Limbo

Being Dead Really Sucks

RACHEL: 

      As he eats his breakfast, Ashley tells everyone about the necklace, and tries to explain how it apparently makes me seem a bit more solid. Jinxx in particular finds this to be quite interesting, so after everyone finishes eating, he suggests that we conduct some experiments before they have to leave for the studio. So we all go to the living room, and after passing the necklace back and forth, and having them move around the house, we figure out that they can all see and hear me as long as they're in the same room with it, but that Ash is still the only one who doesn't actually require it. He's also the only one who perceives me as more substantial, and it only works if he's actually carrying it on his person. 

      Eventually, Bob reminds them that they need to get to work, so everyone rushes around to do their last-minute stuff before gathering back at the front door. Ash holds up the necklace and lets it swing for a couple of seconds, then tucks it into his pocket. "Ready to give this a try?" he inquires.

      "More than ready," I reply, moving to stand next to him. "But since we're not sure if this is gonna work, nobody freak out if I vanish or something when I step off of the porch. That's as far as I've ever been able to get before, I always wind up back in some random room."

      "Well, it's still worth a try, at least," Jinxx says. "If it works, you'll have a little bit of freedom, and if not, then we'll know that the amulet isn't the problem."

      "Yeah, he's right," Ash chimes in. "Worst case scenario, we're narrowing down the possibilities. Just stick close to me, okay?"

      Susan opens the door and stands back to let us out, and stands in the doorway with Charlie, watching as the guys all troop down the steps to stand in the yard, leaving me and Ash standing on the porch. He crooks his arm, the way someone would do to walk in a wedding procession or something, gestures toward the cars with his other hand, and says, "Your chariot awaits, milady. Shall we be off?"

      This makes me giggle, and I bat my eyelashes at him as I put my hand on his arm. Putting on an exaggerated Scarlett O'Hara-style Southern accent, I drawl, "Why, thank you, kind suh! I'd be right pleased to step out with a distinguished group of gentlemen such as yourselves."

      Andy shakes his head and chuckles, "Even when they're semi-transparent, he flirts."

      "And this surprises you why, precisely?" Jake retorts. "Have you actually met our bassist?"

      "It's called being a gentleman," Ash fires back, giving them an exasperated look. "Give it a try sometime." Then he turns back to me and sort of inclines his head toward the steps, in sort of a silent prompt.

      "Yeah, I'm ready," I inform him. "Here goes nothing!"

      I walk down the steps with him, expecting at any second to find myself back in my room, or the pantry, or somewhere inside, but it doesn't happen. Instead, I find myself standing on actual grass for the first time in over a year, and for a split second, I'm not sure how to react. I take a few more steps toward the car, and when nothing happens, I look around at the guys and say, "Holy shit, it really works! I can actually leave the house!"

      Everyone starts cheering and clapping, and I can feel myself smiling from ear to ear as I look around the yard, taking in the work that they've done to the outside of the house, the new landscaping, and the old planter boxes that I remember my mom and some of the other women putting out in the yard when I was little. They give me a minute to look around, and then Bob quietly says, "I hate to have to rush this, hon, but we need to get going."

      CC practically leaps over to one of the cars and opens the passenger door, making a sweeping motion with his other hand. "Ladies first," he announces. "And we'll even let you have the front seat this time, won't we, Jinxx?"