’m intrigued,” Justine says as she looks back to the girl once more. “Is this the one that you see at the pier near my apartment?”

  “I have a name,” Hope objects.

  “Sorry…” Justine says as she reaches a hand over the seat. “I’m Justine; it’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “I’m Hope,” the little girl says as she takes Justine’s hand and shakes it meekly.

  “So you are an artist?”

  “That is very astute of you,” Justine says as she nods. “That I am.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Which part?” Justine asks.

  “Astute?”

  “I don’t really remember at this moment because my mind is all…farting—it sounds nice though doesn’t it?” Justine adds as she shrugs her shoulders.

  *

  Back at Justine’s apartment, Justine brings out a small easel and a handful of paint and spreads it across a newspaper covered floor.

  “Now brush choice is important,” Justine says as she holds out a few different sizes brushes for Hope to pick through. “You don’t have to choose just one, but for what you want to paint—you should choose a few that would fit.”

  “So…” Ethan says as he nods his head. “So that’s…that.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Emma says as she bites her bottom lip. “I’m going to stop it—everyone tells me that I can’t. I believe that I can though.”

  “So after tonight,” Ethan says as he lets out an exhaustive sigh. This day has definitely taken its toll upon his already distressed mind. “Only two days?”

  “That’s what they say,” Emma says with a nod.

  “I’m staying in a hotel,” Ethan adds as he places his hand into Emma’s. “Would you like to come and stay with me?”

  Emma looks over to Hope and Justine as they both paint, seated on the floor and laughing. She thinks about taking up Ethan on his offer—spending a night with him. However, something holds her back. Although she still cares deeply for Ethan, it no longer feels quite right. “I…I really can’t. I have to fix things.”

  “Things are different now,” Ethan says as he looks saddened. “Things are strange now between us, aren’t they?”

  “I don’t know…” Emma says as she looks away. She feels too many different emotions to pinpoint it to one single one—there’s so much guilt, fear, and confusion. The uncertainty of everything makes her feel hopeless. “Right now they are.”

  “I understand,” Ethan says dejectedly. “Can I see you again?”

  “Today is Saturday isn’t it?”

  “It is.”

  “I’m going back to the house on Monday…the day before…well, you know. I know that you’ve been through a lot, but I would really like you to be there in the end. I mean, if y
ou can. If you don’t show up, I’ll understand completely.”

  “I’ll try,” Ethan says as he embraces Emma. “I’m sorry that things had to turn out this way.”

  “So am I… I really am.”

  “I’ll try and be there,” Ethan says as he places his hand upon the door. “I don’t know if I can watch you die—I don’t know if I can stand to see the last person I care about leave. I suppose I’ll be dying as well, but…regardless. I don’t know how it will end, I rather face it alone.”

  “I can respect that,” Emma says calmly, her voice shakes a little as though she is attempting to hold back a deluge of tears that threaten to break her down. “If I don’t see you, then I am happy we met. Regardless of what happens…”

  “Same here,” Ethan says as he coldly opens up the door and shuts it behind him.

  Emma begins to weep softly as she places her hand upon the door. Justine notices Emma’s state and gets up from the floor.

  “You just work on that tree for a moment… that is an awesome tree.”

  “Thank you,” Emma says as Justine approaches her and places her arms around her.

  “You could have gone with him,” Justine says as she squeezes Emma tightly. “I would have been fine watching the little you—it’s kind of like I’m babysitting you.”

  Emma attempts to hide a laugh but fails due to the absurdity of the statement. As she wipes away tears from her eyes she replies, “I can’t… I just can’t see myself with him anymore. With everything that has happened, I just do not feel like I belong with him.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be forgiving yourself?”

  “I am…” Emma says as she looks at Justine curiously.

  “Well I was closer to the door—“Justine says as she realizes she has been caught. “I couldn’t help but overhear a few things….sorry.”

  “It is fine,” Emma says as she lets out a small laugh once more. “Thank you for letting Hope paint, and hang out here…”

  “It’s all she wanted?”

  “Yeah,” Emma says as she looks to the content little girl painting on the floor—little stains of color have covered parts of her white dress. “I guess she just didn’t want to be alone.”

  “I feel like we should get her some pizza and ice cream at least,” Justine says as she looks sadly at the girl. “Maybe a pony…”

  “She doesn’t eat…” Emma adds. “They don’t eat.”

  “Well nobody would eat a pony,” Justine adds with a grin on her fox-like face. “That’s just terrible.”

  “How can you joke with…all this negativity?” Emma asks as she smiles. “I mean, I appreciate it—but, aren’t you afraid?”

  “Of course I’m afraid,” Justine says as she watches Hope play. “I just choose to believe in a different ending—if I’m wrong then I’m wrong. If I’m right then there was no sense in worrying to begin with.”

  “That’s a great way to look at it,” Emma says as she shrugs her shoulders. “Wish I could be that way.”

  “I’m coming by the way…”

  “What do you mean?”

  “On Monday,” Justine adds as her tone turns serious. “I’ll be by your side.”

  “Are you sure you want too?” Emma asks. “I have no idea what will happen that day. It might be better if—“

  “If I just waited it out here and died? That doesn’t sound fun. I mean, mysterious staircase to the basement—clones of yourself all together. I’m coming if you want me to or not.”

  “I appreciate it,” Emma says as she playfully slaps Justine’s shoulder. “Besides, the more crazy we have—maybe the better things will turn out.”

  “Oh I will bring my fair share of crazy.” Justine says as she laughs. “Count on that…”

  *

  “She’s out like a light,” Justine says as she gestures to Hope who is fast asleep upon the seafoam and wood couch. “She shows a lot of potential as an artist. I guess…you show a lot of potential as an artist.”

  Emma looks to the window and sees that last light of the sun is fading away into darkness. “It’s good that she’s asleep…”

  “What do you mean?” Justine asks as she places two dishes into the sink and begins to wash them.

  Emma forgets that she has not informed Justine of what happens to her clones when nightfall hits—the terrible transformation that they make into burning ash, the pain that the endure, and the horrible way it leaves her feeling. “You should just look away—“

  Despite Emma’s warning, Justine turns just in time to see Hope turn into a twisting pile of burning ash. As glowing embers float through the air, she drops a plate into the sink, shattering it. “What happened to her?”

  “I don’t know,” Emma says as she refuses to watch the terrible sight she has seen too many times before. “They don’t know where they go—but it scares them. They come back in the morning.”

  “You’re right, I should have looked away,” Justine says as she stands glued to the spot and watches the final ember disappear into thin air.

  “I should have warned you earlier,” Emma sighs.

  “It’s been a hell of a day,” Justine says as she lets out a short yawn. She then heads to the living room and picks up a painting off the floor. She brings it into the kitchen and tapes it to the fridge. “Is it strange that I feel like a proud parent?”

  “That is a nice tree…”

  “I like that she went with a winter landscape. Leaves are a pain in the ass to paint. Although when I asked what all these green dots were, she said ‘fireflies.’

  Emma laughs as she looks at the painting. “I was a strange kid.”

  Justine heads into her bedroom and switches on the TV, the local news is on.

  “When it gets dark, I don’t like the quiet so much—not that you’re too quiet. I just like background noise,” Justine says as she sits on the couch and rests her head against the cushioning and lets out a heavy sigh. She kicks off her sandals and rubs her bare feet with her hands. “I hate shoes…did I mention that?”

  “I don’t believe so.”

  From the sound of the television Emma can make out the news reporting stating that the excessive heat has already caused sixteen deaths across the city—and that they advise that everyone stay indoors until the oppressive heat wave finally comes to an end. Emma looks out the window at the blackness beyond. She can’t help but feel responsible.

  “Maybe a different channel,” Justine says as she swiftly gets to her feet and changes the channel to a talk show. “So what is our next move—what are we doing tomorrow?”

  “I have to find Alexis—one of my clones…is that what I should even call them? I don’t even know.”

  “Sounds kind of accurate,” Justine says as she sits back down on the couch. “I mean they look like you, they kind of talk like you. Do they act like you?”

  “Not really,” Emma says as she reflects back on each personality. Elizabeth is the more innocent, kinder one—the meek one. Hope is the typical child, or at least, how she remembers herself as a child. Alexis…she is a whole other creature unto herself. A vengeful version of Emma, one who plots and plans—has somewhat of a dark streak. “They’re all different, not all in good ways either.”

  “I would guess that a clone would be just like you,” Justine says as she shrugs. “If I had other versions of me running around, I wouldn’t know what to call them—anyway, where should we look for this one? Back to the house…?”

  “I think I have to go alone,” Emma says. “Alexis can be…violent.”

  “All the reason why you shouldn’t go alone,” Justine protests.

  “I can defend myself against her though,” Emma says. “You saw how I got Elizabeth back—I can do things, I think… I haven’t really given it a try, but I have some kind of power.”

  “I’ve got a metal baseball bat I keep by the door…” Justine adds as she points to an umbrella holder in the corner.

  “I think if I go alone, she won’t feel as
threatened.”

  “Well, keep in touch with me by phone,” Justine concedes as she nods. “If anything at all goes wrong, call me right away. Do you know where you are headed?”

  “There’s a cemetery past my house on Old Pine Hollow Road, I have a feeling I’ll find her there tomorrow. I’ll call you and let you know for sure once I get there,” Emma says as she begins to realize that there isn’t much left for Alexis to do—if she’s basing her actions now on anger then there is only one person to really be angry at, their mother.

  “I’ve been there,” Justine adds. “Back when I was like nineteen we used to go drinking out there, cops never busted up parties out there.”

  “My mother is buried there.”

  “I’m sorry…” Justine says as she gets a look upon her face as though she just stepped in dog shit. “We were never disrespectful.”

  “It is fine,” Emma says as she laughs. “Believe me; I have no great love for my mother at this time.”

  “So you think she’s angry and going to be there?” Justine asks, as she thinks on the topic. “Doing what?”

  “I have no idea,” Emma replies as she folds her arms around her. “When your whole purpose is anger and revenge and you have no one left to take it out on—what are you left with?”

  “I suppose she could like, pee on the grave?” Justine adds. “Or do they not pee, since they don’t eat or drink—I guess peeing would be unnecessary.”

  “I have no clue,” Emma says as she flashes a strange look to Emma. “I just have a feeling—and I picked up the feeling from Elizabeth that I should be looking there. So, since I have nothing better to go off of—“

  “Cemetery it is,” Justine says as she stretches her arms out and lets out another long yawn. “Well, just remember to keep in contact with me—constantly. I don’t want you passing out where I can’t be of any help.”

  “Alright, I will.”

  “Well I’m headed to bed,” Justine adds. “Is there anything you need from me?”

  “I should be okay,” Emma says as she smiles. “Goodnight Justine.”

  “Goodnight Em,” Justine adds as she heads into her room. “Do you mind if I call you Em?”