person he’d talked to on the beach. “Until you’re fully trained, the
only thing you really need to remember is to protect your eyes. If you don’t
have them you can’t feed, and if you can’t feed your body will rot and decay.”
Emily turned and continued down the hallway. Wes followed.
“Why aren’t there more people here? You said there were
thousands of Mortuis.” Wes realized he hadn’t seen anyone else since he’d
awakened that morning.
“That’s because we live in the real world. We can’t survive
separate from the antemorts. Although there are thousands worldwide, that’s
really a very small number.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Wes was still trailing
behind Emily, who was passing through a door located near the intersection of the
main corridors. The room they entered was spacious enough that his old
apartment would easily fit inside with room to spare. It was beautifully
furnished with statues and other pieces of fine art. Large wooden desks were
situated in each corner. In the center of the room was a circular sitting area,
or kiva, as he later heard it referred to, that was recessed into the floor by
a few feet. Behind one of the desks was a woman working on a computer.
“This is the office of the Ancestors,” Emily said. “The Ancestors
are the leaders of AfterLife. They are the ones who have been alive the
longest. One of them is always present here at the Hub.”
The woman at the desk noticed them, stood, and walked across
the room toward them as Emily was explaining who the Ancestors were. “You must
be Wesley,” the woman said as she held out her hand to Wes. “We are so happy to
have you here. I’m Anne Marie.” Wes took her hand and they shook.
Anne Marie was medium height, but her heels and professional
attire gave the illusion that she was much taller. Her posture was strong and
upright, also giving the impression that she meant business. She had burgundy
hair that was cut to frame her face, and although she looked very professional,
her smile was kind and welcoming.
“Wes, Anne Marie is one of the four Ancestors at this Hub
along with Caleb, William, and Zach, who aren’t here right now.”
“Zach was here earlier,” Anne Marie said. “However, he had
to leave not too long ago for Chicago.” She turned to Emily and lowered her
voice. “They found another one.”
Emily nodded.
Anne Marie turned back to Wes. “Well, why don’t you come in
and we can get to know one another.” Anne Marie directed Emily and Wes to the
seating area. Once seated, she shifted her body around so she was facing Wes.
“So Wes, tell me about you.”
Wes couldn’t help but feel like he was now in the middle of
a job interview. “Well, where shall I start? I lived in Chicago and now I’m a
Mortui.”
Anne Marie smiled at him, which eased the awkwardness of the
situation. “Don’t feel uncomfortable, Wes. I already know quite a bit about
you. It’s one of the benefits of having AfterLife members in high positions in
society. We can access a great deal of information on just about anyone. What
I’m curious about is not what, but the why. Do you mind me asking you about
your death?”
Wes thought about the question. Such an experience should
seem very personal, but it didn’t feel that way. “To be honest, I was
depressed; I thought I was in love with someone who didn’t love me. I just
wanted the hurt to go away.”
“Love is a strong emotion and if you’re lucky enough to find
someone, you’ll find love is just as powerful for a Mortui – in many ways even
more so.” Anne Marie’s smile faded slightly as she looked down at her hand. She
ran her thumb around her ring finger on her left hand even though she wasn’t
wearing a ring. Wes could tell she was recalling the memory of someone she’d
lost who was still very special to her. “It’s slightly different though and not
chemically driven, but one thing does remain the same. Whatever characteristics
you
only thing you really need to remember is to protect your eyes. If you don’t
have them you can’t feed, and if you can’t feed your body will rot and decay.”
Emily turned and continued down the hallway. Wes followed.
“Why aren’t there more people here? You said there were
thousands of Mortuis.” Wes realized he hadn’t seen anyone else since he’d
awakened that morning.
“That’s because we live in the real world. We can’t survive
separate from the antemorts. Although there are thousands worldwide, that’s
really a very small number.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Wes was still trailing
behind Emily, who was passing through a door located near the intersection of the
main corridors. The room they entered was spacious enough that his old
apartment would easily fit inside with room to spare. It was beautifully
furnished with statues and other pieces of fine art. Large wooden desks were
situated in each corner. In the center of the room was a circular sitting area,
or kiva, as he later heard it referred to, that was recessed into the floor by
a few feet. Behind one of the desks was a woman working on a computer.
“This is the office of the Ancestors,” Emily said. “The Ancestors
are the leaders of AfterLife. They are the ones who have been alive the
longest. One of them is always present here at the Hub.”
The woman at the desk noticed them, stood, and walked across
the room toward them as Emily was explaining who the Ancestors were. “You must
be Wesley,” the woman said as she held out her hand to Wes. “We are so happy to
have you here. I’m Anne Marie.” Wes took her hand and they shook.
Anne Marie was medium height, but her heels and professional
attire gave the illusion that she was much taller. Her posture was strong and
upright, also giving the impression that she meant business. She had burgundy
hair that was cut to frame her face, and although she looked very professional,
her smile was kind and welcoming.
“Wes, Anne Marie is one of the four Ancestors at this Hub
along with Caleb, William, and Zach, who aren’t here right now.”
“Zach was here earlier,” Anne Marie said. “However, he had
to leave not too long ago for Chicago.” She turned to Emily and lowered her
voice. “They found another one.”
Emily nodded.
Anne Marie turned back to Wes. “Well, why don’t you come in
and we can get to know one another.” Anne Marie directed Emily and Wes to the
seating area. Once seated, she shifted her body around so she was facing Wes.
“So Wes, tell me about you.”
Wes couldn’t help but feel like he was now in the middle of
a job interview. “Well, where shall I start? I lived in Chicago and now I’m a
Mortui.”
Anne Marie smiled at him, which eased the awkwardness of the
situation. “Don’t feel uncomfortable, Wes. I already know quite a bit about
you. It’s one of the benefits of having AfterLife members in high positions in
society. We can access a great deal of information on just about anyone. What
I’m curious about is not what, but the why. Do you mind me asking you about
your death?”
Wes thought about the question. Such an experience should
seem very personal, but it didn’t feel that way. “To be honest, I was
depressed; I thought I was in love with someone who didn’t love me. I just
wanted the hurt to go away.”
“Love is a strong emotion and if you’re lucky enough to find
someone, you’ll find love is just as powerful for a Mortui – in many ways even
more so.” Anne Marie’s smile faded slightly as she looked down at her hand. She
ran her thumb around her ring finger on her left hand even though she wasn’t
wearing a ring. Wes could tell she was recalling the memory of someone she’d
lost who was still very special to her. “It’s slightly different though and not
chemically driven, but one thing does remain the same. Whatever characteristics
you
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