Alone by Brian Keene Read Free Book Online

you’d better sit down.”
    “I’m fine,” he insisted. “Now just tell me what’s going on. Please?”
    She took a deep breath. “You ... I don’t need you to fix my arms because I’m dead.”
    Dan stared at her. “What?”
    “I’m dead, Mr. Miller. I killed myself just a few minutes ago.”  
    “I—I don’t understand. Dead?”
    “It’s a long story, and to be honest, I don’t feel like talking about it. Suffice to say, there aren’t a lot of people who will miss me. I wanted this. My parents were at work, and I got home from school, and I posted a goodbye message online, and then I did it. I used my father’s box-cutter.”
    “But you’re ... that’s ... what?”
    “I’m dead.”
    “Then how...? This doesn’t make sense. If you’re dead, then how are you here? How are we talking right now?”  
    “Because, Mr. Miller. Don’t you see?”
    Dan shook his head.  
    “Mr. Miller, you’re dead, too.”
    “No, I’m not. I’m standing right here.” Dan was aware of just how small and unsure he sounded.
    “You’re dead, Mr. Miller. You died over a year ago. You had a massive heart attack while you were asleep. Jerry discovered it the next morning when he woke up. He was really distraught.”
    “No. No, I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. I’m not dead.”
    “Yeah, you are.”
    “No, I’m not!”
    “I watched them carry you out myself. Danielle was crying, and Jerry was a mess. My parents and I watched her for him while he made all the arrangements.”
    “Stop it.”
    “I was at your funeral, Mr. Miller! You had an open casket and viewing. Trust me. You were dead.”
    “STOP IT! Why are you saying this? It’s not true. It can’t be true.”
    Her expression was sorrowful. “I’m sorry, but it is.”
    “You said I died over a year ago?”
    She nodded. “Yes.”
    “Well, that right there proves it can’t be true. I’ve only been here a few days. Not long at all. I haven’t been eating or drinking, and I’m still the same weight I was, so it can’t have been more than a few days.”
    Maria started to speak, but he interrupted.
    “I want to know what’s going on. The truth, this time. Where did you come from? I was just at your house a few days ago, and you weren’t there then. Nobody was. I checked your place and the Kresby’s. Hell, I broke their window, and nobody—”
    “Wait a second! You broke the Kresby’s window? You mean the big picture window at the front of their house?”
    “Yes. That’s the one. Why?”
    “Holy shit.” Maria leaned back against the wall and sighed. “I see what’s happened now. I get it.”
    “Well, that makes one of us. I wish you’d explain it to me. And can we please go into the kitchen? I don’t like standing here with that thing still hanging around outside. The living room feels too exposed.”
    Snickering, Maria stood up. “Okay.”
    “What’s so funny?” Dan asked, as she joined him at the kitchen table.
    “I’m sorry. Just the term. Living room. It struck me funny. Two dead people hanging out in the living room.”  
    “I’m not dead, Maria. I really wish you’d stop saying that.”
    “Am I?” She held out her arms. “Look at me. Am I dead?”
    “You’re not bleeding anymore.”
    “That doesn’t prove anything. Check my pulse, Mr. Miller.”
    “That wouldn’t prove anything, either. I saw Danielle a few days ago. She was here one minute and gone the next. I don’t know what she was—and I don’t know what you are, either. But I’m not fucking dead.”
    Maria sighed again. Then she reached across the table and took his hand. Dan flinched, but didn’t pull away. After being alone for so long, the physical contact eased his fears and worries. The girl certainly felt real enough.
    “Mr. Miller, I’m going to ask you a few things. Things that there’s no way I should know about. I just want you to answer me honestly, okay?”
    Dan nodded.
    “You said that you broke the Kresby’s big picture window.