The Dead Series (Book 1): Tell Me When I'm Dead by Steven Ramirez Read Free Book Online

put her cup in the sink and walked out.
    Despite the pain in my gut, I felt the worst was over. Things would be rocky for a while, but I could see Holly forgiving me. I’d gone to her with the truth. I wanted her —not Missy.
    Sometimes we lie to ourselves to get through the next five minutes.

    The next day was Saturday. I had slept on the couch in the TV room. Holly went out early—I don’t know where. After I showered and dressed, I called Missy and told her I wanted to meet. I heard her excitement and wished I could avoid seeing her.
    When I arrived, she was waiting on the porch, ready for action. I’d already been through hell with Holly. Now it was Missy’s turn. There’s nothing worse than delivering bad news to women. I hoped I wouldn’t get good at it.
    “Want to come inside?” she said.
    “Let’s take a walk.”
    Her house stood at the edge of the forest. Though it was after nine, the air was already hot and sticky. We walked behind her house and found a trail that led into the woods.
    “I told Holly everything.” I looked straight ahead as we walked. A deer cut across the path in front of us. Squirrels scampered around in the pine needles.
    “Oh.”
    “So now you know I was serious when I said this is over.”
    She took my hand and we stopped. “But it’s not over.”
    “Missy, Holly knows everything. There’s nothing you can do to us.”
    “I never wanted to do anything to you, Dave. I want us to be together.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Do you think this is a game? That you can just … be with me for a little while, then go back to your life?” Her hand was clutching mine hard—it hurt.
    “I don’t love you.”
    The words stopped her cold. She released my hand and backed away like I’d slapped her. Behind her, Jim staggered towards us from the shadows.
    He looked crazy, with what was left of his clothes draped over his bony, putrefying frame. Most of his hair had fallen out and his eyes were scaled over. All of the flesh around his neck had slid away, exposing dry, dark red muscle and a grey esophagus. He moved towards Missy, his head twitching.
    “Missy!”
    “What? You want to apologize?”
    “Missy, run!”
    She turned too late. Shrieking, Jim grabbed her, his vise-like jaws snapping at her face. She screamed and writhed, trying to get away from his teeth. I ran to her and took her arm. Elbowing my friend in the face, I pulled her away. We ran.
    Why is it when you’re scared you lose all sense of direction? Instead of running towards Missy’s house, we headed deeper into the forest. In my mind I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t stop.
    Then I was alone. I looked back—Missy had fallen. Jim came towards her fast, his movements like those of an enraged animal.
    “Missy, get up!”
    She looked back as Jim grabbed her foot. Kicking at him with the other foot, she scrambled away.
    I didn’t wait for her.
    Up ahead, I found a small ranger station built out of flagstone and heavy wood beams. Standing under a cool canopy of pine trees, it had a slanted roof and a single door I prayed was open.
    “Help! Somebody help!”
    No one came out. I ran to the door. Glancing sideways, I saw a large cord of wood and an axe. I pounded on the door.
    “Please! Someone! Help us!”
    Missy was still far away, with Jim right behind her. She screamed the whole way. “Dave!”
    I tried the door handle. Unlocked. I fell inside, and without hesitation I locked the door.
    Even now I can’t describe the fear that contaminated my blood like black ink. My heart raced, and I tasted copper. I couldn’t think, couldn’t reason. All I could do was focus on survival.
    “Dave!”
    Missy was getting closer, but I knew Jim was out there too, no longer my friend but a demon. If I opened the door to let her in, I might die. I knew what Jim had done to those animals. And I guessed he was the one who’d torn Sarah Champion to pieces in the forest.
    “Dave! Please!”
    Missy beat her fists on the door. My lungs