Dead Like Him

The walk to the diner felt like I was walking the green mile. It was long, silent and intense. No one spoke – I don’t think either of them knew what to say. I’m just glad that they were with me, I’m glad someone was. I was so lost right now that I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the void that was left in my hollowed heart.

Colton cleared his throat, his hand reaching for the picture in my hand. I panicked and grabbed it from his reach, hugging it to my chest tightly.

“I’m not going to take it, I wanted to see what you had there,” Colton calmed, reaching for the picture frame again, this time I allowed him to take it. He smiled at the photo. “That’s really cute.”

I didn’t say anything, just took the picture frame back and hugged it to my chest again as we continued to walk.

“It was Christmas, about three years ago – before our father passed away.” I smiled sadly, remembering the memory fondly before letting a small chuckle escape from my throat.

“What happened?” Colton mimicked my laugh, looking at Louis as he observed the picture I was holding out to show him.

“My brother set the neighbor’s house on fire by accident with a Rudolf the red nosed reindeer sleigh ornament. My brother is a creative person. He’s amazing at altering things and trying to make them better. When he was twelve, he took one of my Barbie’s and inflated her chest to the size of tennis balls – although I think that was just him being a pervert. He got grounded for it to if I remember correctly.” I laughed.

Louis smiled and Colton shook his head.

“Anyhow, he wanted to make Rudolf go a little faster, give him a realistic speed.” I continued on, a small warmth feeling my stomach.

Louis began to laugh.

“Oh no.” He snorted.

I laughed, nodding.

“Oh yeah, he fixed the speed and put Rudolf back on our roof, and turns him on. Keep in mind, this was three in the morning on Christmas day, everyone is asleep except for him. So he does this, goes back inside and doesn’t think much of it. Well, about five minutes later we heard a shrill whistling sound, we rush out and there’s Rudolf, flying across our roof and catapulting about five houses down – crashing into the window of our elderly neighbor.” I giggled.

Colton let out a loud cackle as Louis chuckled.

“We hurry down the street and see that Rudolf had set fire to the curtains and the guy’s favorite rocking chair he had made a few years before for his wife who had recently passed away. My brother felt so bad when he found out. We took this picture after my brother, father and the town’s finest fireman came to help extinguish the flames – as you can see it was taken in a purposely funny way with my neighbor on one side of him, my dad on the other side glaring and there’s my brother, looking sheepishly down, holding the burned beyond recognition reindeer head with a small smirk on his face. My neighbor thankfully had a good sense of humor and told him not to worry about the damage but with my brother being who he was, he went over every day and worked off the repairs to the neighbor’s home. Even after he managed to pay back for the damage, he continued to go over there to keep the elderly man company and help him reconstruct the rocking chair that had been ruined. When he went over the one day, he found the old man on the floor in the kitchen. That’s the only time I’ve ever saw my brother so distraught. Tonight was different – tonight he was crushed and I can’t even help him.” I sobered, my somber mood taking hold of the good memory and reminding me that’s all I had left.

“I’m sorry.” Colton said, reaching his arm across and pulling me to him. Louis sighed and patted my shoulder.

“You’re a good person Calla, you just made a mistake.” Louis soothed, trying to make me feel better. I knew it was a lie but the gesture was kind.

“Thanks guys.”

We walked clear across town, back to the familiar territory of the diner. As I walked in the calming smell of food greeted me. Although my body wasn’t physically hungry, I wanted food – the smell alone was overpowering.

Somehow sensing this Colton guided me over to the table, getting in beside me as Louis sat in front of me, waving the waitress over toward the table.

“Hey Cheryl, we’ll have the house pie, bring three.” Colton smiled, watching her nod and walk back toward the back.

I set the picture carefully beside me and look down at the table.

“Louis? How did you die? Aurelian said you guys were famous – “ I started but let my voice fade out as Colton interrupted.

“I think that discussion is best left for another time. The one thing I can tell you about my brother is that he likes to cause trouble and if you’re ever unsure it’s him impersonating someone I’m going to let you in on a little secret – us grave makers have our own sent as do reapers.” He said, putting his hand under my nose.

“Cinnamon and pepper?” I asked, looking up at him, unbelieving of what I was saying, let alone smelling.

“Aurelian smells like rotten onions and vinegar. If for any reason you aren’t sure, just give your senses a kick and you’ll know. We’re each given a smell when we’re made. Call it an identification card if you will.” Colton chuckled.

“What do you smell like?” I asked Louis, although I never really thought I’d be asking a guy that sort of question.

“Focus on him and breathe in.” Colton instructed as I did so. He had a pretty delectable one, vanilla and strawberry.

I focused around, there was one other reaper in the joint, he had his nose buried in a book. I focused on him and breathed in. His smell was odd…aspirins and cherry cough drops.

“Great, she’s going to be sniffing everyone now.” Louis rolled his eyes but he was clearly amused.

“When’s Harry and them coming back?” I asked, turning my smell-o-vision off and glancing at the door.

“Not for a while. That was a pretty big mess that needed to be cleaned up. Harry needs to do what he needs to do and when he gets back he’ll be able to sit down and explain to you what’s going on. I’m not going to be the bad guy because I think he’ll be able to better explain.” Louis said, choosing his words carefully.

Colton smiled when the waitress came back with the pies.

“Thanks darling.”

The waitress set them down in front of everyone and left. I picked up the fork that had been left on the table and took a bite.

The pecan pie made my taste buds come to life – although something else still felt amiss about the whole situation and it bothered me to know end.

“Guys? What about my brother? Aurelian doesn’t sound like someone who just gives up – what if he tries to hurt Dylan again?” I asked worried.

“A possibility, considering once a deal is struck with a grave maker they tend to no give up until the debt is collected. However, I’ll do my best to see to it that your brother is safe.” Colton promised, rubbing my shoulder and smiling.

“Thanks.” I murmured, suddenly feeling drained of energy.

“You’ll find the more energy you use, the more energy it takes to sustain yourself. Just rest for a bit, don’t use anything else that requires assertion.” Colton advised, pulling me into his embrace and giving me a little bit of an energy boost.

“And here I thought you were an ass.” I told him, my first day being dead and I’m beginning to see a lot clearer – especially with this fucked up reality.

“Well sweetheart, I am most likely the biggest asshole in this room but I will tell you, you won’t find a better group of reapers. Harry’s a little hot under the collar but trust me, he was a lot more fun when I knew him five years ago.”

Louis cleared his throat with a frown.

“Relax blue eyes, I’m not going to tell her, not my story to tell but I will say that the Harry you know now wasn’t the one you would have met five years ago. Things change though – we change. It’s all part of the growing process.” Colton sighed, glancing at Louis who nodded.

I simply observed the knowing look that passed silently between the two men and frowned.

I knew there were consequences for certain mistakes but I wondered what could have happened to make these men so afraid of breaking the rules – what happened to them? If Harry was this much of a stiff, what would happen to me over the years? What happened to him?

Before I could think any more on the matter the door to the diner opened and in walked a very stoic looking Harry. I gulped as he made his way toward the booth and sat down.

I looked forward and took in a slow breath, catching a whiff of his scent. It was possibly the most overpowering smell yet. Stardust and lemon melts – I don’t know what stardust smells like but I now had a pretty good idea.

“Why is she sniffing me?” Harry asked, clearly not amused.

I gulped and turned my smell back off, the lingering aroma still wafting around me.

“Blame Colton.” Louis shrugged, pushing himself up off the booth and swinging his legs over to the other side, jumping down. He smiled kindly at me with a little wave of his hand. “Good luck, hun.”

With that Louis left me alone with the grave maker and the extremely annoyed – very angry reaper.

Judging by the now sober Colton and the hard faced Harry, I knew whatever was about to happen wasn’t going to be good.

Notes

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