Hanging on Bones

Chapter 12: Two bloody friends

Bones’s POV

The corpse below me is a wonder. I thought it was live human mage that caused explosion. Seems like I was wrong. There are only crushed bones scattered inside the smoldering robe. The lone skull is lodged in bushes off to the side.

This makes me exited. This guy must be like me! He used magic to kill humans! He blew himself up in the process, but still! There’s no way he could use magic and wear that robe without at least some cognitive powers! And from the way other skeletons died, he must be still in there! Maybe all his bones from the neck down are broken, but the skull is in one piece!

The robe he was wearing kept him from scattering all over… I can use that. Tying the sleeves and the hood I make impromptu bag. Getting the skull I look into his eye sockets. There is still dim red glow coming from them. Yeah, he has to be inside.

I got myself companion huh. He’s not trying to move or anything, but being aware has its own disadvantages. Even though it did not hurt physically, losing my head was not a pleasant experience.

I make sure that all his parts are inside and tighten the knots. Then the expensive charred bag is put to the side. Well, it’s not like he’s going anywhere for now in either way.

I look around for other corpses. There are two dead warriors in the area. No way I will leave them be. Both of them have simple sword and basic leather armor. But their pouches are the real prize. More money for me!

One of them is quite burned with bits and pieces giving off smoke. I extinguish it and scratch my skull. The other one is more preferable and I don’t have much time here.

While thinking I absentmindedly gaze around me. Then idea pops into my mind. The graves! I bet there is empty grave somewhere nearby!

Soon the search revels one. Except for the shifted lid and gaping maw beneath this grave looks nondescript. I make sure to remember what the headstone says. Quickly moving the body, I drop it into the hole. I’m too lazy to take off my chainsaw so I do not even check the contents of the grave. I just hope there’s no occupant there right now. I move the lid back into place and go for other corpse.

Unlike with the Valkyrie, stripping this warrior is quite easy. I have two hands this time after all. He was quite slim with perfectly fitting armor so I take everything. He also must have not eaten for quite a while, which is real blessing.

All the equipment creates nice neat pile on the ground. I make sure to fill two empty pouches with his blood. Nothing beats a little drink before going to sleep. The leather of those bags is quite waterproof. Then using ropes from the groundskeepers shack, everything is tied into a bundle, before strapping it to myself.

Bit of struggling with the balance and I attach the bag full of bones on the other side. I must look like overloaded pack horse right about now.

All those things take up space, so I have hard time navigating between the trees and headstones. The squeezing through makes me slow, but the Fortunes must have smiled upon me, because I do not meet any more dangers.

After dropping most of the load next to my resting place, I move few headstones down the row. Some time ago, I found plenty of empty graves in the immediate vicinity.

Knowledge that comes with home turf is as huge help as always. I choose the closest one and scatter the bones into it. To make the deed complete, I untie and throw in one of the blood bags.

Have good dreams my friend

…

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Maria’s POV

…

I wake up with the scream.

…

As expected there’s no sound coming out.

Aaaah…. I’m still undead, aren’t I? But the explosion! I was sure it would kill me!

I’m back huh… except for the hole in the skull I had from the beginning, all the bones are in proper places. There is a robe and some kind of bag next to me…I never had this bag with me, did I ? How come it’s here… Something is wrong… But it’s too dark to check the coffin …

Ah, the magic! I can use the magic! I should try the small illumination spell!

Putting the ‘soul veins’ on top of each other, and making them beat in proper rhythm does not give me a problem. But what I see…. My robe is scorched and ragged in several places. More than it used to be. It must have really happened then. But what about the pouch? I have never seen it before…. Same with the coffin itself…

I scramble for the lid. Night must have fallen just recently, since I can feel afterglow of the setting sun. I do not care though and quickly move the lid aside.

As I suspected I don’t recognize this place. But wait that tree… maybe I was here before…? Am I loosing memories again? Naah… can’t be… my consciousness is too sharp right now…

*gshh* I snap my head to the side as I hear the scraping noise of lid moving aside. Just few graves from mine something is coming out from its grave. Damn, I don’t have time to run or hide!

Before I can decide to do anything there is familiar skeleton standing before me.

It’s hard to recognize someone from their bones alone. The weapons are not the same. There is all kind of strange equipment hanging from loose belt. The missing arm is back. But despite it all, I can somehow ‘feel’ that this skeleton is the one I stole from those blood covered bags. Is this one of the aspects of magic, I wonder?

IT takes few steps closer to me and I crouch getting ready to bolt. But it puts up both of its hands palms up and stops.

I knew there were some other conscious undead here on the cemetery, but most of them were like the ghouls. More than little mad. So I always made sure to keep the distance. Who knows what will it do, if it knows I was the one who stole from it?

But in spite of my fears, it took dry branch and wrote on the dusty ground.

‘My name is Bones. Do you understand me?’

I stare at it dumbfounded. Bones? What an idiotic name is that? You’re male or female, you moron!

I don’t respond in any way, but it’s writing again.

‘What is your name?”

I hesitate at this. What? He wants to make friends or something? And it’s HE, right? No woman would lack the fashion sense to wear as many ugly contraptions as he does.

I use my bony foot to write simple ‘Maria’

He immediately replies.

‘What a beautiful name! Nice to meet you Maria!’ I barely have time to read when he swipes it and follows with another line.

‘I know this is sudden, but will you go out with me?’

WTF!? What the f**k!?

‘Small joke to break the tension, hahaha’

‘But really, I mean you no harm.’

‘I want to offer you my protection’

I’m too stunned to move. What is with this guy!? Fucking creep! Is he nuts!? And what protection?! I doubt he’s better off them I am!

But then I see something… It can’t be… can it? Ohh my god!! He has the talisman!! He has it!! It’s out of the bag and is tangled up on his rib bone near his spine!!

I stare for few minutes as he waits patiently.

I have to get it! I WILL get it! Whatever it takes!

I slowly write on ground before me. ‘I’m in your care then.’

…

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Bones’s POV

…

To my surprise the skeleton that came out was none other than John. The f**king thief John! Well, he turned out to be ‘she’, but there’s no way I would mistake her for anyone else.

Still, thieves have their uses. Especially the ones that can use magic. I will have to be careful around her, but it might be worth the risk.

Just to be safe, after our initial interaction, I decided to equip ourselves. She had easy work of it, just slipping on the big robe.

I took much more time. Now the leather armor is practically hanging on me, covering everything from neck to tips of my toes. The biggest problem was with boots and providing for proper balance. But using the ropes and extra belt I managed to fasten them securely.

Her surprise at the chainsaw was quite amusing. Especially when she tipped and fallen on her ass.

Conversation by writing is long and laborious, and she was not too keen on it. From what she says, she doesn’t know much more than I do. Supposedly she also lost the spellbook she was learning from and she cannot show her grave because it caved in. I’m glad I don’t have any flesh on my face, because it would immediately reveal all my emotions. It’s like a breath of fresh air to meet someone so bad at lying.

I really wanted to learn magic through, so I squeeze as much information from her as I can. That does not help me in the least. She either is vague on purpose or I have no talent in this area.

If it’s the former, then I will still get my chance after killing few mages.

…

The time sure flies by and if we waste any more of it, whole night will pass before we do anything. So I decide to go and plunder the groundskeepers shack. There was still plenty of equipment left there and I have additional hands to carry it.

To my surprise, Maria was quite meek in following me. She did not resist it, as I expected. Neither did she seem eager. I have no clue what her motivation is. Maybe she really wants me to guard her and is simply overprotective of her skills? Nether the less I better keep an eye out on her.

…

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…

Half way up I remember about the other warrior. I decide to take quick detour to collect armor he had. Burnt as it may be, it still might prove useful.

There’s plenty of undead around, so the hunt didn’t reach up here yet.

I made big mistake leaving this guy in such an ordinary grave. I mean, come on! Why would anyone want to have the same grave as twenty of his neighbors? Did they have special sale of cheap graves that year or something? I made sure to remember the name but really… Kowalski? Who would have expected there would be so many of them here, damn it! I really should have found different grave.

After moving the lid on the forth grave and still finding solid ground I sat there frustrated. I was trying to calm dawn when I felt something strange… it’s as if something was tugging at me…

I stood up and cautiously moved in that direction.

Ugh, what the hell….? It disappeared.

Checking this way and that proved we’re safe. But my nervous movements affected Maria and she increased the distance she was following me at. Now I know how much I can rely on her.

I tried to re-create the situation. Shifting the lid and then sitting on it, as well as few other things, did not seem to work. But the feeling flickered for a moment once I tried calming myself.

Huh. Failed experiments and practice are the food of all Mad Scientists. Few more tries and I discover that if I calm down and leave my mind in a vague, thoughtless state, I can feel it.

Moving few meters, checking for obstacles and danger, and then tuning in again, quickly brought me to the source. To my surprise it is the grave I was looking for. One of the Kowalski graves.

I cautiously move the lid aside and peek into the hole beneath. There are two bloodshot eyes looking at me from down there. Holly s**t!! I jump back and draw axe with one hand and knife with the other. The warrior! He’s back alive!! Are they fucking immortal or something!?

Glancing to the side I see Maria in her robes weaving a spell. Huh. I was sure she would run.

Looking back to the grave, the guy is out and almost standing. That was surprisingly quick. But he did not draw any weapons yet!

I quickly dash in and stab the knife into his heart. It’s stuck there up to the hilt.

What the f**k? The guy is standing there motionless just looking at me. He’s not falling over, and not doing anything. Just standing there and looking at me without blinking.

I jump back few meters. Something is seriously wrong.

The guy is still there, unmoving. No whispering sounds of his breathing and no rising of his chest. No blinking and no reaction to the knife. He’s dead, isn’t he?

As if in response the guy moans. Slow, long and quiet moan. But moan all the same. Just like other zombies.

…

I made myself a friend, didn’t I?

…

Well he sure gave me a scare.

With relief in my heart I look at Maria, just to see ball of fire flying directly at me.

BLOODY HELL!!

…

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