“You can call me Dale,” he says.
“Dale?” Wren blinks.
I feel her turning the name over in her mind. It’s possibly the most ridiculous name for an undead creature she’s ever heard. She expected something dark and ominous, not Dale. That’s such a normal, suburban dad name.
I can’t help it. I snort with laughter, and she hears me.
Wren fights to keep a straight face.
“Anyway, Dale, thanks for everything.”
Dale shrugs, still grinning slightly, then leaves and locks the door behind him.
“What are you doing?”I ask. “Trying to make friends?”
“Why not? Dale seems like a decent one.”
“He’s undead. He’s literally a reanimated corpse.”
“So? Doesn’t mean he can’t be nice.”
“He probably eats human flesh.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe he’s vegetarian.”
We’re both laughing now, and it feels good. The tension breaks a little.
“Besides,”Wren continues, “undead people don’t talk much, which makes them excellent listeners.”
“Is that your criteria for friendship? Silence?”
“Sometimes it helps. You should try it.”
“Very funny.”
“I thought so. And honestly, did you see what he was wearing? Those torn, stained clothes? I think Dale needs a friend who’ll take him shopping.”
“I don’t think the undead care much about fashion.”
“Clearly.”
The timer goes off, pulling us back to reality. Wren returns to the refrigerator and removes the first batch of Crimson Haze. The liquid glows crimson, thick and perfectly stabilized. She fills a dozen small vials, caps each one, and lines them up in a neat row. Then she strips off her latex gloves and lab apron and grabs the food bag.
She carries it to one of the metal tables and opens it. Like I guessed, there’s real food inside: soup that smells like chicken noodle, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken breast, and a side salad. Everything is still warm.
“Seems like Garrett really wants to take care of me,”she thinks as she starts eating.“Making sure I eat healthy.”
I bristle at the mention of his name.
“I don’t like Garrett.”
“You shouldn’t.He’s a snake.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“What, did you think I like him?”She sounds amused.“He smokes like a chimney.”
“That is disgusting,”I agree emphatically.
