Four (Their Dead Lives,1)

by Scott, Zack

Switching the spotlight off Kale, Nicole asked Scot, “What are you doing now?”

  Scot cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “Trying to find a job, maybe go to law school?”

  “Great,” Kale grinned, “another Jew lawyer.”

  Scot let a wheezing fake laugh out. “You’re a regular Joe Rogan.”

  Joe Rogan? Is that guy even alive anymore?

  Kale’s response was cold; his face went still, and he looked like he wanted to smash Scot into a bloodied mess. They both cocked their fists back, the tension flowing into everyone around them. No, not now. Kale stood first, enraged. Scot followed.

  “Scotty.” Angela grabbed his wrist.

  “Yeah, Scotty,” Kale hissed.

  Alec slammed his open palm against the table. “Hey! You both cut it out, you mother fuh—”

  The entry burst open. Everyone spun to see a body collapse in the doorway.

  Jeff?

  “Get some ice!” Kale ran with Alec to their fallen friend. His eyes widened when he saw the wounds covering Jeff’s body.

  Jeff’s black shirt was burned to a partial rag. Multiple scratches and burn scars littered his body.

  “What the hell happened to you, Jeff?”

  Jeff looked up in a daze as they helped carry him to the corner lounge across from Brian’s office. The three friends stood over him. Jeff’s eyes traveled across their faces.

  Scot crouched at his side. “Homer?” His voice was soft, nervous.

  “The Vaults,” breathed Jeff. “They opened the Vaults today.”

  “The Vaults?” Scot scratched his neck and laughed. “Damn, I forgot about those.”

  “What do you mean they opened? Why wasn’t it on the news?” Howard butted in.

  Kale nudged him back. “You don’t even watch the news.”

  Howard lowered his head and did the sad Charlie Brown shuffle back to where Angela was sitting.

  Jeff’s dark blue eyes went to his three friends. “It’s happening. Right now, it’s all happening. We need to accept what happened to us in the well that day. We need to figure it out. Now.”

  Scot snorted, probably on accident. An old habit. They used to give him crap for it. “You’re kidding me, right? Not this again.”

  Jeff pushed off the leather lounge and stood, stumbling a step. Kale and Alec caught him before he fell. He looked over at Howard and Angela sitting by themselves, then waved Erica away, not wanting the ice, thanking her politely. He focused on his three friends. “The four of us. Outside. Now.”

  And so they went, leaving the others, the four of them reunited for the first time in years.

  Alec kissed Nicole on his way out, telling her everything was fine. I’m not so convinced myself.

  A chill wind sighed around them as they stepped out the back exit, past the bathroom hallway. All of them but Jeff carried a drink.

  “Look at us four again; a gook, two heebs, and a bean.”

  “Scot,” snapped Jeff. “We don’t have time for your smart-assery.”

  Scot sipped then swirled his whiskey around, ice clanking against glass. “Okay, Homer, spill it then.”

  The branches of the trees behind Jeff shivered as he said, “After the submarine incident with the Navy, I knew there was no way I could’ve survived that. No way.”

  “But you did,” said Scot slowly, as if pointing out the obvious.

  “And we all know why,” Kale chimed in. They stared back at him. Scot groaned. Alec stayed silent. This will blow up.

  Jeff continued, “We were given a gift that day in the well. It may not seem like it. What happened to us still haunts me, it does, but we were given a gift. You all have to know this.”

  Kale threw a hand up in the air. “I’ve been saying this since day one!”

  Alec swallowed, stepping forward. “What are you getting at, Jeff?”

  “Something horrible has just happened, something I fear is the beginning of the end.”

  “Something with the Vaults?”

  “I was recruited by the VTF after the Navy. The Vault Tactical Force. Someone found a way to open the Vaults and we were in charge of escorting the inhabitants out. But something went wrong. It was a trap. Or sabotage. I don’t know. The threat is real, though.” He breathed out a long breath. “And we’re the ones capable of stopping it.”

  Scot pursed his lips, fought to keep still, but loud laughter broke from his mouth as he slapped his leg. “You’re not serious?” He chuckled—another snort even escaped. As he fought for breath, for control, he returned his attention to the others. No one else laughed; everyone was silent and straight-faced. “Oh, shit, you are serious.”

  Jeff swiped a hand over his disheveled golden hair, trying to find the words to explain. “I lost my team today in an explosion. But what I heard, what I heard is that something came out of the Vaults.”

  “The inhabitants?” Kale guessed.

  “No. I mean, yes. But they are something else now. Something not human. I’m telling you all this because the Vault I went to, number 88, it’s in that mountain range.”

  Alec followed the line of Jeff’s pointing finger for the briefest of seconds, then furrowed his brow as he stared at his drink. Might as well. He took a sip and glanced at Scot, who was returning the look.

  “Alec is thinking the same thing I am,” Scot told Kale and Jeff. “This is the stupidest idea you guys have ever come up with to get us to follow you. I refuse to believe the Vaults were opened with no national news coverage. I refuse to believe that the inhabitants aren’t the same. Those Vaults were designed to withstand anything and to preserve life. And they have only been in there for what? Half a year? And I’ve never even heard of the VTF. Come up with something better next time, guys.”

  “This isn’t some ploy to get you two to believe me.” Jeff’s voice was cold and direct. Much different from his voice back in high school. Stronger. More confident. “We aren’t trying to trick you into anything.”

  “Yeah, I had no idea this was happening,” Kale commented, trying to be helpful.

  “Whatever.” Scot drank deeply, waving a dismissive hand. “I love you, Homer, I do. I’m glad you’re here and you’re okay, but you’re delusional.” He turned his back to them and headed for the bar.

  Jeff called after him, “That empty feeling, Scot, you won’t fill it. It won’t go away until you realize what we are, what we were brought here for.”

  Without turning around, Scot paused and said, “I liked you better when you were fat, Homer.”

  “You know I’m right. And you’ll soon realize it.”

  “Maybe.” Scot re-entered the bar.

  Jeff sighed, looked down at Kale, the shortest of the friends, then over at Alec. “Your thoughts?”

  Oh, don’t ask me. Alec hiccupped. “First, I’m a little too drunk for this. Second, you know this is why we broke apart in the first place. You guys believe in something bigger, something greater, and you shoved it down our throats back then. You never respected our desires to live normal lives. Apparently, you still don’t respect our decisions.”

  “How can you be so blind?” Jeff snatched Kale’s drink from his hand, brought it to his lips but paused. “You just want to ignore everything? You just want to party? Well, fine — we leave as four, you apathetic fools.” He finished the drink in one large gulp and handed the glass back to Kale.

  “Dude, that was mine.”

  “Sorry,” Jeff said to Kale but his focus stayed on Alec.

  What can I do? “Look. Homer, it’s not that I don’t believe you about all this. It’s that, come on, this is crazy.”

  “I think this is crazy, too. I do. Crazy or not, it’s happening.”

  “Can’t we just have this one night together?” Alec finished his drink. “This one night where we forget the past and enjoy our friendship and have some fun. Because you know what? All that really matters is making memories. Good memories, Homer.”

  Jeff sighed and shook his head. “I want to, I really d
o. But we don’t have time for that. They’re coming.”

  “You just said you don’t remember everything. Is there any chance you hit your head hard and this is all a dream? The chances of you going to the Vaults, on the day we have our reunion, and something terrible happens . . . come on, Homer, this is a fantasy.” Alec stepped back for the bar. Enough of this.

  “This isn’t fantasy, Alec. This is reality.”

  Alec paused silently. Jeff and Kale spoke to one another as he lingered by the door.

  “You believe me, right, Kale?” said Jeff.

  “A part of me wants to. I would’ve believed you before, you know that. But a part of me is convinced the other guys are right.”

  “Well, I’m beginning to feel like the fool.”

  “Now you know how I felt in high school. But I have your back, unlike those other guys.” He patted Jeff on the shoulder. “So let’s go in, relax, and you can buy me another drink while we talk about it.”

  Alec re-entered the bar, and hovered over Nicole, who was sitting at the same table as before. Scot, Angela, and Howard were seated with her as well. “Sorry about that,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Everything all right?”

  “Of course.” He kissed her hair.

  Across the table from them, Angela kissed Scot on the lips, pulled away and rubbed his lower lip with her thumb. “They are perfect.” She smiled.

  Scot gave his standard smirk. “These lips are yours.”

  Alec knew Scot felt like such a ladies’ man, but as his confidence boosted, the entrance opened again.

  The newcomers entered, trailing after one another.

  First came Nicole’s goth friend, Sadie. Second, the guy with the questionable sexual orientation, Jerry. And finally entered a face even Alec was surprised to see.

  Kelsey stepped in, wearing jean shorts, a tank top, and a brown leather bomber jacket. Her light hair, pulled back from her face, was coifed with a little bump in the front. Scot had often commented how he loved that hairstyle on a girl.

  Before words were exchanged, Kale and Jeff came in through the back door.

  Everyone was here: Alec and Nicole, Kale and Howard, Scot and Angela. Jeff. Brian and Erica, and now Sadie, Jerry and Kelsey.

  We can finally do this reunion right. More drinks were poured, more laughter filled the room, and everyone continued to ignore Howard’s terrible jokes.

  With Nicole’s glowing eyes on him, Alec wanted to believe the good times had just started.

  SADIE

  If Kelsey ends up getting with that asshole Scot, again, I’ll have her head on a spike for all to see.

  So she had demented thoughts, but whatever, she would never actually decapitate anyone, especially Kelsey. Well, maybe she’d have a go at Scot if he ever hurt Kelsey again.

  Not wanting to be at this party, Sadie felt out of place, but Kelsey and Nicole had begged her to join. At least she had Jerry with her. Jerry is such a sweet, quirky puffball. His pleasantly plump face sprouted a dark beard so voluminous it could be a nest for baby ravens. She loved his company, especially because he’d never try to sleep with her, and she respected him for that. And, unlike many other people in this world, he wasn’t an idiot.

  Speaking of idiots, an awkward tension oozed thickly around Scot as they entered the bar.

  Kelsey had known he would be here. Why the hell did we come? Sadie loved Kelsey, but at times that girl just forgot her brain. It was over two years ago, get over it. She never did understand their relationship.

  They were greeted with drinks. Sadie had a red wine. Thick. Dark. Bloody. Kelsey had a crisp vodka tonic. Typical Kelsey. And Jerry, sweet Jerry, he asked for a Zima. The bar didn’t carry that, so he got an orange juice. Our noble designated driver.

  Jerry tugged at Sadie’s arm. “Let’s chat over here.” Shorter than Sadie, he walked with his head held high, used to have luscious curls but had recently chopped off much of his hair. He walked elegantly even though he was pigeon-toed. Sadie hesitated to follow him because Scot and Kale were at the bar.

  Might as well. Shrugging, she left Kelsey with the others and went to join Jerry, Kale and that idiotic asshole.

  Scot’s eyes were locked across the bar on Kale, who silently poured them drinks. Though she desired to avoid Scot, the tension flowing between him and Kale was deliciously intoxicating.

  With one elbow on the bar, Jerry’s belly was peeking out from under his shirt as he poked at Scot. “So you’re Kelsey’s ex?”

  “Who are you?”

  “Most call me Jerry. You get to call me Jermaine. Bump it.” He held out a loosely-formed fist.

  Scot glanced at Sadie. “Is he for real?”

  Sadie nodded silently. He doesn’t deserve my voice.

  “All right,” Scot said and he bumped Jerry’s fist.

  Kale leaned forward. “Hello, Sadie. Nice to see you again.” He turned to Jerry. “Pleasure to meet you, Jer.”

  Jerry shook Kale’s hand. “You’re Korean, right? I adore the East.”

  “Yeah — well, born and raised American.”

  “Cool beans. I adore the West.”

  Kale laughed in Sadie’s direction. “He’s funny.”

  “Why am I funny?” Jerry took an obnoxiously loud slurp of his orange juice.

  “Look, Jerry,” started Scot.

  “Jermaine!” Jerry stomped his feet.

  “Fuck me sorry sideways,” snapped Scot. “Can’t wait to speak with you later, but Kale and I here, we have some important shit to work out.”

  “Hey, wait.” Kale stretched across the bar. “They can listen. It’ll be good, maybe even therapeutic.”

  “I really don’t want—” Scot tried but failed to convince Kale otherwise.

  “Oh, I love story time!” Jerry clapped.

  “This is a good one. It’s full of love, betrayal, and all that good shit.” Kale slid a devilish grin in Scot’s direction. “What my pal and I here were discussing was this: he decided to bang my girlfriend.”

  “She wasn’t really your girl—”

  “Silence, Scot. Jesus!” Jerry commanded haughtily.

  Kale laughed. Even Sadie smiled. The others in the bar looked at them.

  Scot’s face burned red. “This is horse shit,” he muttered.

  Succulently satisfying.

  Jerry turned back to Kale, resting his chin on his fists, giving him his full attention. “Please continue.”

  “Thank you, Jer. Anyway, he betrays our friendship, sleeps with my girl, and leaves Kelsey. No reason. Just left.”

  “Well, that’s rude,” pouted Jerry.

  “You don’t have the full story,” Scot interrupted, finished his drink and slid his glass to Kale for another. Kale caught it, frowned, but poured.

  “What’s the full story?” Sadie couldn’t help but ask, knowing Scot was full of shit.

  “Ugh.” Scot rubbed his face. “Fine. You want to do this here? With them? Fine. I found out my bestest bud, Kale here slept with Kelsey. So yeah, I left without saying anything. I left and screwed his girl. We’re all to blame.”

  Kale said, “You’re shitting me, right?”

  “I saw your texts. I had the proof. You took the love of my life from me, you sack of shit.”

  Incredulous, Kale shook his head. “Oh, Scot. Oh silly, stupid Scot. Just drink.” He slid the full glass back to the idiot, spilling some of the liquor.

  “What do you mean, Kale?”

  Sadie grabbed Jerry’s arm, tried to pull him away. “Time to go back to Kelsey.”

  “No, I wanna listen.”

  Not wanting to hear anything else out of Scot’s mouth, Sadie turned her back and left. There can be many POVs on one situation. And Scot’s POV is nothing but bullshit. When Scot had vanished from Kelsey’s life two years earlier, Sadie had needed to comfort Kelsey for months. He’d broken her friend’s heart, so she didn’t care what else had happened. He’s just making excuses.

  She walked over to the table where
Jeff, Howard, and Angela were sitting. She remembered Jeff from high school; he’d been much plumper then. He’s quite attractive now. Manly. Maybe his shredded clothes and cuts were what did it for her. Either way, she felt a pulsating attraction to him, which she knew was a stupid feeling to have, given something very serious was likely going on.

  “How’s it going over there?” Jeff asked her.

  “Boys being boys.”

  “I’m hoping they don’t fight.”

  Before Sadie could say anything, Howard jumped into the conversation. “So, um, Jeff,” he started, his bony body shifting nervously in his seat. “What exactly happened to you?”

  Jeff kept his eyes on Scot and Kale. “Not sure I follow.”

  “Not sure if you follow? You come in here all torn up, rambling about the Vaults. What happened?”

  The Vaults? Sadie had almost forgotten about them, maybe because she didn’t know anyone who’d won a spot in the sanctuary, maybe because the news just stopped reporting about them. Out of sight, out of mind.

  Jeff refused to make eye contact with Howard. “It’s all a misunderstanding.” He stood and walked over to Alec and the others before Howard could speak to him again. Thanks for scaring him off.

  “How was that a misunderstanding?” Howard asked Angela.

  Angela shrugged. “Any idea what your boyfriend is saying to my boyfriend over there?”

  Howard chuckled in embarrassment. “Kale isn’t my boyfriend.”

  “Oh. Oops.”

  She’s not bright. No wonder she’s with Scot. Sadie smiled politely at them before joining Nicole, hoping Jeff didn’t think she was following him. He seemed to have bigger things on his mind anyway. What happened to him?

  They all gathered around the lounge in the corner of the bar. Nicole next to Alec, Kelsey on the edge, with Jeff standing over her.

  “So tell me, Jeff, why do you have the nickname Homer?” Nicole beseeched him.

  Alec smiled, his head swayed. Wasted. “She has been hounding me all night.”

  “Your nickname is Homer?” Sadie asked him.

  “Yeah, well it was in high school.”

  “I remember now.”

  “Oh, we still call you Homer, Homer.” Alec waved a hand as his chin dropped groggily to his chest.