BoonDocks FanFiction

Carina Hawkins Presents:

"Oxygen"

Chapter 14: Cryptic Net

4 Months Later

The atmosphere around the town was becoming heavier than a two ton weight being dropped on the shoulders of a child. Sky water was pounding at the hard, crisp ground. The sky was as black as a raven's feather as it housed millions of unseen white stars. The silence of the night was usually a wonderful this to behold. Though, on a certain night, it became something not even Dracula himself would be fond of.
"Dammit Damien," A male's voice rang out. "Could you at least pick up a shovel and help me?!" The figure was slim yet tall. The outline of his boyish figure was easy to spot from a far distance. His skin was pale, his eyes were at a slight slant to suggest he was from a different country. His long, wine red, silky hair draped slightly over his slender shoulders. It was obvious to the naked eye that this boy was digging but he wasn't just digging in a random area. He was digging up a grave that belonged to someone's dead body. The whole he continued to clear dirt from became bigger and bigger with each passing minute. The tight fitting pants he was wearing were dirty and wet from standing in the mud filled grave. his sweater was only drenched with rain water.
"A prince does not dig up a muddy grave Cas," Another male's voice spoke from the darkness. This figure was sitting upon the square shaped tomb stone that stood at the head of the grave. "Besides, this was your idea." Using his right hand for balance, he used his left hand to flip back the long strands of raven that hung in front of his porcelain face. His body was exactly like that of Castiel but taller. "So keep quiet before someone catches us idiot." Damien was dressed in black, tight jeans that fit perfectly to his long, slender legs, and a plain black shirt that was wet with water.
Rolling his eyes, Castiel kept pushing the dirt out of the way. He would push the shovel head down into the dirt until he hit something hard. "Hmm..." Smirking, he tossed the shovel out of the hole and began to clear away the mud with his bare hands. "I found it Dee." His voice rang out.
Hopping down from his perch, he bent over the hole and smirked. "Good, now open it Cas."
"Yeah yeah yeah i'm getting there..." Rolling his chocolate eyes once more, he forcefully pulled open the lid of the casket. "There she is..." With a satisfied sigh, he gazed at the person laying helplessly inside of the silky bed. Pulling a pocket knife out of his hoodie pocket, he graciously handed it to Damien. Grabbing it quickly, he used the sharpened blade to slice through a vein on his slim wrist. once blood was flowing from the fresh wound, he held his wrist over the corpse's mouth and let the drops of maroon flow into her slightly parted lips. "Welcome back...Sis." Cas smirked.

A loud clap of thunder disturbed the quietness of the night. Lightening illuminated the darkness around the cemetery As if waking from a nightmare, the woman's body shot up as terror showed itself on her angelic face. Letting out a scream, she looked around at where she had been laid to rest. Her Hershey kisses eyes wondering around the muddy hole. Coughing a bit, she began to inhale fresh oxygen into her rested lungs. "W-What the fuck..." She spoke and touched the inner lid of her casket. "S-Seani probably did this as a joke..." Rolling her eyes, she rubbed her aching head. "Ha Ha Ha very funny Seani but the joke is over!" the living girl shouted out of her grave. "now get me the hell out of here before I tell dad..." Silence. "Seani i'm serious!" Panic began to set in. "I have to get out of here..." Looking down, her bed was now filled with water and brown mud. "S-Shit..." Her legs refused to move from the silkiness. "I-I can't move!" The water was beginning to spill into the open grave. In less than a few minutes, six feet of this hole would be filled to the top, drowning her when she had barely begun to live again. It seemed that the more she struggled, the further into the mud she went. Pushing with her weak legs, she jumped with as much power as she could. Once she jumped high enough, she dug her long nails into the ground above. "AH!" because of the weight, her middle finger nail on her right hand ripped off all of the way making her scream out in pain. Trying her best to ignore the pain, she clawed her way out as fast as she could. Once out, she laid on her back writhing in pain from the loss of her nail. "Fuck fuck fuck!" the word came out of her mouth like air. Once the pain subsided, the girl lay on her back looking upward. "How the hell did I get from there...to here?" Of course there would no one around to answer her question. "What the hell happened to me?" Sitting up a bit, she looked around. "Graveyard...wait...d-did I die?" Sighing, she decided to finally stand up and find some answers. "i have to go find someone who knows what happened to me."

"Seani pick up the phone!" Ethan called out from the kitchen.
Hearing the ringing of the annoying phone, Seani ran down the stairs in nothing but a towel wrapped around her thin figure. "Hello?" She said in a sweet voice as she held the black, cordless object to her left ear.
"Aye babe," A male's voice spoke. "It's Riley."
"Hey, what are you doin'?" She asked. A small smile traced her lips slightly.
"'Bout to get ready to head to the school, you wanna come?" Riley asked with a smile.
"The school?" Her eyebrow raised up a bit. "For what?"
"Their havin' some sorta charity event or some shit like dat, it's like formal dance..."
Pausing for moment, she began to ponder the possible answers in her mind. "Nah, i'll pass, i'm not really up to going anywhere..."
"Seani, it's been four months since 'you-know-who' died...you have to move on and have some fun wit us boo..."
Letting out sigh, even though she didn't want to go, she knew Riley was right. It had been nearly four months since her sister was murdered and her boyfriend was nearly killed so it was time for her to go out with him again and have some fun. "Fine," She finally agreed. "Let me get dressed."
"Good, i'll be over in ten...love ya." He said
"Love you to RiRi."
Both pressed the 'end' buttons on their telephones and hung them up. Now, it was time for Seani to get into an impressive outfit.
Slowly, she walked up the steps and toward her room. Before she was able to reach her bedroom, she turned toward the door that sat still down the hallway. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she began to wonder toward the unused doorway. Quickly stopping in her tracks, she slowly shook her head. "No, don't do it Seani..." She coxed herself as she spun on her heels. "Walk away..."

The door bell sound rang throughout the large house. Not a single room was left untouched by the sound. "Coming!" Seani lovely voice sounded. Step by step, the girl ran down the stairs toward the door. Flinging the door open with one sift motion, Riley stood before her dressed in a button up flannel with red, black, and white lines and a pair of dark, baggy jeans. With a toothy smile on his face, he stared at her with wanting, brown eyes.
"Damn Seani," Riley bit his lower lip. "You look fine!" Fine of course meaning amazing.
The beautiful woman before him was dressed in a short, white, fluffy, strapless dress with small, baby blue snowflakes upon it.. Covering her petite feet were white plain white flats. Her long, raven hair was tied up nicely. Each strand was curled perfectly. Her light skin was very beautiful in the fall moonlight. "Ready ta go?" His brain was telling him to walk to the car but his eyes couldn't stop staring at her. He'd never seen someone so gorgeous in his life. Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and pulling her into him until their body touched in a delicate was. Suddenly, Seani felt a shiver tremble down her spine as her pink lips and his slightly dark lips connected. For a perfectly, warm moment, nothing had ever mattered so much. The cool breeze of fall wrapping them in a blanket of love. Just as swiftly as the loving embrace had started, it was over as soon as their lips disconnected. "I love you..." They each gazed into the other's eyes.
"I love you to..." She spoke softly. "Now, let's go romeo before we're late." Reaching behind her, she grabbed the knob of the door and pulled it shut. Hand in hand, they walked out to 'Dorothy.' "Is Huey going?" She questioned as she placed herself into the front, passenger seat.
Riley opened his front door and sat int he driver's seat. "Yeah, he said he's gonna meet us there."
The rest of the car ride to the college was painfully silent. Not as awkward as it should have been but the silence was ridiculous. Once the car was parked into a safe parking spot, Riley turned the key backwards which shut off the loud car."iight babe," Riley turned slightly to Seani and placed a arm over the ead of the seat. "Ready?" Nodding slightly, Seani pushed open her car door and waited for her boyfriend to exit aswell. When he did, he locked the car by pressing a button on his keys, then laced his slender fingers with her's as they happily made their way toward the party goers inside.

Lights of all different hues flashed throughout the large, elegant dance hall. Decorations of streamers and confetti lined the ceilings, walls and floor to give the room a pieceful and beautiful look. People from all corners of Wood crest had come to give, party, and have a great time with friends. The music was blasting to an exciting point. The tall, glass windows allowed the sunset rays to flood in. The people who were on the large dance floor were dancing with or on each other in the most provocative ways possible with no shame written on their faces. Other's were eating or sitting down at the large, round, wood brown tables on the other side of the hall. All in all, the people seemed to having the time of their lives. In front of the door, before entering, was a table where two people sat. A man with pale skin, baby blue eyes, and balding brown hair. Beside him, sat a fair skinned woman with blonde hair and brown eyes.
Noticing a handsome Riley and his beautiful date walk up to the table, the two sitting people gave fake smiles. "Hello," The blonde started. "Please put your payment into that jar and sign your name bel-."
"Yeah yeah yeah." Sighing, Riley placed twenty dollars into the nearly full jar and began to write his name on the line.
Riley Freeman
Handing the black ink pen to Seani, she then wrote her name below his with a smile.
Seani Hunter
Placing the pen down once finished, Seani suddenly grabbed Riley's hand and led him around the table and through the doors. Once in, they got a good look around at all of the action going on around them. "Do you wanna dance or get something to drink RiRi?" She stopped and turned to him looking up slightly with shining emerald orbs.
"I'ma get somethin' ta drink...c'mon..." The bashful boy was to shy to dance so he decided to maneuver her toward a different direction, one where he didn't have to dance. Gently, and ever so lightly grabbing her pale hand, he directed her toward the refreshment stand.
"O-Okay..." Expectation began to shiver through her being. She honestly knew he would react in such a way just to get out of dancing. "Riley," She pulled back to a stop. "Are you to scared to dance with me?" Her teasing voice caught him off guard.
Scratching in between the braids in the back of his head, he blushed and Tweedledeed around the question. "N-Nah, Riley Freeman ain't scared of noffin'..."
Liar. Seani thought inside of her head. Shaking her head slightly caused her loose, black curls to bounce ever so gently. "C'mon Riley, show me how you shake that ass!" Quickly taking his wrist in her hand, she forcefully pulled him near the crowd of dancing fools. When she released his slender, mocha wrist, the ready girl began to dance like a goddess. Her lucious hips were mocking Riley where he stood. Every movement she made kept driving him more and more insane. Riley's coco eyes stared in awe. Never had he seen her move in such a way just for him. Reaching with and arm, he caught her waist and pulled her body close to him. Her back was facing him as they swayed in sync. Both of his slightly shaking hands were placed on her hips making him scream in his brain. Her feminine, slender hands were placed like a dream on top of his. Slowly, their fingers began to lace and connect like puzzle pieces. Her lovely lower reign was grinding against his as they swayed side to side.

"You should let me love you

Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need

Baby good love and protection

Make me your selection

Show you the way love's supposed to be

Baby you should let me love you, love you, love you"

The deeper into the song they seemed to get, the more everyone around them seemed to just vanish in their eyes. There eyelids covering their eyes so all they saw was darkness to help relax their body and help their love for one another grow larger.

"Your true beauty's description looks so good that it hurts

You're a dime plus ninety-nine and it's a shame

Don't even know what you're worth

Everywhere you go they stop and stare

Cause you're bad and it shows

From your head to your toes, Out of control, baby you know"

Slowly, Riley held her right hand and spun her slowly. Seani spun clockwise and soon came to a face to face stop in front of her ever so sweet Romeo. With faith, she reached upward and placed her hands onto his shoulders as she stared up with a loving smile. As the blushing boy felt the woman place her hands on his shoulders, he reached down and placed his hands softly on her tiny waist. Still swaying in motion, she laid her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. Riley's hands soon went from resting on her sides, to lacing his fingers together behind her back as a way to hold her close. Seani's warm hands transferred from his shoulders to being wrapped around his waist. He felt her transition and fixed his arms so that they were over her shoulders. His left hand resting in her loose black curls while his right was around her shoulders holding her close.

"If I was ya man (baby you)

Never worry bout (what I do)

I'd be coming home (back to you)

Every night doin' you right

You're the type of woman (deserves good thangs)

Fistful of diamonds (hand full of rings)

Baby you're a star (I just want to show you, you are)"

The song soon ended but Seani and Riley didn't car. They kept swaying to the beat of their own drum. The dazed boy would rest his head on her and inhale the scent of her strawberry scented hair. He loved strawberries though he liked his coated with sugar and chocolate. Once they heard the song change to something faster with a stronger base beat, she released him and grabbed him bt the collar of his shirt, dragging him to the middle of the crowded dance floor.

"All I wanna do is love your body

Oh oh oh oh

Tonight's your lucky night, I know you want it

Oh oh oh oh

It's true what you heard, I am a freak, I'm disturbed

So come on and give me your worst (uh oh, yeah)

We're moving faster then slow,

If you don't know where to go,

I'll finish off on my own (uh oh, yeah)"

Riley would follow along. While he was being pulled through the mass of sweaty, sex hormoned teens and adults, he would give her a smirk that suggested what he wanted from her. Stopping in the middle of the people, Seani would seeing the mass of people soon become an open circle around them. Everyone's eyes were on them. Turning around, seani bent over giving Riley a full view of her assets. Keeping his naught hands from touching, he left her finish her nasty, in a great way, move then began him own. Moon walking slightly, he began to pop and lock the best ways he knew.

"All I wanna do is love your body

Oh oh oh oh

Tonight's your lucky night, I know you want it

Oh oh oh oh

I think you already know my name

I think you already know my name"

Stepping aside, she let her talented love interest have the spot light. Everyone who was watching, was fascinated at how smoothly the mocha skinned boy could move. Every move he made either reminded them of Michael Jackson or Usher. Minus the time that Tom Doubis, Jazmine's dad, had to stop his wife Sarah from cheating with Usher. Riley was moving in ways no one knew he could. Biting his lower lip, he was so focused, he didn't notice anyone but Seani watching him on the sidelines. Dancing toward her, he got on his knees and held his arms out horiontal and from his right middle finger to his left hand, he made them move in a wave motion. The crowd began to holler and shout in excitement at the dancing superstar. When the song ended, the poeple cheered and clapped for him, leaving a blushing Seani left wondering what else he could do with his hands. Standing up from the floor, he dusted off his jeans. "RILEY!" Seani jumped into his arms and smiled. "That was amazing, you never told me you could dance so well!" Riley wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled.
"Yeah, well, you neva asked babe..." Smiling, he guided her over to a vacant table and watched her sit down. Riley sat down beside her straddling the bench facing her. "So, how ya likin' da dance?"
"I love it." Seani smiled and looked over at him. "Thanks..."
"Fo' what?" He raised an eyebrow.
"For getting me out of the house and actually showing me how to have fun."
Suddenly, Riley felt a hand on his shoulder and looked behind him. "Aye Nigga!" He exclaimed seeing his older brother Huey. "Ya finally got out da damn house."
"Yeah, well, I wasn't gonna stay there forever Riley." Huey sighed and stared at his brother pushing his cold hands inside of his jeans pockets. He was dressed in dark blue jeans with a black buttom up shirt covering his torso. His shirt sleeves were rolled up once on his wrists showing off the diamond buttons.
"Yeah right fag," Riley laughed. "Yo ass was about to hide in the damn closet if given a minute."

Sucking his teeth once, Huey sat across from his annoying younger brother and rolled his brown eyes. "Riley shut yo dumb ass up."
"Nigga hush, I was only jokin'"
"Okay boys," Seani interjected. "Let's sit here and actually have some fun." Lacing her finger's with Riley's, she looked at him begging him to be nice to his brother only for tonight.
"Fine." The two irritated brother's agreed in unison.
"Well, well, well, look who it is." A female's voice announced behind Seani and Riley. "If it isn't Riley and Miss STD."
Seni and Riley turned to see Jazmine and Cindy glaring at them.
"Oh Christ not you two..." Seani sighed. "Look, this event is for caring and beautiful people only and looking at you two close up, possess neither of said traits so if you wouldn't mind crawling back into the rat cage you ran out of."
Rolling her eyes, Jazmine crossed her arms over her A cup sized chest. "So where's your sister Seani?" Fake gasping, she looked over at Cindy then back to Seani. "Oh yeah that's right...she's dead isn't she?" Smirking, she knew she hit a nerve.
Seani quickly stood but was soon stopped by Riley who stood in front of her, stopping her from taking another step. Huey quickly stood up and took his place beside his brother. The two created a half wall in front of the stressed Seani. "Shut'd up Jazmine," Riley warned. "You needa take yo fake ass as turn around before shit gets ugly bitch."
Cindy walked up to Riley and stood merely inches from his body. Pushing herself up on her tip-toes, her lips were so close from touching his. "Ya betta watch yo self cutie, yo pussy ass bitch is a hair away from getting her weave ripped up so you betta put that dog on a leash."
Hearing what Cindy had suggested to Riley, Seani shoved aside her boyfriend and Huey and stepped closer to the insulting blonde. "Listen slut," Seani cracked her knuckles. "I'ma bout to knock you on your fuckin' ass if you keep popping off that STI mouth of yours." Growling, Cindy drew back her balled up fist and was ready to swing but was stopped by the chairman of the school.
He was a tall man, about six foot, with dark skin, brown eyes, no hair, and a scowl that could make flowers rethink about blooming. "Is there a problem here ladies?"

"N-No sir." Jazmine answered before the awe struck Cindy even had a chance.
"Good," His voice was booming deep. "Because this is a family event so I do NOT want to see any fighting in MY school...got it?"
"Yes Sir." Seani, Cindy, and Jazmine replied.
"Good, now you two take your leave to the other side of the hall." In no mood to argue with the hefty, suited man, Jazmine and cindy nearly ran to the other side away from the two freeman's and Seani. "If they give you trouble again, come find me young lady."
Smiling slightly, Seni nodded and the chairman took his leave. "Damn, those bitches don't know when to quit do they?" Huey swhook his head glaring in their general direction.
"Right?" Sighing, Seani looked at Riley with tears filling her eyes. "I-I'm gonna go to the washroom for a minute...i'll be right back. " She ripped herself away from Riley and ran to the bathroom down the hall.

Pushing the wooden door open, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw how beautiful she looked. Her hair was still perfect, the feeling of Riley's fingers still traced her skin giving her chills. Scanning oer her reflecting, she heard her cellphone drop onto the ground. As she belt oer to pick it up, she heard the sound of heels clicking behind her. Slowly standing straight and turning, she noticed they were standing their with evil grins slapped on their faces. Cindy and Jazmine. "Oh God, what do you two want now?" Anger set into her voice. Without a word, they took steps closer to her. "Stay back guys or i'll tell the chairman..."
"Oh please, no one is goin' to hear you in here Seani." Jazmine said holding out a pair of large scissors from behind her back. Cindy grabbed her and held her down to the ground. She would straddle Seani's torso and hold her hands above her head. "Ready Cindy?"
"Yup," The smirking blond replied. "Do it."
Ripping the black hairband out of Seani's hair, her black hair came undone. "Wow it's really long!" Jazmine knelt down and grabbed strand after stand, feeling the texture. "It's soft too but...let's see if Riley like's girls with long hair...or boy-cut short."
"NO!" Seani yelled out struggling under Cindy's weight. It was no use trying to break free. Jazmine cut strand, after black strand of soft hair all of the way to the scalp. Letting the pieces of hair scatter around the bathroom floor, they laughed. After the horrific scene was finished, Cindy and Jazmine left Seani to grovel and cry on the messy floor. Her once bouncy, beautiful, long har was now cut shaggy and short giving her a different appearance then her reflection had let her see. It had been nearly fifteen minutes since Riley had last seen Seani and he was beginning to get worried. Seani curled herself up into a ball and sobbed in the black of her raven hair.
"Seani?" Riley said calling into the girl's bathroom. "Babe, you okay?" Hearing the voice of her beloved, Seani scrambled to the last stall in the row and quickly hid herself inside. sitting on the toilet, she pulled her knees to her chest and remained quiet. "Babe, you in here?" Hearing no reply, he sighed and walked into the woman's bathroom not caring who saw. He soon stopped seeing the mess of black hair on the floor. This raised even more questions in his brain. "Aye yo Seani...if you're in here..come out..dead ass." From the first stall to the second to last, he pushed the doors open revealing empty stalls. Coming to the last, Seani saw his shadow on the ground. looking at the shining, metal latch, she noticed she had forgotten to lock the stall door.

Lala walked through the now clear weather. wandering around, she was wondering where exactly she was. At the moment, she needed to get some answers. "Dammit..." She stumbled slightly Seeing a building with many lights illuminating from it, she smiled slightly. "Maybe someone there will know what's goin' on." Quickly, she made her way toward the lively building.

Riley slowly reached to push open the door but before he could, a mock skinned female walked in and screamed.
"What are you doin' in here?!" The mocha girl glared at him with green eyes and grabbed his forearm pulling him out of the wash room and into the hallway. "And stay out!" Slamming the door, she walked back into the bathroom and into the first stall.

Sucking his teeth, he rolled his eyes. "Crazy bitch..." Suddenly, he heard a woman's scream escape from the dance hall. Quickly, he dashed toward the sound and saw that the once happy crowd had formed a half circle near the doors. They were silent. The music hadn't been playing. Seeing his brother behind the crowd, he quickly ran over to him. "What's goin' on Huey?"
"I don't know...I can't see anything."
"Nigga, use that damn kung-fu shit you be doin'."
Rolling his eyes, Huey pushed everyone out of the way to reveal the startling image that they were all staring at. Riley stood beside his brother and both of their eye's widened. "No fuckin' way..." The astounded Huey spoke.
There she was. Covered in mud and water, standing in the doorway with confused look on her beautiful Mocha face. "Lala?" Huey mouthed in a whisper. Huey's spine chilled for a moment as he stared as his supposed to be deceased girlfriend. There was a tare in her dress where her stitched up wound was, showing it off like it was a movie. Feeling his head begin to spin, Huey's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell forward onto the cold floor.
"Is he alright?" Lala spoke as if she hadn't been dead at all. Pointing to him with a slender finger, she looked at the crowd. Without a second left, they all let out a scream and ran out into the hallway
"RUN! THERE'S A ZOMBIE IN THE DANCE HALL!" A man screamed as he ran behind the startled people.
"I AM NOT A ZOM- oh.." Gripping her messy hair slightly, he head began to spin as she fell to the ground.

Riley, who was still in shock, sighed and grabbed his brother giving his a piggy back ride over to the door. He then hunched over and picked up Lala into his shaky arms. "I don't even wanna know how da hell you'z alive La..." He sighed and began to carry to the two out to 'Dorothy.' He was under the impression that Seani had went home so he decided to put the two passed out bodies in the back seat and shut the door. Getting into the driver's seat, he turned on the car and drove away from the excited location.

Seani slowly emerged from the quiet bathroom and walked slowly to the abandoned dance hall. "I guess everyone went home..." Sighing, she walked toward the door noticing the puddle of mud. Questioning it, she stepped over it and quickly ran home. Tears streamed from her eyes as she could feel the wind dip through her shaggy strands of raven hair. Running to her house, the panicked girl opened the door, shut it hard, and ran upstairs to her father's room. Seeing as no one was home, she went to his closet and grabbed his black and white beanie. Shoving it onto her disheveled head, she ran into her bedroom and sat on her bed sobbing.
"Seani?" Ethan's voice ran out through the halls. "Honey i'm home..." Ascending the stairs, he heard his young daughter crying which made him worry more than usual. "Seani?" Slowly pushing open her creaking door, he saw the red faced teenager sitting in the bleak corner. "Honey, what's the matter and why do you have strands of hair on your new dress?"
"Daddy..." Seani stood and latched onto her shocked father. "They cut off my hair!" Pulling off the hat, she revealed her displeasing sight to her father. "Daddy make it grow back!" Seani ordered.
"Sweetheart, you know as well as I do that I can't magically make your hair grow back..but I do want to know who the hell did this to my daughter..." Ethan's voice was becoming uneasy as he guided Seani downstairs to the kitchen. "SIt down and let me fix that." As she did, she wiped away the tears streaming down from her green eyes. "Now, explain to me what happened." He said as he began to shape and snip away the unbalanced hairs.
"Cindy and Jazmine held me down and cut off my hair because they hate me and La..." She explained quickly.
"And what do they think gives them the right to torture m daughter?"
"They don't have a right...it's only because we're dating their ex's Daddy...I-I mean because i'm dating Riley and La use to date Huey before sh-"
"Well," He cut her off. "I finished swetheart." Handing her a hand mirror, she began to sob once again.
"DADDY I'M UGLY!" She cried harder throwing her head back and looking upward.
"B-Baby girl, you're not ugly!" He tried to calm her down. "You're gorgeous either way you look...I promise." Looking at him, she pouted and shoved the hat on once again sheilding her hair from the world. Ethan let out a sigh. This was going to be a long life.