The Whispers by Daryl Banner

Author:Daryl Banner [Banner, Daryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, New Adult & College, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Paranormal & Urban
Amazon: B01CF003YU
Publisher: Frozenfyre Publishing
Published: 2016-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

John looks up at the tree, considering it.

“Don’t you dare,” I warn him.

He glances back at our friend, Corpsey. He puts a hand to his own chin, drumming fingers along his jaw.

“Don’t,” I say again.

John addresses our friend, Corpsey. “Your kind really feel no discomfort at all?”

“No.”

“And you don’t breathe?”

“No.”

John nods. “Very well.”

With that, John tosses the tassel over the nearest branch, then pulls with all his might. Corpsey lifts off the ground as if he weighs nothing—that, or John is a lot stronger than I give him credit for. He gives it another great heave and a grunt, then secures the tassel around a neighboring tree, tying it off.

I sigh. “I can’t believe you did that.”

Corpsey dangles there lazily by the neck. I daresay he appears bored.

“Can’t take chances,” mutters John, returning to me. “We need our rest. We’ve been on our feet for hours.”

“I’m fine,” rasps the pale boy with a wave of his hand. “Really,” he assures me when I look unconvinced. “Totally fine. Can’t feel a thing.” His strangled voice sounds more gravelly than my Aunt Belinda’s and she’s been smoking since she was ten. “I’m just greeeat.”

After staring sadly at the dangling Undead boy for a moment, I finally concede, lowering myself to the ground and leaning against John, who’s found a nearby tree to lean against within view of our dangling friend.

I experience a wave of guilt that unrests every nerve I just steeled before leaving After’s Hold. The wave of guilt turns into words. “We should’ve grabbed water,” I say, turning my head slightly. I hope John hasn’t already fallen asleep at my back; he looked so exhausted. “Or food. Or thought to wake the others to come with us. I was selfish not to include them.”

“We left on an impulse,” John reminds me, his words vibrating through his chest and into mine. “Don’t blame yourself, Jen. Look.” He takes my hand into his, fiddling gently with my fingers. “If that fussy roommate of yours survived this long, so can we. Right? Can you imagine how whiny she’d be by now if she were with us? ‘Jen, where can we find a bagel store around here?’”

I try to smile, but even the muscles in my face grow heavier by the second. I can hardly keep my eyes open. “I know you’re trying to cheer me up, but—”

“Just imagine the relief we’ll feel when she’s with us and we’re returning to After’s Hold together,” he tells me. “Just imagine how you’ll feel when this is all over with and we’re back home. They’ll celebrate us. Don’t you hear all your peers cheering after you’ve presented your dissertation to the class? The Beautiful Dead …”

The dream he’s lending me sends my mind into a new direction. The dissertation … Notoriety … Vindication … John’s acceptance and support from the financial aid …

“John, what will happen when you do get accepted into the university?” I ask, looking down as he starts to massage each of my fingers, his hands feeling so strong against mine.

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