DEADTOWN

Chapter 11

Tim sits down in a chair next to the bed and lights up a cigarette. A position he has taken many times. Each time a new soul turns up, Tim will sit with them until they come to.

It's never easy telling someone they are dead. He still hadn't figured out how to tell the young man that his wife or girlfriend was taken by the demons.

"Tim?" Chris calls him, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Uh, you mind if I take care of him?"

"No, I don't guess I care." Tim answers with a shrug. "You know it's not going to be an easy task telling him he's dead."

"Yeah, I know." Chris nods as he looks down at the newcomer.

"And it's going to be even harder to tell him that the girl didn't make it." Tim adds.

"Yeah, I know too. But I want to be here for him." Chris says.

"Alright, Buddy." Tim smiles as he stands from his chair. He could already tell that the cowboy was taking a liking to the newcomer. "He's all yours. But if you need me, I'll be around." Tim adds as he rubs Chris on the shoulder.

"Thanks." Chris smiles as he reaches up and lays his hand on Tim's and gently squeezes it.

Tim leaves the room and as he starts by his room, he sees Adam laying on his back staring at the ceiling.

"Hey, Sexy. Whatcha doing?" Tim smiles as he leans against the door.

"Oh, just trying to make sense of all this." Adam smiles.

"Don't, it'll drive you crazy." Tim chuckles as he walks into the room.

"Like, where do you get your cigarettes? It's not like there's a store around." Adam says as he sits up in the bed.

"Believe it or not.." Tim says as he pulls the cigarette pack out of his shirt pocket. "This is the same amount of cigarettes I had when I got shot. I take one out and smoke it then later on when I start to get another one, it's the same amount."

"That's freaky. You know those are bad for you, right?" Adam says.

"You know you're talking to a dead guy, right?" Tim smirks.

"Oh, yeah." Adam giggles. "I forgot. So who's watching the new guy?"

"Chris wanted to." Tim says as he lays down on the bed. "I think he's interested in him."

"What if he's not gay?" Adam asks.

"Well, Chance wasn't either." Tim shrugs.

"But who could resist you?" Adam smiles as he lays down beside Tim, wrapping his arm around his waist.

"Apparently, no one." Tim laughs.

"AHHHHH!!! HEATHER!!!!!" A scream from next door startles both of them.

They bail out of bed and run out into the hallway, meeting the others coming out of their rooms.

Tim runs into the new guy's room, followed closely by Adam and the others. 

"NOOO!! GET AWAY!!" He screams as he fights with Chris.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Please, calm down." Chris says as he tries to hold the guys arms to keep from getting hit.

"Hey, Buddy." Tim says. "You're safe. We're here to help you. Calm do ..."

Tim was cut short with a foot in the gut, sending him flying backwards and onto the floor.

"HEY! THAT WASN'T VERY NICE!" Adam shouts as he helps his lover from off the floor. "They're just trying to help you."

"Enough is enough." Tim says as he reaches out and lays his hand on the man's head. Tim's eyes turn from brown to black as he stares into the stranger's blue eyes.

The man's arms fall limp to his side.

"What did you do to me?!" The man says in fear.

"Oh, relax. The paralyzes will only last a few minutes. Just long enough for us to talk to you." Tim says.

"My name is Chris. This is Tim and that's Adam." Chris says with a friendly smile. "We're not gonna hurt you. What's your name?"

"Nate. Where's Heather?" Nate says in a trembling voice.

"You were alone when we found you." Tim says as he sits down in the chair and rubs his sore stomach.

"Who's Heather?" Chris asks.

"My sister." Nate answers.

"Nate, what's the last thing you remember?" Chris asks.

"Heather and I met up for lunch." Nate says as he tries to remember.

"Is that it?" Adam asks as he lays his hands on Tim's shoulders.

"Something else had to have happened or you wouldn't be here. OWWW!" Tim yells out as Adam pinches his neck.

"Continue telling us what happened." Chris says.

"It was Heather's birthday and I was taking her to lunch at her favorite restaurant." Nate says. "And we were crossing the street. Oh, my God." He whispers the last three words.

"What? What happened?" Chris asks.

"OH, MY GOD!! THE CAR!! THE CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT!!" Nate screams.

They all stay silent as Nate covers his face with his hands and sobs. His paralyzes had left his body.

"Nate, do you remember anything else?" Tim asks softly.

"No." Nate sobs. Suddenly his head jerks up, a frightened look on his face. "OH GOD!! THEY WERE CHASING US!! Those ... Those monsters or whatever they were. We got separated. I ran into that building and the monster stopped. I scream for Heather but the monster caught her."

"I'm so sorry." Chris says as he gently squeezes Nate's hand.

"Who are you people? Where am I and what happened to Heather?" Nate asks as he jerks his hand away from Chris.

Chris looks at Tim for help.

"Nate, what I'm fixing to tell you is gonna sound like it's right out of a sci-fi movie. And you're not going to believe a word of it." Tim says as he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm sorry but you and your sister did not survive the accident. This is a place I call Deadtown because every single one of us are dead. We were either murdered or met with some freak accident. The closes I can figure is that this is some kind of purgatory between Heaven and Hell. I've been trying for years to figure this place out. Hadn't yet."

"It all sounds crazy but for some reason, I believe you." Nate says. "But .. but what were those things chasing us and what did they do with Heather."

"Those things were demons." Chris says. "They come out of hell every night looking for fresh souls. The only way to stay safe from them is inside of one of the buildings. For some reason they can't come inside the buildings.

"They took her to hell?" Nate asks as tears fill his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Nate." Chris says as he reaches for Nate and pulls him into a hug.

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