Act two

Defining Death

"Lavender, you are so weird."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you just…act abnormal."

"How do I do that?"

"I don't know, you're just, well…"

"…"

"Dead…you know…"

"…"

"Lavender?"

"…I know…"

The digital clock on the table beside the small bed struck 6 am. There was no need for an alarm, for the woman on the bed was already awake, simply lying there, staring at the ceiling.

Dead.

I wonder if it's true.

What if I really am what he said?

What if I'm…?

"Dead"

Lavender got up and slowly lifted her feet off the bed and into a pair of slippers. That's impossible. Dead means you're dead. Not moving. There's no life in you. She stood up, straightened her nightgown and walked into the bathroom. I move and feel like any other human being. There's nothing "Dead" about me. She looked up and glanced in the mirror at a boney figure and thin face that belong to a woman in her late twenties.

Right?

She shook her head and grabbed her toothbrush. No, don't be stupid. You're not even on your period, get a hold of yourself. I have a feeling today's gonna be a long one…

Several hours later, Lavender was sitting in a police car, which would of course be a bad thing if she wasn't dressed in uniform, patrolling the usual places with her partner, Ed Graham. For once, he wasn't complaining about how his ex-wife was always accusing him of cheating on the alimony or how the neighbor's dog kept going on his lawn, so Lavender bravely took the opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering her ever since she arrived at work.

"Hey…um, I didn't see Mike in the break room today…"

As Lavender turned a street corner, he took a drink from his mug. "Yeah…Poor guy…"

Lavender stared. "Just what do you mean by that?"

Ed shook his head. "Well, what with the divorce and all, he's going through hell…"

Lavender suddenly stomped on the brake and spilt Ed's coffee all over him. He cursed loudly, but not quite as loud as Lavender. "He's getting a WHAT?"

Ed returned the loud exclamation. "Geez, he's getting a fucking divorce, Stone! Look at this; you spilt it all over my pants, god that stings…"

Lavender did nothing but stare into space. But…I talked to him yesterday! He didn't say anything about a divorce. In fact, he seemed happy! Nothing makes sense…Why would he hide something like this from me? We've known each other since we were children!

"Jesus, that does it. I'm driving. Need to check out a disappearance case anyway." Ed got out of the car, still muttering under his breath as Lavender slowly slid over to the passenger side. He plopped down and buckled up. He paused and looked at Lavender. "What?" He scoffed. "You're acting so surprised."

"I am surprised." Lavender choked out. "He didn't tell me anything."

Ed once again cursed under his breath. "Sorry, Lave."

"Why wouldn't he tell me something like this?"

Ed shrugged. "Hell if I know."

They were silent for a while. Finally when they reached a red light, Ed sighed and broke the silence. "Well, Mike, he's a good kid. Hell, I don't know, maybe he just…wanted to protect you. You know, he didn't want you to freak out and worry. They've been thinking about this for a while, and I don't think he was enjoying hiding it from you."

Lavender didn't respond right away. "Why…why did he tell you then instead of me?"

Ed smirked. "He didn't. He really needs someone to tell him he talks loud on his cell."

Lavender smiled. "…yeah…So, where are we?" She noticed the vacant house they were in front of.

Ed got out of the car. "We got a call about a disappearance of a white girl, 15. Apparently she got into a fight with her mother, and then ran away."

Lavender got out of the car. "Oh…"

Lavender paled, but Ed didn't notice. They walked up the driveway up to the door, completely unaware that they were being watched by three dark figures.

"Impossible. She's far too old."

"But I'm sure of it. It certainly checks out."

"Now?"

"She's with someone, it's far too risky."

"Her partner is aged. He won't be much of a struggle."

"I said no. Now shut up you two."

Lavender suddenly shot a glance at the bush where the three beings were as her partner talked with the mother, but saw nothing. She shuddered as a cold sweat came over her, but kept a poker face as the mother began explaining what had happened.

Why…do I feel like this..? What's going on?

She shuddered again. The mother stopped and looked at Lavender. "Hon, do you need a drink?"

Lavender smiled gently. "Yes, thank you."

It's almost like…something was dead…inside…

Ed agreed. "Yes, it would be best if we go inside."

The mother beckoned them. Lavender and Ed sat down on the couch as the mother got her a glass. Ed whispered to her. "Lave, what's the matter?"

And all of a sudden, they…they…

"I-I'm fine."

"If you say so."

They fooled me.

The mother came back in and handed Lavender a glass. She drank it greedily as the mother went on. However, as Ed paid keened attention and asked a few questions in between, Lavender paid little. Something had invaded her attention.

Ah…

So this is what it means…

Lavender began blinking as though she was trying to fight sleepiness. Ed and the mother did not notice any thing, for she was telling him the likeliest places her daughter would have gone and Ed was writing them all down.

To feel dead eyes open.

Once again, another cliffy, another scream at realizing how long ago it was when I updated. Thank you so much for being so patient! Also, know this is a T rated fic, and I kinda dropped the 'f' word with Ed...but in movie cases, it's fine if you do it once and that's only going to happen once. He spilled hot coffee on his pants, I think that I have a right to drop it in a case like that. But I usually don't let my character's cuss unless needed. That's just my prudish policy.

Infection: Thank you and also thank you for reviewing my other story.

Ta1nt3d1uv: Thank you! And I really haven't gotten around to it…(staples big sign that reads 'procrastinator' to forehead)

Spare change: Know what you mean. - I sometimes skim when a story gets too flowly and it'll really mess me up.

Miss Yukishiro: Ah, well. We are only human. (Some of us, anyway. . You know who you are…)