I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 31

"I hoped Karen didn't make you feel uncomfortable."

"I wasn't uncomfortable." Even as the words left his mouth, a sigh escaped Mitchell's mouth.

"Are you sure?"

"I get it."

  Markus looked over at him, frowning. "Get what?"

"Nothing. Just thinking out loud."

Mitchell didn't want to bring up what his mom had told him. It would probably cause nothing but trouble.

"Do you want to go on a date with me?"

"Haven't we been on dates already?"

"A proper date. We can go to the movie or out to dinner. I want to treat you."

"You always treat me."

"Is that a yes?"

"Of course it is. I'd be stupid to turn you down."

"Great. This Friday we'll go to the cinema."

"Okay."

Markus stared at him. "Don't worry about other people liking me. You're the only one I want."

"I know."

"Good. I should take you home."

They walked hand in hand toward Kev's vehicle. Susan was singing at the top of her lungs while Kev had both hands clamped over his ears.

"Someone, please shut her up." 

"She's not a bad singer." Mitchell laughed when Kev looked at him with a pained expression.

  Markus tapped on the front window to get her attention. Susan turned off the radio with a wide grin.

"Stop torturing your poor boyfriend."

"Awww but I love torturing him. It gives me pleasure."

"You're insane. I'm taking Mitchell home."

"See you guys tomorrow."

  Mitchell waved to them as he got into the vehicle. He watched them in the side mirror until he couldn't see them anymore.

"You're friends are crazy but I love it."

"I told you they're your friends now too."

"I'll have to get used to it."

"To what?"

"Having friends."

"Didn't you have friends back home?"

  Mitchell thought about how he should answer that question. He never had best friend growing up. 

"I never fitted in with any of that crowd."

"Well, you have us now."

  Mitchell liked the sound of that. It felt right.

  Markus pulled to a stop in front of his house but left the engine on since he wasn't planning on staying.

"I don't want you to leave." Mitchell mumbled, as he looked out the window. 

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I'll see you tomorrow."

  Markus grabbed his arm before he could leave the car. "We'll see each other tomorrow."

"Hmm...drive safe."

  Mitchell still didn't want him to leave. He didn't care that they would see each other the next day.

"I will. Bye."

  Mitchell didn't want to see him leave but he stayed and watched him drive away. Even when he couldn't see the vehicle anymore he didn't move. He turned to head inside when he noticed smoke coming from the graveyard.

  Instead of going inside the house, he made a detour to see why smoke was coming from the graveyard. He passed through a clump of trees until he emerged on the other side of the house. 

  The garden his mom was tending grabbed his attention first. The array of colors helped to brightened the atmosphere. Especially with a graveyard next to it.

  He continued pass the garden until he came upon a rusted archway you can walk through to enter to see the graves. It was his first time being here since they moved. The graveyard was small but unkept so he could barely make out the headstones.

  Mitchell walked with no purpose in mind, until he spotted a headstone at the far end. He knelt done to remove the grass covering it when he saw a name engraved on the stone.

  Malachi Winthrop.

"So, this is where you were buried?"

  He traced each letter slowly with his fingers, feeling each indent under his skin. He cleared away the rest of grass until he could see the whole headstone. Then he got up and walked  to another headstone.

  Thomas Winthrop. 

"No wonder you're unable to rest in peace. Your killer is buried next to you."

  He guess the villagers hid the truth about what Thomas had done so they wouldn't feel guilty about their part in killing an innocent person.

  A strong gust of wind swept across the graveyard, blowing dead leaves towards him. He raised his arms to shield his face, when his ankles were suddenly grabbed. He looked down and two skeletal arms were holding him, anchoring him to the ground.

  Struggling to get away, he fell and landed on his back where more arms emerged from the dirt and grabbed him. The more he tried to get away, his body went deeper into the ground. He couldn't scream because his mouth would fill with dirt every time he opened his mouth.

  Mitchell could feel his body being dragged down further into the ground until he was completely swallowed. 

  Darkness. 

  Darkness. 

"Mitchell, wake up!"

  The muffled voice sounded from far away. He struggled to open his eyes but they refused to budge.

"You got to open your eyes."

  His flickered for a moment before they opened and he saw Malachi standing over him.

"What happened?" His voice sounded hoarse like he hasn't used it in years.

"You shouldn't have come here."

"Why?" Mitchell glanced in all directions. "How did you know I was here?"

"I was watching from the window."

"How come you're here, outside?"

"This is where I'm buried, so it's okay for me to wander around here."

  Mitchell stood up, his vision blurring when he tried to walk. He took a deep breath and waited for the dizziness to pass. "What happened to me?"

"My uncle tried to take your body."

  Mitchell swung around to look at him. "What are you talking about?"

"He wanted to take over your body."