Dream for the Dead (Completed/Editing)

19

"Finally, you're here!" Doctor Carver fidgeted as he tried to contain his happiness when Seth and I entered the meeting house.
"You shouldn't have come, Tabbi." Elias sighed and tried to grab me.
"She's safe here, with me." Seth glared at Elias. "You're being very possessive, Elias."
"Protective, actually. Though, you wouldn't understand that." Elias put an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, Tabitha."
"Do you want to sit with him, Tabitha?" Seth asked in the calm manner he always approached things with.
I felt both pairs of eyes on me, even if I couldn't see Elias' face. I didn't like the situation I was being out in.
"I came here with Seth-"
"Fine." Elias let go of me and stormed to the other side of the table.
"Wait, and let me speak!" I snapped. "I was going to say that I came here with Seth, and you're my friend too, so I'd prefer to sit with both of you."
Elias stopped and looked at Seth like he was the most vile creature he'd ever had the misfortune of coming across.
"I'm not sitting next to him."
"Don't be difficult." Seth argued.
"We don't have time for this! Sit down, where you are, sit down! Now!" Doctor Carver yelled, catching the attention of everyone in the room. He sighed, trying to calm himself, but to no avail. He was too excited to calm down even a tiny bit.
"So, what's so important?" I asked.
A maniacal laugh escaped Doctor Carver's twitching lips. "Don't speak like that. It sounds like you're mocking me. But this really is something to be excited about, don't you agree, everyone?"
A haunting moan came from Mary. Doctor Carver must have seen my sympathetic expression, as I heard him whisper: "this should be easier than expected, then..." He walked over to me and grabbed my shoulders.
"You can help us, Tabitha."
"How?" I asked. Kyle laughed, and my head snapped towards him. He winked at me and took a sip from a whiskey bottle he had with him. I turned back to Doctor Carver, narrowing my eyes. "What do I need to do?"
"Well." He let go of my shoulders and began walking towards a pile of random objects. "You'll first of all need to see all of our deaths."
"No." I answered immediately. Doctor Carver stopped dead in his tracks.
Elias - who had seated himself so that I was in between Seth and Elias - edged his chair so that he was positioned slightly in front of me.
"Yes." William hissed.
"No." I jumped up, and so did Elias.
"Tabbi, sit-"
I interrupted Elias by screaming, "no! I said no. I don't want to."
"You have to." Doctor Carver said aggressively, spinning to face me. "You will."
"No! I won't do it."
Kyle laughed again. "That's not even the worst part."
"I don't want to know." I clenched my fists so hard it hurt the skin over my knuckles.
"Please." Kimberly spoke up. "Look at Mary. Think about the innocent ones here. We didn't want to be stuck in this town."
"Kim, this is Tabitha's decision." Seth spoke softly to his sister. It just made me feel worse.
I was still and quiet for a few moments, looking at the floor, almost frozen. But my mind was racing with thoughts. Finally, when Mary started to wail and sob, I looked at Doctor Carver.
"I'll do it." I smiled at Kimberly and she jumped up and down excitedly. "But I can't do them all at once. I'll do one every few days."
"Perfect!" Doctor Carver ran over to Mary. "Do you understand that, Mary? Peace! Peace at last!"
"It's been too soon since Kyle's death. I can't do it yet, Doctor Carver." I spoke quietly, as I was scared of another exaggerated negative response.
His response surprised me. He turned to face me with a happy grin, saying, "fine! You'll at least do it, so, fine!"
Doctor Carver stood on the table. "Everyone, we're getting out of here!"
The building got really noisy with loud cheers and celebrations, so I pulled Seth and Elias into a corner. "It's really that easy?"
Seth and Elias exchanged a glance that I couldn't understand.
"I'll miss you both, though." I looked over Seth's shoulder and saw the relief in everyone's faces, and knew I couldn't change my mind. "Is there no way of keeping you two?"
"No." Elias sounded like he was trying to contain some anger. "Why did you agree to it, Tabitha?" He shook his head and walked away.
I was about to call him back, but Seth gently pulled my head back to facing him. "Don't worry. He's just being childish again; he'll be talking to you again in no time." Seth brushed his finger down my cheek until they broke contact. "But I agree with him. You shouldn't have said you'll do it."
Before I could ask why, Kimberly bounced over and hugged Seth. "Yay!" She then hugged me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"It's fine. I'm glad to help."
"What do you think it's like on the other side?" Kimberly grabbed Seth's hand and started to walk him over to their Mother. Seth turned to wave at me and raise his eyebrows.

Before heading home, I went back to Seth's special place. It was a calm place, so it was perfect to sit and think, and prepare myself for the weeks ahead. "This is gonna be awful..." I groaned.