The Awakened Dead ( Book 1, Secrets of Far Cry series)

The Induction

            The car rolled to a stop in front large, looming brick building. I glanced at Mr. Andrews then back at the building. Swallowing hard I chewed on my lip. I ran my shivering hands over my bare shoulders. I'm starting to regret having told my mother this dress was the love of my life... A smirk tugged at my lips as the memory cleared in my foggy mind.

"Sweetheart..." my mother's sing-song voice called from my parent's bedroom. I froze in mid-stride right outside the bedroom door. Turning swiftly I skipped into the room. My hand shot to my mouth holding back a roar of laughter.

Their room looked as if a Project Runway nuclear explosion went off. Every piece of clothing my mother had ever worn lay piled, thrown, or scrunched up on the floor. My mom stood in the eye of the fabric storm, with a contorted look of thought on her beautifully porcelain colored face.

The odor of nail polish thickened the air and burned my noise. I guessed my mother had just finished decorating her nails with all manner of polish known to women kind. Her long, raven black, hair was pinned in a waterfall of shining dark curls over her right shoulder. She fiddled nervously with the strings of her lengthy, red, satin robe.

I cleared my throat of the giggle and spoke, "You rang, mother dearest?" She jumped at my sudden appearance. A pearly white grin shone on her face. I noticed with joy that there were small laughter wrinkles around her eyes, she always got when she was truly happy.

"Tabby! I need your help," she waved me over to only spot in the room clear of clothes. "Your father is taking me out to the- um... fl- fa – some french restaurant in the city for our anniversary. But I just can't decide what to wear..." She motioned to the hundreds of clothes piled high on the bed and floor. I giggled again at the sight.

"...Hmmm what about that one," I pointed to a one sleeved, royal purple, floor length dress lying in a clutter on the bed. She squinted in the direction I was pointing. My mother let out the most teenage girl like squeal I'd ever heard.

"It's perfect! I wore that on your father and my first anniversary! Oh, he'll love it!" She pulled me into a strangling hug. "I knew you would find it, Tabby! Thank you!"

"Mom..." I choked, "I. Can't. Breathe." She quickly let go and snatched up the dress. Skipping from one clear spot to the next she made it to the master bathroom. I shook my head a grin conquering my face. Sighing I began gathering up all the miscellaneous pieces of clothing lying on the floor.

I stopped abruptly when my eye caught a hint of sunshine yellow material under a pile of cardigans. Dropping the bunch of clothes in my arms I slowly walked to the pile. I tugged at the fabric's end and the pile of cardigans collapsed over to the side.

Finally, I managed to pull the yellow material free. My breath left my lungs in awe of the dress I held in my hands. It was a strapless dress made of light yellow flowing fabric with a hem that waved short to long, longest at the knee.

Walking over the clothes I reached the floor length mirror on the far wall. As I chewed nervously on my bottom lip I held up the dress to my body. My sapphire, blue eyes blinked brightly at my small form in the mirror. Sunshine color of the fabric complimented my long black, with streaks of brown, hair. The white, yellow shade made my already golden brown skin look extremely tan with a sparkling sheen.

"Oh, Tabitha..." my mom walked up behind me wearing the purple dress I had picked for her. "You look absolutely beautiful."

"This dress...is officially the love of my life..." I glanced up to my mother's glittering eyes. At the same moment we both began to laugh.