MORTUUS

CHAPTER THIRTY

The rest of the event passed quickly. All I could do was stay as he told me to and watch. I realized then that I could stay unmoving for a very long time without feeling anything. It was very unnerving.

"All done!" He announced proudly, staring at me with pride in his eyes. "I must admit I did a great job."

I thought Melvin was a little braggy for his good but I didn't say that out loud instead I stared at my hand, it looked almost normal. I could see the little flaws though but I could pass off as a regular person.

He quickly spun me to face the mirror. I was still sitting. I gasped and instinctively reached for my face. I looked alive. I had made sure not to look at the mirror but Karen's reaction had told me how terrible it was.

There was no scar on my face except a little mark that was barely noticeable. I figured it was the mild scar he would not cover-up. I didn't think I looked this good while I was alive.

"Ah!" He exclaimed. "Don't touch it so much, it hasn't completely dried in yet. So, what do you think?" He asked, clasping his hand together.

"You did a great job," I admitted, of course, he did. Saying otherwise would be ridiculous.

"Just sit still, it should dry up soon. I'll go tell Karen."

I nod and watch him leave. I wasn't sure if I should be sitting but he had only paid attention to the places that would most likely be uncovered at some point and he had started with my back which meant that part was reasonably dry.

I sighed this was taking longer than I thought it would. I sat still feeling a little depressed as I tried to look at the bright side which wasn't forthcoming.

I looked better, yeah so now what? What was I going to do? What does this entail? I say there reminiscing when I heard Karen's voice, she was scolding Melvin again. I almost laughed.

"Raquel," she screamed excitedly as soon as she pushed open the door. At the sight of me, her face broke into a huge smile, and rushed to my side. "Unbelievable!" She immediately went behind me to look at my hair. "Glad to know you didn't lose it."

I grinned and said, "I am glad too." I had not escaped unscathed as quite the handful had fallen off but nothing I couldn't manage without. Melvin had offered to cut or at least trim my hair but I had refused.

The idea that I was stuck with whatever length I decided on didn't sit very well with me. I loved my hair but long hair was a luxury I couldn't afford. Maybe I could start using wigs. I smiled a little but only if I had to, right now I wasn't desperate.

"Well, I think it's time we introduced you to the rest of the gang." She muttered shoving close to my face, giving me a full view of her bosom. My first thought was why was it still so firm? I shook the thought away.

"There's a gang?!" I asked. Karen frowned. "I'm joking." I grinned but I was terrified. I was really here.

"Not yet though," Melvin interrupted. "I need the tan and everything else to dry completely. The last thing I want is a smear."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Karen quickly brushed away. How long would that take?"

"Thirty minutes tops."

"Alright, I'll go get Jay and Ray so they'll introduce you to the newbies. Mic would probably call you up soon but there's a high chance it won't be today."

"Who is Mic?" I asked I've heard that name too many times, and each time someone used it they assumed I was familiar with the person. I was hoping it was a person.

Karen froze and Melvin looked away as if telling her she was on her own. She blinked, "Mortuus in charge."

"What?" I half yelled.

"You know M-I-C, an acronym." She explained casually.

"What the f**k?! That doesn't say anything." I yelled, sitting upright.

"I know," she chuckled. "I just couldn't help messing with you. He's the Mortuus in charge."

I rolled my eyes, she just repeated the exact thing she said earlier. This wasn't making any sense. "What's Mortuus?"

"Huh? You don't know? What did Ray and Jay tell you?" She asked, looking at me in disbelief.

"Nothing," I replied softly. "Said, they couldn't tell me anything until I agreed to join them. I figured I'll get briefed here." Briefed sounded a little bit official but it was the only word I could think of.

She chuckled, "I can't believe they did that to you. Jay, yes but not Ray. Yes, they aren't allowed to tell you too much but that doesn't mean they can't tell you anything." She sighed. "Let me just give you a vague idea, Mic usually does the briefing."

I nodded, "I'll appreciate that."

"Go get the two knuckleheads," she yelled. Melvin nodded and quickly slipped away. "I can't believe you weren't curious enough to pester them with questions."

"Oh, I was but they weren't answering any. Also, we were in a hurry to leave and I still had not come to the terms that I was dead so," I shrugged. "I didn't ask too many questions, figured I would find out eventually."

"Alright, let me start with the most important. We are called Mortuus, I think it means corpse in Latin. I mean we are literally walking dead. Hehehe." I didn't think it was funny but I guess I was only a few hours dead, I couldn't find the humor.

"You get it like the series." She attempted.

I did, I just didn't think it was funny. I nodded and hoped my smile looked genuine. I was curious but I wasn't in a hurry, I guess the fact that I was literally stuck here made me want to take things slowly but not anymore I wanted to know what I had gotten myself into.