Sleeping in the Fire | Eddie Munson

Eddie twirls my hair in his fingers, waiting patiently for me to wake up when suddenly, tires can be heard creaking over gravel. "Doll," he whispers gently as he moves me from his chest. I grumble lazily in response. "Expecting anyone?" He questions, a little urgency in his voice as he shuffles in to pants haphazardly thrown on the ground last night.

I scrub at my eyes with my fists and listen closely to multiple pairs of footsteps making their way around the back. "Shit..." I grumble as I follow Eddie's lead and toss on the first clothes I can find. "Steve, Dustin, Robin. They came to find me when... You know." My words trail off, but he does know. "They wanted to come check up on me later." I rake a hand through my hair. "They still think you're dead."

At this he takes a deep breath, understanding my panic. I can hear them at the back door now. "What a lovely surprise for them!" He smiles nervously. I am making my way to the door and a heavy knock sounds.

"You're going to scare them half to death," I warn him quietly. I heave the wooden bar from the door and peek my head out. "Hey guys," I nervously assess their faces. They seem the same as the last time I saw them. So, not great. "I have good news. However, you're going to need to sit down." I stare patiently as they exchange looks, shuffling in place.

"Like, out here?" Dustin seems confused, but I gesture to the rocking chairs. Dustin and Robin sit, confused, as Steve leans against the crackled railing of the porch.

My eyes turn over my shoulder to Eddie then back outside. "No better way to do this, I guess." My words come out shaky as I step outside and gesture the resurrected over to the door. One foot steps out tentatively, then the other. Dustin makes a sound I've never heard and grips Eddie so firmly I can see him shake from the strain.

"I could tell you the long story, but there's a much quicker explaination," Eddie offers as he unwraps himself from Dustin with a grin to the boy. He presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, extending his canines. They gleam valiantly in the morning sun. Steve looks completely unphased by anything anymore.

"So what, you didn't die?" Robin asks incredulously. She leans forward in her seat, scanning him. Scars peek out from his tee shirt in all directions. I'm sure it doesn't make much sense at all, but nothing here seems to make sense anymore. Dustin continues to hold on to any part of Eddie within reach, as if making sure he's real.

"Oh, I definitely did," Eddie's fangs slowly receed, "As evidenced by these new bad boys." His ringed hand slides his shirt up to display the worst of his wounds pulled tightly across his torso in tan ripples.

Dustin leans forward, sniffling back the last of his shock as he takes a long look at Eddie's wounds, then to his face. "That's bitchin', dude," Dustin's tries to project confidently, but the emotions still have him stuffed up a bit.

Eddie smiles sympathetically at the younger boy and hugs his him wildly, turning him back and forth as they giggle. "Glad you're okay, too," they mumble to eachother. Robin seems content with understanding. Steve shakes his head and stares at the sky, seemingly bewildered to add another paranormal entity to the list. No one pushes further. I think we could all use a little space from what has happened, what is still happening, before more stories are told. My tongue grazes over my teeth behind closed lips and I don't explain further.

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The summer sun hangs lazily overhead as it takes it's time to graze the trees. My companion and I sit on the porch sharing a cigarette. He rolls it between his fingers, tapping the sunbleached wooden arm of the chair to kick off the ashes every couple minutes. When I reach for it, he brings it to my mouth, his fingers pressed against my lips. I kiss them every time.