Chapter 30: Daytrip of the Living Dead

IRO

Iro had just finished dressing and was on his way to Beck’s room to see if she was ready to head out.

It was still early, just around ten in the morning, but Zeltaria had suggested that Iro and Beck spend the day exploring the town. They hadn’t had much of a chance to see the sights yet.

Zeltaria, the Succubus, had pointed out a few areas of the city that weren’t caught up in the week-long festival. After a bit of longing from Beck, the white canine, they’d agreed on a plan and a time to leave.

Iro checked his phone one last time. It was time to go, but Beck wasn’t in the hallway. He knocked on her door, but there was no answer. He sighed.

He didn’t want to invade her space, so he headed for the stairs. That’s when he saw Beck and Holly deep in conversation.

As Iro approached, the girls turned to face him. Holly was all smiles, as usual.

“Iro! Beck said I could come with you guys, is that okay? I heard you’re going to the north end of town. I have ~so many~ friends there, it’s practically my second home!”

Iro was taken aback by Holly’s enthusiasm. He cleared his throat before responding.

“T-that’s fine. Zel suggested we see more of the town…it wouldn’t hurt to have a local guide.”

Holly grinned, threw her arms around Beck and Iro, and led them towards the door. “Awesome! Hey, Beck, do you know how to sew?”

***

“Stop here!” Holly shouted to the driver of the rickshaw they’d hired. The vehicle was pulled by a muscular satyr, a half-goat man.

Holly jumped out and ran to the window of an antique store. Iro apologized to the driver for Holly’s abruptness, paid him, and then caught up with Holly and Beck.

Holly pointed at something in the window. “We used to use knives like these back in the day. See that one? ~Actually~…”

She squinted at the display, cupping her hands around her eyes to block out the glare. “No, that’s not mine. I never did find one of ’em, you know?”

Iro and Beck exchanged a worried look. Iro gently pulled Holly away from the window, careful not to pull at her seams, and they continued walking. Holly was excitedly taking in the sights.

“Did you lose your knife back, um, ~before~?” Iro asked, unsure of how to broach the subject.

Holly didn’t even look at him. She was too busy admiring a butcher shop. “Yeah. Back when Zeltaria and I were in a different line of work. Back when I was ~alive~, you know?”

Suddenly, she gasped and ran a few steps ahead. Iro and Beck started to run after her, but stopped when she did. “We should get some drinks there. They have the ~best~ fruit juices, literally the freshest.”

Iro and Beck shared a look that said, “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

Beck walked up to Holly and took her arm. “That sounds great, Holly. But you don’t have to run, okay? We’ll get there.”

Holly listened to Beck, then burst out laughing. “Ha! Good one. Look at you, acting like you have all the time in the world. C’mon, there’s no line.”

Iro and Beck followed Holly into a store, but they were confused. It looked more like a general store than a café or juice bar.

Holly seemed confused too. She looked around, then spotted a male feline worker stocking a shelf. She rushed over to him. “Hey! Where are the drinks?”

The man looked startled. “U-uh, they’re…over ~there~? In the back.”

Holly shook her head. “No, no, no. I mean the fresh juices and brews.”

The feline shrugged, clearly confused. “I-I’m sorry, ma’am, we mostly just have imports and preserves…”

Holly’s energy seemed to drain away. She lowered her head. “O-oh…I see. I’m sorry.”

She turned and left the store without waiting for Iro or Beck. Iro quickly apologized to the man, then he and Beck rushed out after Holly. But she was gone.

“Shit…Where’d she go?” Beck asked, scanning the quiet street.

Iro looked around, his ears picking up the distant sounds of the festival in the southern part of town. He shook his head. “I have ~no~ idea.”

Beck held out her hands. “Here. I held her arm a lot. Go on, do your doggy sniffy thing.”

Iro gave Beck an annoyed look. “It’s not a ‘doggy sniffy thing.’”

Beck rolled her eyes and shoved her hands in Iro’s face. “Just do it. Who knows what she’ll get up to without us. She doesn’t seem…stable.”

Iro wrinkled his nose as Beck rubbed her hands on his face, but he ~did~ pick up a scent that wasn’t hers. It smelled oddly ~clinical~.

“She’s usually not this…intense. Let’s go, I think I’ve got her scent.”

Iro started off down the street, with Beck following behind. She was giggling to herself, pleased that she’d gotten Iro to use his “doggy sniffy thing.” She’d definitely tease him about that later.

After about twenty minutes of jogging, with a few breaks for Beck, they found themselves at the entrance to a cemetery.

Iro and Beck exchanged a wary look before Iro gave a slight nod. “She has to be here.”

Beck shivered as she stepped through the archway into the graveyard.

“I hope so...I don’t want to be here for nothing. It feels...~strange~. Like I’m trespassing or something. I’m just—”

“Human. I know.” Iro cut her off. “But look at it this way, you’re here with ~me~, and I bet there are a few dogs buried here. That’s your pass.”

Beck just shook her head, a sad smile on her face. “I don’t think it works that way.”

They stuck together as they searched, but it was Iro’s keen sense of smell that led them to Holly.

After a short walk among the tombstones, they found Holly. She was sitting on the grass in front of a grave, her knees pulled up to her chest, her head resting on her knees.

Iro and Beck sat down on either side of Holly, Iro gently draping an arm around her. “Holly? Are you okay?”

Holly slowly shook her head, opening her eyes. “N-no…I...I think I had another relapse.” She glanced at Iro, then back at the gravestone. “Z-Zel won’t be happy. She knows what it means. So do I…”

Iro and Beck shared a worried look before Iro asked, “W-what ~does~ it mean?”

Holly didn’t look at him, her gaze fixed on the worn letters on the stone. “It means we’ll have to try and rebind my soul. Which means more parts. Which means finding a morgue to pick from.

“I mean…we do it ~more ethically~ now, but it still feels so strange being in a new body…” Holly looked like she wanted to cry, but couldn’t figure out how.

“It’s like…adding paint to a painting. Every time I have to rebuild my body, it’s like scraping off the paint you’d added. Some of it will stick, but there’s no telling what.

“I…I can only guarantee my soul’s memories…from when I was…” She shook her head, clearly distressed as she curled into herself again.

Finally, Holly managed to whisper, “Y-you two go on ahead…I’ll just go home later. I need to spend time with some old friends.”

Iro and Beck both paused but neither moved. Slowly, Beck slid her hand over Iro’s arm and the pair just leaned into Holly.

Iro whispered, “Don’t worry, Holly, your friends are right here with you. We’ll stay as long as you need.”

Holly almost imperceptibly relaxed and slowly leaned into Iro and Beck one at a time. “T-thank you.”