The Death Series, Books 1-3

by Blodgett, Tamara Rose

  “Right,” he did a mondo swallow. “The summer stretches before one, shimmering in its ethereal beauty...”

  Mom and I stared.

  Dad shrugged. “Just waxing poetic.”

  “Well... don't, Dad.”

  Mom burst out laughing, batting her eyelashes.

  Dad smiled back.

  Geez.

  I stood up, giving Onyx a secret wad of pancake.

  The Boy handed the Dog some wonderful food stuff, full-of-life and not the dead food that he was accustomed to eating from the building-full-of-dogs. It was because he was a Good Dog. The Boy's word-smells filled his head and the Dog was happy and wagged his tail.

  Onyx did a subtle wolf-down of the pancake and wagged his tail. He was a great dog. Dad caught the whole food thing and gave me the look that Mom should NOT find out. I nodded. Mom turned around and saw my plate in my hands, the milk cup with my used fork inside.

  “Use the gray water,” Mom said.

  “I know.” Like I'd forget that.

  “Just a reminder.”

  I headed for the bathroom to complete the shower hassle. Although, I had gotten used to being clean and didn't like the grimy feel anymore. Not that I would admit that to the Js or anything. Dudes on hygiene... no.

  I stepped out of the shower, did a swish over the mirror, closely examining my face. Jade would be up-close-and-personal. No zits, check, no unsightly man-hair on the face, check, hair in face... check. Wait a sec, I leaned in, critically looking at my hair. I needed a haircut.

  I exited the bathroom telling Mom the dreaded words: “I need a haircut.”

  “I'll give you a buzz, son,” Dad volunteered. Ya see, that was what I was afraid of.

  “Okay. Can you not make me look like a retarded nerd?”

  “Caleb...” Mom started.

  “That's an oxymoron, it's not technically a put-down,” I said cleverly, using yet another vocab word.

  Dad tried not to grin and failed.

  “I guess I'll give you that, but you understand I loathe the whole retard talk. I thought we had moved past that.”

  “Apparently not!” Dad howled, slapping his leg.

  “Okay... not funny! You goons do the male bonding thing,” Mom huffed out of the room.

  “Nice Dad.”

  “Once in awhile I have a moment of clarity,” he said, all teeth. “I'll have to sweet talk her later.”

  The buzz lasted for what seemed like forever. Dad said he needed to “taper” it for styling. I just itched and my feet got hot.

  “What about the little hairs getting all over and inside your clothes?” she asked, moving back into the room and surveying the pile of hair growing on the floor.

  I shrugged. I'd get through it somehow. Didn't want to repeat the whole shower routine.

  “Done!” Dad exclaimed.

  I got up, brushing hair off, looking at the “creature” on the floor. Onyx went over to the pile and gave it a sniff, whimpering.

  The Dog smelled the Boy, who was standing and a part of the Boy was also on the floor. It was confusing for the Dog. Was the Boy hurt? The Dog looked up at the Boy, the rest of the pack seemed untroubled by the pile of Boy-smelling stuff on the floor. The Dog backed away.

  “It's okay, Onyx,” I said, toeing the pile.

  “Let me get a broom, don't move that, it'll get all over the house!”

  Dad looked after mom running to get cleaning stuff, “Go check it out in the mirror.”

  I looked bald. I hoped Jade liked short hair. It made me look older and taller. That couldn't be all bad. I hated hair cuts. The top of my head felt like a million soft needles, poking my palm.

  Mom was cleaning up the mess, Onyx looked like part of me was getting taken away and buried. He looked seriously troubled by the hair; funny.

  I thought at Onyx, it's okay, good dog.

  He looked at me and began to wag his tail. This connection thing was pretty frickin' awesome.

  Dad looked at me expectantly, his skill wasn't in haircuts. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. You couldn't be great at everything, famous scientist or not.

  “Thanks Dad.”

  “You like?”

  “Yeah... it's alright.”

  “What do you think, Hun?” he asked Mom.

  She looked critically at my nearly bald head. “It's... short!”

  “Come on Mom, you're always bugging me about my hair,” I said, defending Dad's skills.

  She nodded. “That's true. You won't need one again soon.”

  Dad folded his arms, looking satisfied.

  I took off to my room, Onyx on my heels. I threw myself on my bed and Onyx jumped on it too, settling at the end. I pulsed the Js and told them what Jade and I were doing:

  We need the zombie work force, Caleb.-MJ

  I don't normally agree with all of Jonesy's ideas, but he's right. A zombie in there could take care of the tunnel issue right away. John Terran.

  We can't talk about all this stuff on pulse.-CH

  You're right. Let's meet later.-John Terran

  No, sighs... you guys, I need to be with Jade tonight.-CH

  We have nights now? Nights? It's like profanity-block! joint custody or something! MJ

  laughs-John Terran

  Okay guys, okay. You jerks don't have gf's so you don't get it. Payback's a Profanity-block! CH

  Tomorrow then, Romeo? MJ

  Yeah.-CH

  Deal.-John Terran

  We signed off; time set, plans made, zombies-to-raise. Life was busy. I picked up my book again, killing time for the next few hours until I could pick up Jade.

  ****

  I rounded the corner of her neighborhood entrance, giving the sign a cursory glance. Valley Keys, the lettering long-faded. I was in a “bad area” of Kent. I worried a little bit for Jade. I'd rode my bike because it was three or four miles. I'd pulsed that she'd need hers. I figured it was about the same distance to the dump.

  I hopped off my bike, swinging my leg over and doing a little hop and jog to slow down. Engaging the kickstand, I set it up close to the fence, hitting the latch on the gate and walking up to the front door. Jade's Aunt's house was all white. White body, white trim and white door. Kinda creepy.

  Jade stepped out the front door looking fan-tas-tic. She wore her super dark jeans that rode the line of looking black but were actually blue. Her hair was swept back in one of those elastic hair things in a neon green color, a few wisps escaping to frame those gorgeous eyes. A cami that matched the hair thing peeked out underneath a hot pink top, just a slip of the color showing. Jade was zipping up a hoodie that was as midnight blue as the jeans, silver hoops swaying as she talked to Andrea.

  “Hey,” she said to me smiling.

  My mouth was a little dry. Whoever said beautiful girls were mouthwatering must not have had to actually talk to one.

  I smiled, swallowing to conjure up some saliva.

  “Hey back,” I finally croaked out. Jade's smile turned into a grin. Great, so she knew that I was reacting to her so much it made me ache.

  Andrea saved the awkward moment. “Where are you two going?”

  I sure wasn't going to tell her the actual place, she'd tell Psycho-Daddy for sure.

  “We're going to check out the ice cream shop.”

  Jade gave me a look. I looked back like, don't blow it.

  “The one where the old Baskin-Robbins used to be?” she asked. I was struck by how much Jade looked like her. The eyes were wrong, Andrea's were like black velvet, you could hardly see the pupil in there. Jade's dad's eyes were the same, the creeper.

  “Yeah, I guess. I mean, I was little when they got rid of it.”

  “What's the name now?” she asked. Man, she was goin' for the details.

  Jade piped in, “Terhune's Ice Cream.”

  “Oh, right,” she said, relaxing.

  “When do you need to be home?” Andrea asked Jade.

  “Ten.”

  She turned those dark eyes on m
e. “Be careful. You know you're welcome to be here too, Caleb.”

  “Thanks, I know.”

  Jade swung her leg up over her bike, standing with her sandal clad feet on either side of the bar between the seat and the handlebars. On girls' bikes you could do that, boys' bikes had the ball-buster feature. I walked out to the gate and held it open for Jade as she rode out, giving a guy salute to the aunt, who watched us until the gate shut.

  Jade balanced on her seat,one foot hitting one side, then the other taking over. I swung up on my seat as I started to pedal with my left foot first, putting on that burst of speed just to get going. I looked around to see if Jade was close. She was but I slowed down, she was shorter and I didn't think she had that maneuver down that the Js and I did. But, I was wrong, she was right on my flank, no trouble at all.

  We rode down Kent-Kangley, a dangerous stretch if you didn't pay close attention. My parents always said, “Caleb, pay close attention.” I'd respond, “I won't get creamed today, guys.”

  Confidence inspiring.

  We took the back route to Scenic Hill. We passed the cemetery on our left after cresting a long hill that at the bottom you think, no problem. But at the top you're like, thank God that's over.

  It wasn't long until we were at the refuse place.

  Jade looked at me, balanced precariously on her seat. “Okay...so this is the hideaway?”

  I remembered that I didn't know the combo for the lock.

  “Yes, this is it. Hold on a sec.” I pulsed John:

  Hey, what's up? John Terran

  Yeah... I'm here with Jade and I forgot to get the combo from you.- CH

  Nice... smooth, Hart, in front of the gf and the whole jazz.-John Terran

  I know, dill-weed, just give it to me.-CH

  Look up there at the sign and just reverse the last four of the phone number.-John Terran

  Which part? CH

  Didn't I just say? John Terran

  There are a bunch of numbers.-CH

  It's the one that begins with the area code in parentheses.-John Terran

  I looked up, okay there it was, got it. To think that they used to have to dial all that.

  I see it, thanks.-CH

  Welcome. Are we still on for tomorrow for the “help?”-John Terran

  I guess.-CH

  So didn't want to do the zombie work party.

  I'm choking on your enthusiasm, Caleb, try to rein it in.-John Terran

  sighs, I know we have to do it.-CH

  It'll be okay.-John Terran

  K, pulse ya tomorrow.-CH

  K, ttyl.-John Terran

  Jade was looking at me. “John?”

  “Yeah, he had to give me the combo for this,” I jerked a thumb toward the massive lock.

  I explained the whole thing about knowing the combo and how it was the phone number reversed, how we found a tunnel underneath a mound of cars.

  Jade's face scrunched up in a cute way. “I don't want to sound like a lame adult here but, is it safe?”

  Like I'd endanger the chicks, especially this chick.

  “Of course it is! The Js and I went in there for a couple of hours and look.” Jamming my thumbs into my chest, I'm alive still.

  She didn't look entirely convinced, sliding off her seat and looking at me while straddling the girl bar.

  “What I mean is, do you think the pile will collapse?”

  I understood that but it brought to me a funny thought.

  “No. But, I guess we'll see what's what when the zombies take care of some space issues.”

  “Space issues?”

  “Yeah, there's a tight spot in there just before it opens up into the main room.”

  Jade's black eyebrows rose, arching prettily on that smooth forehead of hers.

  Flicking her hair over her shoulder she said, “So... let me get this straight. The zombies are going to be a 'slave force' and if they get,” she waved a smallish hand around, searching for the word, “stuck, in there,” she pointed to the gate and the lair that lay beyond, “they're already dead so zero loss?”

  It sounded bad put like that.

  “Ah, I haven't really thought about it that much. Me and the Js,” Jade threw up her hands.

  “What?”

  “Tell me. Was it Jonesy?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “His ideas always get everyone in trouble.”

  “Sometimes,” I replied loyally.

  “Usually,” she replied with accuracy.

  “Alright, I guess we'll just have to be careful with the zombies.”

  “Let's get a girl with some brains in on this too.”

  “John and I have brains.”

  “But somehow Jonesy comes up with all these,” she paused, “schemes, and you and John bail everyone out with a shovel.”

  Yeah, that was it.

  “Okay, who's the smart girl?”

  “Well, we're all smart.”

  “Ah-huh.”

  “I was thinking Tiffany Weller,” Jade said.

  “Tiff... I don't know, sometimes things go weird.”

  “What if she can help? What if adults show up?”

  I guess, besides her dad, we hadn't had a lot of that. I didn't say it though.

  “Okay, you pulse Tiff and see if she wants to involve herself. She's already said yes to the haunted house thing.”

  “Another Jonesy idea,” Jade said.

  “Yeah.”

  “It does sound pretty cool,” she admitted.

  “Yeah.”

  Jade walked toward the gate with me following. I spun the numbers, and it clicked open smoothly, first time. We walked in and I adjusted it in the fake lock position.

  “We can't stop living just because the government might be up-our-ass.”

  “Up your ass,” she said, smiling.

  “Right.”

  We walked together hand in hand until we came to the pink fridge. Jade walked around the part of it that she was able to, but the very back was more or less surrounded by pieces of cars, with a whole car on its nose (scrunched down) all along the left side. It was still bright daylight out but I knew it would be gloomy-as-hell inside. That wouldn't work and I bent down, grabbing a metal tool, about sixteen inches long, with two curved sides opposite each other. I think Dad called it a crow... something. I used it to prop the door open and explained the coffin theory. The look on her face! Geez! I gave her a fierce hug, putting my hand on the back of her neck, leaning her into me.

  I'd never let anything happen to her.

  She scared easy but she'd been brave with her dad. Scared of being trapped?

  “What is it?” I asked, brushing a wisp of hair that had escaped her hair band and curling it behind her ear.

  “I hate being trapped,” she said. Like I thought.

  “We won't be. It's just dark but we'll keep the door propped and that will let in light.”

  “Okay,” she said without enthusiasm.

  “Listen, I'll stay next to you and I'm just gonna say, it wouldn't be much of a hideout if it was easy.”

  “I know.”

  We went, me propping the door open behind me with the bar. I sorta wedged it in and pulled on it to make it grip the door jamb thing.

  Satisfied, I turned and we traveled through the whole tunnel the way the Js and I had. It didn't seem to take nearly as long as it had yesterday. I came through the tight squeeze first and was turning to help Jade out when she just popped right out no problem. Huh.

  I clicked the LED light on and let her just look at it all.

  “Wow. You're right, this is perfect. It's a creep-factor, but it will be invisible to most adults.”

  I was the MAN after all.

  “Can you pulse?”

  That was a smart question, I thumbed the pad: Pulse-signal impairment.

  “No, I can't get squat.”

  “Me either,” she said.

  We sighed in unison and I gave her a kiss on the cheek, but she turned just enough and ou
r mouths collided softly. I hadn't actually had a chance to kiss Jade but had given it a lot of thought. I used one hand to palm my pulse inside my jeans pocket and folded Jade into my body as if she was always meant to fit perfectly. I worked my mouth over the top of her lips, barely lifting off its silky surface for even an instant. She tasted, wonderful. She stood on tiptoe to reach me, winding her slender arms around my neck, pressing her hand into the base of my skull as I clenched her body in against mine.

  I broke away and looked down at her, our bodies just skimming each other. I watched her pulse thudding in the hollow of her throat, mine a mirror.

  All I could think was she was this close to me, smelling great and this feeling of swimming need pressed down on my chest, suffocating me. It was a new sensation. I backed up a little, giving her some space.

  “That was nice,” she said.

  “Yeah it was.”

  “Our first real kiss,” she said, ducking her head.

  I was dazed, but was up for a repeat performance. Yeah, I was into the whole practice-makes-perfect philosophy.

  “Better get going or your aunt will freak out.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I could stay here with you all night.”

  “Not scared anymore?” I teased.

  “Not so much, no.” She smiled.

  I put the LED back in its spot, making my way back to about the spot where I thought light should have been. But, it was still dark.

  What-the-hell?

  “Caleb?” Nervously.

  “It's okay.”

  “No... no it's not.”

  “What?” I turned to her, not able to see her face in the inky blackness.

  “I think someone closed the door.”

  “What? Who?”

  “Those jerks.”

  That narrowed it down.

  “Carson and Brett.”

  No way. Did they follow us?

  “How do you know?”

  Duh.

  “They've been in here, one of them,” she paused. “Brett touched the same place where I was crawling.”