The Undead Girl Next Door

Graduation!!!

Lilly was nervous, as any teenager would be at graduation. She was in her gold and blue gown eyeing the double doors until she saw the bright blonde hair of her bff Anna. She ran over and all but tackled Anna in a hug. "Good lord Lilly I need to breathe.",  Anna laughed and they walked to the graduates hall together. It was time to walk the stage and Lilly was worried that she would be found out. "Anna, Anna, my cheek I can feel rot".  Anna looked over and indeed noticed a green hue on her best friends right cheek. Some rummaging around and she pulled out some makeup she had just for Lilly. Unfortunately Lilly's name was called before she could apply it. "I'm so dead". she says. "You're already dead, now go" Said Anna as encouragingly as possible.

Lilly's heart dropped as there were cameras running to commemorate the ceremony. Lilly brushed her hair over her cheek in hopes that it would cover the rot. "Congratulations Lilith Coulter on your graduation from Summerville High.", rang the deep voice of Principal Peters. "Thank you Principal Peters," Lilly smiled and took the diploma from his outreached hand. She turned to face the camera to have their picture taken. She attempted to cover her cheek with her bangs but they didn't quite do the job. "Great. Now everyone's gonna see my face". She grimaced as she took her seat next to Anna who quickly covered her cheek in foundation.  She   somehow survived the rest of graduation without much hindrance. 

 Two anxiety-filled days later, the photos were published on the schools website and Lilly didn't hesitate to get online and find her picture. "Phew". She sighed in relief, if the rot was visible at all it would simply appear as a bruise. She got a text a little later from Anna, it read "see, you're safe girl". She smiled at her phone and went to the kitchen to find some food. She could eat some raw meat and be good for about a full day before needing to eat again, and since her cousins are hunters she steals some organs every now and then, blaming those 'darn coyotes'. Surprisingly no one suspected. That was until her fifth snack from the kill.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??" Shouted her mother. Lilly's heart stopped, or it would if she were alive. "LILITH ANSWER ME". She yelled again, this time making Lily jump. "Mom...I'm sorry". She whispered. "What the hell do you mean you're sorry? You're eating a dead deer!!!!". A tear ran down Lilly's face. "You don't understand, mom, I need to eat". She said a little louder this time. "Then make a god damned sandwich. What makes you think it's ok to eat a deer?". The tears fell like rain now. "I have to eat organs. God, I should've told you this before. I'm dead". She took another bite of the heart and set it down on a plate.

 "Honey, you know you suck at jokes. Put that thing down, you'll make yourself sick". Lilly walked to the sink to wash her hands. "I'm not making this up mom, I died three months ago, in the car accident". Her mother got angry at the mention of the accident that took her wife. "Lilith do not make jokes about that day". They moved to the couch where her mother held her wedding photo(Mary(deceased) and Katherine). "I miss her too mom, but I'm really not pulling anything". Her mothers had studied paranormal and were both big believers in the supernatural. What Kathy didn't know was that Mary liked to investigate 'unusual sightings/reports. the road trip Lilly and Mary went on was, of course, a zombie sighting.

After police deemed it a 'domestic disturbance' and cleared the scene, Mary and Lilly went in to look for anything that police wouldn't look for. For example, some blood underneath the dumpster that had a greenish hue, on there way to run the proper blood work, thanks to Mary being a phlebotomist, they were hit by a drunk driver Mary was killed on impact and Lilly would've died if the vile of 'hemo z', as Lilly called it, hadn't shattered in her hand and entered her bloodstream. She healed most of her injuries as the blood activated shortly after she 'died'. 

She finished explaining what happened to her mother with her head hung low. 'Who am I kidding, she won't believe that crazy story'. There was moments of painful silence before her mother spoke. "Y'know, I can't say I'm actually surprised. That sounds like something she would do". Lilly looked up with wide eyes. "So...so you believe me?". Kathy nodded and took her daughters hand in hers. "But why didn't you tell me? About the accident? About the apparent zombie sighting? You know I'm just as into this stuff as you and Mary". Lilly giggled. "She wanted to surprise you. She got a spot on the force as a 'paranormal investigator' after she saved the chiefs life, he had a poltergeist in his home. It was gonna be a party with just us and some ghost shaped cookies". Lilly finished the sentence wiping a few tears away at the memory of her excited mother planning the surprise for her mom.

Pretty soon they were telling stories of crazy adventure her moms went on before Lilly was born and adventures they wanted to go on when she was old enough. Kathy looked at the clock and chuckled. "Goodness, we've been talking for two hours". Lilly gasped and jumped up running to the heart she left on the plate. It was starting to rot. Lilly sighed and whined as hearts were her favorite. Kathy walked in and asked. "Is there anything you can eat besides dead things?". Lilly looked up and nodded. "I can eat raw meat, that usually holds me over for a day or two". Her mother visibly relaxed. "I'll make me some spaghetti, You can have the last package of ground beef in the fridge". She said as she gathered ingredients. "Thanks mom". Lilly opened the wrapper and grabbed a fork. 'That went better than I expected'.