Living with the Dead

Chapter 10

3 days left

Here we are. Back where we started the book off. Well Nepal basically came over to try to re-build friendship again and failed. He also stole my Popsicle so screw him.

1 day left

I had nothing else to really do in life. I decided to head over to Autumn's because I mean before I die I wanna see him again.
I opened the door and the house was empty. I ran upstairs to his room and saw him tattered up in his clothing.
I ran over to talk to him but when he saw me he tried to hide from me. What in the world is going on? I thought. I tried to get closer but he slowly backed away. It's like the guy I fell in love with went paranoid.
"Don't get near me Indonesia... Don't get near me!"
"What the fuck is going on here?" I said startled.
"Just don't get close, I mean it's better if you left."
Tears streaked my face. My life turned upside down.
"Fine... I'll leave... Forever... You won't have to see me ever again... It's over."
"No wait Indonesia!"
I didn't care anymore about him. He lied to me! He promised he would never leave me and he did. Figures... I rarely trust people now and days but when I trust you, you better not break that trust for it not only destroys you but it destroys me. I left and went back home. I couldn't take this anymore I can't wait until tomorrow. I mean my world is falling apart and I can't help the fact that I have no one to talk to. I left and went back home. The sky was gray and night was falling soon.
I got home and slammed the door shut.
"Honey some mail came in for you while you were gone." My mom said pointing to a envelope.
I grabbed the letter and ran up to my room. Who on earth would be writing to me?! It's not a holiday, it certainly isn't my birthday...
Once I entered my bedroom I looked at the letter. It was a blank white envelope with my address in the center but no return address. In the letter it said:

"Time is ticking you don't have long,
answer the cry at a coffins tomb,
Make haste before midnight before the clock ticks twice"

What the hell did they mean by answering the cry at a coffins tomb?!
I was puzzled... And what would happen if I didn't figure out this puzzle? It was a typed letter so I couldn't distinguish who wrote it. It was 7:30 so I had exactly 4 hours and 30 minutes to solve this puzzle. I texted Echo to come and help solve the puzzle.
She arrived at 8:00... Great even less time to solve the puzzle.
"So we have four hours to complete this puzzle."
"How will you know when we have the correct answer?" Echo asked.
"I don't know but I think we will know when we have the correct answer. So what do you think answer the cry at a coffins tomb?"
"I think we need to go to the graveyard then go from there." Echo said.
"Good point."
We drove off to the grave yard. It was 8:25 pm. We got out of the car and sat on the same bench that Autumn went with me to. Looking at it made me sad because everything I did that night was a lie. The promise was a lie. My body got tense without me knowing it and I stated to cry.
"Indi are you okay?" Echo asked me.
"I don't think so..."
"You don't have to tell me... But just so you know I'm here for you. Your my best friend we can go though this together."
"Autumn lied."
Echo didn't seem surprised and got the message. I was single and lonely.
"So obvious all people cry at funerals but do you know anyone specifically that died that you cried and mourned for?" Echo asked breaking the silence.
"My dad." I said.
"Good lets go to his grave maybe there will be another envelope." Echo said reassuring me.
We headed over to my father's grave and saw no envelope. I looked around the base of the tomb stone and saw a small slip of paper wedged between the iron plating and the grass. I pulled it out and it said:

"I'm glad you answered my cry but you need to go where the red demon lies. It may look beautiful but it will leave you with a sting of pain."

I checked my watch: 9:35
"Echo what in the world is a red demon?"
"It could be Satan but I doubt that's what they meant."
"Your right."
"It says It may look beautiful but it leaves you with a sting of pain so maybe it means a rose." Their beautiful but have thorns and most people prick themselves once they pick one."
"Echo your a genius!"
We walked through the graveyard looking at all the flowers but none were roses. My watch read 10:50 after searching.
"Look I would love to help you Indi but my curfew is in ten minutes I'm going to go home, test me if you find out where that red demon is!"
Echo's house wasn't far from the graveyard and she reassured me walking wasn't a big deal to her. She ran off and soon was nothing but a shadow in the dark.
I almost wanted to give up but I soon saw a faint glow in the distance. It was a rose but it was being held by a statue. The statue was made of marble and it was of a mysterious unknown man in a cloak not revealing the face itself hiding a rose. I didn't see any slip of paper anywhere.
I stuck my hand in the demons hollow cloak and got pricked.
"Ouch!" I said.
Then I saw inside the cloak was a slip of paper next to a thorn.
"Wow when this guys who sent me these clues said pain... They meant pain."
I opened the envelope and the new paper said:
"Your mission is almost done but you need to go to the tree of life and death. Choose your path."
I knew what the person meant by this go to the tree in the center of the graveyard. It was famous for some reason and it represented the wholeness that we still are even without are body.
It was 11:35 I headed over to the tree and what I saw took my breath away. In the tree was a rope and hanging on that rope was Nepal.
Blood oozed from his neck and his face was pale. Cuts crossed his arms. His shirt was worn and tattered and his eyes were darkened around his eyelids even though they were closed. In his left hand was another slip of paper, his right hand was clenched into a fist. Man I could you a thousand more details but honestly it was too frightening to see a dead guy on a tree. I cried so hard that night and when midnight came a ringer on his phone in his back pocket had gone off. The sound was loud on purpose so if I haven't found him I would've by now.
I grabbed his phone and his note in his hand and then pulled out my phone and called 911.
After doing so I headed home. As I finally got into my room I was breathing hard and was scared.
Police sirens could be heard in the distance even though they were miles away.
I glanced out the window and sighed. They will never understand... I thought. Then I picked up a knife and struck.
This cut was especially for Nepal It was for everything I ever did to him. Everything I ever said, and I wish I could take it all back and restart but I couldn't because he was dead.
One week passed I still will never feel the same without my best friend. His funeral was depressing and I went and cried through all of it. It was a closed casket and I was glad because I believe I don't have the heart to look at him again. As I returned home I grabbed the slip of paper that he had held and I read it:
"Indonesia my last request from you is to listen. I want you to go on my phone and look through the camera roll. On there should be no photos but a single video. Play it."
I grabbed his phone from my pocket and he took the password off ahead of time. I went to the camera roll and played the only thing on there. A video clip that the camera was focused on Nepal.
"Is this thing on? Good. Hey Indonesia I want you to be honest I know you were thinking of committing suicide and it was because of you were focusing on yourself this whole time instead of your friends and family who could have helped.
Now I know your pissed at this but just listen, there's nothing you can do to me now so stop being pissed and listen.
You were focused on yourself a lot. Feeling sorry and not giving a crap about others. You wouldn't even let me explain myself at the coffee shop. Now what I was trying to say was I know you are depressed and suicidal and I'm trying to help you and your pushing me and other friends out of your life and you don't want help. So technically no you don't really have depression your making yourself depressed on purpose so you can keep making excuses in life.
I knew that and you knew that. But I was here for you and you pushed me out. I kissed you that day because I wanted you to know you were loved.I wanted you to know that you weren't alone and that you are my sunshine and make me happy. God I can't imagine a world without you and when I saw that suicidal note I knew there was no way I could stop you from it, until I had a plan.
Now Indonesia you have a choice to make... You can either commit suicide which basically means my death is for nothing and you don't give a crap about me, or you can live your life that your meant to live happily. I know that you have dreams you have a life to live and I can't let you give that up even if that life isn't with me.
I know what your thinking... Nepal has a life to live too and him killing himself is wasting it. Well I want you to know its not. I hanged myself by choice and as long as you live then my life I have lived is complete. Indonesia I just want you to know your loved by many but I love you and that's all that matters."
Nepal gave a small smile and the video ended. I was in tears and I he gave me a lot to think about in life from then on.