Lone Survivors

XXIV (Eternally Yours)

Detective Christian helped me back to the Ice Nine Kills tour bus. I received a text from Ryan, Chris and Ricky were in their bunks resting. Dev reassured me they would wake up. Dan opened the door assisting me inside. They had Spencer in his bunk, Dev had stayed long enough to heal Spencer's wound. Their deal was done and if I didn't find Spencer's soul he would be too. I went into the backroom changing into a pair of black knit capris and a Bad Omens t-shirt. I grabbed Kurt from my duffle taking a seat on the couch.

"What happens now?" Ricky asked.

"Johnny gave his statement to the police, the South Street Slayer pulled the fire alarms and set the fire hoping to get all the survivors together for one last attempt to take our lives." I took a deep breath squeezing Kurt to center myself. "Spencer and I defended ourselves by stabbing them in the chest."

"Chris and Ricky, what about them?" Patrick handed me a can of Pepsi.

"Dev says they're going to wake up, their memories are going to be extremely fuzzy. Ryan, Vinny, and Justin are going to fill in the blanks the best they can." I took a deep drink from the soda can in my hand. It would be a possibility that Chris wouldn't even remember our time together. Our date at Rico's and the kiss we shared in this very bus. If he asked, I would tell him the truth.

"Spence, is he going to make it?" Joe looked back at the bunks. "There was a lot of blood on the stage Kaitie."

"If I can find his soul he will wake up." I hugged Kurt tightly. "He gave me a clue; I've been thinking about it nonstop and I've got no idea what it means."

"That little guy looks like he's been through some shit." Dan gestured to Kurt. "What's his war story?"

"I accidentally slammed him in-between Mrs. C's front door. She repaired him as best she could, even recovered his eye and arm for me. It always drove my aunt nuts she'd ask to repair him and I'd refuse." I smiled to myself tears in my eyes. "Spencer always thought he looked cooler like this."

"Where did you get his name from?"

"Kurt, after Kurt Vonnegut Jr. he was a gift from..." my words drifted off the memory unfolding right before my eyes.

~***~

It was the weekend of my seventh birthday, my mom invited my whole class to celebrate it with me. I wasn't one of the popular kids by any means and neither was Spencer but we were liked enough so that someone people would show up. The calls started coming in, stomach bugs were going around, our classmates had been dropping like flies all week. The only one who managed to show, with a goofy grin on his cherubic face was Spencer. His mom Jaeda knelt down kissing the top of my head wishing me a happy birthday. Oscar always upstaged his wife, he picked me up, tossed me into the air, and spun me around until I was too dizzy to stand.

"Don't know why you're still bothering to have this party, Marcy." Caroline rolled her eyes, my aunt always had to make her opinions known especially around Oscar Charnas. "Looks like the devil's child is the only one that showed up."

"Don't you have a village to terrorize Caroline?" Oscar asked sweetly.

"Why bother with a whole village when I get more joy torturing you?" She answered back.

"Not in front of the kids, Caroline." Asher, my dad gave my aunt his signature "drop it" look.

While the adults and Caroline went into the kitchen, no doubt to sit around, chat, and drink while my dad made his homemade pizza. Spencer and I walked into the living room where a single present rested on the gift table.

"Sorry I'm the only who made it to your party Koala." Spencer took my hand squeezing it tightly. He brought me into a hug and I gladly returned it.