You're Dead: Chapter Five

Freddie:

There were lights on at Stevie’s place, but her truck wasn’t parked outside. Hopefully the girl called her and got to her, although she ran off sooner than I had expected. The left side of my body ached as I got out of my car. The pain was dull but irritating. Fighting Grace wasn’t something I wanted to do. We had been friends once a long time ago, and I guess I allow that to hold me back even now.

I walked into Stevie’s house, finding Booker laid across the sofa with Iggy upon his chest. I looked at him and he sat up while Iggy clung to the front of his hoodie.

Booker looked me up and down. “What’re you doing here?”

I placed my hand around my left shoulder and looked around. “I could ask you the same thing. I thought Stevie told you to stop coming in here.”

“Only when she notices.” Booker stood up from the sofa. “What about you?”

I lifted up the keyring before tucking it back into my pocket. “She gave me a key. Now where is she at?”

“At work,” Booker said with a shrug. “Why?”

“I met with Grace while I was showing Daisy around the gray area,” I huffed. “I told her to run and call Stevie should there be any trouble.”

Booker’s eyes widened and he leaned closer towards me. “Was there trouble?” Iggy was still hanging off the front of his hoodie.

I frowned and shook my head. “I had to guard against Grace for a moment, but the cats handled a good deal of it. Daisy ran on instinct.”

“Taking her to the gray area on day two was a choice,” Booker huffed. “She seems sensitive, what made you think that was a good idea?”

Booker was good at what he did, even if he was arrogant and showboaty at times. He got his job done, and he was one of the few psychopomps I had seen go up against Grace without the use of his alter. If anyone should be taking Daisy under their wing, I’d prefer it to be him, even if I don't know his age. But he has a lazy streak I don’t like whatsoever.

“It’s better she is at least acclimated and understands rather than be spoon fed everything.” I took my phone from my pocket and dialed Daisy’s phone.

“I don’t know how Mara raised you, but I can assume she didn’t shove you completely out of your nest,” Booker huffed.

“Don’t cop your attitude with me when you’re the one squatting in Stevie’s house.” The phone went directly to the message box. “Dammit.” I tried Stevie right away.

Booker’s eyes narrowed on me. I rarely saw him get serious, but when he did there was a mean streak in him. “Daisy seems like a sweet kid, don’t get upset with her just because she replaced your safety net.”

That struck a raw nerve. Mara was gone, and she had been my family for all the time I had been dead. I hadn’t taken the proper steps to mourn her, so his words struck like a cold blade. “I’ll tell Stevie you’re here!” I hissed at him.

“What is it?” Stevie snapped on the phone. “I’m busy, this better be good.”

“Is Daisy with you?” I asked.

I could hear the voices of people just beyond Stevie. She was quiet enough I could actually hear someone complaining about the wait. “No,” Stevie replied after some pause. “I thought she was with you. What did you do?”

I flinched. “Me? I didn’t do anything? Has she called you?”

Stevie scoffed. “My phone hasn’t rang except for you and my security doorbell telling me Booker was in the house. By the way make him fucking leave.”

“She hasn’t called you? It’s been at least half an hour-” I grumbled under my breath. “Look, keep an eye out for her! She could be running. I’ll keep trying to get in touch with her, but we may have to do a search.”

“How could you lose her?” Stevie snapped. “I thought you were the responsible one of the group!”

“It was Grace!” I barked back. “I couldn’t help it! I told her to call you!” I shook my head and rubbed the bridge of my nose as I felt a pain coming in. “Look, when you get a chance, try moving your truck to the gray area-”

“I literally get no business there.”

“Just do it! She could still be there!” I turned off the phone so she couldn’t argue anymore. “She knows you’re in the house, she wants you out.”

Booker rolled his eyes. “Don’t try changing the subject. You lost the new girl, she’s your responsibility.”

I glared at him. “I didn’t ask for this! Why do you all think I want to be the person to fill this role?”

“Because everyone else went rogue and Mara is gone,” Booker stated calmly. “You’re the only one left who can. Stevie and I could do it, but you know we’d be lax with the girl.”

I grit my teeth hard as I stared him down. He was right, and I hated that.

“Grace and the one you won’t let us talk about don’t follow the path Mara taught anymore. You’re her only student that’s left, and if you honor Mara at all, you’ll do what’s right by her replacement. You can’t shove Daisy out of the nest and expect her to fly. How long did it take you to acclimate?”

I clicked my tongue and lowered my hand down from my shoulder. “Is that what you call him?”

Booker rolled his eyes. “Yes, because you flip out anytime we try to ask about him. And stop changing the subject.” He pushed past me to the door. “Let's go look for her.”

I scoffed as he passed me. “It may not be safe yet to go back into the grey area. But it could do us better to search the perimeters.”

Booker went to the driver's side door and opened it. “Can I drive?”

“No you cannot drive! Do you even know how?” I pushed him out of the way and got into my car. “Get in like a normal person.”

“You’re going to have to let me drive it one day,” Booker grumbled as he got inside.

“I would sooner let Iggy take the wheel than ever let you behind it,” I huffed. “Now put on your seatbelt.”

“What for?”

“Because I plan on slamming on the brakes for no reason while we randomly drive around. Put it on!” I drove back toward the gray area. There was still a heavy aura around the place from when I fought Grace. I saw the cats patrolling the outer limits and the moths were heavy around all the lights.

“Damn, what happened? It feels thick here,” Booker murmured.

I pressed my lips into a firm line. It was hard admitting this , especially to Booker.  He was someone who rarely had to go into his alter. I don’t think I had seen the full extent of it. I used my alter often, and it was something I wasn’t proud of, even if Mara told me it was a gift. “I had to go into my alter to ward Grace off. I was worried about the girl, so I overreacted.”

Booker looked at me from the corner of his eye. “Did she see it?”

“No, thankfully,” he huffed. “I haven't’ even told her about our altered states.”

Booker snickered. “Glad she didn’t see yours.”

I grimaced. “What’s that supposed to mean.”

“Your left arm does that gross wet thing.” Booker slapped his left shoulder. “It’s worse than anything else your alter does.”

“There’s a reason for it! I can’t change that,” I growled at him. “What do you mean it’s gross?”

“It sounds wet! It just is.” He was laughing more and more, forcefully trying to suppress it, which only made it feel worse for me.

Iggy got up into the windshield and pounded his palms against it. I came to a stop and Iggy raced over to me, crawling over the steering wheel and throwing himself at my window.

“What’s he doing?” I grumbled.

Booker pointed. “Roll your window down.”

I did so and Iggy squeezed himself out and flew up into the sky. His wings spread out and he became a dark, ominous spot in the sky.

“That’s not great,” Booker murmured.

“Something's wrong.” I stepped out of the car and looked up as Iggy hovered there in the air. “He senses something.”

Booker stood on the street as well. But his attention went down the street rather than up at Iggy in full harbinger mode. “Call Stevie.”

I looked away from Iggy to see Booker racing down an alley. “Call Stevie what- hey!” I yelled after him. “Where are you going?”

“To do stuff!” Booker shouted back.

“Stuff?” I barked. “What the hell is stuff I can’t-” I stopped and slapped my arm down against my side. Iggy’s eyes glowed, castin red shadows along the clouds that manifested around the grey area. Moths were flocking to him as well, fluttering around his long, dark limbs.

“This better not be you being dramatic!” I shouted up at him. I took my phone out, calling Stevie again.

“Who did you lose now?” Stevie snapped.

“No one this time, but Iggy is out.”

“Out? Is he gay?”

I rolled my eyes. “No! He’s out, he’s in harbinger mode.” Iggy had started making a low humming sound to go along with the red glow of his eyes.

Stevie hissed. “Wow, Daisy and this in one day. You must be tighter than piano wire right now.”

I scowled. “Have you tried looking for her yet?”

Stevie scoffed, and I could hear someone yell at her. “Do you own a business? No, I don’t think so. I haven’t been able to leave the park yet! I have a line a mile long right now.”

“This is more important!”

“I have bills! I’m dead and I still have bills! If Iggy is in harbinger mode, why don’t you call Rosemary?”

I tensed up and frowned. My jaw was beginning to ache with how tense it had been set since yesterday. I could deal with a lot, but calling Rosemary now was not something I could deal with. “Just get here when you can.”

“Thank you! That’s more like it.” Stevie hung up on me and I turned my attention back to Iggy in the sky.

My phone rang, and low and behold, it was Rosemary. I sighed heavily, dreading this moment. I answered, and with hesitation I spoke. “It’s me,” I murmured.

“Oh good, that’s who I was hoping for,” she sounded exhausted. “Is that Iggy I hear?”

I glanced back into the sky. “You can hear it from there?”

Rosemary released a heavy sigh, and I could hear the edge to her voice. “It’s making me want to scream. What’s going on?”

I didn’t know where to begin. I had promised Rosemary long ago that I would look after her and keep her away from all this mess. Ever since...the one I wouldn’t let them talk about left, I had made sure Rosemary was somewhere safe and comfortable so she could recover.

“Freddie,” she said sweetly. “What is it?”

I let out a breath. “Mara’s gone.”

“Well, fuck,” Rosemary stated simply.

I put my back against my car and slouched. “I lost her replacement, and now Iggy is doing...this. Not to mention I ran across Grace this morning.”

“You must be tight,” Rosemary murmured.

I frowned, not enjoying that everyone said that about me. “You don’t need to worry about this though. I’ll deal with it, it’s my job now.”

“You okay with that?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“If it means anything, I think you were made for it. I mean, I never cared for Mara the same way you three did. Or even how Stevie did. But, I think you’re better suited for this than she was.”

I smiled. It was soothing to talk to her, even in this situation. Rosemary had always been a source of comfort for me. “You don’t have to lie to me, Rosemary.”

Rosemary chuckled, making my smile grow ever more. “When have I ever? So, should I come out of hiding?”

I could hear the small tremor of fear in her voice when she said that. It didn’t need to be something she had to ask, it shouldn’t have even been on her mind. But knowing Rosemary, it would always be her first thought to ask. “No. I don’t want you too. Just stay where you are, away from all this. I’ll handle it if I have to.”

Iggy floated down onto the roof of my car and patted the top of my head. I hissed at him. “Get off that! I don’t care who you are, you will not scratch my car!”

“The noise stopped,” Rosemary murmured. “Everything okay over there?”

“I’ll call you back. It’s fine for now, he came down. Take care.” I hung up before she could respond back and I yanked him down once my hand was free. “What the hell are you doing?”

Iggy growled and burbled, the sound came from within my own head rather than him. I hated that feeling, as it was a pressure that built and built until it became a hot steam.

I cupped my hand around my ear and made a face. “Talk slower!” I fussed at him. “I can’t understand you when you get upset like that.”

Iggy pointed towards one of the buildings that jutted above the others. There was a sea of gray hovered around it so I could see any of the windows or the light that shone from inside.

I grit my teeth as I looked at it. Even I could feel the sense of dread and urgency coming from it. “Something is going to happen there? Are you sure?”

Iggy nodded.

“It’s been a long while,” I sighed. “I guess I shouldn’t question you. Can you tell me anything more? Or am I foolish for asking?”

Iggy held up two fingers and nodded.

Of course he wouldn’t tell me anything. That’s my fault for asking though. It’s not a harbinger's duty to reveal every tiny detail. It’s my job as a psychopomp to see it to the end. “Foolish, huh. Wish Booker hadn’t darted off. Did he tell you what he was doing?”

Iggy shook his head.

“Well, now there’s two things to worry about,” I grumbled under my breath. “The missing girl, and now whatever is going to happen there.” My eyes focused upon the building ahead of me. It jutted up into a whip creamed spiral of dark, grey. I couldn’t tell how tall the building was, but it must have been at least five stories taller than the others around it. The place looked old, and from what I could tell, it was in the artist district of the grey area.

Iggy had shrunk back down and was crawling up my leg.

“You eat a hole in my pants again, I’ll throw you to Grace. I don’t care.” I went through the same alleyway that Booker had disappeared down. I came out onto a narrow street where a yellow car taxi was parked, taking up most of the road.

“You know him better than I do,” I said down to Iggy. “What do you think he’s up to now?”

Iggy crawled to my shoulder, sitting there while his eyes held a dim glow. He pointed to the opposite end of the street where I saw Stevie’s food truck slowly idoling. “Finally,” I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. I ran towards her, seeing that she was serving some kids who were running as they took the food.

“Good, you made it here,” I huffed.

Stevie glared at me and Iggy. “What the hell was that? What was Iggy doing?” She pointed up into the air. “I heard him all the way from the park!”

“You could too huh?” I huffed. “Rosemary could as well.”

Stevie’s glare turned much more vicious. Her stance became so defensive and strong, it looked as though her already muscular arms grew three sizes larger. “You leave her alone!”

“I said she called me, I wasn’t going to drag her back here,” I huffed. I then pointed to the building Iggy had directed me to. “That’s what he was making a fuss about.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That’s the Ballota building. I lived there before.”

This was news to me. “You did?”

Stevie frowned. “Back when I first died, Mara gave me a place there.”

This was double news to me. “What do you mean?”

Stevie was now probably the only psychopomp in this place I would want to spend time with. Now that Mara was gone I didn’t really have many people to talk to. I suddenly got this overwhelming sense of desperation to keep her nearby, and that made me feel so much more awkward than I already did.

Stevie shrugged. “What else can I say? She gave me an apartment in that building. I lived there for a long time until she found me a new place.” Her brow untensed as she realized what I was aiming at. “You didn’t know that?”

“I thought she housed you.”

Stevie shook her head. “She took care of me, but she gave me that place for a while. You really didn’t know?”

I shook my head. “Not in the slightest.” But that’s not important now,” I grumbled. “We need to try and find Daisy and get her back before she does anything stupid.”

“I don’t think she'll be stupid. I think she’s just scared. This is a lot for one person to take in and she’s already dealt with a lost soul and seen the grey area. I didn’t even see the grey area until I was over Mara’s three weeks.”

“Then why didn’t you try to stop me?” I huffed at her.

“Don’t do that, sir,” Stevie fussed. “I had to go to work. She was in your care when I left and I thought she was in good hand. So where did you last see here?”

I turned my head and pointed north. “We were close to Faroow street. That’s where Gustav usually roams.”

“Let’s start there. Maybe we can come across someone who's seen her.” Stevie turned in that direction. “So he and his cats fought Grace?”

“Scared her crows off at least. Gustav ate one.” I walked up beside her, going along the street until it turned back into a sidewalk. The concrete was puckered and cracking, pulling away from the stoops and the asphalt of the road. The roots of trees that had long been dead were rising up again, growing and destroying whatever was in their way. All caused by Grace’s hand.

“I don’t say this enough, but thank you for being sane.”

Stevie smiled. “So where is Booker?”

“If I knew I’d have him hog tied and in the trunk of my car,” I grumbled. “He ran off just as Iggy started doing his magic trick.”

Stevie chuckled, holding back her grin. “What was he doing in my house?”

“Taking a nap.”

Stevie grimaced. “I don’t want to know where he actually lives, but I would love to know if he has a home.”

“I try not to think about it.” We stood on a street corner, watching a trail of moths go from one house then to the next. “Is it gross when my left arm comes out?”

Stevie threw her head back and grunted. “Yes, it’s gross. But you can’t help it.”

I pouted,wondering what on earth was so wrong about it. Sure I grew extra arms when I went into my altered state, but it wasn’t something I ever thought about. “Why is it gross?”

Stevie gave me a deadpan look. “Why does it matter? You’re such a fancy boy for how you try to act.”

“Fancy boy? Really?” I scoffed.

“You have a closet bigger than my house, I don’t wanna hear it.” She then grumbled something in spanish under her breath as she crossed the street.

Iggy patted my cheek then snuggled up into the curve of my neck. “Thanks, I suppose.” I followed Stevie, coming to the end of Farrow street where I had met and fought with Grace. There were still cats everywhere, and a tree had fallen in the middle of the road where a police car was parked.

“She ran this way,” I murmured. “From there, I don’t know. I had told her to call you as soon as she found herself somewhere safe.”

“We are probably the last place she feels safe,” Stevie murmured. “Just saying, if I had the choice between you or somewhere I knew, I’d probably go somewhere I knew. So what do we know about her?”

“She has a sister I think.”

Stevie huffed. “This is what you get for not doing an interview before taking her out. If we find her, you’re housing her.”

“If?”

Stevie gave me the eyes again.

“Okay fine, it’s all my fault. Surely she hasn’t gotten too far. We should be able to find her. If anything, she could still be here if she hasn’t lifted a car or anything.”

“There’s a few restaurants around here I’m familiar with. I say we start searching there. It’s an easy place to lay low, and a lot of them here offer free food to the needy. She could still be trying to charge up.”

“That’s a good point. She may not have gotten enough to eat earlier. She’s also dressed like Booker too, so she could be looking for new clothes as well.”

“Is the phone you gave her off?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I bet Booker turned it off when he gave her his number.”