**This story takes place DIRECTLY after my first story: Alone. It is heavy-handed and I have rated this story M. Trigger warning: heavy talks of suicide, depression, and the struggle to keep fighting. Please take this into account when reading. Also rated M for under-aged sex and talks of abortion. Reader beware.**

Chapter 10

Grace

Two o'clock came before I was ready. I was running through the house, finishing putting my hair up into a bun as I ran, looking for the keys to the Beta van from the mortuary and struggling to not panic. I had never even considered pulling off a job like this without Serra, and to be honest, I was scared. I threw myself into my car, started it up and headed towards the storage unit where I had parked the van the night before.

As I switched cars, I took a couple deep breaths, reminding myself that Bobby, I was sure, had held up his end of the deal. I knew he called the day before to prep the County Clerk's office that I was coming, but I still felt unprepared. The longer we were apart, the more I realized how much I depended on the safety I felt when my baby sister was around.

Holding my phone out to stare at Serra's phone number on my screen, I debated even pushing 'call.' I closed my eyes and shook my head: it was ringing before I knew it was happening.

As predicted, the phone call went to voicemail and I took a deep breath as Serra's voice echoed through my ear. The silence told me that it was my turn to speak, but they were frozen somewhere between my belly and my throat. Finally, I swallowed and took a ragged breath.

"Sere, it's me," I said, not really knowing what to say. "I'm on my way to get Emery and…" I faded away, not knowing how to continue. "It's…it's the first job I've ever pulled without you. I'm taking Nat and let's face it, I'll probably get caught, so." I looked up, trying to keep the tears from smearing my make-up. "Anyway, I hope you're safe. I'm gonna…have a service for her tomorrow morning, early, by those caves she was convinced that she could make into a wine cellar." I laughed to myself, knowing how ridiculous this message was becoming. "I miss you."

I hung up the phone before I made it worse than it was. Pulling down the storage unit door, I climbed into the Beta van and took a deep breath. Time to play the part.

Driving the four miles to Natalie's house didn't take much time at all and she was waiting on the front porch for me when I drove up, looking professional with her hair up and modest make-up. She even made it a point to wear a long-sleeved shirt under the uniform to hide the two tattoos she had on her arms. I would be forever grateful towards her for putting in so much effort.

"Ready?" she greeted, smiling as she climbed into the van.

Nodding and smiling back as best as I knew how, I continued on to the County Clerk's office to get Emery.

…

"Hi," I greeted, holding my clipboard and envelope with the cash from the mortuary, "I'm here for a pick-up."

I knew it was Edward from the phone before he answered me. His face was kind, handsome, and only a little older than me. He smiled at me and extended his hand for the clipboard I was holding. "Oh, yes," he said, nodding at the release papers I had created. "Calico." Edward smiled and nodded, standing from his place at his desk. "Such a sad circumstance," he said, speaking to Natalie and me as he walked. "These sisters are barely old enough to be legal and both of their guardians end up dying the same week." We followed him down the hall and I closed my eyes, searching for the strength to hold it together. It was probably for the best that Serra wasn't here.

Natalie threw me a look as we walked and I knew, right then and there, that she knew this wasn't legit. I glanced at her and smiled sheepishly as we walked down the corridor to the tiny morgue. I knew I could trust Nat, but at the same time, I knew her trust in me had been shaken. I just hoped that she would keep it to herself until we were back in the van.

Edward turned and smiled at me, handing the clipboard back after he signed it. He smiled and held out his hand and it took me a second to realize that he was waiting for the payment from the mortuary. I handed him the envelope and he nodded, putting it into a drop box near the entrance of the morgue storage. I silently cursed the fact that he didn't even open the envelope to verify the fact that there was cash inside. I could have used that money.

Heading towards the cold storage drawers, Natalie wheeled the gurney towards us and I braced myself for what I knew would be my make or break. Edward opened the door marked "Calico, Emery," and I closed my eyes.

"She had no belongings with her when she came in," Edward was saying as I stared at Emery's body. "Only her clothes," he said, glancing at me. "Does the family want them?"

I shook my head, still staring at her lifeless form. "No," I heard myself say.

"Okay, then," Edward answered, turning back to Emery. "She's all yours."

Natalie nodded at me, edging me forward. We lifted the canvas sheet below her, using the handles to slide her body onto the gurney. Edward stepped forward to close the cold storage drawer and pull the label off of the door and peel the sticker back of, affixing it to the file he had in his hand. "Can you sign this here?" he asked, holding out the file and pointing to the dotted line at the bottom of the page. I nodded, numb, and took the pen, signing illegibly the fake name I wore on my uniform.

Pulling the gurney out into the hallway, Natalie paused and waited for me to follow. As soon as Emery was out of my line of sight, it immediately was easier to play the part. "Thank you very much," I said to Edward, smiling professionally at him. "Have a good one."

"Thanks," he said, his face flushing slightly. "You too." I made the move to follow Natalie, disbelieving how easily we were about to pull this off, but Edward's voice stopped me. "Excuse me," he began, rubbing his hands together, "I don't usually do this, and it's very awkward with in cold storage, but would you like to have dinner some time?"

It caught me off guard so much that I laughed. "Oh," I said, grinning awkwardly, "yeah. Dinner. Dinner would be awesome."

I could see Natalie roll her eyes. Men hit on me pretty constantly at the diner as well and I almost never turned them down, just on the fact that I could easily get fed a few times for free. He smiled at me, happy that I had accepted, and waited patiently as I wrote my phone number on his hand, trying very hard not to make physical contact with him. If I did, I knew it would be a very awkward three seconds as I watched his memories and thoughts play through my head when I should be writing. Being a psychic was a pain in the ass.

Edward glanced down at the ink in his palm and grinned down at me. "It was nice to meet you," he flicked his hazel eyes towards the nametag on my uniform, "Rickie. Can I call you tonight?"

I nodded my head, smiling again. I shrugged. "Of course," I breathed, "It was nice to meet you, too." With a final turn, I grinned and followed Natalie down the hall. I could hear the rolling wheels of the gurney begin to squeak and it not-so-gently reminded me that we were rolling Emery's dead body down a hall of a morgue and somehow, I still had to load her, drop off Natalie, drive Emery to the caves at the east end of town, drop her off, hide her, ditch the van and the uniforms, and go back to salt and burn her body. I didn't exactly have time to go on a date.

As soon as we had Emery loaded into the bay of the van, Natalie turned to me and stared. "You don't work for Greendale Mortuary."

I shook my head.

"Then where the hell did you get the van?"

"I stole it," I answered quietly.

Natalie tilted her head. "Why?"

Taking a deep breath, I knew how it sounded, and I had no defense for myself. I replied, "The only way to release a body through the state of Kansas is to have a mortuary claim it. I don't have the cash to pay for a mortuary. I barely have enough cash to eat, Nat."

She sat quietly for a moment and shook her head. "What else don't I know about you, Grace Browning?" she asked, smiling lightly. "You are a mystery."

"That's putting it mildly," I responded. We drove in silence for a few minutes and as we pulled up in front of her house, she made the move to open her door, but hesitated.

"What are you going to do with Emery?" she asked quietly.

I licked my lips and stared at the steering wheel. "Cremate her."

"By yourself?"

I nodded, unable to answer.

"Where is Serra?" Natalie pressed, tilting her head.

I could feel myself begin to lose control again. Natalie and I were friends and she knew about Serra taking off. "I don't really know," I whispered. "She hasn't called."

Natalie turned her body towards mine and reached for my hand, still resting on the steering wheel. "Let me help."

Tears brimmed in my eyes, threatening to fall down my cheeks, but I fought them off. "It's really okay, Nat," I was saying, shaking my head. "I can do it."

"Not alone," she whispered. "It's too much for anyone by themselves. You don't have to be alone. I expect a phone call tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you to pick me up on your way." I was still shaking my head, unwilling to let anyone else shoulder the burden. "Grace," she said, firm, "if you don't call me and come pick me up, I'll report you."

Whipping my head around to face her, I furrowed my eyebrows. "You wouldn't dare."

"Watch me." She jumped out of the van and slammed the door, stripping out of the jumpsuit uniform while she stood on the curb. Her long sleeve shirt and shorts had rolled up during our little con, revealing her belly button and her array of tattoos and she balled up the uniform and tossed it in through the open window. "If I don't hear from you by two tomorrow, I'm calling the cops."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Fine," I snarled, shaking my head. "You're so bossy."

"Yeah, well," she answered, leaning on the window frame, "it's what makes me a good friend." As she stood up, she pointed towards the paint. "Wipe down my prints, will you? I've got a prior." She winked at me comically and turned on a heel. "See you tomorrow, Grace!"

Shaking my head, I pulled the van away from the curb and headed towards the outskirts of Lawrence, towards the caves where I would put one of the most important people in my life to rest.