Eight…

Eight: Un-dead

Pumpkin Patch lot was created by ehaught58:  http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=1339655 

Music mentioned in this chapter is Loser by Beck, and Hail Mary by Tupac Shakur, and all rights belong to the respective owners.

And one more thing: it’s bad to smoke, m’kay? Bad… very bad. Just because a vampire might do it, doesn’t mean you should.   😛

                                                            …

November drew near, along with an icy chill in the air.

Shawn’s death had only been five weeks earlier. Despite Aubrey’s continued bereavement, she attended a friend’s Halloween party.

She felt out of place. Maybe it was because her depression didn’t match the cheery mood of the environment. Maybe it was because her only costume was a mask. Maybe it was because everyone around her was sane, while she was a nut job. Either way, she felt like running straight out of the building.

Anxiety kept her feet frozen to the floor. She gazed around, looking for her friend.

Finally, she saw her. Toni Sorenson strolled up to Aubrey.  

“Hey, I didn’t think you’d actually come,” she said. “Glad to see you here.”

“Thanks. I’m, uh, glad to be here. By the way, nice costume,” Aubrey replied, chuckling.

“Well, at least it covers my boobs.” Toni’s eyes drifted down to Aubrey’s sheer dress.

Aubrey rolled her eyes.

“Don’t look to the right,” Toni said.

Aubrey began to look, but then stopped herself.

“What’s up with that guy standing in the doorway?” Toni asked. “He’s been standing there for the last hour.”

“Um, I think he’s looking over here,” Aubrey said.

Aubrey quickly glanced at him.

“I don’t know what his problem is,” she said. “And I don’t really care. I just want a drink.” Aubrey left Toni and headed for the bar.

She sipped scotch, watching the people around her.

Music emanated from the stereo, playing Loser by Beck.

♫’Soy un perdedor, I’m a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me?’♪

Aubrey noticed the empty doorway. Apparently, Count Weirdo had left.

Not so quick…

Fingers brushed against her arm.

“Want to dance?” he asked.

Stunned, she turned to regard him.

“Sure. Why not?” she said.

He led her to the designated dance area.

Beck’s song went over. A slow, eerie tune came next. It was Hail Mary, by Tupac Shakur.  (Link to song, but warning: some of the lyrics are very, very offensive!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkJA6SYwa94)

The stranger elevated his arms in the air, grinding his body against hers. Then he dipped down…

♪‘Makaveli in this Killuminati, all through your body.
The blows like a 12 guage shotty.
Feel me.
God said he should send his one begotten son
To lead the wild in to the ways of the man.
Follow me.
Be my flesh, flesh and my flesh.’ ♪

♪’Come with me, Hail Mary, 
run quick, see,
what do we have here now?
Do you wanna ride or die?
La, la la la, la, la, la la’♪

He rose back up. Almost instinctively, Aubrey pressed against him. Then she spun around.

Slowly, sensually, he rubbed against her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Why does he feel so cold? She wondered. So cold… so cold. A memory ignited in her mind, but she pushed it away.

She turned around and stumbled as though drunk. The stranger grabbed her, breaking her fall.

“You alright?” he asked.

She nodded.

Leaning forward, he whispered “I want to tell you something. But not here.”

“Uh-huh,” she said.

“I know something you don’t know,” he hissed; then withdrew.

“Um, okay,” she nervously laughed. “Right now, I think I’d be willing to do anything for you. This is the best time I’ve had in… forever.”

He took her hand, and together they left the party.

The music died behind them.

He led her up to the pumpkin patch.

Aubrey stepped over the orange globes, being careful not to stumble over the uneven ground.

“There’s something I think you should know,” he began.

“Shawn Taylor isn’t really dead,” he said. “And I should know, because I’m the one who brought him back.”

“Talk to Reverend Reese. He’ll help you find him.”

Utterly dumbfounded, she just stared at him.

He kissed her on the cheek.

Then briskly walked away, leaving her in a dark void of confusion.

‘Shawn Taylor isn’t really dead. I should know, because I’m the one who brought him back.’ The statement repeated itself infinitely inside her head, until she thought she’d officially go mad. Then flashes of her dreams invaded:

Her lover rising from the dead…

Kissing her…

And her son’s words: “Shawn’s not dead.”

Aubrey snapped out of her reverie, at least long enough to walk to her car.

The blond guy was gone, but two darker-haired men lingered outside the building. Both stared at her, making her skin crawl. One smoked a cigarette.

Quickly, she rushed past them.

She never saw the crimson glow to their eyes, nor heard the words they spoke.

“Is that her?” one asked.

“Yes,” the other replied.

Two days later, Aubrey saw her shrink.

“What’s wrong with me? Now I’m having crazy dreams that Shawn’s still alive, and some guy at a party told me he… he brought Shawn back from the dead!”

“And I assume you’re still taking your meds?” Dr. Paulison said.

“Yes I am. Is that the reason behind my crazy dreams?”

“Well, yes that’s one of the side effects. But what about your friend, whom you said–resurrected Shawn? Can you tell me more?”

“I met this guy at a party the other night and after we danced, he took me outside. He said ‘Shawn is still alive. I should know, because I’m the one who brought him back’. And then I saw two guys staring at me! I thought they were going to come after me or something! So am I really that crazy and paranoid? I don’t think the meds are working! I think you’re right, I really am crazy…”

“Just calm down. You’re not crazy.”

“But I think I should switch your medications. Like you said, the Phalemenerol isn’t doing its job. I’m going to prescribe 50 mgs. of Sarumax.”

“Wait a minute; I don’t want to switch meds. I’ve already gotten used to the other’s side effects.”

“Aubrey, it’s either that or voluntary admission into the psych ward. If not voluntary, then I might speak to your father about committing you again.”

“What? Those are the only options I have?”

“I’m afraid so, unless you suddenly improve within a few days. I doubt that’s going to happen, considering you’ve been on a higher dosage the last several weeks,” he said. Then Dr. Paulison leaned back and asked, “did you get the young man’s name? The one at the party?”

“Uh, no. Why?”

“No particular reason, but maybe he heard about the accident and, in his own sick and twisted way, just wanted to upset you. Obviously, it worked.”

“But the real question is, what do you believe? Do you believe Shawn is really alive?”

“Is this a trick question? I mean, if I answer yes, then it means I’m crazy and you’ll commit me. So I think no is the correct answer.”

“I’m asking you Aubrey. What do you believe?” His flaming green eyes pierced hers.

“I believe he’s…”

“alive?” she tentatively said.

“Despite all evidence to the contrary, this is truly what you believe? Even though there was a memorial service with Shawn’s ashes inside an urn, the newspaper’s account of the accident, the police reports, statements from the hospital staff, and witness accounts.”

Aubrey glared at him.

“No. You’re right. Shawn really is dead. It was just wishful thinking on my part.”

“Great. Now I’ll just write you a script for the Sarumax. I think it’ll help with the anxiety and paranoia.”

Afterward, Aubrey stood near the church. She debated on whether or not to see Reverend Reese.

Only minutes later, Aubrey was inside the church. A blonde woman hovered near the entrance.

“Can I help you with anything?”

“May I speak with Reverend Reese?”

And so it begins…

                                                          ****

Chapter 9 coming next Weds. >.>

Oh, and the stranger at the Halloween Party was not Vaclav. 😛

Thanks for reading, as always! ♥