Hanging on Bones

Chapter 13: Power cables

BLOODY HELL!!

Phantom shivers running through my back as without much thought, I reflexively drop to the ground. The instant that took was enough for the spell to reach it destination.

The headstone that I landed behind, shielded me from most of the blast, but the flames that spread in its wake, almost set fire to my arm. Quick hand movements got rid of that problem.

Satisfied that flames will not consume me, I turn my attention towards Maria. She is quite far away from where I was standing, which might be why her spell did not reach me. Her movements are frantic, but it does not look as if she’s casting another spell.

There is no use waiting to see what she does. Usually the best defence is attack. Not waiting any longer, I rush in her direction. I’m weaving this way and that between the graves, just in case she has some ace up her sleeve.

As I approach her, I see she stopped all her movements and is standing still, with both hands raised palms up. The rage boiling in me flickers a bit. Another trick, damn her!

Ignoring her defenceless pleading attitude, I do not break speed even in the slightest and use my free hand to strike her skull. It flies off majestically sailing through the air to strike a tree few meters behind. Her arms make various bracing motions before she finally loses balance and crumbles to the ground.

I take huge swing that is supposed to shatter her ribs when I see the ground.

There, very sketchy and hastily written, are the words: ‘Sorry!! That was accident!! I missed! I lack control!! I have to throw it by hand!! Forgive me!’

…

…

Well… I might have over reacted… Maybe I’m just too paranoid…

…

… Naaah…

…

But either way, what is done is done, so I should make best of it.

I quickly pick up her skull, taking it into my bony hands. I need to familiarise myself with the new laws that govern my old world, so proper examination is in order. As I handle her head, she starts to move her jawbone in a protest, but I ignore it.

Obviously I never got to see inside of my own head. Normally, the small hole at the bottom of the skull, where the spine connects to it, is the only place where you can clearly see inside. Maria on the other hand, must have been real airhead. From my own experience, the bones that were already broken at the moment of your death, do not regenerate during the sleep. That means she let the air caress her brain while she was still alive. Yeah, true definition of air head.

Still, peaking through the huge hole in the side of her head I realise that except for the backlash of red eye glow, there is nothing worth mentioning inside the skull itself.

Well.. this just proves that she’s empty headed.

…

After putting her skull on one of the slabs, and making sure her body does not go anywhere, I slowly and meticulously describe to her, what a bad idea it is to make such mistakes. Little poke in the eye. Little bowling practice. But after an hour or two of playing with her we are disturbed by lone warrior.

I quickly jumped up and got ready for battle, when I noticed it’s our burned friend Mr. Kowalski. Hell, he followed us here. But unlike other zombies, he was still like an stone. Not looking around or wandering. Just looking directly at me.

I’ve put aside Maria’s skull and went to examine him instead. Unlike with other zombies, whichever side I tried to approach him, he always turned to face me. Other than the knife in his heart and the fact that he’s quite crispy, he can easily pass for live human.

As I was retrieving my knife, something flashed between us, like an electrical jolt. The feeling I had before, overflowed my whole being as we made contact.

I took few steps back, but the feeling did not abate. It simply changed form. Now I ‘knew’ where he was and what he was doing. Damn, I feel violated and sick. It’s horrible. As if he forcefully pushed on to me what he is doing. Without any cognitive thoughts, like the stream of data I feel where his legs are, where his arms are, where the head and so on.

I tried forcing the feeling down. Surprisingly it abated almost instantly.

It took me few moments but I calmed myself again and looked at the zombie before me. There is no thought in its eyes. Complete lack of emotion. Like a blank slate.

AH!

The idea that popped into my mind would be considered little mad when I was alive, but so much changed by now, that it might actually work.

As I calmed myself and felt for the link between us, the chill started running down my spine. Ignoring it I gathered my thoughts into nice compressed little bundle and sent it through the link.

The zombie moved few meters. Just like I ordered it to.

It was simple command, but it has proven my mad theory. I can move him. I can command him!!

Hahaha! That’s more like it!! What about other zombies and skeletons?

With much vigor and enthusiasm, I quickly rushed for the undead that are in the distance. Group of three skeletons and one heavily decayed zombie are milling around close to the path. My unabashed trashing and all the noise I make do not seem to get their attention. In my eagerness I totally forgot to take any precautions. Yet, the fact that this late in the night they are still simply wandering means we are safe today.

I crash onto the path between the two of them. As I come to a halt my boots are making scrapping noises skidding on the gravel. Even though I must be quite a sight to behold, they ignore me same as before.

Unperturbed by this I try to calm down and think of nothing. All the emotions and excitement of this night are stirring deep within me, making it difficult to achieve that state. After a while though I do feel it. The strings. But unlike with Mr. Kowalski, the lines of power that I feel, do not lead to me. Following them with my sight I see that they are all disappearing far off into the distance.

What? Someone else is controlling them? Those thoughts throw me out of my hard earned trance. But no use crying over spilled milk, I use this opportunity to take my brings. The strings were leading straight for the canter of cemetery.

But maybe… just maybe…

The emotions are bubbling inside me again and I have hard time relaxing. Few more tries get me nowhere, so I go for a different tactics. Sitting on the ground and crossing my legs like the Buddhist monks do, I finally manage to get myself into proper state of mind.

If it was the past I would have laughed at this absurd situation but I’m on the ground, in the midst of zombies and skeletons while meditating. That proves to work though and I start feeling the lines. They are very faint in comparison to the one Mr. Kowalski had.

Any kind of solid thought is almost instantly throwing me out of this state, so it’s very hard to do anything with them. I’m trying constantly though and with each attempt I get better at it. They start shifting and twisting but do not break loose. Even trying to make one of the lines pass through me, is proving useless. They pass through trees, headstones and even other undead without slightest problem, but once I tried to pass one through me, it skipped off as if burned.

I try attaching them to myself in various ways, when suddenly all four became red. What the hell?

What gets me out of my trance is a bite.

F**cking hell!!

The closest of the skeletons has bitten me on my arm!! Reflexively I push on the body in front of me and try to get up. Focusing my attention on here and now, I see that the zombie and two skeletons wandered off few rows down the hill during the time I was playing with their strings. They all are racing towards me. Damn it!! I’m in deep shit!!

The hungry fellow is still holding piece of my leather armour in its jaws while swiping the talon like claws at me. I kick it in the ribs while jumping back. The momentum carries me on top of a grave while the skeleton staggers few meters back.

I grab for the chainsaw and somehow manage to get it working. The noise is very loud, but alas, there seem to be no humans today.

When the blade actually starts to turn, the hungry fellow is already on top of me, with his friends inches behind him. I swipe it from side to side in a very panicked manner, but they are too close to dodge or otherwise defend themselves. The bones and occasional piece of meat scatter in all directions.

The fight was over in seconds. Few stomps on the skulls finish the deal. I did not suspect the chainsaw would be this effective. But they did manage to land few solid blows. Armour proved more than little useful though and the bones that they broke were minor ones. Well, not really, but at least I can still walk and use both hands.

I do not let myself rejoice yet, as there might be other eager enemies nearby. Looking in the distance I see zombies and skeletons. To my utter relief, they seem to ignore me as they used to. Seems like only ones to get pissed off were those whose power strings I played with.

Good to know. Golden rule for life and unlife. Do not play with power cables.

The ground is scattered with their remains. I made quite a mess here. The bones are in bits and pieces with skulls shattered and spines broken. Bit of hand here, piece of bone there.

But this gives me an idea.

Just to make sure, I sit down and struggle to reach zen-like state again. What I feel is precisely as expected. No lines of power coming from the remains.

On the other hand, very light familiar tingling that has started in the back of my mind, spells the approach of a dawn. I have to make haste. Quick search of nearby graves and I find empty one. In spite of my instincts I force myself to take my time and gather the remains of all four of my opponents into it. I then make sure to close it off from the world.

Running back to the place I left Maria at I concentrate on the link between me and Mr. Kowalski. It’s so easy, that I nearly tripped on nearby grave. Turns out I can use him as my eyes as well.

Focusing properly this time, I send mental command to return to his previous grave. In perfect situation I would prefer taking him with me, just to make sure Maria behaves, but there’s too little time now. He seems way to slow.

As he shuffles off to his grave I stop above Maria. She is quite resourceful little fellow and somehow managed to roll her skull next to her body. She is in process of chewing through her ropes. Really that must be quite an experience.

I don’t have time to be playing with her anymore, so lift her body onto my shoulder. After catching my balance in enough extent to keep her in place with only one hand, I grab the skull with the other.

Run back to my grave is quite uncomfortable, with her wiggling and movements braking my balance at most unfortunate moments. Even few shakes and spins of her skull do not make her behave. Hard case huh.

When I’m approaching my graves I make sure to cover her eye sockets. Choosing an random empty grave I know off, I drop her skull into it, and move on with her body to another. To confuse her a little more, I made several spontaneous turns and row changes.

Afterwards I dashed into my own grave securely closing the lid.

Now I can sleep without a worry.

…

I wonder what will hatch from that experiment of mine. And who the hell controls most of the undead here…

…

Well it will be busy day tomorrow…

…

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Author: Cheers and thanks for comments!! They often inspire!

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Also proofing and read-through corrections are what this story needs, so if anyone is willing to give me a hand, it would be much appreciated.

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