The Sunlight Slayings Read Online Free Page B

obituary, with his smiling school photo above it.
    Silence passed over them. Oliver looked up and spied a bat weaving among the bridge rafters.
    â€œNow I guess we just have to get Emalie to quit school and start staying up all night, right?” Dean said, again with that hopeful tone.
    Oliver halted. “Um, does she—does she know you’re back?”
    Dean sighed. “No. I was thinking once I’d talked to you that maybe it would be easier if we went together. That way you could help her understand that I’m not dangerous?”
    â€œMmm …” ’cause she’d really trust me on that subject , thought Oliver.
    â€œWe should go see her now,” said Dean enthusiastically. “It’s almost dawn. We could wake her up and—”
    â€œOoh, um, let’s wait,” Oliver interrupted, his thoughts racing. “I haven’t actually seen her since you died.”
    â€œReally? Why not?”
    â€œWell …” Oliver wondered what to say next. “She was pretty upset about losing you. She didn’t really want to see anyone. I’ve been trying to give her space.”
    â€œBut now I’m back!” Dean’s eyes lit up. “Come on, let’s just go spring it on her. She’ll probably think it’s cool!”
    Oliver was so tempted by the idea. “How about,” he said carefully, “we go check in on her first, you know, see how she’s doing? And wait until she looks like she’s in a really good mood. ’cause, you know, it’s a lot to take, meeting a zombie, even if it’s you.”
    â€œYou mean spy on her?” Dean eyed Oliver sideways.
    â€œW-well—” Oliver stammered. “Not really spying. More just watching—”
    But Dean just shrugged. “Sure,” he said. “Sounds like a plan.” The idea might have bothered a human, but not a zombie, even a reluctant one. “How about tomorrow night?”
    Oliver felt a surge of excitement and worry at once. “All right.”
    They sat for another minute.
    â€œHey, check it out,” Dean said finally.
    Oliver followed his pointing arm toward Capitol Hill, to the east. The sky was shading from black to gray.
    â€œTime for bed, for us nocturnal creatures,” Dean said almost happily, patting Oliver on the back. “Hey, your name: Nocturne. I get that now.”
    Oliver nodded, feeling awkward and yet fine. This was fine. Zombie Dean.…
    They stood up. “So,” said Dean, “see you tomorrow night?”
    â€œYeah,” said Oliver. “See ya.” He started home, then turned and watched Dean stalk off into the shadows. Dean was back. The only question was: Why?

Chapter 3
    Stalking
    EARLY THE NEXT EVENING , Oliver awoke with a start, a strange dream fresh in his mind. He was with Dean and Emalie, walking down the school halls. Dean was a zombie. It was one of those weird, jumbled dream worlds around them. The spray-painted neon grotesqua was glowing on the walls, but sunlight that seemed too red streamed in through the windows. And the floor was made of grass. Standing on either side of them were Oliver’s classmates, leering silently. Despite that, Oliver, Emalie, and Dean were joking around, until they reached the door to the gym.…
    Dean reached forward and pushed it open. “ I’m going to find out, you know ,” he said to Oliver with a smile.
    Inside, they found everyone else from the night of Dean’s death, standing frozen in place. The kids were huddled together. The Emalie and Dean from that night were with them. Bane and his friends Ty and Randall were there, too.
    â€œ Everyone, take your places ,” said the Emalie standing with Oliver. She was dressed in black and seemed to be standing in a shadow. Oliver couldn’t tell where it was coming from. It was like the lights had been dimmed, but only around her.
    â€œ Come on, Oliver ,” Dean said,