Forlot: Thunder Will Come Down - Book Twenty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Three

The funeral was packed with both real worlders and fictional characters, including the real worlders who made an appearance way back in book twenty. The story of the antis, remember? It warmed my heart that more people love Caleb rather than hate him. Caleb does not deserve any hate. Period.

The first six benches were reserved for the family of Caleb Night. The friends had to sit behind us, so Kara and Lean could not sit with me. Besides Alex and Tamara who were wearing their colorful dresses, everybody had on black. Black shirts. Black slacks. Black shoes. I had my hair tied in a ponytail and wore a black, sleeveless dress that reached to my ankles. I also wore black gloves that touched my elbows and low heels and a pearl necklace.

I brushed my fingertips against the necklace. This necklace was extra special to me and made from real pearls. Nope. Neither my parents nor anyone in my rich family bought it for me. Caleb got it just for the love of his life. I remember it as if he performed the deed yesterday.

It was the beginning of last year. Caleb and I were on a date. We had just finished supper at a restaurant - the only restaurant - and were heading back to my mom and dad's mansion. We were peering through the windows of different stores, when I pointed frantically at a sparkling object. It was the pearl necklace. It was pretty, and the shop's lights made the pearls glisten.

"What are you pointing at?" Caleb wondered.

"That," I responded.

"You mean the necklace?"

I nodded. "Is it not stunning?"

He pressed his face against his glass. "That necklace has nothing on you, Cindy. You are more stunning."

I blushed and giggled. He always reminds me that I am the most beautiful thing and person in the world. He may not have the looks or the muscles, but he sure knows how to flirt.

"Would you like me to buy it for you, Cindy?"

My cinnamon roll. That was sweet of him to trade in something of his just to see me smile.

"You are not obligated to," I reassured him. "My mom and dad can always buy it for me. We have so much, and you have so little."

Too late. He entered the shop and bought the pearl necklace. The clerk carefully placed the necklace in a paper bag, and when Caleb made his exit, he opened the bag and pulled out the jewelry and handed it to me. I stared long and hard at the necklace and was speechless.

"Caleb, I...I do not know what to say."

He took my hand and planted a kiss on the back of it. "Anything for the girl of my dreams that does not involve jumping off a cliff."

I kissed his cheek, and both of his cheeks - no, his entire face - turned bright red. "I love you, Caleb."

He adjusted his glasses. "I love you too, Cindy."

"Cindy? Cindy!"

Kara had snapped me back to fictional reality and was in front of me. Her expression was unpleasant, and I realized that something was wrong.

"Kara," Dad said. "That is your name, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"What do you want with our daughter?"

"I need to speak with her right away."

"Can it not wait until after the funeral?" Mom piped in.

"I am afraid not."

The alien motioned for me to follow her, and I got up and did so. We strolled out of the room, and Kara bit her lip.

"What is wrong with you?" I asked.

"Cindy...you are probably wondering why the casket is not in the room yet."

"No, but now that you mention it, I am curious."

"I am just going to come out and say it. There is no body."

I slowly narrowed my eyebrows. "...what?"

"There is no body in the casket. It was in there early this morning. Now it is not. The casket is empty."

My brain was filled with confusion. There had to be a logical explanation as to how it was moved. Dead bodies do not wander on their own unless they are zombies.

I demanded her to take me to the room where the casket was, and she wrapped her thumb and fingers around my wrist and tugged me down the hall and to the room. The floor was purple, and the walls were blue. The only window was across from us, and purple light seeped in and made the casket stand out from the stuff that was junk.

The casket was shut, and Kara pushed me forward. I stumbled and glared at her. "What was that for?"

She twirled a hair strand around her finger. "Sorry. I do not want to be the one to open it. I am afraid that a zombie will pop out and bite me."

"You do realize that you are an alien from a powerful race who has the power to do pretty much anything."

"Excuse me for protecting myself."

"Should you not be protecting me? I am human and Caleb's wife."

"You got me there."

I gently grasped her hand. "Come on. We will look together."

We walked towards the casket and lifted the lid. A body was inside, however, it was not Caleb's. It was Diversity's.

I knew that this was not the time to do it, but I had to. I pumped my fists in the air and cheered. "Yes! She is finally out of my life!"

"I never knew that humans were thrilled to see dead bodies," Kara said. She scratched her head. "Who killed her? Who killed her and replaced Caleb's body with hers?"

Then the scariest part of this chapter happened. My cousin's eyes opened. She sat up straight and burst out laughing. Kara and I shrieked and hugged each other.

"It is alive!" Kara screamed. "Alive!"

Diversity glanced at us. "I am not dead. But you two will be!"