Life after Death: The Afterlife of Hezekiah Chamblee

Prologue, Pt. 2: Family Ties and Surveillance

Third-Person POV

The Coleman residence, nine days after Hezekiah's death...

"It's been nine days since the boy committed suicide and now his parents want to get the memorial service planned," Michael harrumphed as he, his wife, and Andrew sat down to dinner. He shot a harsh glance at his nonperturbed son, who was cutting a piece of steak. "Why is that?"

"Dad, Jeffrey and Adelle have other things to consider with everything," the young financier said plainly. "Along with the mourning process and other events that they've been attending, they've been receiving guests at their home. Mariah said that her family being on the scene was crucial to let the public know that they stand firm on their family values and show themselves as a united front."

"More like covering up some hidden scheme," Blanche chirped, pausing to sip on her glass of nonalcoholic cider. "I really think that the boy didn't actually commit suicide as Adelle and Jeffrey claim that he did. From what I've heard from my social circles, the dear was basically treated like unwanted furniture while the help were the ones who treated him like members of their families."

Michael hummed. "And what about the other siblings?" he wanted to know.

"Dad, who really cares?" Andrew complained. "Talking about Hezekiah isn't going to make him come back."

Blanche ignored her son. "Well, one of the younger twin boys actually saw him like a member of the family despite how his twin, Andrew's fiance, and her sister opposed the brotherly bond," she replied. "Actually, they got along just fine."

"Cameron, that's the twerp's name who liked Hezekiah more than he ought to like me," Andrew moaned, rolling his eyes. "Frankly, the little dude was wasting his time. He ought to take the same path like his twin brother and sisters and learn to let me be his brother-in-law and a mentor. Instead, he sees me as a leech and refuses to give me his blessing to marry Mariah."

"And we wonder why," Michael said.

"What?"

The senator and his wife stared at their son. "It's no secret that the young lad really despises you, sensing that you're twice as bad as his parents and other family members," Michael said gruffly. "It's not really his fault that he doesn't think that you're worthy enough to be his brother-in-law, much less a mentor. If anything, he has all the right to not allow you to marry his sister. And we agree. You're only making things worse if you continue to let the Chamblee family corrupt your mind, Andrew. As long as you're still insistent on marrying her, then you will be setting yourself up for a nasty downfall."

Andrew shook his head in disdain, abruptly standing to his feet. "Too bad, Father," he said tersely, eyes lit in a quiet rage. "I will marry Mariah Chamblee and I will set her little brother straight."

"Think about what you're saying," Blanche warned.

"No, Mother. I'm doing what I gotta do, even if it means being ousted from this family."

Michael growled lowly, also standing to his feet. "I'm giving you until the day of the boy's memorial service to change your mind," he intoned. "If you go through with this, you will be formally disowned from the Coleman family! Mark my words, Andrew, that family is going to BRING YOU DOWN!"

Andrew huffed a deep breath. "Fine by me. But it won't change a thing. Hezekiah Chamblee was nothing more than the son of a rapist. Mariah's mom should've had him aborted in the first place. Now that he's dead, they can finally have the flawless diamond standard that they live and breathe for."

With that, he grabbed his coat and stormed out of the dining room before leaving the house, slamming the front door so loud that it made the nearby maids jump briefly.

****************************

Meanwhile, outside the Chamblee residence...

The silent witness continued to capture every move that the family made as they continued with the plans for the incoming memorial service for the late teenager. No one knew of his true identity other than that he was one of the original workers who remained when Minnie Jean Simmons and the others tendered in their resignations days ago, which pleased Adelle as she and her family insisted that he continued his butler services.

What the woman didn't know, however, was that the silent witness was actually hired by Captain Antonio Slater (the Boston Metro chief of police) to keep close tabs on the family since the man himself had a strong feeling that Hezekiah's "suicide" was thoroughly planned by his parents weeks before. The witness's assignment was simple: gather enough evidence against the family while keeping a close eye on anything suspicious and avoid being discovered.

The silent witness was more than happy to accept the challenge and was there to watch everyone's move. From Hezekiah's final days on Earth to the present time, he made sure that he stuck with the alias he was given and did his jobs well as a double-agent for the police force.

"Excuse me, sir," one of the maids that replaced the former help said as the witness was finished setting the table. "Mr. Chamblee has requested that another place to be set for Mariah's fiance. He's coming over for dinner."

"Thank you, Miss Nguyen," he replied as he headed to the kitchen to grab the plates and silverware needed while the cooks continued to silently work their culinary magic.

Don't worry, Hezekiah, he said to himself as he headed back to the dining room to set Andrew's place at the table. Once the truth is revealed, you will have your justice.

He was sure of it.

All right, folks. I know that this chapter has NOTHING to do with Hezekiah or his family, but it does set the stage for what's to come in act two of this story. From therapy sessions and sensual vacations in the Nexus to family drama and fallouts on Earth; there's going to be a LOT to cover for Hezekiah's journey in the afterlife as well as the ongoing butterfly effect his death created in the land of the living. And boy, you're going to want to stick around for every single moment that's going to leave you wanting more and more!

Coming up next, we're back in the Nexus as Hezekiah himself attends therapy with a hunky seraph who's a professional. You can't afford to not read this story, folks!

Dedication: AmythestWinter and ElsaQuinn .

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