Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 DEATH BECOMES HER by Invid Fan (c)2013

   Chapter 4



   Ve knelt beside her Jeff, eyes on his face.  They were closed again. 
Had been, for quite some time.  Time was new.  She understood time, she
thought.  Time was what was between things.  Ve was also, slowly, coming to
understand understanding.  What she saw meant something, and if she tried,
observed more, that meaning would come to her.

   She still did not understand Jeff.

   The room was dark, the only faint light coming in from a glass covered
opening in the wall.  His face was mostly in shadow, but by now she knew
every part of it.  It was a good face.  A handsome face.  A loving face. 
Again, for the hundredth time since her Jeff had closed his eyes, Ve
reached out to gently touch him.  Her fingertips ran slowly over his skin,
his cheeks, forehead, lips.

   She felt.

   Felt not just him, but inside herself.  Felt...  what?  What was it?

   Ve did not know.  In time, she knew, she would.



   ****



   Menolly woke to a large wet tongue on her face.

   Men she had slept with, if they woke first, generally were not playing
with that part of her body as she slept.  Thus, she knew it wasn't Jeff. 
It probably also wasn't Ve.  Gods, she hoped it wasn't her.  That left one
person.

   "Uhg...  morning, Canth."

   Her eyes opened.  The brown dog's black nose was almost touching hers,
snout filling her field of vision.  She closed her eyes.

   "I take it you need to go outside."

   She felt Canth jump back, giving a bark.  Gathering her strength, she
pushed herself up into a sitting position, eyes opening.  It was light. 
Outside the cabin's picture window, the sky was blue, the ground white and
beautiful.  The air in the cabin was a bit chilly.  The stove was probably
down to just warm coals.  She looked at the dog, waiting anxiously.

   "OK, let's do this before I fall back asleep." Throwing the covers
aside, she slipped her feet into her slippers and started her day.



   ****



   Jeff woke in a strange bed.

   He blinked.  No.  He knew this one.  He had been in it before.  So.  The
second time he had awoken in it.  Not AS common an occurrence as waking in
a completely strange bed, but one night stands had become more on occasion.
Stacy, for example.  She had been his girl for only a couple weeks, but
could be a keeper.  Assuming her canceling had been a legitimate one, and
not the start of the process of dumping him.  Girls could be so...

   Ve's red face moved into his line of sight.

   All thoughts of the buxom blonde vanished from his mind.

   "Hi," he said, smiling up at his companion.  She smiled back, white eyes
wide.

   "Hi." Her voice sent a thrill through him.  He had thought, maybe, she'd
be gone.  Vanished, back to wherever she had come from.  He reached up,
fingers touching that burning, glassy skin.  Her own fingers dropped to his
face, running over a day's worth of beard.  He wanted...  he wanted to toss
aside the covers.  Draw her nude form down against his.  Feel her burning
skin, revel in her touch.  Jeff felt himself harden at the very thought of
it.  He wanted to be inside her, to feel her flesh engulf him.

   No condom, either.  She'd probably melt it against his dick.

   Jeff heard the bedroom door open a crack, hinges squeaking.  More
squeaking followed.  Turning his head away from the magical girl, he saw
the mundane Menolly in the open doorway, She was dressed in a blue
sweatshirt, white stick figures on the front, and blue jeans.  She came in,
walking to the side of the bed opposite Ve.

   "How are you feeling this morning?"

   "OK." He frowned, looking at Ve then back at Menolly.  "Can you still
see her?"

   "Yup." She pulled back his blanket, a hand going to the bandages on his
chest.

   "Then why didn't you knock, or give us a moment when you saw us
occupied?"

   "You were flirting, not fucking.  I've dealt with enough lovestruck
siblings and friends to know if you don't just interrupt you'll never get
anything done." She pulled the blanket down farther, revealing his boxers.
"Roll over.  Let me see that wound."

   Grumbling, he complied, Ve moving aside to make room.  As Menolly 's
hands touched his back with a tenderness he found surprising, Ve kept
backing up until she was standing on the wooden floor.  Her eyes never left
him.

   "Asking if I'll live is probably a rather pointless question," he said,
feeling her fingers lift up the blood soaked pad.  Turning his head away
from Ve, he saw Menolly nod.

   "If you...  can die, and how you'll live after this, are the more
realistic questions." Her eyes met his, stepping back as she indicated he
could sit up.  "You realize your old life is over.  Friends, family...  Ve
has to be kept secret.  Protected.  Who you tell, who you trust, will be
important."

   Jeff considered.  Yes.  He'd seen the movies.  Government scientists
trying to capture the alien who just wants to be friends, wanting to cut it
open or use it as a weapon.  It made sense.

   Too much sense.  He narrowed his eyes, an idea forming.

   "You know of another."

   The bald woman winced.  Carefully, Jeff stood.  There was some
discomfort, some pain, but how much was from aching, tired limbs and how
much from actual unhealed damage was unclear.  Menolly's eyes looked around
him to Ve.

   "Yes."

   "And?"

   "And she lives in a safe place, isolated and protected from any
strangers.  An entire system of defenses and safeguards have been
developed, an entire, well, society created, to keep her safe and happy. 
Her friends and companions devote their entire life to her."

   He turned to Ve.  Yes.  He could understand doing all that.  Finding
some hole or fort to hide in, away from the world that threatened...

   Jeff's head whipped around to face Menolly again.  Oh.  God.  The woman
nodded.

   "You are alive, Jeff.  She did not kill you.  Has, in fact, now healed
you.  But your life is over.  Pray that she will let you leave her side for
hours at a time.  Pray that her needs are modest.  Give up all thought of
marriage, of career.  Of family.  Friends.  Your existence, now, revolves
around her."



   ****



   The road was plowed.

   That was a nice surprise.  Officer Zane, Heather, had probably sent word
somewhere.  Menolly had the suspicion that most of the locals knew each
other around here, so the woman probably knew those with plows on a first
name basis.  She wasn't complaining.  Help was always more than welcome,
when it wasn't coming from pity.  It took the two of them a half hour to
shovel out her car.  She worked slowly, not straining herself.  He did the
same, male ego contained, he admitted, with the knowledge that he still had
digging out his truck to look forward to.  Also his snowmobile, but that
could even wait for another day.

   Ve helped, a bit.  The hot blooded (or whatever) girl walked through the
snow, melting or softening it.  A shovel would have been more useful, but
the fact there were even two was good fortune enough.  She seemed to enjoy
it, which was good.  The cold didn't hurt her, nor the water from melted
snow.  All facts to file away for later.

   After a breakfast of frozen pizza, Ve not eating, they climbed into
Menolly's car.  The four door sedan didn't have four wheel drive, but the
tires were good so she wasn't too worried.  She looked at Jeff.

   "You have your keys, right?"

   "Right here." He patted his jeans pocket.  He wore the outfit she had
found him in under his riding gear, the back still stained with blood. 
None of her clothing would fit him.  Ve, in the back seat, looking around
curiously, wore a pair of her jeans, the legs rolled up a bit, and a
Buffalo Bills sweatshirt she didn't care about.  If that one burned up, no
big loss.  Canth sat as far away from the red girl as he could on the bench
seat.

   "Let's do this, then." Turning the key, the engine happily starting up,
she looked over her shoulder and began backing out of the driveway.



   ****



   The truck was partly buried about ten feet from the plowed road. 
Menolly saw the posted signs for the start of the snowmobile trail.  The
guy had ALMOST made it the other day.  His path, though, looked like it
would have taken him over a small stream, so crashing was probably in the
cards regardless.  She idled the car for a moment, letting Jeff and Ve
exit, pulling forward once they were clear to come to a stop as close as
she could without driving into the snowbank.  Turning off the car and
grabbing her cellphone, she got out herself, leaving Canth inside for now.
Menolly checked the phone, then went over to the others.

   "I'm going to try and make some phone calls.  I'm getting a couple bars
here, which is an improvement.  I'll help you dig afterwards, if I'm up to
it." He nodded, understanding.  She looked at Ve.  "Have Ve sit in your
truck, maybe scrunch down a bit.  We don't want a passing car to see her."

   "Gotcha.  Come on, Ve."

   Menolly sighed.  What a weekend.  Turning away from the pair, she looked
at her phone.  Who to call first...



   ****



   "Mommy!  The phone!"

   Ai looked up from little Es and Id, her two nursing babies, as La ran
into the main room.  Her daughter's long brown hair fluttered behind her
like a cape, a cape attached to her head.  So, not a cape, really.  The
seven year old did at times seem like a superhero, though, flying around
their home on a mission to do good.  She did do good, too.  Ai was
incredibly proud of her first daughter, and son.  She smiled at her, even
as her eyes told the girl to quiet down.  La did, eyes dropping to the two
babies.  She almost tiptoed the final few feet.

   "Phone, Mommy." She held out the receiver.  Ai took it, regarding her
blue skinned daughter.

   "Did you answer it?"

   "No!" La looked shocked.  "I'm never to answer the phone!" Ai was
pleased.  Seeing the other children starting to gather, she shooed them
away.

   "Go play!  Let Mommy talk!"

   They did.  Ai smiled.  They were good children.  Her own were good,
naturally.  They were from her, Bill, and Julie, after all.  Chris and
Tammy were also good, although they were only from Bill and Julie, but Bill
and Julie were perfect so the children were perfect too.  Lisa and Zak,
over visiting while their parents were away, were not as perfect.  Still
good, yes, but...

   The phone in her hand rang again.  Ai had gotten distracted.  Adjusting
the two three month olds on her breasts, she answered.

   "Hello."

   "Hi, Ai.  It's Menolly."

   "Menolly!  Hi!  How are you?" She loved Menolly.  She had not known the
girl long, compared to some of her other friends.  Violet's siblings had
been brought into all this slowly.  Menolly was smart, friendly.  Nice. 
Sick.

   Oh!  That was right!  Menolly was sick!  She might die!  Tears came to
Ai's eyes.  She was really, really, sick, but...  but what?  What had Bill
told Ai?  Oh, right!  Ai was not to talk about it with her.  She was to
talk about other things.  Slipping the phone between her ear and shoulder,
Ai gave her babies a quick hug as she listened to Menolly.

   "I'm OK, Ai.  Pretty good." She sounded tired, but Ai did not interrupt.
"Something has happened, though.  Is it just you down there at the moment?"

   "And Martha," Ai said.  Sensing movement, she looked up to see the brown
skinned woman standing in the kitchen doorway.  "Bill and Julie are at
work."

   "That's what I thought." There was a moments silence.  "Ai, can Martha
get on the phone, too, if she's not busy with the kids?"

   "Yes!  Martha, Menolly wants to talk to you, too!" Martha vanished,
reappearing a moment later with another phone.  Walking quickly to stand by
Ai's comfy chair, Ai was amused to hear her friend both in the phone, and
in her other ear.

   "I'm here, Menolly.  What's up?"

   "Oh, quite a bit is up.  We have a big...  well, problem, maybe.  It
depends on if we want to get involved, or just give them help and let them
fend for themselves."

   That did not make much sense to Ai.  She picked the phone up in her hand
again, her neck getting stiff.

   "What is it, Menolly?"

   "Ai..." She heard Menolly take a deep breath.  "Another person like you
has entered our world."

   Ai almost leapt up, only as her babies began to slide off realizing that
was not a good idea.  Martha was there in an instant, taking Es and putting
her up against her chest.  Ai did the same with Id, the babies only a bit
grumpy at having their meal interrupted.  Holding him with one arm, her
other held the phone tight against her ear.

   "Another?!" Ai almost shouted it into the phone.  "Another Ai?  Who? 
Where?  How?!" Her eyes met Martha's.  Her friend and companion did not
seem as happy as Ai was.  Why?  Was not more friends always good?  Martha
held out a hand.  Ai stopped talking.

   "Menolly," Martha asked, "what color is it?"

   There was a pause.

   "Red."

   Ai...  could not have heard that.  No.  Not a Red Thing.  Not here.  Not
real.  Menolly's voice was speaking, but she didn't hear.  Red Thing. 
Death.  Death for her.  Her babies.  Oh no oh no oh no...

   Martha was there beside her.  Taking Id away from Ai, all the while
keeping her phone at her ear.

   "Ai, listen to Menolly," she said.  Ai looked into her eyes.  Ai trusted
Martha.  Trusted her with her life, the lives of her babies.  Both hands
went to her phone.

   "Menolly..."

   "Ai, listen.  Don't panic.  The girl...  is like you.  She is no longer
what she was before.  She can NOT kill.  She talks, she thinks...  well, I
think she does.  She was coming for this guy who was hurt, but he's still
alive and she's real.  Don't ask me why."

   "OK.  I won't." Why didn't matter.  No.  What mattered was this girl. 
This horrible Red girl...

   "Ai, you know I would never do anything to harm you.  Would never do
anything to put you or your children in danger.  We will not do ANYTHING
without talking it over with you, Bill, and Julie.  OK?  Just understand
that.  But, I want you to think about, maybe..."

   "You want her to live with me." Ai was not stupid.  Ai was smart.  She
knew what her friend was asking.  This shelter was built for many.  They
were, still, few.  There was room.  She heard Menolly laugh, a tired sound.

   "Oh, Ai, I do NOT want that.  Hell no.  I'm going to do my best to have
you two never meet.  But we, your friends, are going to get dragged into
protecting her, I fear.  Protecting you is hard.  Protecting two?  If you
are both in different places?"

   "That would be harder," Ai said, softly.  She looked around her.  Three
large couches were arranged around a wall mounted TV, comfy reclining
chairs mixed in.  Pool and ping pong tables were scattered in the other
half, along with foosball.  Ai liked foosball.  In the hall beyond, eight
bedrooms, only half in use.  The large farm and garden beyond that.  Then,
beyond the next air and water tight door, the new cavern, freshly opened
for the first time since the original creators of this shelter abandoned
it. As big as all the living space she was now in.  Yes.  There was room.
Room enough to even keep the Red Thing in its own home.

   "We need to talk about this," Menolly was saying.  "I'm going to call
Violet next.  See if she has any ideas."

   "Oh!" Ai focused on the phone, startled.  "Are they not there?"

   There was a pause.

   "Are who not where?"

   "Violet and Cynthia!  They dropped the children off, and drove out to
see you!  After the storm, they wanted to make sure you were OK!"

   "Oh of all the..." Menolly sounded upset.  Ai didn't know why.  She
liked it when people checked on her, made sure she was safe.  She was,
though, still not human, and humans were strange.  Except for her Bill and
Julie.  They were perfect.

   "Is something wrong, Menolly?"

   "No, no.  Nothing is wrong, Ai.  It's nothing I shouldn't have expected.
Do you know when they left?"

   "I was asleep.  Martha was up and let them in.  It was early, I think."

   "It was about 6 AM," Martha broke in.

   "Thank you."

   "Is everything OK?" Ai asked.

   "Ha!  Yes, Ai.  It is.  Don't worry.  Well, I probably should be going."

   A thought came to Ai.

   "Before you go, Menolly.  The..." Ai paused.  She couldn't say it. 
Stupid, yes.  She had never seen one.  Ai had listened, though.  Listened
to Cynthia's stories, listened to the horrible tales when the woman was
still a frightened teen named Cindi.  They were to be feared.  Hated.  She
closed her eyes.  "Menolly, does the Red Thing have a name?"

   "Her name is Ve, Ai."

   Her.  It was a girl.  Another girl, like her.  Another girl from the
other world.  If she was like her, then...

   "Does she have a boy, Menolly?  Is there a boy with her, to keep her
company, to hold her, to make her happy?"

   "Yes...  yes, Ai.  She does.  His name is Jeff, and he's about my age.
They, I think, are going to be like you and Bill."

   Ai closed her eyes.  Her and Bill.  She remembered.  Remembered the
first time.  The first time she had seen, really SEEN, her Bill. 
Remembered his touch.  His kiss.  His love.  If this girl, this Ve, had her
own Bill, her own boy to hold and love...  maybe she was not evil.  How
could one who loved be evil?  Love was love.

   "Good," she said.

   "Martha," Menolly said.  Ai looked up, surprised to see Martha walking
across the room without the babies.  She realizes she must have put them
down, either in bed or in the playpen.  "I want you to call Bill or Julie,
let them know what's up.  Get the Ai Fan Club alerted, start brainstorming.
We're going to need a safe house for these two."

   "Cabin not good enough?"

   "I'm going to be coming home, and leaving these two alone might not be a
good idea at the moment."

   "Gotcha.  I'll call Bill's mom.  She loves surprises like this."

   "Don't we all.  And don't worry, Ai.  We'll keep you safe, no matter
what."

   "Thank you."

   "I'll call you back later.  Bye."

   "Bye."

   The line went dead.  Ai lowered the phone, eyes going to a far doorway.
Beyond, she heard the children playing.  Half the never used dining hall
had been converted into a playroom, a place of toys, books, records, of
walls covered with drawings created by their children.  Children who were
so much more than she was, much smarter, stronger...  better drawers, too.
What would it be like, if this new girl came here?  Came here with her boy.
Would they...  would there be babies from them?  Babies for her own
children to play with?

   "You OK, Ai?" Martha was at her side, expression concerned.  Ai smiled
at her, hand touching the woman's arm.  She felt the woman shiver.  Ai was
cold.  Red Things, she knew, were hot.

   "I am OK, Martha.  I think I will need to eat once Bill and Julie get
home, though.  Would you join us?"

   Martha reached over, covering Ai's hand.

   "I'd be honored, Ai."

   ****

   to be continued...

   ****

   Edited by Packrat

   ****

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