My Father rushes towards me with an urgency that takes me by surprise. He grasps my shoulders, spins me round and forces me towards the basement exit with a considerable force. We stop at the door that leads to Toby's kitchen.

I make no attempt to resist; I deserve whatever's coming my way.

Then, from the bowels of the basement we hear her wakening plea, "Help me, please can someone help me? " cries Jess – disorientation haunts her voice. 

I turn and make my way back down the corridor. Her life is worth more than my second hand existence.

Dad makes no attempt to stop me.

Half way down, an authoritative voice halts me, "No Kirk, STOP!"

Using my hands to shield my face, I turn – I don't want Casey to see me looking like death.

She walks towards me with an expressionless face.

Through my fingers I see her facial features take on their familiar glow – “It’s OK Kirk, your Dad’s explained everything. I know what I need to do. I’ll look after Jess – and you.”

Her smile and warm words flood my emptiness with something like hope – “Go and say sorry to your Dad, he deserves an apology, preferably accompanied by a hug.”

I waste no time in doing as I’m told.

……

CNN News:

A fifteen-year-old girl who wandered into a California Police station last night has today been identified as missing Oregon schoolgirl Jess Taylor. She is in what Doctors describe as a dissociative fugue, a type of memory loss, most probably brought on as the result of a head trauma.

Consequently Jess has no recollection of her missing six days. Her family has asked for privacy while Jess recovers. Police are continuing with their investigations.

……

When I here the rattle of the key in my front door, I shoot from the couch – I’m not ready to be seen! 

The door slams open and Jess bursts in, bringing a bundle of energy with her.

I read her visible shock at the sight of me, “Kirk – you look like crap without make-up,” she hollers. I correct her, “No – not like crap, like a corpse.”

“ I Left my make-up at Casey’s last night, can I borrow some of yours?” She throws me a look I read as disbelief, then makes a flourishing hand movement around her face, “Kirk – see this face, my personal space – it does not do paint. No – with this category One Responsive you gets what you see, people don’t like it, they can lump it. Make-up’s for cheer-losers. Now, go get me my book, I wanna read the last chapter before the others arrive.”

……

The Association say Jess is: Fully on board. She embraces her sixth sense and wants to use it as a force for good. They are impressed with her ability to convince her parents and Police of her amnesia. They say she’s one of the most valuable members of our team – which is why she has the key to my house – our home headquarters. 

……

"Perfect timing," exclaims Jess on hearing the doorbell trill. She puts down her book while I dart for cover. "Jeez Kirk, what's the problem," she asks, as I cower behind the couch like a frightened dog. "It's Casey," I say. "Sure it is, she don't bite; remember Kirk, you're the biter in this group," she says, peering down at me with a puzzled look. "I know, but I don't want Casey to see me without make-up," I say, doing my best to make my face take on pleading look. I read a look of horror on Jess’s face, "Kirk, are you OK? You look like – like you're about to take a crap!"

I guess I got the pleading look wrong – need to work on that one.

……

I peek from behind the sofa, “Case – welcome to the world’s Premier Paranormal Insight Team!” shouts Jess, throwing her arms out to invite a hug from the friend who told her my truth and welcomed her into this new world of greater knowing.

"You got Kirk's paint bag Case; we got one vain reanimate in hiding here."

I react to Jess’s judgment, "I call it self respect, we reanimates don't have much of it. Just want to preserve what little of it I have Jess."

"I jest Kirk," she says, handing me my make-up bag, "But here's the thing Kirk, let's call it your 'Humanisation Kit' so much more fitting, don't ya think?"

"I like that, makes me feel a whole better about this half life." Casey joins the conversation whilst I begin my transformation,  “While we're on the subject, you look loads better Jess; that trip to California did you a whole lotta good,” she says. “Thanks Case. I guess sunshine and subterfuge suit me; it sure comes naturally to me.”

......

I listen to Jess and Casey talk as I work – “Here’s the thing Case, Dale beat me because I dropped Jenna’s phone in the coke, I get he was pissed with me, understand his motive. But, beating Toby for being gay, queer bashing, I don’t understand that kinda hate, especially when it’s your own cousin,” says Jess.

“I know – we gotta nail the ass-wipe,” says Casey, with a familiar fire in her voice.

I'm almost finished when Toby arrives, “Hello my fellow good guys – what’s happening?” his mood bright and bouncy. "We're dissing Dale, releasing our anger before the adult folk arrive for the strategy meeting," says Casey. 

I check my small mirror: satisfied with my transformation – I rise and hopefully shine.” Jess checks me out, " Much better Kirk; you know, you’re better looking than Dog-Dirt Dale." Toby agrees, "Yep, when I first saw you Kirk, I thought Logan Lerman had joined Arlington High."

I don't really care who I look like, so long as I look alive.

Toby talks through a mouthful of Oreo, “I got news on Dale guys. He called to our house this morning. The guys got a guilty sweat on. He’s like asking me all these kinda questions about how I’m feeling, how I’m mending; then inviting me to bull-shit ball games, all sorts of fake friendship stuff.” Casey looks pissed, “I’m so gonna confront him when we're back at school?” she says, with her steely determination. Jess jumps in, “No Case! Calm, confrontation plays to the dark side. Dale’ll use any accusations you throw at him to his advantage.

"She's right Casey, we need to play him carefully," concurs Toby.

......

The Strategy meeting takes place in one of a series of secret rooms in our basement. Toby's Dad, Clark, is chairing it. Mom was supposed to be in attendance, but Dad says she sleeping off another hangover. Sad.

......

Jess revels in the hidden depths of my reanimate underworld. Her hunger for knowledge of the otherworld is as insatiable as my appetite.

......

Clark stands and addresses Jess in a formal manner – “On behalf of The Association I’d like to congratulate you on the success of your Deceptive Stratagem. We applaud you.”

Clarke sits to talk with us less formally - "You guys know that Dale is a young Psychopath, a very real danger of acquiring serial killer status in his future." Dad interjects, “Psycho’s aren't axe wielding maniacs – they're good-looking, intelligent and often popular people, just like Dale." I kinda cringe – we know that Dad.

Clark resumes his formal manner, "Our strategy is two fold. Firstly we need to ensure Dale's crimes and his danger to the public is discovered by the authorities in order to curtail any further hurt. Secondly, in order to help Kirk and those like him, we have to fight hard to protect the reality of reanimate existence. The fight back from the Dark side on this front will be considerable." I read a look of burden on Clark’s face. Dad notices too, and takes over, "Our fight is compounded by the fact that we ourselves have broken the law. We have to ensure we don't implicate ourselves, blow our cover, expose our truth – the real world won’t grasp our goodness. " He looks at Jess and Casey, "As Responsives, you two our integral to the success of our campaign. I'm sorry to burden you both with such enormous pressure."

……

Clark releases his tension via a long exhale – "OK, let's take a break before we move on to part two of the meeting, the logistics of our Campaign Stratagem."

The mood lifts and relaxes a little. I notice Jess staring at Casey and I, "You know, you guys look so good together, like a real cool pair a people, you boot Dale and Jenna's boring blonde beauty."

Casey looks at me; I see her face searching for something in mine. Dad breaks the moment, "Hey Kirk, go and check on your Mom before we resume our meeting."

……

As I ascend the steps to our dwelling I catch the sound of Mom’s slurring words. Immediately I know all is not well.

The secret door from my basement to dwelling is behind our cooker unit – it's pretty heavy to push.

I edge our secret annex open, ensuring it’s closed secure behind me.

……

Mom is delivering drunken, dangerous dialogue to someone. Her words threaten our security.  

In our living room I recognise the familiar shape of a wide, athletic back.

Dale turns to greet me – do I read a triumphant smile seeping across his handsome face?