We Are Risen

Chapter Six

My friends found me about two hours later. I had finished digging the hole and was now piling firewood in the burn pit my stepfather used for bonfires. Ally squinted in the sunlight as she walked over to me. 

"Did you sleep at all?" she asked me as I laid down an armful of firewood.

"That's not important," I retorted, standing up straight. 

I was winded and tired, but I need to get Mom in the ground. 

"Daisy, you need to sleep," Toby said, laying a hand on my shoulder. 

I jerked away from him and hurt flashed across his eyes. Bryson went over to the platform that held our firewood and grabbed an armful, coming over and laying it down. 

"Bryson, you don't need to-"

"Let me do this, Dee," he cut me off. "It's the least I can do. You cooked for us and washed our clothes, and then you folded them and left them out for us."

"It's not a big deal, really," I mumbled. 

"What's the firewood for?" Toby cut in, cutting us all off. 

I froze, turning to look at him. "What?"

"The firewood," Toby repeated. "What are you planning on burning?"

I looked down, fiddling with my fingernails. They were dirty from digging and pulling at roots. 

"Stephen," I said quietly. "He doesn't deserve to be buried, so his ass is going to burn."

Toby didn't say anything, he just nodded instead. 

"We'll help," Ally said. "Toby can help me with your stepdad, and Bryson can help you with your mom."

I nodded and we all went inside. We went into Mom's room and Bryson helped me to haul my mom up, and Toby and Ally did the same with Stephen. We hauled them outside, and Bryson helped me lower my mom into her grave. When we were lowering her, my foot slid over the edge of the hole and I tumbled into the grave with a cry of surprise. 

"Daisy!" Ally yelled, dropping Stephen and running over. 

I groaned, pulling my knee to my chest, holding my ankle. I twisted it in the fall into the six-foot hole. I rolled over off my mom. 

"Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes wide and fearful. 

"Yeah," I panted. "I just twisted my ankle. I'll- I'll be okay. Just help me out."

She reached her arm down and I grasped her hand. She groaned as she shifted her body weight back, trying to pull me out. It wasn't working, neither of us was strong enough.

"Here, let me," Toby said, stepping forward. 

He held his hand out, and I took hold of it. He helped me out of the hole much easier than Ally could.

"Hey, is your ankle okay?" he asked, concern shining in his eyes. 

I stood up and tried to put weight on it, but I cried out as a sharp pain shot through my foot. Toby told me to sit down at the metal picnic table we have outside, and he slowly pulled my shoe and sock off. My ankle had already started swelling, turning a flattering shade of purple. 

"Shit," Bryson drawled when he saw my ankle.

"I'm fine," I stated and started to get up, but Toby pushed me back down.

"You aren't moving until that's wrapped up," he demanded.

"Then hurry up!" I snapped. "I've got a body to burn."