Eye See You: Infection pt. 10

Dina was where she had promised to be.  She seemed shocked when both my mom and myself approached her. 

“I didn’t mean to…” She glanced from me, then to my mom, then back at me. “I don’t think she’ll…”

“I understand full well what’s going on.  At least, as best I can,” said my mom.  “Now, what I really want to know is how.” 

A part of me was proud that my mom had taken control of the situation.  A few days ago she would have been a terrified mess, but whoever was responsible had made a big mistake.  They had taken her husband from her.  They had taken the mans he had loved, and brutalized him so badly that we had to have a closed casket funeral. 

“Dina, right?” My mom held out her hand. “Loni.” 

Dina shook her hand.  “So, Loni, it sounds like all three of us want to know the same thing. How the hell is this happening?”

Ruins pt. 53

The next day the residents of New Eden all collected in Lilac Park. 

They were there to see us off. 

Kay and Nora were going to stay behind. 

Marcus was as well.  We had all decided that he could do more good in the town then out in the wilds with us.

It was just Doug, Alana and myself, and all three of us could feel the weight of our quest on our shoulders.

If we failed then the beauty that was New Eden would vanish from the world, swallowed up in the sea of ugliness and violence that had taken over everything else.

We knew the stakes, and so did every anxious and worried face that was looking at us.

Marcus embraced each of us, one by one, and then turned to his people.

“Wish them luck, pray for them, and send them positive thoughts.  Do whatever it is you can, because these three will need it.  They are risking their lives, their very souls for us, every single one of us. So, today keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

He turned to us, and smiled.

“Good luck.”

We would need it.

TO BE CONTINUED IN… RITUALS

Series News: Ruins ends after a year!

So, one year later, and Ruins is coming to close.  Now, that doesn't mean that the ReBirth cycle is over.  No, it just means that starting next Wednesday the next chapter will begin with Rituals. Rituals will continue the journey as Doug, Alana and Ren John head out on their new quest.  So, stick around as the journey through the ReBirth cycle continues!

Eye See You: Infection pt. 9

The funeral for my dad was held four days later.  My mom and I had skipped the formalities of a wake, and decided to just have the memorial.  It wasn’t that we didn’t care, it was that neither of us could handle pretending that it was just some accident.  We both knew exactly what had happened. 

Someone, or something, had gotten through my dad’s tablet and killed him. 

At the funeral we gave weak smiles and nodded our heads as our friends and family paid their respects.  I was grateful when I finally was able to sit down during the service.  My foot hadn’t fully healed up from the night we had found him, and standing on the deep cuts had been agony. 

Again, when the service was over we stood and people paid their respects.

It was as the long line of people passed us that I felt someone place something in my hand.  I looked up to see a young black woman looking me the eye, her face pretty but serious.  She glanced from me to my mother. 

Something about her looked familiar.  I had seen her somewhere. I had…

Before I could react the young woman was gone.  No, I knew her name.  I had heard her name.  I had seen her face on my friend’s phones.  It was Dina. 

Dina had been part of that damned game, but somehow she had survived till now.  How?

I looked down at the note she had pressed in my hand. 

It read:

I’ll be in the parking lot after everything is done.  I know this isn’t the best time, but I believe you also know how urgent this is.

                                                      -Dina

“What is it?” My mom glanced over at me.

I just gave her the note, hoping she would understand.  She read it, nodded, and then returned to the line of mourners.