My Only Exception

Chapter #8 The Truth

Amanda's POV

'Ray Thurston 1972-1988'

I couldn't breath, I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. Ray. Died at age 16 in 1988.....2 years ago.....

I just kept staring at the words, motionless.

"So now you know." A voice said from behind me.

I spun around quickly. There he was. Ray Thurston.

"R-Ray.....is this....you?" I choked out.

Ray looked at me, a regretful, painful look in his eyes. As if he were on the verge of tears.

"Yes....it's me.....I'm so sorry Amanda...." He admitted.

"But I don't understand...how can you be?" I started to ask, but I couldn't bring myself to say the next word.

"The accident at the chemical plant." Ray said.

"But that was in 1987.....you died in 1988...." I replied.

"I know....but when the accident happened, the plant, it released this yellow gas that killed the workers and the people living in the town at the time....except they didn't stay dead. They all came back....as the living dead..." Ray started.

"L-Living d-dead?" I questioned.

"Complete with an insatiable lust for the fresh blood of those still living and extremely sensitive pale skin that gets destroyed by sunlight....." Ray explained, holding up his bandaged hand.

I swallowed hard and tried to steady my staggered breathing. It worked to no avail.

"When I moved here 2 years ago, my parents and I moved into your house. Your room was my room....I was 16. It only took a few weeks for the living dead to get to us. We thought everything was going to be ok in our new home, that's what the undead wait for, when you finally get settled in......they attack. It was a rainy day when we were fed on. No possible chance of sunlight getting in their way. They chased us up to the attic, nowhere to run....and they fed on us. My mom, my dad, and me. Only when it was all said and done.....I was the only one who got back up.....my parents.....they had too much of their blood drained from them...they're really dead." Ray whimpered, his voice beginning to crack at the threat of tears.

I didn't know how to react....I felt scared for my life. I was talking to a dead boy, but after hearing that? I wanted to cry....his parents were dead....not undead, but dead....

"After I became one of them, Mr. Dawes gave me a job. I was 'The Watcher'. My job was to keep an eye on all of the new families that moved into that house from then on. To make sure they never got too creeped out, or suspicious, to make sure that they didn't go near the cemetery....because they would do exactly what you did...." Ray stated.

"Find your graves....?" I asked.

Ray nodded. "Amanda, I'm so sorry...." He whispered, an overwhelming flick of regret in his tone.

I couldn't say anything back....I racked my brain for the right words but what were the right words in this situation....?

I stepped towards him, holding out my arms for a hug. "Ray..." I tried.

I enveloped Ray in a hug, he held me tightly back. His cold body shaking. Tears pooled in my eyes. This was depressing....even though I was still scared, Ray was a wreck, he needed me right now....unfortunately for me he needed me in more ways than one at that moment....

As we were hugging Ray inhaled deeply. I thought he was just catching his breath but then he unlocked from our embrace. I gasped. Ray had stopped whimpering, no longer on the verge of tears. His blue eyes.....were now red. Blood red. His pale skin looked even worse than it did before, looking torn in spots. There was a huge gash in his cheek going down to his jaw as well. He looked....dead.....