Romancing the Afterlife

Raccoon Hill Diet

Cain was waiting for her a block away, she was pretty distraught and he put his arm around her and escorted her back to his house. She didn’t seem to mind the comfort as they walked in silence at a slow pace. She didn’t say much to him when they arrived back at The Box, mostly just a soft thank you. He tried to remind her that her mom didn’t actually hate her, but was actually acting out of anger because of how much she had loved her before. It was probably unsafe to tell anyone that she was Lucy Little brought back to life. This was a second chance and he would help her build a life, to which she cried out “What life? Lucy’s life is clearly over,” she said with frustrated tears

“You just need a new identity, you can’t be you anymore, but you can be anyone else.”

When they got back to Cain’s house, he snuck her into the house by giving her one of his hooded sweatshirts and having her pretend to be him as she walked in and up the stairs. Cain’s parents barely blinked, not taking notice of their son entering the house twice. They were used to him being a little odd, so the charade continued to go on successfully the rest of the night. He let Lucy finally have a shower and she reveled in the steamy water for an hour, until Mr. Lewis yelled up the stairs for Cain to quit using up all the hot water. Cain raided his kitchen for today’s leftovers and yesterday’s, and anything else available, trying to keep being health conscious in mind for Lucy’s sake. His mom caught him carrying all the food to his room, and he told her he hadn’t been feeling well all day and now wanted to take the benefit of actually feeling capable of eating food again. His mom made him promise to bring down the dishes when he was done, and went back to watching the food network.

Cain watched in horror and amazement at the speed and amount that Lucy consumed. She blamed it on having not eaten in a year, but was surprised herself since she usually never ate much before. Also her mostly vegetarian diet had gone out the window, meat was the first thing she went for, tearing into a big steak with her bare hands. She practically disregarded all of the vegetables she used to hold in high regard for a newfound love of protein and carbohydrates. Cain somewhat regretted offering to let her eat first now. She cleared plates and casserole dishes like a starving lion on a gazelle. Cain was almost afraid to ask her if she wanted more. When she finished with her binge, she wiped her hands and face with a napkin and unexpectedly hugged Cain tight. He was a bit thrown off for a moment, but that was quickly replaced with the thrill of her affection and he embraced her back. Her face had already recovered a little more colour from the incident with her mom. “Thank you for dinner.” She released him and moved to his bed. She lay down on top of the covers and he thought to join her, but before he could she was already sleeping solid spread out on his single mattress. She slept so still and silent, he put his hand in front of her mouth just to make sure she was still breathing. He fixed the pillow better under her head, and sat in his computer chair, where after awhile of surfing the internet on his laptop he would take his second uncomfortable restless sleep in a row.

The next morning Cain was woken by excited shrieking. He sat up in his chair to see Lucy practically mad with joy, bouncing on his bed and dancing a little. He didn’t have to ask her what she was so thrilled about because he could see it on her face, quite literally. “I’m alive! I’m me again. Look at my skin.” She swirled around. “I grew finger nails,” she shoved her hands in his face, “I mean this one looks a little crooked, but better than the gross s**t before. And my hair! I can’t see it, but it feels nice. Is it nice?” Her hair had indeed become more natural looking and nearly its original hue. She was wide eyed and eager for confirmation. He nodded and she let out a loud shout, “Yes!”

“Keep your voice down, we’re not ready for my parents to see you.” He scolded her.

“Oh I’m ready for everyone to see me. Go get me that bag from your man-hole, and some breakfast. Sausage, bacon, ham, whatever you got.”

He was eager to please his happy new pet girl, and headed out to get what she asked for. He ran into his dad in the hallway who was looking at him strangely. It was obvious he had heard the shrieking and shouting from his room. “It is going to be a great day,” he said patting his dad on the shoulders, doing his best to sound excited.

“I bet,” his dad replied sarcastically.

He returned ten minutes later with the bag, some scrambled eggs (made by his mom) and half a package of deli meat salami, along with some brown hair dye his mom used for touch ups and some weak prescription glasses his dad hadn’t worn in over a decade. He gave her some privacy to change her clothes and she put on a stripped t-shirt and some overalls that were baggy on her. She made a negative comment about the concept of being a tomboy, not appreciating Jonas’ sister’s style. Once his dad had gone to work, they dyed her hair in the bathroom sink. Lucy wasn’t crazy about the changes to her identity, and they debated heavily on a new name. She also caught a view of her eyes in the mirror. Cain had yet to mention it to her, but her eyes seemed to be the only thing that hadn’t gone back to the way they had been before. They weren’t cold black anymore, there was colour in her irises again, but it was a burgundy colour. From a distance you would mistake it for a dark brown, but from close up the darker red was distinct enough that someone might suggest she had a demon inside her. “If anyone asks tell them they’re just awesome contacts,” he said reassuringly.

“Well then I don’t need the glasses,” she pointed out. He realized his error, but encouraged her to at least put her new brunette hair in a pony tail just to be sure that she looked different enough. She begrudgingly went along with it for the time being.

It was the middle of the day and Mrs. Lewis was reading a new romance novel, after having dusted the living room. It seemed cliché but the books were her guilty pleasure, and it took her mind off other worries. Ever since Cain’s incident it had seemed necessary to be home more often for him, so she had taken leave from the market bakery she worked for, and instead started taking baking orders from home. This left her with more free time most days, and today was a slow day.

The doorbell rang and Mrs. Lewis put her book down to answer it. On her doorstep was Jonas looking a little concerned. “Hi Mrs. Lewis,” he greeted her warmly.

“Good day Jonas,” she replied, politely ushering him into the house.

“I came by to check on Cain. Not that I think there’s something wrong with him. You just don’t know when something weird might be happening, or have happened.” He took his shoes off and placed them on the mat with everyone else’s.

“That’s very sweet of you Jonas, you are a good friend,” and she really believed that. He was the only real friend she ever noticed her son to have, and he had always been polite and respectful to her. “He has seemed a bit peculiar since yesterday,” she admitted.

“He’s been dealing with a lot of loser denial. It’ll pass, it always does. No worries,” Jonas assured her.

“Cain, Jonas is here,” she called up the stairs, “I’m sure he’ll be down shortly. His father thinks he might have a girl up there,” she told him, with a self-amused laugh, “wishful thinking, I think. Would you like a sandwich?”

“No I’m fine, thank you. We had meatloaf.”

She sat back down in her chair, having done her part and now waiting to be alone again, so she could go back to her book. A few seconds later Cain appeared, walking downstairs followed by an ambiguous looking but pretty girl next door type with dark eyes, and homely clothes. The loose fitting clothes disguised her athletic figure, and Jonas had to take a second look to recognize her. She did not seem very confident in her new look, her overalls were complemented with men’s sport socks covering her feet and it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra. Jonas and Mrs. Lewis both noticed, but neither said anything for their own reasons. Jonas was pretty impressed. Not only had Cain managed to disguise her, but also she looked kind of average, like any other awkward girl who refused to come out of her shell and reveal her hot and sexy side. He may have mixed her up in reference to his Janice, but it was all the same. What was more amazing was that somehow she had mysteriously healed. She looked completely healthy and normal, and yet she was still with him. He was shamefully a little envious of his friend, because she was definitely out of Cain’s league, even when she had been an undead chick.

“This is my girlfriend,” Cain told them proudly, causing said new girlfriend to stomp on his foot, “Oww,” he grunted under his breath before starting over. “I mean this is my new friend Julie Walker, she’s new to town and I have agreed to show her around. I hope she can stay here temporarily as she has nowhere else to go, and we are kind and understanding people. We’re going to go out now, bye.” He started rushing her towards the door, but Cain’s mother intercepted them with questions.

“But what about her parents?”

“They’re dead. She’s an orphan.”

“How did she get here?”

“She was travelling with a charity organization and just felt she’d done enough.”

“Then how did you meet?”

“Online, on a random dating site she arrived late last night, and has no memory of anything. I was surprised too. No more questions!”

“Are you hungry dear?” his mother asked her. She smiled and was about to tell her yes, but Cain grabbed his shoes and rushed her out the door.

“Did that seem weird to you?” Mrs. Lewis asked Jonas.

“For him? No. I think I better go with him though, just to be safe.” He got up and put his shoes on, hoping he could catch up to them. His curiousity of what they were doing outweighed his annoyance that they just left without him.

They made it out to the sidewalk and Cain was going to tell her his plan, but Lucy had a plan of her own and walked off before he could say anything. She moved quickly with deliberation. Cain did his best to keep up with her, and she didn’t refute his effort. He was intent on not letting her out of his sight as he considered her his responsibility, and for once in his life felt he had valid reason to follow her. At first he was afraid she might be heading home again, but realized her house was the opposite direction. She remained silent and focused when he tried to inquire on their destination, and just kept walking. Jonas eventually managed to catch up to them. “So where are we going?” he asked Cain

“I don’t know, ask her.”

“Shoes. I’m getting what’s mine.” Lucy said to them.

“What size are you? We can find you a pair,” Cain offered.

“I already have some.”

They continued to follow Lucy wherever her shoes apparently were. She took them on a fairly long walk. The socks Lucy was wearing were black on the bottom. Jonas had offered to drive them in his new crappy car if they went back, but Lucy was not swayed. She told Cain he could go home when he continued to pry for information, but he would not be swayed either. When she finally came to a halt, they stood in front of a large green house with a garden full of exotic flowers. Jonas thought it best to hang back by the sidewalk, but Cain went with her this time. Lucy stood in front of the house contemplating her next move, reminding herself who she was supposed to be. “Whose house is this? Pretty garden,” Cain said.

“They pay a gardener. Amber could care less for flowers.”

“Amber Ackles?” She ignored his question, walking straight to the door and ringing the bell. Cain’s question was answered for him as Amber Ackles opened the door with an unpleasant demeanor. She leaned against the doorway, unimpressed by the visitors at her door.

“Can I help you?” she asked quite cattily.

“You should go home Cain,” she told him again, “Yes Amber you can help me. My name is Julie, Lucy wanted you to lend me some clothes, and the shoes that she left here accidentally when she was drunk and Bruce Holden drove her home”

“Yeah you definitely need some, but Lucy and you aren’t friends, and newsflash she’s dead! And you’re here with Cain Lewis, soo ….” Cain felt honored that she actually knew who he was, ignoring the implied insult to come.

“I’m her visiting cousin; I talked to her before her tragic death. And he’s ….underrated.”

“You’re full of it. Take your loser boyfriend elsewhere.”

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Cain tried not to take offense to her defensiveness. It would take time for her to get used to him.

“Even if you did know Lucy, I don’t care. She was a pretentious b***h, I’m glad she’s gone, now Bruce spends his time with me instead.”

“You backstabber!” Lucy screamed as she shoved Amber into her own house. She fell to the floor, and Lucy walked in standing right over top of her. Cain decided not to interfere and stayed on the doorstep, checking to see if anyone other than Jonas was watching. Jonas looked at him with inquisition, but Cain raised his hand telling him to stay where he was. Inside Lucy looked ready to give Amber a thrashing, “You owe me a pair of shoes, and I’d like some clean underwear too.”

“I don’t even know you,” Amber cried getting up, “get out of my house!”

“Like I said I’m Lucy’s cousin. And she left me those shoes, and you’re going to give me some of your underwear cause I think we’re about the same size, unless you want this whole town to know how you really get your spending money.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” she practically screeched. Not even Lucy was supposed to know Amber’s secret, but Danielle had told her one night a few years ago when she was drunk and pissed off at Amber for sleeping with her boyfriend.

“My cousin knew, and so do I. I believe it involves something to do with something really bad that wasn’t originally your fault, but-“ Amber punched her in the mouth to stop her from continuing to say more and started crying.

“Shut up! You’re a monster”

“So I’m told,” she said smugly. Amber’s face went from angry and sad to disgusted and fearful, she turned a bit pale. Unbeknownst to Lucy her bottom lip had split apart when Amber had hit her. There was a half-inch divide in her lip but it wasn’t bleeding at all. It was like raw meat that had been cut and left to dry. It was made all the more disturbing by the fact that Lucy hadn’t reacted.

“Please don’t hurt me, I’m sorry. I’ll find the shoes.” Lucy became concerned by Amber’s immediate change in attitude. She stepped passed Amber to look at her face in the hallway mirror.

“Shit.” She covered her mouth with her hand, embarrassed by her appearance and somewhat bitchy fear mongering. “I’m sorry, I’ll wait here. Just the shoes and maybe a bra, I’m pretty sure we’re the same size or close to, you look like you’ve lost weight.”

“I may have …” she slinked away confused and alarmed. A few minutes later she returned with the black swede boot heeled shoes Lucy left there over a year ago, they weren’t in the best shape but they were better than socks. Amber also handed her two bras, one from before the weight loss and one from after, a pair of Guess jeans Lucy prayed would fit, a nice shirt and a tube of super glue for her lip. She thanked Amber, but all she wanted was for Julie to go away.

“That was pretty dramatic,” Cain said on the walk back. Jonas had fallen back a little to answer a phone call that now seemed to be an argument with his girlfriend.

“Yeah, I don’t know. It did get out of hand, but she’s kind of had it coming for awhile.”

“Are you okay?”

“Does it look okay?” she turned to him and pointed to her lip and he grimaced a little. She didn’t take it as a good sign. “I guess I’ll have to super glue it.”

“I think it will heal on it’s own, just give it time.”

“How do you know?”

“It’s like the stone’s magic or whatever. It brought you back, so I guess it heals you.”

“That’s lame and awesome at the same time.”

Behind them Jonas was ending his phone conversation with, “Fine. Yeah, I got it, see you soon.” He hung up and put his phone back in his pocket, jogging to catch up to them. “So was it worth it?” he asked Lucy.

“It will be.” She held up a bra, “I need some real clothes though. No offense to your sister, but her clothes aren’t really my taste and she’s a little bigger than me. I got a breeze going on in here and it’s not enjoyable.”

“Yeah,” Jonas agreed with a bit of a chuckle, “Well I am being forced to go to the mall when I get back, and I think your new life partner here,” he patted Cain on the shoulder and received a dirty look for it, “can afford you at least a skirt or two. So if you’d like a ride …..”