The Resurrected

Chapter 004

"Evelyn." My heart dropped when I heard someone from behind. I turned around and saw Asher standing on the top of the stair case staring directly at me. "Oh.. A-Asher." "You dropped something." He proceeded to come downstairs. I quickly stepped on the marks covering them and picked up the paint and the book."I-I'm sorry. I'm just clumsy.. I was going to give these to Grace.." I covered myself up. "Why would Grace need the paint?" Asher asked reaching the last step, his hands inside his pockets. "Oh... Uhh.. no actually, I was suppose to have a pencil instead.... I forgot what I needed.. I'm just a little caught up with everything and I'm not thinking straight." I lied, laughing nervously. "Hmm.. fair enough." Asher said staring at me for a moment and then walking away. I sighed in relief, quickly covering the marks. I went upstairs, my mind racing with questions and my heart beating out of my heart. I put the paint where they belong and finally gave Grace her book. "Thank you, Evelyn. Though, it did take a little while." "I'm sorry I couldn't find the book." I laughed. My heart dropped once again when I realized Asher was sitting there. He gave me an unreadable look. He knew I was lying. 'Great Evelyn, Just great.'

            The day proceeded with me and Asher having awkward interactions. I would try my best not to make an eye contact but whenever I did, Asher would just look away. To make things worst I bumped into him at least three times. Each time Asher was about to say something but never said it. I knew he wanted to know about earlier. I decided to help around the house and spend time with Grace to avoid Asher more. At evening, I insisted Aura that I'd do the garden today. "I love gardening and flowers. I'll take care of them today. You deserve a break." I said. "I am pretty tired today so thank you." Aura smiled. Secretly, I just wanted to go out of the house so I don't have to see Asher. I don't know why the interaction earlier today made things more awkward between us, but it somehow did. Something told me that Asher wasn't enjoying me living with them. So, I ended up in the garden, watering plants, soaking roots, cutting weeds and planting in new flowers. God, was it a workout. Half way through, I heard whistling. I looked up and saw Asher walking around the statue area. 'What is up with him.' I thought. I realised that maybe he just don't want me to avoid him anymore. I sighed and decided to ignore him, continuing my work.

                   "You're good with those." He said staring a conversation whilst walking towards me. "Were you a Gardener?" "I was a graphic designer, thank you." I said sarcastically. "Ohhh office girl." I looked up at him and sighed. "Hey not trying to be rude but what do you nee-" "You got a British accent. You're not Brit, are you?" He cut me off walking towards a nearby rose. I rolled my eyes. "No, I'm from Brooklyn. I lived in Britain for 6 years. I studied in London."I replied. "Interesting." He said. "How'd you die?"

"That's rude."

"It's a question."

I paused. "I don't remember." I sighed.

"You have to till tomorrow." He said monotonously. 

"Why?"

"Because."

I waited for a reply but nothing came. I looked towards him. "Because?" I asked, raising my brow." He sighed. "There are complicated things." 

"Care to share."

"It's a long story."

"I have all day."

He paused. The silence got awkward again. "How'd YOU die?" I asked.

"Fire."

 "Ouch what?"

"My car exploded."

My eyes shot wide.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, in a pump."

I mouthed a wow.

"My friend's in ICU"

"Oh... Well, you're dead so..."

He laughed.

He LAUGHED. 

"Did you just laugh?"

"Am I not human?"

"Well logically speaking, no."

He rolled his eyes. "You're too smart to argue with."

"I'm taking that as a compliment."

"Whatever."

There was a silence again.

"Aren't you gonna ask when I died?"

"Nope."

He rolled his eyes. "Rude much."

"Look who's talking."

"You do realize we're straight ass arguing right now." He pointed out.

"Ok, fine. When did you die?" I asked sarcastically.

" A month ago."

"Oh... What about grace and everyone else?" 

"Mom died when she had Grace. Grace had cancer so she died when she was eight. Mrs. Park had a hubby problem and I don't know about Roman." "Wow..." 

"Not trying to sound rude but I thought you all were-"

"From the 1800s or something? I don't blame you, mom likes to live fancy. She loved that era. Says it's 'decent' ".

"That explains." 

 "Last night..." He blurted out. My breath hitched. "What?" I asked, acting confused. "I saw it. I was awake." My heart stopped. "Saw what?" I still acted confused. Asher looked at me. "I don't want to get in trouble. You won't mention anything about this conversation." He said turning around his heel and walking back inside. "H-hey!" I called him out but he simply ignored me and walked inside, leaving me dumbfounded. "THAT was weird." I mumbled.

                  I finished my work because it was getting dark. I went inside and had a nice cup of coffee near the fireplace. Grace was telling me the stories she loved. Asher was nowhere to be seen, so was Mrs. Lincoln. They were probably in their rooms. "She's outside." Grace said catching me looking towards her mother's room. "Oh.." "You seem upset." Grace said again. "I'm not, honestly, I had a great today." I laughed. "Let's get you to bed now." I dodged any more questions from the young child and went upstairs with her and tucked her in. It was near 9pm now and I had the urge to go outside to what they called a town square. But, my tiredness won over and I dragged myself to my room.

                  Once I entered my comfort zone a.k.a my room, I brushed my teeth and changed into my pajamas then sat on my bed. Brushing my head and zoning out, looking outside my window, I was unaware of my surroundings. I had a lot of questions roaming freely in my mind. I was wondering what Asher wanted to tell me. I was thinking about the conversation we had today. I was thinking about the weird behavior he was showing me. Why was Mrs. Lincoln acting distant today? That's when something hit me hard. The marks. Last night. It made me uncomfortable but created an urge in me to know more. Something told me this family has secrets of their own. Things they're hiding especially from me. And it seemed like Asher was not minding to share some with me. He just seemed scared of something. Probably his mother. The train of my thoughts continued when something interrupted it. Something I didn't want to remind myself but couldn't help it... *How did I die?* And WHY was it so important for me to remember it by tomorrow. There were unanswered question and unsolved mysteries that made me uncomfortable. Things that made me forgot how lost I am myself. I couldn't remember anything important from my past life. So I just quitely hoped I would get some memories back by tomorrow. Maybe that'll answer some questions. Sighing, I wanted to give myself a break. I turned my lights off and lied down on my bed. I looked over and sighed in frustration when I realised I didn't closed my blinds. I once again motivated myself to get out of the bed to close the blinds. As I was doing so, I could see lights from afar. A lot of them, actually. The town square, that's what it was. The starry night, the purplish blue sky turning orange as it moved further towards the town, the lights... It was beautiful. Looking at the scene unlocked something on the back of my head that I never knew existed. I froze as a blurred memory took over my mind. The scenery reminded me of a hotel room where I was staying. I closed the blinds and lied down once again feeling numb. The only thing that came into my mind was...

I died in Chicago.