When Darkness Falls

Chapter 44

Empty. The casket was empty. For how long? How long has he been alive? Maybe he isn't alive at all. No, maybe somebody stole his body. Or maybe Chris wanted everyone in town to know he was dead so that he could take the body and make sure I didn't try to bring him back and mess up the whole thing.

"Dan. Can we go? I know you wanted to wait and see if he shows up but it's been two days and there's still nothing."  Zoe shakes her head tiredly at me from across the room. "Plus it's weird being here. Everyone whose ever really lived in this house is dead."  I can see her shiver internally as she glances around the dust filled house with an uneasy look.

I simply ignore her remark and continue my pacing which I've currently been doing for two days ever since I found out he wasn't in the coffin. The same coffin that I'd previously thought him to be in for the past two years. Two whole years I've believed he was dead.

Then again maybe he is dead.

I groan and run my hands through my mangled dark locks. "I just need to know where his body is. I need to know if he's alive, Zoe. I'll wait here as long as I need. He has to be feeling this too."

In a flash, Zoe is standing in front of me with her worried look. "What if he doesn't come Dan?  How do you know if he is alive or if he feels this?  You can't just wait here."

"Zoe, I am a vampire. I have quite literally all of eternity to wait for him. I will. Wait for him."  I give her a stern look which instantly makes her turn away and go over to the couch, but I can't help it. This is the first real thing I've felt in forever. Up until now it was either extreme pain and depression from the withdrawal or it was numbness. I haven't felt such a strong energy like this since he was alive and with me. I can't just ignore it and get on with my 'life' that I've been living since he's been gone.

"Well we should at least try to get a bit of help right?"  Zoe chirps in, a hint of excitement in her voice.  "We could call Maggie.  See if she knows a spell or something to see if Phil is alive, and if he is then we can tell if he's coming here too!"  She claps her hands together and pulls out her phone, but I go to where she is and yank the phone from her.  "Hey!  What're you doing?"

"If anyone is going to call about him then its going to be me."  I roll my eyes and instantly start scrolling through her contacts.

"How do you expect to talk to her about 'him' if you can't even say 'his' name?"  Zoe cocks an eyebrow as a tiny twist forms in my stomach.  She's right.  I can't say his name without feeling like I'm dying.  Its been like that ever since he died, or at least when I thought he died.

I give her an irritated look before pressing on the contact Maggie with a crystal ball emoji next to it.  "Wow classy, Zoe."  The phone rings while I shake my head as Zoe laughs at her emoji usage. 

The phone rings four times, and I feel the irritation rising in the pit of my gut.  What if she doesn't answer?  How the hell do I expect to get answers if she doesn't?  I don't know any witches other than Maggie and neither does Zoe as far as I know. 

"Hello?  Zoe?"  The chirpy voice on the other line instantly soothes my worries. 

I take a deep breath before proceeding.  "Maggie, this is Dan.  Dan Howell."

The line is silent for a moment; long enough for me to have to pull the phone away from my ear to make sure she didn't hang up.  "Ah, Daniel.  I knew you'd be getting in contact with me eventually."

"Maggie, how did you know I'd be getting in contact with you?  And why do you think I would?"  I interrupt without caring if it offended her or not.  At this point I'm just trying to get the information I need on finding him; making sure he's alive, and if he is alive then making sure he's okay.