To Be Dead

Nothing. I felt like nothing as I sat on the ground of an alley, leaning against the brick wall. I starred at the wall opposite of me for what seemed like days and I couldn't bring myself to get up. Let alone move. For hours I beat against the brick wall trying to cry, but I couldn't, so I ended up yelling a lot. I shouted curses to Peter Walker for killing me and getting away with it. I shouted for my mother to take me away from this place. I shouted at my friends at the Nail n' Coffin for not understanding the pain I was emotionally feeling and how I could do nothing about it. What good is crying for the dead if we couldn't even shed more than three tears? I shouted and shouted until I fell to my knees, feeling utterly defeated. I was ashamed of feeling this weak; as if Peter knew somewhere up there in the land of the living that I was suffering and he won. Margie was right. I had mentally set up a game in my mind that I would pretend to move on and be happy and see how long I would go before I break. I was losing and Peter was still wining because I allowed him to.

That asshole took my life and I had to get him back. I needed to for what he did to me and my family. Suddenly an idea came to my mind. What if there was a way to tell someone above who my killer was? I remember when I was alive I would watch psychics on TV play detective using spirits and some were right in their findings. Maybe I could talk to a psychic, if I could find one, and tell them my name and killer!

"Wait no…that would be dumb." And it was. The reality of the land of the living is that they don't really believe in ghost or spirits and especially psychics. I know I didn't when I was alive! I have to think rationally about this. Is there even a way to contact the living? If ghost are real how could I go up and "haunt" my family or the police to tell them about Peter?

I sighed as I leaned against the wall once again to think when something brushed against my arm. I looked down to see a crumpled newspaper under the weight of my arm and reached over to pick it up. Unfolding the paper, I read the headline of the page to learn that it was the obituary welcoming the new dead from a week ago. It was a small list of eight people total and they had all died of various reasons. Most were accidents, one was sickness, and the other was murder. How odd that the majority of everyone who is here got here by some unfortunate accident instead of something normal like old age. The page also featured advertisements for high quality body parts for replacing missing or broken limbs. Surprisingly enough there was a shop in another cemetery across town that sold dead animals as pets, mostly strays due to the fact many buried cats and dogs stuck around to wait for their owners. The articles on the back of the page was a variety of stories about the St. Mary cemetery undergoing new changes above that would affect our homes down here.

Then it hit me. How would the newspaper company know about the changes above? Somebody would have to tell them right? Or go up themselves to haunt!?

"That's it!" I jumped to my feet, gripping the newspaper, and ran out of the alley. The location of the newspaper company was listed on the very corner of the page in small print but big enough to understand. It was outside the St. Mary's cemetery in a place called Spring Grove. This was it, this was the place that would give me the answers to whether I can go above or talk to someone who could avenge my death! I will find someone and ask if they know where this Spring Grove is and I'll be back before anyone notices I'm gone. I ran around the block and down the road to see the black gates that surrounded the circumference of the large cemetery. As I grew near the ominous structures I noticed a man dressed in a rugged blue uniform leaning against the bars starring off into space. I don't know if he was some sort of guard or random person standing at the cemeteries gate but perhaps he could help me figure out where Spring Grove was outside St. Mary's. Quietly, I approached him, waiting for him to notice me but he was so far out I had no choice but to cough.

"Hmph. Um, excuse me?"

He turned, "Yes?"

"Hello. I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

"What could it be now?" He sighed.

"Do you know where Spring Grove is and how to get to it from here?"

He arched his eyebrows, "Spring Grove? Why you want to go way out there?"

I began to worry if this place was farther then I thought, "I want to visit. That's all. Is it far?"

"I've never been there myself. But if you leave the cemetery and go down that road," He gestured to the dirt path that lead into a dark forest, "You will reach a fork with signs that should point you in the direction."

I chewed my lip nervously and turned back to him, "I've never been outside the cemetery before…will it affect me in some way?"

He gave me a weird grin that made me feel uncomfortable, "Not at all. But be warned girly. There are things out there that are worse than death."

My eyes widened, "What do you mean? Like monsters or demons?"

He laughed, "Can't say I know for sure. I have never left the cemetery and have never found a reason to. But I've heard rumors of little demons who scavenge the land of the dead for wondering souls to drag to the pits of hell."

"Do they come here?" I asked.

"They don't come near cemeteries. Or least anywhere with scared grounds, resting places, and established burials that go on like cities. Gates like these help us know where that border stands." He kicked the gates behind him with his boot making it rattle but was still standing strong.

My hopes began to diminish, I can't leave and risk getting myself dragged to hell by a fucking demon. Here I thought there was no such thing as a heaven or a hell if I was 'resting' here. Guess I learn something new every day or I just suck at asking questions I should know the answers to.

"Well that's just…great. Never mind then."

"You're not going to go to Spring Grove?" He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes at him as I turned to leave, "Not if I'm going to be attacked and dragged to hell out there."

He laughed, making me mad and I spun around to face the jerk, "Look I get it I don't know didly squat about death and cemeteries and la de da. But I don't need your bull shit and have you treat me like some kind of idiot for not knowing what's out there or below us! If you laugh or make some damn comment I will fucking rip your arm off and throw it over the gate." I felt like my bottom eye lid twitched a bit. Ok maybe the threat was a tad too much, considering I can actually rip his arm off for its nothing but bones, but this asshole was asking for it.

I turned around to leave when I heard him whistle, "Damn. My kind of woman." He snickered.

I ignored him and kept walking. Men. There all the same even when you're dead.

"Hey girl hold up. I have something you can use that will protect you out there."

"Oh really? Is it a dead unicorn that will whisk me away to my destination?" I shoved my hands in my pockets as I kept walking until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see the same guy still wearing that snarky grin and noticed he had a gold tooth.

"Maybe not this time. But I have the next best thing." He pulled a necklace out from under his collared uniform jacket and revealed to me a large silver cross decorated in black stones that looked like nothing I've ever seen before.

"What's that?"

"It's a holy relic. I don't even know what its ancient name is, it's so old, but a guardsmen that works in the Randal Lakes cemetery seven miles away from here gave it to me saying it's rare to find these. They ward off the evils that lurk the land of the dead.

"Where can I find one?" I asked.

His creepy grinned softened and he actually looked friendlier. "Tell you what. I'll lend this to you and when you get back from Spring Grove you can repay me with a date, eh?" He said as he dangled the large cross before me.

I chewed my lip. This again, this awkward feeling of dating another dead person gnawed at me and I knew I wasn't ready for that. Let alone with this guy who was acting weird. "Sorry. I appreciate the favor but I'm not interested in dating right now." I said. It sucked to see my chance at possibly catching my killer dangle in that cross and I was unable to use it because I wasn't going to lead some random dude on thinking he has a chance.

"Dating or dating me?"

"Both." I smirked as I shrugged my shoulders.

The guy didn't let up, "Alright I see. Tell you what, I'll let you borrow this if you get me a drink once you get back. What do you say?"

"That still sounds like a date."

"It's not I promise. I've seen some of your shows at the Nail n' Coffin and you seem cool. I just wanna hang, we straight?" He held the cross out once again and I watched it sway.

I sighed, "Fine. But we are not going to date. I don't want any sort of relationship, strictly friendship." I took the cross and hung it around my neck, it felt rather heavy for its size. The guardsmen smiled as he led me back to the black gates.

"Don't have to tell me twice lady. I'm Smith by the way. And I don't think I ever caught your name. Clarissa?"

"Claudia."

"Won't forget." He winked as I rolled my eyes. He opened the black gates with a skeleton key similar to my graves key and the door slowly crept open, making a screeching sound.

Hesitantly, I stepped out of the cemetery and was cautious to feel or hear anything that meant trouble. One foot out, then my arms, now the other foot, and I was completely outside St. Mary's. I sighed, "Alright well…here I go."

"See ya when ya get back, Claudia." Smith said from behind the black bars as he closed the gates shut.

I nodded and started forward towards the darkness of the forest. The forest wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be, the trees made the world around me darker than it already was but that's all it was. Nothing but darkness. Every now and then I would hear crows cawing at me from the branches they perched on but it didn't bother me. In fact the noise was comforting compared to the dead silence I thought I had to put up with.

Man, Jake would get a kick out of all this life after death stuff. He was always into the paranormal and would read books about ghost and TV shows that explained various theories of what happens when you died. I wish I had payed attention to see if they were right or not but I'm not sure if waking up in the cemetery and living a relatively "normal" death is what they thought.

I suddenly came upon a wooden sign with various locations to choose from. The road to the left would take me to two other cemeteries I recognized from above whenever I drove by and the rode to the right said it would take me to Spring Grove cemetery. Aha! There it was plain and simple! Until I saw where Spring Grove was….

"Cincinnati!? I gotta walk all the way to Cincinnati!?" I panicked. I lived in Columbus and if I walked to Cincinnati it would probably take me 35 to 40 hours on foot. But if I turned back that stupid Smith guy wouldn't let me hear the end of it. "Aw too far for you butter cup? No worries let's talk about it over drinks." Ugh I be damned if I hurt my pride this soon!

"Well I guess I'm going to Cincinnati." I muttered as I started walking down the road to my right.

Since living in the land of the dead I have lost the sense of knowing the time and just as easily the dates. Thankfully the newspapers gives me an idea but they hardly ever mentioned it. I figured it was due to the fact that time was irrelevant down here. I felt like I have been walking for hours and I have only ran into two signs that gave me directions to other cemeteries but I just kept following the path that would take me to Spring Grove. What was I thinking? Walking to another city that's normally a 2 hour drive! Everyone's going to know I'm gone and by the time I get back, which could be two or three days, they are going to ask where I've been. Then what? I obviously can't tell Margie about my crazy idea or anyone for that matter. I don't know what the rules of the dead call for but I'm pretty damn sure this goes against them. Yet here I am, already a few miles in, going to another cemetery to find out if there was a way to contact the living. I am so fucked. Yet I didn't care about the consequences. All I cared about was my family and how I could have been with them right now but instead I'm trekking through the dark forest of the god damn dead trying to catch my killer. I should have been auditioning for my schools next production and studying for exams instead of dealing with this bull shit!

I suddenly came across another wooden sign and nearly fell over with what I read.

Spring Grove Cemetery
20 Miles

"…What? I mean what!? I can't already be that close? I've only walked for a few hours." I looked around for any more signs I might have missed but all I saw was dark woods that went on for miles and fog floating along the grounds. I turned back to the sign and chewed my lip in wonder. Could it be that the distance in the land of the dead is different from above? I wouldn't be surprised if that's how it works, I mean, after everything I've seen and done anything seems possible now. I started down the dirt path again and passed the sign hesitantly. I hope this wasn't some sort of trick.

I watched the path ahead of me for some sort of sign I was getting near any source of civilization but all I saw was darkness. The crows continued to caw above my head and I began to grow annoyed with their pestering. I rather deal with the silence of the forest then these annoying birds. What are they even doing down here? I thought only dead beings can come down here? The birds looked very much alive now that I think about it. They were all flesh and feathers from what I saw.

"There's too much I don't know about this place. I hate not knowing anything…I feel like a child learning my alphabet for the first time."

"I'm sure there was plenty in life you didn't know but had yet to learn darling."

"AH!" I screamed as I spun around raising the heavy silver cross at the one who spoke.

I was face to face with a short man who had a half a face of blue skin and the other was skeleton. I nearly fell in terror when I saw the disgusting sight. It must have looked a million times worse when he was alive. Well at least before he died. It looked like someone peeled the left side of his face completely free of his skin and muscle. He wore a winter coat with brown pants and didn't wear any shoes, revealing his stubby blue feet marred with dried dead cuts.

"Aw now no need for that missy. I'm just walking my pal Poncho here." He chuckled. Suddenly a big dog with hardly any fur bounded from the trees and over to the man with half a face wagging its grey tail.

"Um…who are you?" I asked.

"Jimmy's the name missy. Nice to meet ya." He smiled kindly. I couldn't help but smile in return, he reminded me of a grandfather children would look up to and adore.

"This here is Poncho. We were just having a stroll before heading back to the old grave."

"Where are you buried?" I asked.

"Just down this here rode, a few miles away. Are you headed this direction?" He said as he stepped out onto the road holding a wooden cane I didn't notice until now.

I nodded, "Yes, I'm going to Spring Grove."

"Why look at that! Poncho and I live there. Quite a lovely cemetery if I say so myself."

"Really? You live there? That's great! I was worried I might have been tricked. I'm from Columbus and usually walking from there above would take forty hours but I feel like I'm getting there in seven."

The man started walking beside me with his grey dog bounding behind us happily, "The distance down here isn't as vast as it is above. It makes it easier for the dead to visit other graves that may be buried in other places."

"That's pretty convenient for us." I wondered.

"Well that's not solely the purpose dearie. Death works in mysterious ways. Perhaps he doesn't like walking very long." He chuckled.

I slightly smirked, "I'd be careful sir. I think Death can hear all us if he wanted to."

Jimmy waved me off, "Ah he's not as bad as he seems."

"Wait you've met him?" I asked astonished.

"We all do. At least some of us remember. I've been around for quite some time. Quite a long time actually." He rubbed his head with the skull and chuckled, "When you have been around for as long as I have your bound to run into him eventually."

I am completely floored with the amount of information I was learning today. "Does he just…walk around or?"

"These woods are dark dear. Death lurks in all the dark places of the world above and below. Why he could be watching us from somewhere in these woods. Maybe a few feet away even."

I swear I felt chills run down my spine but that would be ridiculous. I glanced around then back at the man who was chuckling, "Don't fret dearie. He wouldn't do anything to ya. Trust me if you broke the rules you would know if he came for you."

I'm hoping that's not anytime soon. "Um, yeah, so how much further till we are at Spring Grove?"

"Well we are just about there. Look ahead."

I looked up and gaped at the sight I saw before me. The cemetery was beautiful… There were mausoleums that were as big as mansions and a church that reminded me of a smaller Notre Dame. The dead trees swirled wistfully within the cemetery and soothing orange lights were hung in every branch. The cemetery gates were beautifully detailed in gothic swirls and silver. The angelic statues were a bit macabre but they towered throughout the cemeteries and tomb stones beautifully as if protecting who was buried there. Jimmy and I walked up to the gates and he took it upon himself to open the gates door and held it open for me. I thanked him and walked inside with the dog passing me first in excitement.

"Would you like to come over to my grave for some tea?"

"No thank you sir. But I really appreciate you walking with me here. If you don't mind me asking, do you know where this newspaper company is?" I pulled out the folded page of newspaper from my jacket pocket and showed it to Jimmy. The man looked it over and nodded, "Ah yes, you're going to want to head down that path and go past the cathedral. From there you will come upon a white mausoleum, make a left and you will happen upon it. Can't miss it." He insisted.

I nodded and waved to him while scratching the dogs head, "Thanks again sir! See you around!" I turned on my heel and walked down the beautiful cemetery with large stone structures and many people walking about. Everyone seemed to dress very old fashion, almost like the Victorian eras. This cemetery must be something historic. Ohio has a lot of those.

I followed the directions Jimmy gave me and nearly got lost with all the beautiful buildings and statues I passed by. I've never seen such a pretty cemetery before! Compared to St. Mary's this place looked like the grounds of a palace I wanted to explore. Eventually I made it to a rather large mausoleum with a marble pillar towering out in the front that read The Cemetery of Spring Grove news publishing. I had finally made it!

Walking up the stone steps I pushed the heavy wooden doors open and was met a white marble room with a singular desk in the center where a woman was using a black typewriter and not even looking up to see me.

"Um excuse me?" I said.

"Did you make an appointment?" She said without looking up.

"Um, no I was wondering if I could speak to any journalist or perhaps the publishers?" I said.

"Everyone is very busy today. You will have to make an appointment." She said as she kept on typing. This was getting annoying really fast.

"Look I just need to see one journalist or anyone who gets the news for the paper."

"They are busy." She said once again.

I groaned and turned to walk out the door but looked over my shoulder to see she was profusely using her type writer. I looked around and saw to my left there was a door that was labeled "Offices" in bold black on the door. Quickly, I speed walk to the door and opened it and went inside. Before the girl could look up and come get me I ran down the hall that was lined with a red plush carpet and on either side of the walls were doors that had the names of those who occupied the offices. I just need to find a journalist, someone who can give me answers! I bolted around the corner and nearly ran into someone carrying a stack of folders in his arms.

"Oh I'm sorry!" I said.

"Watch where you're going miss! I can't afford to get these out of order or I will be here all night!" He shouted.

"I said sorry, damn." I huffed as I walked around him to resume my search.

"Wait, who are you? What are you doing back here?" He said.

"How do you know I'm not supposed to be here, hm? Do you know who I am?" I demanded not exactly knowing where I was going with this façade I suddenly started putting on.

"Am I supposed to?" He asked curiously.

"I am Claudia Reed you dim wit! The singer!" Well I'm technically not lying.

"The singer? I don't remember hearing anything about a singer coming in today?"

"Well not to meet YOU of course. I was told someone was going to interview me and to wait in the break room…" I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. Can dead people go to jail?

"The break room? It's the other way miss singer." The guy pointed the other way.

"Well whose fault is it for not showing me the way? Geez I took time out of my performances and tours for this?"

The guy started to look like he was getting nervous, "I'm sorry mam um,"

"Forget it. I'm done with this! Your publishers have been contacting my managers for weeks when they heard I was coming into town and I decide out of the goodness of my heart to give you your interview. But this is what happens! I'm running around trying to find my interview but instead I get yelled at." I swear I would have made movies in Hollywood, I'm so good at acting. But I can't celebrate just yet.

"I'm terribly sorry Miss Reed! I'm a journalist! Well not quite yet, I just make copies but I can interview you and forward it to my publisher! He will be really happy you came by he is probably just busy what with all the work and such!" The man looked to be about twenty five or so and seemed very nervous and angst. I hate to have to play him like this but I've come this far.

"Well I came all the way out here. Might as well. Alright take me to your office." I said.

He nodded and gathered the folders tightly to his chest as he resumed walking the direction he was headed. I followed him with a swagger as if I owned the place, trying to live up to my "famous" status. We arrived at the end up the hall where he opened a cruddy grey door that looked like a janitor's closet and we went inside. The office, if you could call it that, was small and cluttered with mountains of yellow folders and the room was illuminated with a single light bulb. The desk was barely standing and was being held by stacks of old books instead of legs. Sitting on his desk was a piece of wood with the name Fredrick Briars carved into it.

"Excuse the mess! Please have a seat Miss Reed!" He pulled out a chair from behind a stack of papers and books and I took it. He ran around his desk and from underneath pulled out a grey typewriter that seemed older than the other ones I saw in the offices. He started applying paper inside and checking to see if there was some ink left. After he was satisfied he pulled out a pair of glasses that made him look endearing and looked up at me, "Forgive me, I'm a bit nervous. I've interviewed before but no one as important as a singer who tours." His hands were shaking.

I felt like such a dick. I swear I'm going to hell for this. This poor guy obviously wants to be a journalist but instead they have him stuffed in a closet doing paper work. I never thought the dead would play these cliché situations of not giving someone a chance to prove their talents.

"Well let's begin then…" He started typing his name and then the date which I read was April 10th 2017. Has it really gone by that fast already?

"So um, forgive me for I'm not familiar with your talents Miss Reed. But what kind of artist are you?" He asked.

"I…I sing a variety of genres. Anything you name it. I've only started touring this year so my name hasn't gone too far." I lied. If I gave this poor guy too big of a story he just might be fired because of me. Why would they publish an interview with someone who isn't even famous?

"Do you have a band? How has tour life been thus far?" He asked as he typed quickly.

"Um, yes I have a band. We are called the Grim Grinners and touring is great." This was eating me alive, I can only tell the truth and lie so much.

"Where will you be performing here in Spring Grove?"

"Oh um…I'm not sure some theatre or where ever my manger booked. Let's take a break yeah? I got a better idea how about I ask you questions so it's not as nerve wracking asking me all the questions?" I have to cut to the chase. If I have this go on for so long I'm going to lose my mind due to guilt.

The boy named Fredrick looked confused but shook his head, "Oh no miss I'm fine! I'm just warming up, I've got plenty more questions to ask. You could be my big break you know? Me, interviewing a famous songstress, it's a start to having me finally go out on the field." He beamed.

I'm going to mother fucking crack. "Look I'm not that famous ok!? I'm just trying to get myself out there and I just acted like a bitch to come off stuck up and all that!"

Fredrick blinked a few times, "W-what?"

"Ok you know what I can't do this. I'm lying. I'm not famous I just died last month and I'm here to get answers for how you guys get news from above when we are dead." I blurted out.

Fredrick starred at me for what felt like a long time and then he finally spoke, "You're…not famous?"

"No. I'm sorry. Maybe I could have been when I was alive." I smiled sadly.

Fredrick sighed and leaned back in his seat, removing his glasses, "Well that's just….fantastic. I get played again."

"I'm sorry…"

"Really it's my own fault. A pretty girl walks in with an attitude and I believe her. I thought I had a story that would at least get my feet off the ground in this damn place." He stood up and paced.

I felt horrible, "Fredrick, if I can call you that, I'm sorry. I was desperate to get my answers and I didn't think how this would hurt your feelings."

"Oh my feelings aren't hurt! They are perfectly fine thank you very much Miss famous singer." He said as he ripped the paper out of the type writer and crumpled it before throwing it in a trash bin beside me.

"Please leave."

"Wait you have to help me." I stood.

"Help you? I've already wasted time I could have used to finish my work in time so I don't stay here all night when everyone is gone!"

For a moment I wanted to argue back but I stopped myself. I sighed feeling defeated, "Your right. I don't deserve your help when I did you wrong like that." I turned around to leave, feeling shitty for what I just did, until I heard him sigh.

I looked over my shoulder as I saw the poor guy slouched against the wall with his eyes closed. I bit the inside of my cheek, wanting to say something but there were no words.

"Are you really a singer?" He asked all of a sudden.

"Yes." I answered.

"Why say you could have been famous?"

"…I'm dead."

"So?"

"So I can't make a name for myself and be famous if I never completed my training when I was alive. My dreams were taken from me." I nearly whispered while looking down at my feet.

Fredrick snorted and looked up at me, it was then I noticed his hair was parted and there was a bullet hole near the crown of his forehead, "I want to be a writer. A journalist. That was taken from me in life yet here I am still trying to do just that. In life and in death." He sighed as he kicked off the wall and began to lift his typewriter off and put it back under the desk, "You haven't been here long Miss Singer. There's so much you can do for yourself."

"You're awfully nice to someone who just played you."

"Well…you're not the worst." He chuckled as he pointed to the bullet hole in his head. I tried to swallow but there was no moisture in my mouth. "I like music. Can you sing something?" He said.

"Oh no I can't all of a sudden,"

"Well that's just cruel. The least you could do to repay me for your deceit is to sing a song." He said.

I sighed, he had a point. I began to hum a simple melody. It was soft and sounded lovely as it buzzed in my head. I didn't know what song I was going to sing as I continued to hum the pretty aria. My humming started to fade into a familiar aria I studied my sophomore year of college. My mouth opened and Un Bel Di came out in its beautifully practiced soprano notes. I wish I could go higher but my voice wasn't trained that far. Now that I think about it I haven't practiced my high notes in quite a while and I found myself a bit rusty. I wasn't bad but I wasn't doing my best either. I decided to cut the aria short by ending it on my highest note and subtly returning my voice back to a hum until I was silent.

Fredrick was starring in astonishment. His glasses had slipped down his blue face while he wasn't paying attention and he shook his head, "Um wow, I have never heard anything like that. What was that?"

"It's Un Bel Di by the Butterfly Woman. I studied and trained to be a soprano my senior year of high school all the way up till college. Unfortunately that's as high as I can go."

"That's the highest?! I thought you were going to break my glasses that was so high!"

I laughed, "Thank you but that range wasn't close enough to do that."

He smiled as he shook his head, "I don't think you would have a problem becoming famous with a voice like that. Where are you from?"

"St. Mary's cemetery in Columbus. I actually am in a band but we are only popular by the locals." I shrugged.

"Definitely wouldn't have a problem getting famous with a voice like that."

"Thanks. Well I'll be on my way then." I nodded as I reached for the door.

"You said you came here to find answers right? Answers to what?"

"Like I said before. I want to know how you're able to get news from above when we are dead."

"News from above?"

"Yes. Like in the papers, sometimes it says things about the cemeteries in the land of the living and how could you know that when we are down here?"

Fredrick blinked a few times before speaking, "Why would you want to know that?"

"Because my killer got away and I know who it is. I want to tell my family or the police."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Fredrick stood up and walked around his desk, "The dead stay down here. We have no business up there unless the cemeteries are taken into account."

"But how would you know!?" I asked as I got in his way from opening the door.

"Please Miss Singer that is confidential."

"We can go above can we?" I begged to know. I was so close I just needed to break him!

Fredrick sighed and shook his head, "No. We don't. We can't because we are dead."

"Then how Fredrick? Tell me please!"

He thought for a long while before he snapped his fingers. Confused by his odd gesture I was about to speak when a hideously large black widow fell from the ceiling and landed on his shoulder. I screamed and backed away but immediately slammed into the door with a jolt. The spiders nasty long legs waved at me and I nearly screamed again when Fredrick shushed me with his finger.

"Calm down! You're going to get me in trouble! This is Bella, my partner."

"P-partner!? That's a mother fucking spider!" I screeched.

"You're so rude! How dare you call me that?!" The spider spoke.

I think I need to lie down for I just learned a lot of new things today, talking spiders is stretching it a tad too far. I wanted to faint but then remembered I was dead and there was no blood to drain from my head and make me dizzy and pass out.

"I don't understand…" I choked.

"Bella is one of the many widows here who go above to seek news of the cemeteries and anything that might have occurred regarding our graves."

"So let me get this straight, spiders can talk and go above ground to get your news?" I said.

"Yes that's right." He said.

"She's rather dumb, the poor song bird." The spider remarked before adding viciously, "And I EAT song birds."

I nearly gulped at the sight of the fangs bobbing in her mouth while she spoke. "So that means…there's no way the dead can go above?"

"No and there's nothing the spiders or maggots and even the crows can do to help you." Fredrick warned me. "They go above and the living can't hear them. Death is a completely different world Miss songstress. Have you ever heard a spider speak or a maggot laugh when you were alive?"

"Not that I recall…"

"Because you were alive and the living doesn't hear the dead." Fredrick set his hand on my shoulder, "Let it go famous singer. Go back to your grave and learn to be dead." With that he walked around me and opened the door to let me out.

"Safe travels back home songstress."

My hopes were shattered. My vengeance was far out of reach, like being stuck in a cage and the key was pleasantly placed within reach only my arm couldn't stretch far enough to grab it. I walked out of the door and proceeded to march down the hall before I heard Fredrick call out to me from his door, "Perhaps when you actually become famous you will let me interview you for real?"

I was so upset I didn't even turn around to respond, "There's an idea. I guess we will both keep dreaming for the rest of our deaths huh?" I knew that was a low jab but I was in no mood for playing pretend and imaging myself actually having a career in this life.

I'm going home and that is the end of this. I will go back to my grave to rot knowing my killer got away and there was truly nothing I could do about it.

My longest chapter yet, and by the next one Claudia's adventure will surely take off. I'm really excited to see her journey and meet the wonderful characters we love from Corpse Bride! Don't worry I will try to type up the next few chapters as fast as I can.

Thank you for reading, please review because that really gives me motivation to continue.