Living Dead | Onhold

chapter fourteen

I couldn’t believe Milton was gone. He had been the only person I could call home lately. He was the one person I could confide in, and even though he was rude to me most of the time, having someone to talk to was all that I needed. Having someone to just listen or tell me what to do was all I needed. But now that person was gone. And I was all alone. No Milton, no Nicky, no dad, no mom. Just me.

For a while, I tried ignoring what Milton said before disappearing – but I couldn’t. I just wanted to disappear. Leave. Because even though I am dead, I still have all these emotions that I wish I could just turn off.

I heard a door open behind me and immediately turned. I saw Alex walking out with a cup of coffee in her hand. Coffee – that’s what connected the two of us. I mean, we were all friends, yes, but I had a connection with each and every one of my friends. A special bond.
“Bye mom.” She said, giving her mom a kiss and walking right past me. I decided to follow her. Maybe following her would trigger all the important memories that I had with her until the day I died.

“Hey Alex!” a girl across the street yelled, crossing up to her.

She rolled her eyes, “hey Sally. How may I help you?”

“Sheesh! Does everybody in your crew have to be so mean?” she rushed up to her, “well you know what?” She stopped directly in front of Alex, “I think today you’d love to listen to this weirdo!”

“What the fuck do you want, Sally?!” she backed up.

“You know my mom works for the police department right?”

“Yes, so?” She was clearly annoyed.

“They don’t buy it!  All your stories, yours and your stuck up friends’! And I’ve got something on you Alexandra Davids! I’d be nicer to me if I were you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She hardened, “go away weirdo! I’ve got places to be and people to see!”

“Okay fine!” Sally moved aside.

“Thank you.” She walked away.

“Well,” Sally yelled. “When you remember what happened the weekend before Alisson’s birthday, and you also remember that I’ve got a video camera and I like shooting my documentaries which you consider ‘weird’, I hope you’ll remember our little conversation because boy, that little video that I shot… would be evidence enough in my mom’s eyes!”

Alex stopped on her tracks. “What did you just say?”

“I told you you’d love to listen to me today.”

“What video are you talking about, Sally?” She walked back to her. ‘Panic!’ was written on her forehead.

“Well, I’ve got people to see and places to be! Have a good day.”

“What people?!” she laughed.

“I take that back. Don’t have a good day Alexandra… have the day you deserve!” she said as she furiously walked away.

As she walked away, I decided to stop following Alex and go with this Sally character instead. She walked through a dodgy passage, holding onto her little brown side bag. She walked so quickly, you would swear she was running from something. We walked behind a couple of buildings before she walked into a medium sized yard which I assumed was her home.

“I’m home mom.” She said, walking in and taking off her huge coat.

“Already?” Her mom asked, her back towards us. “What happened to the ‘friend’ you were meeting with?”

Her voice sounded so familiar.

“Urgh.” She rolled her eyes, “my little friend had ‘places to be and people to see’!” She imitated Alex.

“Too busy for you?” She turned to face us. Just then, I noticed who Sally’s mom was.

Detective Annabelle from my backyard.

“Yeah,” said Sally. “Everyone is too busy for me lately.”

“Sorry honey, I know you’re trying to make me feel bad.”

“Is it working?” she smiled.

“Definitely!”

They laughed.

“Hey mom, I’m just gonna go to my room for a while. You’ll shout if you need me.”

“Alright love.”

They seem like a small lovely family, and you can see it in their eyes that they really do love each other. Detective Annabelle loves her weird little daughter – Sally, and her weird little daughter loves her back.

I followed her to her room down the passage and watched as she opened the door at the back of her room. “Ah.” She said. “Welcome to your lovely computer room filled with life endangering secrets.” She said to herself.

She typed in the password and clicked on a folder named ‘what happened to the girl’. There was only one video on the folder.

“Could this be what happened to you, Miss Berry?” she said, running her hands through her hair.

“Could it?” I asked, sitting next to her as I she could hear me. “Play the video Sally.”

“I never liked you, you know?” She laughed, “but you were the nicest of all your friends.”

“Play the video.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t do this.” She right-clicked on the video, “maybe I should just delete this.”

“No, don’t do that Sally! Just play the damn video!” I yelled in her ear.

“No… I’m not gonna delete it. They can’t get away with everything. Brats!”

“Exactly, help me fight them. Play the video, would you?”

“But what if they come for me? What if they do to me what they did to you?” she panicked.

“Your mom will help you! Play the video Sally! God! Why can’t she hear me!!!” I screamed, “PLAY – THE – FUCKING – VIDEO!!!”

“I’m brave.” She breathed, “I have to find somebody who will help me if they kill me.” She quickly snatched her bag and ran out of her room.

“Where are you going?! No!” I ran after her.

“Mom, I’ll be right back!” she yelled.

“Another friend?”

“Yep. Hopefully he’ll have time for me, unlike the bitch.”

“Language!”

“Sorry!” she yelled as she ran out, leaving me stressed with absolutely no way forward.

What was I going to do? I mean, I know I should visit my memories but where would they even take me? Maybe if I focus hard enough, they’ll take me exactly where I want to. But what if they don’t? What would Milton say?

Wherever they take you, trust them. They are bringing you one step closer to the truth.

I sighed, stepping out of the house as I decided to let my memories serve me right.