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

   Chapter 5

   Menolly looked down at her phone.  It wasn't Ai's fault.  There had been
no reason to get angry while talking to her, to upset the blue creature who
at times seemed the avatar of love.  No.  She had to save her anger for
those who deserved it.

   She looked around.  Snow, as far as the eye could see.  A blanket which
promised cold, eternal sleep.  Brown trees, branches empty, awaiting the
resurrection that was spring.  Evergreens, needles trapping the snow, as if
pulling that blanket over themselves, not knowing the death awaiting if
they were buried.

   Her sister did not trust her.  That was the problem.  Violet did not
trust her little sister to take care of herself, to do what was right.  To
keep herself alive in a small snowstorm.  As if she had not lived through
blizzards her whole life.  Had not been trusted with the younger ones,
taking care of them alone at the house.

   Violet thought she had come to the cabin to die.

   Which was silly.  She was going to die, yes.  Everyone was, eventually.
For Menolly, it might come sooner than she or anyone else wanted, but she
had not come out here to die.  She came to live.  Live the way she wanted
to live whatever was left of her life.  They had no right, none, to tell
her what to do.  No right to force any help on her.  None.  None...

   She let herself fall back against the car door.  Her head was cold.  She
hadn't worn a hat, a stupid thing to do.  The sun was warm, yes, but the
wind was cold.  She missed her hair.  It had been blond, curly, kept short
like Mommy Rachel.  It would come back, now, they said.  Now that the
treatments were over.  Maybe the cancer was gone.  Maybe she would live
long enough to see herself again, the mirror showing the twenty year old
she knew she was...

   A car was coming down the road.  An SUV with four wheel drive, driven by
what looked like an eighty year old woman.  It slowed.  Pushing off of her
car, Menolly quickly walked over as the driver lowered the window.

   "Everything OK?"

   "We're good," Menolly said, hoping she sounded awake and cheerful as hot
air blew out at her.  "I'm letting him dig out the truck he stupidly left
there."

   "Good." The old woman looked over Menolly's head.  "Men should earn
their keep.  Well, good day to you."

   "And you." Menolly backed up, smiling, as the vehicle pulled away,
window rising quickly.  She liked her.  Friendly, helpful, but not TOO much
of either.  That woman had shit to do, and nothing frivolous was going to
stop her.

   The radio playing Salt n Pepper had also been a nice touch.

   Another car was coming.  This one, she knew.  Menolly looked back at her
car, the idea of letting Canth out to provide backup rolling around her
head.  The dog would probably go off into the snow to play, though.  Not
much backup there.  She saw Jeff stop in his shoveling, leaning on his
anti-snow device.  His breathing wasn't too hard.

   "Busy road."

   "Naturally." She couldn't see Ve, which was good.  It wouldn't matter
with this car, but if someone came by while she was yelling at them...

   The blue minivan slowed, the surprise of its two occupants evident to
Menolly even from here.  Well, of the driver.  Anything that surprised the
other would have to be audio based.  Menolly found herself back at her car,
leaning back on the front door, arms crossed.

   Let them come to her, if they're this insistent.

   The van came to a stop ten feet in front of her car, pulling across the
road to put both vehicles on the same side.  The two passengers leaned
their heads together, probably making plans on how to deal with a
headstrong sibling.  They kissed, a quick touch of the lips Menolly tried
not to feel jealous about.  That was not the issue here.  Finally the van
doors opened.

   Cynthia was the first to drop to the ground.  Red hair was the first
thing you noticed, long, curly.  It drew the eye like a second sun.  Her
body was slender, but with flesh and curves.  No bony model was she. 
Cynthia wore a black dress, falling down to the top of her black boots, a
black winter jacket covering her top.

   It was not until your eye returned to her face that one noticed she had
no eyes.

   Menolly smiled at her sister-in-law.  The woman not bothering with the
sun glasses today amused her.  Which was good.  There would be no amusement
to be had from her oldest sister.

   Violet dropped down against the snowbank, cursing.  The woman that
crawled around to the front of the van had skin of milk chocolate, the face
of a Mayan goddess.  Her body was fleshy, hips curved the way the gods had
intended them to.  Her jeans did not so much conceal, as accent.  She wore
a blue jacket similar to Menolly's, both gifts from some Christmas past. 
Her eyes were intelligent, wary.  They took in the non-shoveling Jeff,
considering, before returning to Menolly.  Crossing the front of the car,
she took her wife's hand.  The two approached.

   "Good morning," Menolly said, giving a slight smile.  "Wonderful weather
we're having here."

   "Morning." Her sister was frowning.  "What's going on?"

   "Oh, you know.  I'm always picking up hunky men.  I'm done with him,
though, so if you two want him he's all yours.  In fact, I insist on it."

   Cynthia's empty eyes narrowed, obviously catching the change in tone. 
Her right hand went up to her shoulder, stroking against nothingness.  Her
other hand touched Violet's arm.

   "Ro is agitated.  Did something happen, Menolly?  Are you OK?"

   "Oh, *I* am fine.  More than fine.  Head is cold, but other than that
I'm perfect." She motioned with her head towards the now shoveling Jeff. 
"He, on the other hand, is dead.  Or," she added, before their reaction
could become more than a blink in surprise, "he whould be, if the Red Thing
now sitting in his truck hadn't been stopped by Canth from doing its
thing."

   She watched their reaction.

   It was wrong.

   Menolly could see the shock as Violet saw the yellow hair inside the
truck cab, saw the two women clasp hands together.  Cynthia lost all color
from her face.

   What she did not see was surprise.

   Why...

   Ice went through her veins.  Menolly staggered to the front of her car,
hand on the hood.  She thought she'd faint.  With effort, she forced
herself up straight.

   "You didn't."

   They turned to her.  She saw her sister's eyes.  Saw her fears
confirmed. Saw the guilt.  Menolly's voice became a log growl.

   "How could you..."

   "Sis, we just..."

   "YOU TRAINED CANTH TO STOP THEM!" With a roar, Menolly was before her
sister, right hand slapping her cheek with all her strength.  Violet stood
her ground, taking the blow.  Menolly grabbed the front of her jacket.  "Do
you have ANY idea what you've DONE?!  What you've created?  Another Ai! 
Another creature in our world!  Gods above and below, YOU SHOULD KNOW
BETTER!"

   A hand touched her arm.  Menolly whirled.  Cynthia's face was
distraught.

   "Menolly, we just..."

   "And you!  Cynthia!  Why?!" Menolly was going to cry.  Was crying.  To
be this thoughtless!  "You've SEEN them!  Touched them!  You've told us,
time and time again, they're the way the universe its!  Amoral!  You don't
interfere!"

   "You stopped the chemo.  You won't listen to our Moms..." Menolly
whirled back to Violet.

   "BULLSHIT!  You gave me Canth long before that!  Was he trained then? 
If this worked, were you going to give all of us trained dogs?  Keep ALL of
us alive forever?  Gods damn you!"

   "Menolly..."

   "Fuck this!" She took a step back, shaking her head clear.  "Jeff, this
is Violet and Cynthia.  Sis, this is Jeff and your new friend Ve.  I've
already called Ai, and Martha's calling Mrs.  Darrow.  They're all yours.
The cabin isn't shut down yet.  I'm going home."

   "Menolly!"

   She ignored them.  Climbing into the car, she slammed the door.  Menolly
saw them just standing there in front of her.  Faces full of shock.  Good.
Let this soak into their thick skulls for a while.  She was washing her
hands of it.  Starting the car, she saw she had just enough room to pull
around them.

   They leapt out of the way anyway.



   ****



   One does not flee on an empty tank of gas.

   Menolly pulled into the combination general store/gas station, stopping
beside a pump.  Turning off the ignition, it hit her.  The tears.  She
couldn't help it.  Her body shook, nose began to run.

   Why?

   Why couldn't they understand?  Why couldn't they just let her be?  Was
it selfish not to want to be in PAIN?  To want some CONTROL?  That's all
she wanted.  Weren't they more selfish, not wanting her death to cause THEM
sorrow?  It wasn't about them!

   A cold nose touched her cheek, a wet tongue licked her face.

   It wasn't Canth's fault.  He had just done what he was taught.  It
probably came from being born down with Ai, of being one of the many
puppies gifted to them by Pooh Bear and Tippy.  They could see the
invisible monkey-thing Cynthia had, her familiar.  Her sister had probably
noticed something, and...

   She pulled out a tissue.  The dog was doing a good job wiping up her
snot, but she had to get herself under control.  It was a long drive.

   "Thank you, Canth.  You're a good boy." Blowing into the tissue, she
grabbed the dog's head with her free hand and gave it a good shake.  "I
have to go inside.  I'll get you something, too."

   Maybe she could find a new life in there.



   ****



   The hunk with the curly brown hair was at the counter again, leaning
back against the cigarette case, an iPad in his hand.  He was more slender
than the undead beefcake, but his arms bulged nicely out of his short
sleeved pullover shirt.  Menolly knew she had to look a mess, but she
wasn't in the mood for flirting.  She wished she was.  He looked up, eyes
widening.

   "Hello again!  Looking for anything in particular?"

   He recognized her.  Naturally.  How many young bald women came in here?
The fact he seemed happy to see her did cheer her up.  She smiled, at least
she tried.

   "Let me just wander for a minute.  I'll need $40 in gas on pump two."

   "Take your time."

   The store was empty, everyone probably either at home or on the ski
slopes.  This place had probably been busy earlier, everyone hitting it for
that quick hot coffee.  Menolly preferred her caffeine carbonated.  So, she
needed some pop, a bag of chips, dog treats...

   "Menolly!"

   Heather stepped around the end of an aisle, the black haired cop dressed
in the same uniform she had worn last night.  Well, a twin of it at least.
If the hunk had been happy to see her, Heather was overjoyed.  She moved up
to Menolly quickly, smile infectious.

   "Hi!  I thought you were heading home!  How's your patient?"

   The woman didn't hug her.  Menolly almost wished she had, although not
being a hugger herself she probably would have reacted awkwardly.  Heather
did take her hands, though.  The grip felt...  nice.

   "My sister showed up, so I dumped the guy on them.  I am heading home,
but need supplies."

   "What's this about a patient?"

   The hunky clerk came up to them.  Menolly thought she felt blood rush to
her cheeks.  She hoped she wasn't blushing.  With her luck, her entire head
would turn red.  That would be subtle.  Heather cocked her head at the man.

   "This is the woman I was telling you about, with the injured
snowmobiler."

   "Oh!  The saint who was nursing the idiot!" His smile lit up his face.
Her own felt hotter.

   "He said he was taking a shortcut."

   He chuckled.

   "Shortcuts make long delays."

   Menolly almost forgot to breath.  That quote.  He read.  Understood. 
Quickly, she turned to look at Heather.  The woman seemed very amused for
some reason.  Menolly realized, at that moment, she was still holding one
of her hands.

   She had no desire to let go.

   "Paul," Heather said, smile on her lips, "you have that new girl coming
in soon to cover the register?"

   "Yeah, Betty.  Should be here any minute."

   "How about we take Menolly here to lunch in the back room?  My treat."

   "Sounds good.  I'll make some fresh subs."

   This was moving way too fast.  Menolly, instinctively tried to stall.

   "I have my dog in the car..."

   "Bring him in," Paul said.  "I'll make him a sandwich, too."



   ****



   "So, Dad pours the Kool-Aid for us, and Jaxom grabbed his cup and took
this HUGE swig.  I mean, downs the entire thing!  He was always showing
off! And suddenly, he's spitting it out, coughing!  Well, we all have to
taste it, then, to see what's the matter.  I took a sip, and, blah! 
Horrible.  I couldn't even describe it!  Dad's looking at us, thinking
we're all crazy.  Then Nadia, who was in the bathroom, comes outside... 
and asks Dad why there's an open salt container on the counter!"

   Heather burst out laugh.  She could see it.  The small Menolly outside
at the picnic table, the lake side cabin, the father sheepishly realizing
he's never going to hear the end of this from his family.  Paul was
laughing as well, legs up and stretching under the table to rest on the
chair next to Menolly.  Her eye caught his.  Did he see it, too?

   Yes.

   They were friends.  Had grown up together.  Lovers, now and then. 
Dated, but something was missing.  Neither provided all of what the other
needed.  Neither could, completely, fill the void.

   As Heather watched, Paul stretched out his hand to cover Menolly's.  Her
cheeks reddened.

   "I...  I have to go," Menolly stammered.  Her gaze went to Heather. 
"It's a long drive, and I just KNOW they're going to check up on me if I'm
too long."

   "I know how it is," she said.  "I should be checking back in to the
station myself." Heather reached her hand over, covering Menolly's
remaining one.  She then reached towards Paul, his hand meeting hers half
way.  Fingers locking, palms together, they placed them on the table where
Menolly could see.  Her eyes fixed on it.  "I don't want this to be the
last time we see you, Menolly.  I...  I like you.  We..." Her gaze went to
Paul.

   "We like you," Paul laughed.  "I know Heather here, how she thinks, who
she likes.  She was gushing about you as soon as she stopped in this
morning." He paused.  "With good reason," he said, softly.

   Menolly's blush deepened.  She seemed to think for a moment, eyes down.
When they rose, there was a twinkle Heather had yet to see in this young
woman.  It made her heart flutter.

   "Maybe," Menolly said, a catch in her throat, "you two would like to see
Niagara Falls with me sometime this week?"



   ****



   Jeff finally, to his core, understood.

   He was surrounded by strangers.  Men and women, boys and girls.  The
large living room was filled, clusters of people gathered like clicks at a
party.  This, though, was serious.  The looks they gave him were sad, if
understanding.  Excited, if worried.

   They were planning his new life.

   Jeff had spent a second night at the cabin, the two women making phone
call after phone call.  They frightened him, frankly.  There had been an
anger in their mood, although thankfully not directed at him.  They had
talked to him, to Ve.  He had answered them as best he could.  Ve seemed to
confuse them, although they showed no shock at anything she did.  Together,
the four of them discovered he could walk maybe a hundred yards from Ve
before he started to feel faint.  Another fifty yards, keeping to his feet
became impossible.

   He had not been able to sleep that night.

   Yesterday they had moved him here, to this large house well off the
road. Four women and a couple children lived there.  He didn't understand
the exact relationship, and didn't want to offend anyone by asking. 
Violet, and the kids, seemed to call all four 'Mom'.  That was just... 
wrong.  A Doctor had shown up in the evening, a large black man.  He looked
Jeff over for a bit, eyes troubled.  He looked at Ve for much longer,
running all sorts of scans using different portable devices.

   "I learned my lesson," he had told Jeff.  "Get as much done at the first
exam as you can."

   Jeff didn't ask for clarification.

   Today, the people came in waves.  Families, mostly, it looked like. 
Husband and wife, brother and sister, relationships he had no hope of
remembering.  Jeff just nodded as they were introduced, trying not to
embarrass himself.  They talked to Ve, to each other.  Much of it made
little sense.

   "How far did the submersible get?" The tall man, he had to have played
ball at some point, although he was easily fifty now, was looking down at a
series of computer tablets set down on the dining room table.  Four other
men were standing around him, fingers moving around the displays.  A dark
haired younger man reached over, sliding one of the pads closer.

   "It got to here.  EThe chamber closes in to a reasonably narrow point.
If we can just seal that, drain the chamber, I think we can..."

   "Bob, do you realize what you're asking?" An Asian man shook his head.
"Even if we CAN get all those tunnels drained and sealed, how are we
supposed to drill down to them?  That's a hundred feet of rock!"

   "Eighty, there, I think, but I know."

   "We need that second exit.  You know that.  We can buy the land over
those chambers.  It's back from the road, secure.  We build a compound over
it..."

   "The cost, man..."

   Jeff drifted towards a cluster of women.  They, too, were pouring over
computer screens.  Complicated pictures of X-rays or something.  He
recognized body parts.

   "Her internals are about the same as Ai, but you'll notice her lung is
down here.  At least, I think that's the lung."

   That was something he didn't need to know.

   Jeff backed away, eyes sweeping the room.  Him.  This was all about him.
And her.  Them.  All these strangers, doing all they could to help.

   Why.

   Why would all these people...

   "She's here!"

   All conversation stopped.  Everyone stood, eyes glued to the hallway
leading to the garage.  Jeff saw the woman Taylor frantically waving him
over.  He went, seeing Ve was standing beside her.  Ve, dressed in a white
sundress, looked at him with confusion.  Smiling, he took her burning hand.

   "I don't understand it either."

   She smiled back, white eyes capturing his.  He would be spending the
rest of his life with her.

   He could live with that.

   The sound of footsteps.  Their eyes went to the archway.

   Into the room walked...

   She was blue.  Bluish gray, her short hair as black as night.  Black,
too, were her eyes, large orbs sweeping the room.  She was thin, delicate,
thin limbs projecting gentleness.  She wore a green sundress, not much
different from Ve's.

   So this was she.  The other.  He understood.  Yes.  He would protect
that one.  Protect it from harm, like an innocent babe.  She was not like
Ve.  Ve was strong.  Ve was...

   ...releasing his hand, as she walked towards Ai.



   ****



   Ai watched the Red Thing approach.  She faced it, as Bill had asked her
to.  Ai had wanted this meeting.  Wanted to meet this new girl, away from
her babies.  Away from her home.  She would face her alone, surrounded by
her friends.  Ai had never seen the Red Things.  Or the Orange, or the
Green, or even any of the Blue like her.  Only the drawings Cynthia had
made, when she was Cindi and insane.

   The girl was pretty.

   Ai slowly offered her hand.  The girl looked at it, puzzled.  Ai spoke.

   "I am Ai.  The humans, the people like your boy, touch hands to show
they are friends.  Will you touch mine?"

   The girl Ve cocked her head, white eyes on her.

   "Are we friends?'

   "We can be," Ai said.  "We are different, but everyone is different.  If
you are my friend, you and your boy can live with me, in my home.  You
would like it.  There are flowers, and dogs, and children, and foosball. 
We can talk and play and watch cartoons and have sex with our boys and
girls.  We can be safe, from any that would hurt us."

   Ve considered.  Her eyes stayed on Ai, who tried not to be nervous.  She
wished Bill and Julie were here.  They were with the babies, keeping them
safe.  Ai had wanted them to stay with the babies, yet now she wanted them
here with her.  Ai was always happy when they were with her...



   ****



   Ve saw the blue girl's eyes light up.  Saw the love.  The happiness. 
Yes.  This could be a friend.  Reaching her hand out, she let her fingers
touch Ai's.



   ****



   The room exploded in applause.

   Taylor let out the breath she had been holding.  Done.  The first part
was done.  The first crisis averted.

   They had proved the two weren't like matter and antimatter.

   Taylor's eyes swept the living room.  Violet was near the fireplace, as
far from the new friends as she and Cynthia could get.  Well, they weren't
going to get out of this that easily.  Making her way through the crowd
with the ease of almost fifty years experience as a small thin woman,
Taylor soon found herself beside their eldest.  She looked up at Anita's
daughter.  She looked so like her love, it was scary.

   "I hope, for all our sakes, this is the last time we have to go through
this."

   Violet nodded, vigorously, eyes staying on the pair.

   "I'm so sorry, Mom.  So sorry.  We didn't mean..."

   "What you DID mean was bad enough.  You think all this is going to help
Menolly?  She needs happy thoughts if she's going to make it, not the crap
you've been giving her."

   "Mom, I..."

   "Quiet.  She wants to move out.  We can't let her.  Not now.  Not until
she's stronger.  YOU are going to apologize to her.  Grovel.  Do whatever
you have to, so she feels welcome in this house.  Understand?"

   Her daughter couldn't meet Taylor's gaze.  Nor could Cynthia.  She
nodded to them.

   "Menolly needs our love.  Even if I have to beat it out of you."

   "Where is she?" Cynthia asked.  Taylor shrugged.

   "She's an adult.  She can take care of herself."



   ****



   Menolly stood by the railing, letting the icy spray pelt her face.  The
wind, too.  You could feel the power of Niagara Falls forcing you back,
feel nature having its way with you.  Yet, she stood her ground.  Stood
against all nature could throw at her.

   It felt good.

   "This is incredible." Heather's voice brought a grin to Menolly.  She
squeezed her hand.

   "You haven't seen it until you've seen it in winter."

   "I mean, the ice!  I didn't expect that!"

   "I know.  Dad would often bring us here New Years Day, if it was cold
enough.  Nobody here, just us and Niagara." She turned her head to look up
at Paul.  His eyes were as wide as Heather's.  "Is it everything you
thought it would be?"

   "More."



   ****



   The three walked along the rapids, hand in hand, Canth walking ahead of
them on his leash.  It was the ice she loved.  It was everywhere.  Every
tree branch, every railing, covered in frozen spray from the falls.  A
magical world, unlike any other.

   Menolly wanted to see it again next year.

   She wasn't angry at her sister.  Pissed, yes.  Mostly that they hadn't
talked to her.  They had done the equivalent of tying her down and forcing
medicine into her veins.  Only they had missed.  Learned her lesson, her
sister had.  That was one good thing to come out of this deity forsaken
mess.

   "So," Paul asked, "where to next?"

   "I'm hungry," Heather said.  "Any good places near here?"

   "There's a Hard Rock, but then I don't know if you want the 'good' part
to include the food."

   "I'm in," Paul said, grinning.  "To us, that's high class!"

   "Ha!" Menolly just shook her head.  "OK, Hard Rock it is.  I'm not sure
if Canth is allowed in, but we'll find out.  Maybe we'll drop him off at
the car."

   She had new friends.  Good friends.  Maybe more than friends.  Menolly
knew they wanted to be more.  It was there, in every smile, every touch. 
They were offering.

   Would she, COULD she accept?

   Her hand squeezed theirs.

   Perhaps.

   Canth suddenly surged forward.  Menolly held his leash in the same hand
that held Paul's.  It was jerked forward, Paul releasing her quickly. 
Heather did the same, Menolly grabbing the leash with both hands.

   "Whoa!  Canth!" He was straining, growling.  What could he see...

   Oh.

   It could be that.

   Menolly...  thought.  She could...  let go.  Let go of the leash. 
Guarantee time with her new friends, her new life.  She could...

   No.  She tugged back on the leash, hard.

   "Canth!  No!  Heel!"

   The brown dog looked back at her, whining.  Whining because he wanted to
go...

   A gray squirrel ran across the snow.

   OK.  Those he could chase.  With a grin, Menolly let go of the leash,
Canth dashing off an instant later.  Her two friends looked at her as if
she was crazy.  Menolly made a motion towards the runaway dog.

   "Well, go chase him."

   A look came to both faces which Menolly somehow knew they had been
giving each other since they could run.  Almost as one, they sprinted off,
yells of "he's mine!" echoing through the park.  Menolly watched them go.

   If they asked...  she'd say yes.

   ****

   The End

   ****

   Edited by Packrat

   ****

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