Sweet Dead Sixteen

Chapter 8

The sun had just climbed over the horizon when I arrived at my house. I slipped inside and found my mother in the kitchen busy making coffee about to leave for work. I stood in the doorway watching her; she looked broken. Her eyes appeared sunken in and shrouded in darkness and sorrow, and her hair was greyer than when I had seen her last. I couldn't move, I was frozen with guilt and regret. She gazed out the bay windows while sipping her freshly brewed coffee; suddenly her head swiveled in my direction. I sharp jolt of fear sprang through me; I prayed she couldn't see me, although I knew she could sense something. I stood there panicked until she stared down at her coffee with a heavy sigh. It was all my fault. I had destroyed her.

I felt like I was going to implode. Visiting her was a mistake; it just made me hate myself more for what I had done. I returned to the graveyard silently distraught. My grave was cool and relaxing after a draining day, although I did feel stronger-like I could go longer without having to rest.

When I woke it was nightfall. I rose from my grave searching for Mason but he was nowhere in sight. That nagging feeling of loneliness crept back. I needed something to keep me busy-distracted from my feelings. I fell back into the cold embrace of my plan of revenge.

Arnold; he was the new kid who didn't think my looks fit the brilliance of my name. He might want to reconsider now; although I seemed more like an angel of death rather than a saint. His family had moved into the old rumored-to-be-haunted abandoned house on the corner of the street opposite from the school. It was a famous Halloween prank destination among kids and teenagers alike. His parents probably got it for dirt cheap and are planning to remodel it. It indeed looked like the perfect haunted house: broken shingles, creaking window shutters, and dear lord the grass had to be at least three feet high! Mow your JUNGLE people!

I glided up to the window that still had a light shining through it. I spotted Arnold sprawled on his bed looking at a comic book. Entering through his window I again used my energy to make myself visible to him, but he was so engrossed in his comic book that he didn't even bat an eye. I got irritated so I asked coolly, "I want your opinion Arnold, does my name suit me now?"

His head snapped up and eyes widened in fear. He let out a strangled cry, "N-no! It can't be you, s-stay away!" He caught his breath, "I know what you did to them! You hurt the others, l-leave me alone!"

I smiled deviously, "And why on Earth should I leave you alone, huh? Well if you don't remember correctly, I do believe you judged me a little too quickly, and that hurt my feelings-a lot!" I put on a pouty face. The color drained from his face and he tossed his comic book aside and frantically tried to run out his bedroom door. Oh no you don't! The door slammed shut and locked. He tried to yank the door open but it was no use, he then ran to the window and flung himself out! Before I had even laid a finger on him! I heard a sickening thud and I knew he couldn't have survived the fall. I went over to the bed and snatched up the comic book-I wanted to surprise Mason.

Back at the cemetery I found Mason lounging on a branch in the old willow. I handed him the comic book, "Sorry I snapped at you."

He sat up and took the comic, "It's alright Angel, I understand how you feel." I smiled up at him, thankful he accepted my apology. I reached up for him to give me a hand and settled on the branch beside him. "Angel if you ever have any questions about... you know, being dead, I'm your man."

I shifted uncomfortably, "Well, I pretty much already know the answer to this one, but we don't eat right?"

"Nope, not regular food at least." I wondered what he meant by regular food. "We do have to rest, but I'm sure you already figured that one out," he added. We sat quietly for a while before he finally asked, "Angel, did you give it up?"

"Give what up," I asked innocently.

"The whole revenge thing you had going on."

Um heck no!, I wanted to say, but instead I lied quickly, "Oh yeah! Of course I did, especially after what you said to me earlier."

"Good," he smiled at me. Ugh the guilt! I didn't deserve that smile. I never ever wanted to hurt Mason-suddenly he reached over and held my hand, "Angel you are the most amazing person I have ever encountered." He then leaned in and kissed me! Right on the lips! I had never kissed a boy before, but now I knew why all the popular girls were so crazy about it. He held my face in his strong gentle hands as he kissed me. I no longer felt so hollow and cold inside.

We finally broke apart ending the bliss filled kiss, but he kept me tight in his arms caressing my cheek. "Sometimes bad things happen to good people Angel," he whispered. But I didn't care; I just wanted him to hold me in his arms forever.