Chapter 1 : Death Comes in Threes

 Nate had grown used to graves. The dirt loosely packed so as to take on water and keep the dead trapped within their eternal homes. The gravestones that imposed upon the land were the last real sign a person was alive, even after all memory faded. He stared down at the mailbox looming ominously four feet from the ground. Disturbing bright flowers faded from when the family had painted them onto the box were like the epitaph of the grave.

254 Cotton was embossed on the sides; it shared an eerie commonality to his family's graves. Cotton, Nate’s mother, had been an orphan and the people at the orphanage were lacking in any naming sense. They named her based on the tag on one of the blankets that she was left tangled inside. At least her first name had been something normal.

He couldn’t delay anymore, his own aching body needed the rest before his second job even if he’d only get an hour, it would be worth it. The box opened silently and without any resistance. An amount of junk mail which he could not cancel, piled amongst what might be an important bill.

For the briefest of moments as he shuffled through the mail and staggered to the old front door he felt some hope. As he reached the dirty front door which was the hegemony of a tangled walkway it made its way to the surface. A single white envelope with red letters. Past Due.

Stepping inside he took a sharp inhale ready to dive and break into the depths of this letter. Thirty three hundred dollars. He read each number with care, one after the other plunging him into despair. It wasn’t a simple amount to pay.

Trudging into the only room in the house with light. Teddy, all 71 pounds of happiness and dependability, sat working on Nate’s old text books. He’d long since heard the door but looked up as if surprised, smiling wildly.

“What’s up Nat? Check it out, I found you had the calculus textbook after all.” Teddy was beaming with delight. He didn’t even know that Nate had worked a double just to get a second hand textbook for him. Not that he’d ever tell him.

“Teddy, we got another bill. Can you put it in while I crash?” Nate collapsed down on the window seat next to Teddy, curling up still sweaty and stinking.

“You should at least wash up. I read you can get sick if you don’t.” Even as he complained Teddy snuggled back into his brother's chest with his back.

Nate didn’t feel like answering and simply waved his hand absent mindedly. His body may not have been hurting, but the exhaustion was something else. Teddy took the bill and began to input it onto the computer that sat next to the scattered books.

A long silence prevailed as the clacking of keys and soft breathing of Nate filled the air. Teddy was aware his brother was pushing himself. How long could his brother keep this up? Would he end up like the others? A small tremble went through his body. An arm wrapped around him snugly.

“Don’t worry dork. Mom and Dad always said I only got into trouble because I had too much energy. Now I get to use it for its real purpose.” Nate couldn’t be certain his words would comfort Teddy but it was all he could think to say.

“Yeah, mom also said she wouldn’t leave us.” Teddy’s words came out sharp, resentful.

Nate could understand Teddy’s anger misplaced as it was. No one could have stopped that 18-wheeler, let alone moms small car. It was Nate's turn to shake the image of his mothers twisted form from his mind. He’d been the only one available to go confirm it was her.

Teddy suddenly realized he might have said too much or something bad. He was still a kid, even if he was smart and trying to reach further than his age he was ultimately just a kid. He sheepishly looked back at Nate.

“Nat you're not mad are you? I didn’t mean to talk bad about mom. I just…”

Nate responded lightly, eyes still closed and a smile spreading across his face. It was fine as long as he understood he messed up. Nate still didn’t know how his parents were able to keep everything together.

“Can it punk. Don’t get mushy on me. I know what you meant.”

With a smile Teddy turned back to the computer. An excel sheet open to their finances which were now showing a negative. The young Cotton knew what it meant but Nate had done miracles before there was no doubt he’d do it again.

As the rustle of papers returned, Nate’s mind went back to the funeral. Not the first for their sister, nor the second for their dad, but the third. Hopefully it would be the last he’d have to experience, except for his own.

It was utterly cliche; the prior ones had been sunny and overwhelmingly hot. Not this one, weather didn’t really follow a pattern, only death seemed to do that. Rain poured hard on the congregation which had dwindled over the three years of loss.

Amongst the black outfits Teddy had been through three different variations, over as many years. There were a few family members that still kept in touch. None were willing or able to take in the two and Nate knew that very well.

The whole event felt like a farce to Nate. Her casket was closed; they might as well all be saying goodbye to the grave in the ground. That sinking brown hole stinking of death and decay.

Several of the relatives shuffled by, many of whom Nate recognized as they’d been to the prior events. Before his fathers death he might have been shocked to see Aunt Doloris. She wasn’t related by blood but instead a close friend of their mothers. It had been a long time since she took on the role of a proper Aunt. If they were going to stay with anyone it would have been her.

Problematically she’d been dead for some five years. Nate doubted that the state would accept a ghost as their guardian.

“Oh, dear it seems you can see me. How troubling.” Aunt Doloris was never one to mince words.

“Well, pay me no mind, you've got much more to focus on.”

When their father died both Teddy and Nate had begun to see the dead. Starting out as just static filled images over time they had increased in clarity. It had taken an entire year for them to reach such visibility. It wasn’t till after their mother died that they could interact with them. Nate hadn’t put much thought into the implications as it developed. He never had the time to do that.

A loud cranky voice cut through the crowd, a man who disrespectfully wore an orange and tan flannel jacket stepped up to the two brothers. Numerous wrinkles criss crossed his leathery sun-spotted white face. His hand reached out firmly taking Nate’s while the other held fast to a cane with an animal head. At first Nate had thought it was a wolf. He wouldn’t learn till much later it was in fact a coyote.

The man’s voice croaked like a toad as he spoke.

“Well, Well, Well. My very own grandchildren. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

He was their grandfather much to the chagrin of their father, who had said of the man. ‘There is no worse person alive than that which you cannot sever ties with.’

Jacque Myfster was a miser and crook. It was said he was born a dead beat. Their father had told them more than once the kind of man he was. It was the reason their father had held a deep seething hate for impropriety and wrong doing.

“Mr.Myfster.” Nate acknowledged him, which was more than his father would have done.

His pace in speech increased, whistling as he spoke, the missing teeth in his mouth left as they were. He considered the cost of fixing the mouth a fool's errand.

“I know the stories you’ve heard. But I was contacted by the state. Seeing as I never saw eye to eye with your father I think it best if you shack up with the other side of the family.”

His crassness would have set Dad off if he had been here but he was not, and never would be. Which left the response up to Nate, Teddy stared daggers but remained quiet. He spoke slowly and calmly.

“You know she was an orphan. I think when you found out you told Dad. Trash only makes more trash and to cut her out of his life.”

Myfster looked contemplative for a moment as if to feign recollecting the interaction but clearly he knew what he said. Smiling wickedly he gave a nod of recognition. Pride seemed to flare up in him, as he did so.

“That I did indeed. But gems left on the side of the road are also an awful waste.”

Nate grew tired of his blathering and pushed to end the conversation.

“It's a shame that there's only spare change here. I will look into finding some other accommodations. Thank you for thinking of us.”

Teddy chimed in here.

“Thank you.”

The old man was however far from finished with the conversation. He looked around them seeing that no one was in ear shot, he leaned the ever bit closer. The smell of rot and gingivitis heavy on his breath.

“I know you're a mere lad. 16 and there's no one who can take you in. So I thought I might lend a hand. It's the least I could do for my grandchildren.”

Nate didn’t buy it for a second. Sadly his words weren’t wrong. He knew he couldn’t claim Teddy until he was eighteen even then it would be a hard process. Not sure where this was going Nate responded.

“So what are you proposing?”

His old face drew into a toothless smile and he enthusiastically began to speak.

“Straight to the point, my favorite. I was informed you’ll be receiving your inheritance at 18. So until at which point you come of age and can claim the money and the little lad. I will say on paper that I am taking care of you. Surely, you can take care of yourselves.”

In spite of the feeling he was missing something Nate nodded slowly. It was only two years if they held out till then. It was even less if he thought about it, a year and a half. He spoke back cautiously.

“What brings on this sudden bout of charity?”

The old man seemed to recoil at the word charity before righting himself. He seemed to show a moment of weakness as his eyes took in the family grave lying not far from where they stood. Three headstones carved from stone.

“It's debt, simple as that. I didn’t help when that man left this world. So I’ll do you this.”

He paused for a moment as if searching for the word in some far off corner of his mind.

“Favor.”

Before Nate could think it over or come to a decision Teddy's hand squeezed his own. The little man spoke up with gusto.

“If it means I get to be with Nat I don’t care what we have to do.”

Nate was not one to be out done by his little brother. His lips pulled into an unpleasant smile, mired in defeat. Whatever was to come he would face it head on.

“Fine. We will accept this … ‘Charity’.”

Nate woke up from his memory. Teddy was long gone; he would be asleep at this point. In the beginning when Nate was pulling his long hours Teddy tried to go one for one with him but after a scolding, Teddy promised to sleep properly.

Nate changed into his convenience store shirt. He worked the night shift as a part-timer. Flick-and-Go was located on the corner of a semi-popular road in their town. Nate would hesitate to call it a city but some would use that term. Either way it had been growing up until recently.

One of the best parts of his night shift was the cool night air. As it rushed around him filling him with vigor the bike pedals hummed rhythmically. It was the only way he had left to get around. Their fathers car had been sold, it had given them a fair amount of time. The neighborhood at this hour was still and quiet, too quiet. Nate had experienced this before only twice but he was getting used to the feeling.

Pulling himself to a stop he ducked down into a bush stashing his bike in an inconspicuous place. He knew it would start soon. First, the ground rumbled as if a massive earthquake was laying waste to the world. At the same moment if someone else was there they wouldn’t see anything. Second, was the howling not just of wind or animals but that of tens of souls. Lastly, was the tide of spirits.

Thousands twisted, furious, and fearsome spirits came down from the sky. It was closer this time the closest he’d ever been when it’d happened. The wave slammed into the house not but five houses up the street. They washed out onto the sidewalk, the grass turning brown and yellow dying off as he watched. Cold chills shot through his body as he shook in place.

From right above the center of the house a skeletal hand descended which was the size of a skyscraper crane. The palm came down and grasped what to Nate appeared to be an undamaged soul. Then as quickly as it came it was gone. Swallowed back up into the sky without a twinge of wind or damage. The other spirits lingered for a some amount of time longer before they too vanished into the sky.

Coming out from his hiding place he dusted the leaves off his clothes. He didn’t know what that phenomena was but he sure as hell planned to never get caught up in it. Looking down he noticed he was going to be late for work which was unacceptable. He biked away in a hurry.

Only a moment later, a man stepped out from between two houses on the opposite side of the road. He too had been watching the spirits assault and he frowned at the wicked display. He was dressed in full plate armor, colored half in black and the other in a deep purple. If it was meant as camouflage, only the man knew as his eyes shot to Nate’s fleeing figure.

From a satchel he pulled a phone out and spoke quietly into it.

“Confirmed Parade and possible curse. Furthermore a Candidate is here in town. I request guidance.”