What if R and Julie hadn't met outside the city? What if R had been captured by the Living soldiers and taken inside the fortified city of the Living? A different version of the R/Julie story, one where they meet in her world, not his.

Isaac Marion owns Warm Bodies. I just enjoy playing with the characters.

A Dark Negative of Love

Chapter 23 – Meeting the Residents

After my unexpected conversation with General Steiger in the communal shower room, I finished getting dressed and went back to the room I shared with Nora and Julie.

"Steiger busted us while you were showering, R," Nora informed me as I walked in. "We knew you were supposed to be sleeping in another room, but we didn't want anyone walking in on you, 'ya know? And nobody else is staying here, so we didn't see the harm of all three of us staying in the same room.

But he wants you in one across the hall. Something about feeling like a father now that Julie's Dad is…MIA."

Julie looked down at her hands as Nora spoke.

I felt a lot of sympathy for her. Losing both Perry and her Dad in a matter of days? That would be devastating. "Sorry," I offered. And I was. Sorry for so many things, including the part I had played. Sorry for the world we lived in. Or she Lived in. The one I just haunted now.

"Actually, R, you're more alive, in some ways, than so many of us. You're…in process, awakening to things. Striving. I'm glad you're here," Julie said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. I don't know who was more surprised, Nora or me. At least Nora had the decency to close her mouth quickly and turn back to pretending to study her book.

"Let's get you ready to meet my world," Julie said brightly. I smiled, trying to generate enthusiasm for the ordeal I was sure to come.

A knock came at the door. One of the soldiers said, "Last call for breakfast."

Nora turned to us and said, "Well, I'm not missing that. Are you two coming, or am I grabbing something for you, Julie?"

Julie simply replied, "Coming," then leaned back to look at me appraisingly. She paused, and said, "What about you, R? When's the last time you ate?"

I had been dreading this question and tried to figure out the best way to answer. "Nothing, or rather nobody, appeals," I finally stammered out. "But I am feeling…low energy."

Nora and Julie exchanged looks. Finally Nora said, "Well, if you're transition, maybe try some breakfast food. It's starchy, should be the least difficult on your system. Let's see, OK?"

Julie giggled. "Nurse Nora," she sang.

Nora grimaced. "Well, if what's going on is correct, we're going to have a whole new wave of patients, all with conditions no one has ever treated before. All these people transitioning from Dead to Living. R, if you let me study you, I might be in a better position to work with the others. Deal?"

I nodded, as I hadn't thought of the possibility I could be useful, outside of being strapped to a dissection table. I grimaced, remembering the Dead I had passed on that first morning when I was brought into the city, and shuddered, recalling my own terrifying nightmares of having taken his place on the table.

Once the girls were ready, we walked over to the Commissary. As we approached, I looked around carefully for the guard dog from the previous night. Fortunately, I didn't see it. When we entered the crowded room, the three of us picked up bowls of hot oatmeal, and Nora grabbed some of the breakfast MRE's.

"We'll try a few things," she said. As we looked around for a place to sit, she commented, "Man, it's really crowded in here. There are people just leaning against the walls. Wondering what's going on?"

I felt very self-conscious, as the only other time I had been here I had been wearing a helmet . This time, I didn't even have a hat on. All that I was, gray skin and blue-veined neck included, was on view. We started attracting some looks, and soon all conversation stopped. As the room got quiet, I looked around and saw the other Living were staring at me.

I ducked my head down. I had known this wasn't going to be easy, but I decided to show the same trust Rosy had shown last night when he walked with a group of the Dead. I was going to be seen for what I was by a group of the Living.

I felt someone coming up behind us, and then started as a hand was placed on my shoulder.

I turned my head to find General Steiger standing behind me. It had been his hand that I felt on my shoulder. But he wasn't looking at me. He was facing the assembled group of the Living.

"Attention, please!" he called out. "Although, I believe my friend R here, has already succeeded in getting your attention all by himself."

There was a loud muttering, which Steiger quelled with a motion from his hands. I also heard the distinctive click of guns being cocked. It was odd, but I felt as if my pulse was starting to race at that sound. My body seemed to remember the sensation, though my heart no longer beat.

"Most of you have noticed the General's daughter, Julie, and her two friends, Nora and R, or Archie, over the past few days," Steiger continued. "Now some of you are getting a good look at R for the first time. I only found out about this myself a few hours ago.

It seems that something is going on out there beyond the walls. We've all seen the massing of the Boneys. But it's the…" here he paused.

"R," he said, "what do you like being called?"

"We say…Dead," I replied.

"Thank you, R," the General replied. "The Dead, those like R, seem to be…recovering, I believe is the best word for what I'm witnessing. Now obviously, we're keeping a close watch on the situation. But last night, a group of…the Dead, led by one of R's friends, escorted Colonel Rosso back to the Grigio Dome."

The room, which had been silent, began to buzz with conversation at this last comment. People were mostly shaking their heads in disbelief, but it seemed that nearly everyone continued to stare at me.

General Steiger put up his hands for silence, and it was instantly quiet again. "Colonel Rosso called me a few minutes ago to tell me that he arrived safely, thanks to his escort."

Now the General turned to me. "R, would you like to say something?"

All eyes were on me, and the room was dead silent, waiting.

"I don't…want to…be…like this. Changing… back, I hope." Then I shook my head.

The General put his hand back on my shoulder.

"Nicely stated, my friend," said the General reassuringly. "As you can see, R can talk and has feelings. We also did a little strategy discussion a few minutes ago. He gave me some insights that I will be discussing with my officers.

We will continue being vigilant about the Boneys. He agrees something is going on. But for the time being, while we won't trust an unknown Dead, we won't shoot on sight."

I lifted my hand, and the General acknowledged me with a nod. "Coming here…for shelter…" I said.

The General was silent for a moment. He bowed his head, thinking.

"OK," he finally said. "We are going to begin to set up a corridor, using concrete barriers, inside the fortress from the front gate to the tunnel. If any of the Dead appear at the front gate seeking shelter, they are to be allowed to move to the tunnel. They can stay there until the situation can be evaluated further.

Additionally, and importantly, we have decided it is necessary to evacuate the Grigio Dome for security reasons. The first transport will be arriving later today. We may be doubling up in our efforts to house these evacuees. I hope everyone will volunteer to take in some of the residents.

Questions?"

Though it took a few minutes, soon hands were raised, and a jumble of voices filled the room again. There were a lot of question, of course. All eyes were on me, but I felt Julie slip her hand into my under the table, and give me a reassuring squeeze. I felt a smile trying to form on my face. Whether it showed, I didn't know.

PLEASE REVIEW. I WILL SEND AN EXCERPT FROM THE NEXT CHAPTER TO ALL REVIEWERS. I'm going to be traveling later this week. I'm supposed to have Wi-Fi where I'm going, but last year it didn't really work. So if I don't answer reviews right away, just know that I will as soon as I get back to my home computer.

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