"Thump, thump" went the key upon her chest like a beating heart. It felt warm and comforting like a loved one's hug while at the same time feeling like an anchor weighing her to the spot she stood.
She had been in that world for months that it scared her to return to her own. She could feel the mixture of sweat and tears running down her cheeks.
It wasn't until she felt the grip of Amity's hand on her arm that she felt calmer. She looked over at the girl standing next to her.
Her yellow eyes gleaming with excitement at her first trip to the human world and the smile plastered on her face that Luz knew was only for her.
It had been a long road for the two of them but after Grom, they got close and finally made themselves an official couple. Luz grinned at the memory of their first kiss in the halls of Hexside. Remembering the way Amity's face flushed a bright red when her brother and sister Emira and Edric started making kissing sounds behind her.
"I don't know where you went Luz, but let's move before emperor dumbass finds us" Eda said from behind her. Luz felt King shuffle around in the baby carrier on her back and laughed.
Taking Amity's hand with her left hand, she grabbed her friends Willow's hand with her right while Willow grabbed their other friend, Gus's hand with hers. Together the group walked towards the now unfolded portal with Eda who was making a sound between disgusted and annoyed and her sister, Lilith following behind.
As they entered the human realm they all noticed the absolute silence minus the rustling tree leaves in the wind.
"Camila," Eda said and took off. Luz watched Eda takeoff which was normal but the fact she called her mother's name was not.
Lilith touched her shoulder and pointed in the direction Eda went as she went ahead while the very confused children all silently followed behind.
They turned the corner just in time to see Eda run int Luz's house. Breaking the chain Luz took off but was stopped by Lilith who pointed at an oncoming person.
It wasn't until he was closer that Luz could tell her wasn't normal and probably not alive since he had all the signs of the walking dead. She was flipping past excited and terrified when they heard a man call to them.
"You people should get inside, you can stay here" the man said and Lilith dragged them to his house, pushed them in, and shut the door.
When Luz got her bearings she recognized the man was Mr. Smith her P.E. Teacher before some dumb kids dad got him fired. She hugged him and he hugged her back.
"Hey kiddo, back from summer camp," he said trying to act calm. "Yes" she said shuffling her feet. "What's going on?" she asked looking through the window at her mom's house.
"While you were gone the dead started to come back, I'm surprised you didn't hear about it and I'm surprised they brought you back" the man said falling into a chair. He looked tired and beaten up. Not like actually beaten up but beaten up on the inside.
He took a breath and said "my name is Negan. I'm here with my wife Lucille who is fighting cancer and trying to stay alive during this crap period".
They all looked at him sadly and then Lilith out of the blue said: "let me see her please". Negan looked at her confusingly but Luz said "you can trust her Negan, she's a friend".
Sighing Negan nodded knowing that Luz would tell him if the weird-looking woman wasn't alright in the head.
Negan took Lilith to Lucille's room while Luz and the other kids he didn't know stayed behind. "Lucille honey you feel up to a visitor?" Negan asked softly from the door. "I guess so" a woman said softly from inside the room.
Negan entered with Lilith and Lucille's eyes grew wide. "Lily is that you?" she said tears forming at the edges of her eyes. "Oh sister I was right, it is you" Lilith said running and hugging Lucille tightly. "Is Eda here too?" Lucille asked with excitement. Lilith nodded and said "she will be here in a minute she went to check on Camila". "She's good" Negan said from behind. "Im glad to hear it" said Lilith as she continued to hold onto Lucille.
"Once she's here we will use our magic to take-off the Emperors spell on you dear sister" Lilith said quietly. "I was wondering if he had something to do with this" Lucille said smiling.
Negan shuffled his feet and the women looked at him. "I'm sorry darling everything will be explained when my sister gets here and I'm better I promise" Lucille said smiling at him.
Negan nodded, knowing better than to argue with Lucille. Suddenly like a tornado blew in, in a woman with gray hair and one gray eye and one orange eye appeared in the room. Their neighbor from across the street, Camila Noceda who was also Luz's mom, was there as well.
Camille placed her hand softly on Negan's arm and said "let the sisters do their job". Nodding Negan backed up to near the door with Camila and watched.
The two women held hands and created what looked to be a huge circle over Lucille. "With this spell declared, let the pain be shared" causing a glowing light to appear under Lucille and she rose from the bed. He watched as the light engulfed her and after a few min she was floating down onto the bed.
His mouth opened wide as he saw her long hair which was the color of a morning sunrise and her eyes when she opened them were a red and gray color.
"Is her cancer gone?" Negan asked cautiously. "She never had cancer, she was cursed by Emperor Belos whom I refer to lovingly as Emperor Dumbass" Eda said with a snort. "The dumbass cursed as Clawthorne women because he's shit in his pants scared of us" Lucille said with a laugh. Lilith was the only one not to make a snide remark but headed to the living room.
Lucille and Eda sighed at the same time and Lucille started sitting up. Negan ran and helped her up and she gladly rested on his side. "Come on handsome, all will be revealed and will probably end up with us having to do a lot of annoying crap" Lucille said with a laugh. Negan grinned and said "now that's my mama".
With Eda hanging onto Camila they headed into the living room. Lilith already had the kids sitting front of her and Negan couldn't help but stare at the bone faced little furry thing sitting among them.
"That's King sweetheart, you'll understand by the time Lilith's done I promise," Lucille said both with respect and a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Negan laughed and the four of them sat with the kids on the floor.
"Alright class, time for a lesson," Lilith said waving her hand as a chalkboard appeared and clearing her throat she said, "it all began with a spell".