The Dead Scout's Handbook of Afterlife Survival

Chapter Twelve: The Volcano

The seven resumed their march through what was, or is, the vine-inked outline of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They passed a park, rows of 'hollows', and more bizarre animals than Cayden could count. Their passage also carried them past another IV, carved into an empty vine building. Since his story, Gregory stayed speechless, only occasionally releasing an audible string of incomprehensible muttering.

Kicking the occasional rock or stick, Gregory ambled in front, setting the pace as nobody dared walk past him. Slouching to a halt, Gregory whirled around, sending adrenaline pumping through Cayden's veins. Gregory maintained a fixed stare with a gaze stretching far beyond anyone in the group, a tetanic smile pulling taught over his chin. "I think we'll take a break here." A three-story obsidian hollow towered over them to their left. "This will give us shade," he added, starting a circle of flames in the grass. "Go grab some sticks, Charlie. Rebecca, practice moving some rocks and surround the campfire with them. Cayden...whatever."

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Another roasting, reptilian creature that Rebecca captured served an adequate centerpiece to their feast. More small talk tumbled between them, and Charlie mentioned Cayden's lack of abilities on several occasions. Each time he apologized for the lapse in character, and each time, Cayden's hair stood on end. The firelight cast shadows over Gregory's unblinking, frozen face as Charlie continued his antics. Whenever the firelight flickered, it offered the appearance of Gregory's eyes shifting, and perhaps they were.

"I love it here! We desperately needed a second chance like this. I couldn't walk a quarter mile. Rebecca couldn't walk at all or... I guess she still can't but...uh," Rebecca nodded to Charlie to signal acceptance of his awkwardness, so he forged on. "We lived in a town based on outdoor recreation and wouldn't set foot outside. We made money there though it sounds like we're going to rake in the cash here! And then we got Cayden here!" Cayden furrowed his brow, appreciating the sinking feeling about whatever Charlie prepared to spew. "He had a wife, and that's it! He lived in a dingy apartment with a drug addict mom and worst of all, he had to care for someone else's kid!"

"Hey, I loved Toby and I think Sarah was a hell of a lot going for me."

"Yeah, no doubt, buddy. It's only a day, but sure. Let's face it, though, you're going to find a superpower here! That's better than anything you could do there. Or you won't and that'll be fine, too. You'll meet a new Sarah here, too!" Cayden clenched his fists. "I'm just kidding, Cayden! Having a superpower is way less cool than chores and babysitting, you're right!"

Wherever it came from remained a mystery for at least another few weeks, but it had been growing, scavenging on the scraps of doubts, disappointments, fears, and hate. Cayden's anger had aged well enough to strike, and so he spoke. "Maybe your life sucked, Charlie! Maybe Rebecca's life sucked, though she hasn't been saying anything! Your life was your own doing! An ice cream truck didn't crash you into a candy store while you walked down the street one day! I probably worked hard to become myself and do the right things whether it impresses you or not. I loved Sarah, and I loved Toby even if I can't remember most of it. One minute of that 24 hours had more happiness than I've had in a month here! I had a life, and I had love, and I had someone who valued me. And thanks to something I'm not close to understanding, everything disappeared like that," Cayden snapped his left finger. "And you're all here telling me how this is great. It's not great! It's a mess! There are no hovercrafts, no magic, and no skyscrapers! Just a bunch of vagrant jackasses hopped up on the idea that they can do some nifty, party tricks!"

Cayden froze with fingers still in the air. The difference between retaliation and spite crystallized in the glares facing him from all directions. That was too far. The group may strand him after that and Cayden wouldn't blame them. They should have all been furious, yet, their expressions didn't quite match.