Werewolf Reborn: Book one Fresh Start

Chapter 3: Echoes of the Dead

In old cop shows the detective characters would refer to the morgue as the 'icebox' and I always thought that was silly till I walked into one. Below forty (morgues are kept around 36—39 Fahrenheit) wasn't freezing but it was pretty close because we had been out in the blistering summer sun. I felt like I was stuck in a block of ice.

The top floor wasn't too bad. Feeling more like an opened refrigerator door on a hot summer's day. But as we made our way down, sweating became shivering and goosebumps formed on my arms. If I had known we were going to be paying Fawn a visit that day I would have worn jeans instead of shorts. My leg hairs stood straight up.

I dashed down those last flights of stairs in a failed attempt to outrun the cold. I was jogging in place while waiting on Stacy who took their sweet time on each step. Not out of caution I assure you but more out of the enjoyment of watching me squirm.

"Will you please hurry!" I huffed. A misty puff blew out of my mouth as I spoke. I didn't like the cold at all. I was clapping my hands just to keep my fingers from going numb.

"Now, now buddy," They said, hopping down a step. "You can't rush perfection,"

"I'm not! I'm rushing you!"

"Har, Har," Stacy mocked, finally making it to the bottom but was still walking slowly towards the door at the end of the hallway. It was agonizing to lag behind them but I did it because I knew they wanted to be the first ones to see Fawn. The friendliest mortician In Monroe County, and despite Stacy's cool demeanor I could tell they were excited to be seeing her. Their heart was racing and there was a soft glow in Stacy's eyes. I might give my cousin a hard time but watching them be happy with their partner filled me with so much joy. Not that I would ever say that out loud (too mushy) but I think they both knew how I felt, or I hoped so.

At the end of the hallway, my cousin leaned on the door frame. Trying their best to look cool but honestly, they just kind of came off like a creep. Licking their lips before knocking on the door.

It was swung open by a short brown—eyed girl with big horn-rimmed glasses. "Heya Stacy," She said with wry amusement.

"Good to see you again, Fawn," Stacy said, sounding calm but really fireworks were going off inside their head. Their heart had been booming their chest, I could hear it beating faster and faster.

"Well, it's not really..." Fawn looked around nervously.

"We weren't followed," I told her. "Stacy managed to use some magic on one of the police officers so we have a couple of minutes alone,"

Immediate regret washed over me as I watched the color drain from Fawn's face. I tried to think of something to say but Stacy beat me to the punch.

"I cast an illusion spell to make the piggy think I was the chief,"

"Oh, gross!" Fawn spat. She scrunched up her nose like she was standing over wet garbage. "You made yourself look like Edd?" Stacy and I were worried Fawn might throw up in the hallway.

"Not on purpose!" Stacy was blushing. Their heart sounded like it was doing the Macarena.

"What does that mean?" Fawn whimpered. We've known Fawn for about two years now and while she was a great forensic expert her understanding of magic was lacking. Mostly because Dad didn't want Stacy to teach her anything and partly because I don't think Fawn wanted to learn about the supernatural world. But I mean hey who could blame her; most days I wish I could forget about it.

"It's complicated," Stacy rubbed their eyes.

"Yeah, I bet. Come on in," She waved us inside her office.