Necromancer

Seeking

。O  。

I finally had the leverage I needed with Simon. Friday afternoon he'd been desperate and agitated, I was there and so he confided in me. It didn't matter that he didn't know why I was taking an interest in him. Maybe he figured I was a nosey busybody. But I was glad he'd confided in me, even if it was just about the crazy idea that he'd seen Tommy Phelps, running around the forest at night as the undead.

Usually I would have never believed Simon. I didn't actually know him that well, despite my distant obsession. But I saw firsthand his fear, and it made me believe that he was sure of what he'd seen. Not only that... but with chilling clarity I recalled what I'd seen, outside my bedroom window. It wasn't a face-to-face encounter, but I could imagine why that would have Simon so shaken.

It wasn't only the two of us, talk was spreading throughout the entire school of students who'd seen Tommy Phelps's corpse running around town last night. Though it was difficult to determine who might have actually seen something and who was just bullshitting. Teens wanting to add more fuel to the fire...

I would've tracked down the Language club girls, maybe even talked to people who'd talked to the roughhousing footy guys. Listen to their accounts and decide if they were sensationalised. But it didn't occur to me until I was already driving out of school. I couldn't even get more details from Simon. After telling me what he'd seen he got up and slinked away, gripping one arm, body as tight as a cork about to pop.

Seeing as it was Friday me and my friends decided to go straight to our favourite diner on the edge of town. Lidgerwood Café. Melanie drove Jane, Erin and I drove separately and pulled into the little parking lot within thirty seconds of each other. The sun was in its winter position - too far from the Earth and too close to the horizon for only four o'clock. It rarely snowed in Scone, but it was often just a few points off freezing, which is the worst place for a thermometer to be in my opinion.

The little bell tinkled as I followed Erin's thermal pink jacket inside. The four of us went to find a booth by the frosted window wall. It was warmer in here but the girls kept their beanies on. I dropped my hoodie and ran fingers through my curly hair.

"I can't believe what people are saying." Melanie's eyes dropped to the table after the waiter left with our orders. She started fiddling idly with the pepper shaker.

"It's like living in a real-world horror flick." Jane giggled.

"Do you really think someone dressed up as Tommy and tried to scare everyone last night?" Erin asked with too casual nonchalance.

"I wouldn't put it past anyone at our school." Melanie sighed.

"You'd think after everything people would show a little more sensitivity." I agreed.

Jane raised her eyebrows at me "Seriously? People still hold vigils on Lindsey street. They leave candles there and everything. Scone is fucked."

I gave her a conceding nod – couldn't argue with that point.

"You know, maybe it wasn't a bunch of guys from our school." Erin fiddled with her beanie, speaking in an offhand way. "My parents were talking at dinner, saying it could've been some crazy newcomer."

"Could've been a relative of his." Jane chirped.

"Let's stop now." Melanie had enough, she raised both hands looking exasperated. Erin immediately closed her mouth while Jane pouted.

"Whyyy?"

"Cause I'm over it. Let's talk about something else."

Over it for now, but she was the one to bring it up. I stretched myself out, leaning my back against the glass. My friends started talking about school work while I mostly daydreamed. Anyone who was taking this seriously was trying to figure out who dug out Tommy and why. It was a lot of effort to go to, and honestly far too insidious for a prank.