MORTUUS

ChAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"Well, you can be." Karen started to say. "But only if you want to, there are so many things you can also do. Like Ray and Jay here clean up the mess." I didn't miss the smirk that transfixed itself on her face.

Jay's glare was instantaneous. "Only because we are the best," Ray resorted and Jay moved the glare to Ray, it shut him up.

"I thought you said it was time to introduce her to the gang?" Melvin suggested, I was guessing he was trying to change the mood.

I couldn't understand why Karen was at loggerheads with everyone. Melvin and Ray never humored her but Jay, he drank her taunts hook, line, and sinker, and always reacted accordingly. However, I could tell it didn't affect their relationship and I thought they were pretty close compared to the rest but I was never really great at reading people so the chance that I was wrong was very high.

"Who's the gang?" I asked because unless I asked a direct question, everybody just assumed I knew exactly what they were talking about. Explain to the newbie for heaven's sake.

"The newbies!" Jay announced with pride.

I squinted my eyes, I had a bad feeling. However, I eased up immediately, there were other new Mortuus. I pouted at the name, I thought it sounded awful but I guess it was only proper, considering we were nothing more than walking corpses.

"Okay, let me meet the gang!" I cried out, definitely preferring that to newbies.

"Can you walk yet?" Jay asked suddenly, it was an expected question.

"So, so." I shrugged but from the corner of my eyes, I could see Melvin and Karen shaking their heads vigorously.

"We only cleaned her up. Where the heck do you think she would get that kind of training in just a few hours?" Karen growled.

"I was just wondering, a couple of people get the hang of it after a few hours."

"Yeah, says the dude that took a full month." Karen mocked.

"I didn't take a month, just a few days," Jay whined.

"I am sure, you just tripped over yourself the rest of the month." Karen laughed.

"Just dropped it already. I get the point." It was weird to see Jay admit defeat and I found myself smiling.

"Can I touch her now?" Karen asked, sarcastically. I was surprised she knew that Melvin would argue otherwise but I figured this wasn't the first time.

"Yeah," he replied as politely as ever. "It's definitely dried by now."

I watched Karen slowly approach me as she gently helped me up without any struggle. I instantly leaned on her as soon as I was off the chair afraid my legs wouldn't hold.

"Easy," she murmured. "Don't worry, just walk. I'll make sure not to let you fall."

"Alright," I replied, chuckling a little.

She slowly helped me out of the room then out of the main entrance with Ray and Jay opening each door before we reached them.

I squinted as I stepped out, actually out of habit than the fact that the hot sun was shining down. The compound wasn't any different from when I stepped in and now it was completely empty.

"You are in for quite a walk," Karen said to me and I turned to look at her. "Well, not that much but the quarters' across the lawn." I figured I could handle that.