Joe’s not breathing anymore, is he?
The others came closer together, circling around the body, and tearing away pieces of Creeper Joe. When they finished, there was nothing left but part of the right side of his head, with a lingering ear, and a flickering eye that faced the ceiling.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
The others moved toward a bright glow at the end of the tunnel. WAYNE WALLACE’s missing senses restored to full strength and his tongue had grown back. His voice returned milder and softer spoken than before. In the sobering moment, he stood still, reflecting upon the creep who stripped him of his livelihood as he studied Joe’s remaining eye.
A troubling vision interrupted.
His intoxication was clear while playing baseball with Joe. He chugged more Old Tymer’s. He saw Joe’s fear as his own alcohol enraged anger burned with ferocity. The troubled boy struggled to stay in touch with reality as evil manifested itself deeper and deeper.
The memory faded away, and Wayne stood in silence as his mind wandered.
There was nothing right about that. Nothing at all.
Todd approached Wayne. “I see you lingering for a second. It’s an honor to meet you in person. I’ve loved the Dynamic Duds for years.”
Wayne remained lost in thought.
I’m tortured by the memory. A hell no man needeth endure.
Wayne was slow to respond, raising his finger to Todd as if indicating he wasn’t ready to speak. “I just need a moment,” he whispered. “I’d love to chat more about the show when the time is right.”
“I’ll give you a few minutes. I don’t think we should stay close to him for long. I don’t know what to expect.”
“I agree,” Wayne said. “I’ll catch up soon.” He watched Todd study him a moment before walking away to converse with some of the others. He spoke a quiet word to Joe as he allowed Henry Bonsall to manifest, “I’m sorry, son. The way I treated you and your mother wasn’t right.”
The flicker in Joe’s eye dimmed away as the rest of him crumbled to dust. Wayne found his way back to the group.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
TODD ADAMS and the others proceeded to the end of the tunnel. The south tunnel exit was open (behind the dried up Spring of Life and its accompanying waterfall). The Shadow stood next to it as they walked together and into the connected sewer tunnel. “My children,” he said, “find rest in this world. Take a deep breath and drink it all in. You’ve paid your penance for your folly. Now, live as you’ve never lived, and cherish every second. For those of you long separated from yourselves, prepare for a peaceful death — one without agony or struggle and a lot more harmony. Be blessed! Your time in here has ended.” He walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
They looked at each other in amazement and astonishment. Katrina walked in step with Todd, holding hands with him in an unspeakable bond that transcended the past and the present. The release gave the souls of the risen coma patients autonomy to live life just the way they had before, but with a much broader and wiser perspective. Assimilation would be a challenge, but they had a chance for a new beginning. They followed one another in a single-file line through the sewer as they climbed the rebar steps toward Clairmont Avenue, a block from Honest Steve’s Pawn and Loan.
Ebony yelled at Todd and the rest and said, “Hold on a minute! I don’t know if I want to go back out there yet.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Several of the others argued, urging Todd to lead the way out.
“I don’t have a livelihood to return to,” she said. “What’s so wrong with staying put?”
“In the tunnels?” Todd asked. “Ebony, let’s talk about this once we get everyone out of here.”
“I’ll just go back to Creepy Nights. Chris had a floor for us.”
“Okay. Well, here goes. Remember our pact.” Todd lifted the manhole cover as they came to the surface.
CHAPTER SIXTY
TODD ADAMS returned to RGH with several others for a full medical and psychiatric evaluation. The sporadic flashes and glimpses of their unfamiliar past seemed to have dissolved upon their exit from Level Zero and the separation of the souls. He and Katrina held hands. Katrina looked into Todd’s eyes, whispering into his ear, “You know, Todd Adams. I think we’ll clean up just fine together.”
“I agree,” Todd said. “A fresh start sounds like just what the doctor ordered.”
“Absolutely! I’m glad they aren’t keeping all of us overnight. It’s already been a year… a year since I… since we woke up.”
“Sounds like Wayne may be here a few weeks,” Todd said. “Joe must have really rattled him. They committed him. Dr. Hicks isn’t my favorite guy in the world, if I’m honest.”
“Too bad for him. I’m glad we’re okay, though.” Katrina pulled Todd closer toward her. “I bet we are some kind of anomaly, two former coma patients shacking up like this.”
A wheel squeaked in the background, distracting the pair. Todd looked up, and a nurse pushed a cart down the hallway away from them as she moved with a pronounced hobble, and the rhythm of the wheels rolling startled him as it crashed into a wall.
What’s going on here? This isn’t happening.
He stepped back from Katrina in a moment of paranoia.
“That nurse. Katrina, I’m sorry. I… I thought…”
“Thought what?” she asked in a stern tone.
“It’s nothing…”
“Oh, come on…” she said. “You can tell me.”
“I’m just dazed from the tunnel. Probably a little PTSD… Don’t worry about it.… my meds will calm me down. I’ll take my script from Dr. Hicks and be on my way… Hopefully, they haven’t leased
