Chapter 10 - Skeleton in the Town

As we walked together, the darkness that was engulfing the world started to fade. The sight of seeing past the darkness made everything lively.

This feels great. I thought. I find myself experiencing the joy of feeling alive again, despite being a skeleton myself.

There were no colors, and I still can't see anything other than this gray-colored world. But, it was a good thing to know that I can still walk on these roads.

“Feels great walking here again…” I murmured, a smile forming on my lips.

Hm? I took a glance at her, as she was being unusually silent. “What's wrong?”

“Just thinking about something…” she muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh…”

She nodded once. “Well, it’s a bit safe for now, so I guess you’re still safe.” she said, then she stopped walking. “How should we hide you?”

“Hide me?” I frowned at her, realizing it was late and what she meant by it. “Oh… right. I totally forgot about it.” I said, stopping on my track.

I looked around the area, there was still darkness lingering around, but for the area I already passed, it was all clear.

There hasn't been a single person that we've seen so far, so she was right. Since it was already past school time, most of the students had probably gone home already.

This town has always been empty and quiet whenever it’s about to be nighttime.

But here she was… I said in my thoughts, taking a peek at her. Walking around with a dead person who looked like a skeleton and acting like it was a normal thing to walk together with it.

Not like I hate it. I smiled by myself.

“But then…” I started, continuing walking. “I could use some clothes to hide my body. But I’m not too sure how it would work really.”

“It’s worth the try. I was wondering if it would fit on you, considering you’re all bones now.” she said.

I realized that she was right about it. Having no flesh and only bones, it would just make the clothes more thinner and unnatural to look at.

“But I think I should at least try something.” I said with a hint of sadness in my voice. “Something did change a lot.” I continued.

She took a glance at me. “We’re having fun, right?”

I looked at her, confused and wondering what she was talking about suddenly. “What?”

“We are having fun, right?” she repeated, saying words one by one.

“R-right…” I muttered. “We are.”

She chuckled softly. “As worried as you are, I think we should do something first about your appearance. We got lucky enough that there hasn’t been anyone who learned that there was a walking skeleton.”

Well, it’s our fault to begin with. Not hiding and just roaming around like it was nothing.

“Well it’s our fault to begin with.” she continued.

That’s what I said.

A few minutes after we started walking around the town, we finally reached another familiar place. I immediately recognized the same place I always studied.

“Stop.” she said, blocking me with her hand. “I think we should take this slow.” she continued, urging me to hide behind the wall.

I followed her behind the wall, which was a bit hidden from the road. “What now?”

“I was thinking of grabbing some clothes first.” she whispered.

“But where are you getting them?”

“I could get some from the home. I think grabbing some hoodie and some loose pants would work, it is perfect for hiding your body.” she explained.

I guess that would work. Gloves and shoes might be needed too since the clothes won’t be able to hide them.

“I think that would work. I could need some gloves and shoes too, but that leaves the face.” I whispered.

“The face…” she muttered, putting a hand on her chin. “It would be hard to fully hide your face. But, I could think of something that would hide all of your face, I mean your head itself.” she continued, looking at me.

“What is it? Is it really possible?”

“I mean… with a motorcycle helmet? I think it could work.” she revealed, laughing at the imagination. “It would make you look like something else.”

“I guess it would make me look like a rider” I chuckled softly. “But where should I get them? I don’t have helmet and clothes right now.” I continued.

“Let me think for a while.” she said.

I nodded once, and let her ponder for a while.

I wonder if it would work. I pondered, looking straight while hiding behind the walls of high school.

Being alive after death is already unnatural, and being able to see the world again is a miracle. I just hope the creator lets me enjoy this afterlife a bit more. I promise I won’t do anything bad while I’m here.

I died. But for some reason I am back in here, alive, but is a living skeleton. I’m not sure if I have something like an unfinished business, but I don’t believe that was the case, because I simply couldn’t think of any business I might’ve left behind.

Haha… I might have something like that. Something I haven’t realized yet, but something that made me cling to life a bit longer.

For now, I’ll just accept the fact that I live another life, and now I have a new friend.

“I think we should be fine.” she said, after pondering for a while.

Lost in thought, I was startled when she started talking. “Oh, where should we get them?”

“At our house, I should be able to get them easily.” she said casually.

I looked at her, side-eyeing her. “Huh? Why?”

“What do you mean why? You think you could get clothes somewhere else?”

“I could get them…” I paused, realizing I was unable to do that, being a skeleton myself. I scratched my head, sighing heavily. “Right. But is it really okay to do that?”

She walked past me, and said, “It should be fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“Everyone’s going to worry if someone said they shouldn’t be worried.” I responded.

“You shouldn’t be if we are talking about my case.” she said proudly. “Can you wait for me here?” she continued.

“You’re going to get it now?”

“I’m not going to waste time. Besides, look…” she said pointing at the area. “It’s about to get dark, no one’s going to find you here.”

“I mean… you’re right. But—”

“No buts. If you wanted to do this properly, then wait for me here.” she strongly said, pointing at the ground. “You haven’t seen anyone yet. I only ask you to be careful before I get in here.”

I nodded, mouth closed after hearing what she just said. She was absolutely right, and I can’t talk back at her.

Then she waved goodbye before walking off. I looked at her as she disappeared from the darkness.