I comfort Casey while she cries gentle tears of relief. It is good to be reunited with Toby.

The Officer approaches, “You know, you’re one very lucky reanimate Kirk; to have friends like Casey and Toby look out for you the way they do – that’s real special,” he says, patting Casey’s shoulder.

Casey wipes her face and composes herself, “I’m worried about Jess,” she says. “Yeah, so are we…I’m worried – period,” says The Officer, resting his back against the wall. His knees buckle and he slowly slides downward until he reaches a sitting position, he flops his head forward and rests it in his hands. The weight of his recent experience and newfound knowledge weighs heavy on his broad shoulders – I read tired and weary in his face.

Toby also rests against the wall; fatigue mingles with distress in his face. Blood speckles spatter his shirt like an intentional pattern rather than the result of a reanimate rampage. When he talks, his voice is flat, without any emotion I can read, “I got a text from Jess about fifteen minutes before the Doctor reanimated, it just said ‘Sorry.’ I’ve heard nothing from her since,” he says, staring blankly at the wall in front of him.

"Sorry – for what?" asks Casey.

"Dunno," answers Toby.

"Probably for betraying you guys in some way," says The Officer, rising from the floor and tussling his hair, like he's trying to shake away his tiredness. "That's not what Associate Bradbury thinks," says Casey. "Associate what? Who?" asks The Officer. Casey smiles, "Oh yeah, you're a newbie – you got a lot to learn about this freaked out new world," says Casey. The Officer smiles, “Hell – I’m still trying to figure out life in the real world, never mind this paranormal one I’ve been hauled into.”

“I really don’t think Jess would betray us,” says Toby, I hear a rising energy in his voice – he’s ready to defend our mutual friend.

The Officer shakes his head, “Get real Toby, it’s a possibility. I’ve been keeping a close eye on Jess ever since I was assigned her case. That kid has a real fanatical personality; her zeal for all things zombie and reanimate is really extreme, which can often lead to irrational behavior,” he says, with a tone that seems to speak from experience. “But, you know, it was studying her social media sights that helped give me the insight to discover the Doc,” he looks at me, “You’re lucky Kirk, I was too busy dealing with the Doc and his aftermath – I didn’t give you a second thought,” he says, giving me a thumbs up.

Casey slaps the wall, “I knew it, kinda suspected you were a responsive; I’d get really edgy when we were together, always thought you were minutes away from being on to Kirk. I guess all things happen for a reason – Jess used to say that.” I see Casey take on a look of reflection, thinking; which flicks quickly into one of control, “Look you guys, The Association are on Jess’s case…” The Officer interrupts, “Who, or what is this Association?” he asks, with irritation in his voice. Casey takes a breath, “Let’s go down to the basement, I’ll introduce you to one of the members – and there’s something below the basement that you guys need to see.”

……

The dull glow from the flashlight gives Jenna a reanimate look; her face pale, eyes red and puffy from tears. Associate Bradbury kneels in front of her, offering comforting words – until she sees The Officer and shoots to her feet, “What the f…” The Officer throws his hand up and hollers, “No foul language Ms Associate, not in front of the kids.” She shoots Casey a glance, laced with a questioning anger, “What’s going on here, you got the law involved?”

“No – the law involved himself, and I think you guys need a law man in the know, so to speak,” he says, giving her a friendly wink. I read a look of relief flood Associate Bradbury’s face, “Ok, great, hmmm, yes, I get it,” she says, with a kind of unsure ramble. “It’s, just that Jenna here, she’s pretty upset, is imagining all kinds of silly stuff from what she overheard us saying while she was tied up back there,” says Associate Bradbury, giving us all a wide eyed glance that says – ‘be cautious.’

“Tied up? Who tied her up?” shouts Casey. Jenna perks up, “Oh leave it little Miss innocent! Kirk tied me up, you ordered him to. That guy does anything you say,” she looks at The Officer, “those two are dangerous Officer – believe me!”

Casey’s words fly towards Jenna with an angry force, “You are one messed up crazy creature – why you making this crap up?”

“No, you’re the crazy one – you’re abusing Kirk big time, getting him to do all kinds of weird stuff for ya! Kirk told me himself that you do stuff together – everyone in school’s talking about ya,” spits Jenna, with venom in her voice. I see Casey ready herself to shoot back, but Toby gets in first, “Back off Jenna, Casey’s a huge support to Kirk…” Jenna doesn’t let him finish, “We all know why you hang round with these two! Kirk told me he does stuff with you to – you’re totally disgusting!”

Associate Bradbury looks and listens with a rising confusion in her face – unsure of what, or who to believe.

“WHOAH – ENOUGH!” Asserts The Officer. “I’ve just had to deal with a major incident up there; I’m not gonna deal with anymore chaos down here. Now calm down folks, no more screaming and hollering. I’ve been assigned with getting you home safely, and that’s what I intend to do.”

Casey addresses The Officer,  “I need to defend myself against her allegations – you have to understand that.”

“Sure I do, but not right now, we have other things to attend to – what is it you want to show Toby and I?” he asks, with law like authority.

 …….

Associate Bradbury resumes her assertive self, “Ok – you guys go show The Officer what we discovered downstairs. I’ll stay here with Jenna,” she says.

“No way – I wanna go see what you guys are hiding down there – I heard a pig or something for freaks sake!” shouts Jenna.

“You’re the one hiding honey – hiding the truth!” fires Casey.

“ENOUGH,” hollers The Officer, raising his hand.

I read fury in Jenna’s face, “I’m going to the Police as soon as I get outta here, tell them all the stuff I heard you guys saying – the law’s gonna get it all!” says Jenna, with a threatening tone.

The Officer swivels sharp towards Jenna, “The law is right here young lady, you can tell me everything when I return,” he says.

Casey, opening the broom cupboard door, turns and shoots, “You need to tell the Police who tied you up and hid you amongst all that junk Jenna.”

“That’s easy big girl, I’m looking at him, ain’t that the truth Kirk,” she says, giving me a smile that is filled with sarcasm.

“NO! It is not true,” I say, with a raised voice. This is the first time I have elevated my voice in this half-life. It takes everyone by surprise. 

……

The Association

Unfortunately, at this juncture we are unable to give you any positive news on our ‘Operation Locate Jess.’ Dale’s family home was found to be empty of all inhabitants when visited by two of our members.

We are now en-route to Jess’s family home and will report on our findings once there.

FYI – there is considerable media attention focused on Arlington High and we are anxious to have Kirk, Casey, Toby and Jenna returned home, in order to diminish any more press intrusion.

We return you to Kirk.

……

The Officer talks with urgency as we ascend the stairs from the reanimate basement, “From what you tell me of this Association, I’d assume they’d have known about this?” he says with some concern in his voice. Casey answers with a blunt tone, "You know – I'm beginning to think they're pretty useless." 

Toby answers, his words laced with a little anger, "That's way too harsh Casey; you know we're only human for freaks sake! And anyways, I’m an Associate, and I know about it now – it’s a big reanimate basement," says Toby, his words heavy with worry.

"I'm sorry Tobes, I'm just real frustrated with Associate Bradbury, she won't consider my concerns about Jess."

“I can understand that Case – Jess is the best. I’m worried her enthusiasm to help’s got her into trouble, you know the way she rushes into things.”

“Exactly Tobes, that’s my worry – that she’s rushed into a dark hole,” says Casey.

……

Darkness shrouds us as we return to the Arlington Basement. “Man – Associate Bradbury – did your flash die?” asks The Officer. I hear him grappling for his flashlight amongst the law paraphernalia that hangs from his belt.

“Associate Bradbury!” repeats The Officer.

“Jenna,” hollers Casey.

No response.

“Associate Bradbury, I need your help here, have you turned your flash off for a reason?” asks The Officer.

No response.

The Officer finds his flashlight – its glare floods the basement.

I am the first to see Associate Bradbury first.

she is where we left her.

But she lies prostrate on the cold concrete floor.

The beam of the Officer’s flash travels up her body, settling on her wide-open eyes. Blood seeps slowly and collects around her head like a glistening crimson pool.