I Am The Walking Dead

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Memories Awakened

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"The drugs have stopped working. I'm afraid Rachel, there's only one other option for James."

Mrs. Cameron sat very still. She clenched a fist and let her gaze drift from Micheal and out the window. A bird flew past and up into a high tree over the road. A simple thing to happen but...

"Mummy look at the pretty bird!" Lillian stood on the high embankment overlooking the rest of the park. A brightly coloured pigeon had flown past, it's collar ready ruffed up. As it had flown up to the tree the light from the sun had hit it in such a way that all the colours in it's feathers had been picked out like a rainbow against a grey sky.

Rachel Conrad was sitting on a bench next to the pond, where her son, James, was sitting, absentmindedly throwing bits of leaves and twigs in. She looked up from her book when she heard the girl call out. Up on the embankment was a rather tall woman with light strawberry blonde hair. She was clutching the hand of the small red-headed girl next to her. The girl let go of her hand and bounded down the bank to the pond. She sat herself down on her knees and stared in. Suddenly she gave a shout.

"MUMMY! There are fishies!" The girl's mother was in the act of following her down the hill. Rachel smiled to herself. She glanced over at James. He was now stiring up a small wirlpool in the pond with a stick. She smiled to herself, happy to see him occupied for once and settled herself back with her book.

"My gosh." Rachel looked to her side as the woman with blonde hair sat her self down on the bench. Her eyes quickly glanced over to the red-head and saw her gazing into the pond. Her eyes went back to the woman. "Children eh? They sure tire you out."  Rachel put her book down and nodded.

"Yes they sure do," she agreed. "Looking after James is a twenty four hour job." The woman turned to see him swirling the water.

"Ah, I see. That's my little Lillian over there," she said, smiling. Rachel glanced back over to the little ginger girl sitting at the edge of the pond. The woman held out her hand to Rachel. "Trisha Groves."

Rachel took her hand and shook it. "Rachel Conrad." The two woman sat in silence for a while watching the other children play. Every once in a while Lillian would call her mum over to look at the frog spawn that had just started gathering on the surface, or the fish swimming about. Rachel wasn't called over by James at all. He had found an upturned fish floating lifelessly in the water. He didn't do anything, but use his stick to the bring the fish closer. James sat on the balls of his feet and stared at the dead fish morosely.

"Rachel,"  Patricia said coming back over to her. "I'm going to the cafe to get Lillan and ice cream, would you mind watching her for ten minutes. I wouldn't mind getting you or James something." Rachel looked up from her book and eased a smile onto her face.

"A coffee would be lovely, but nothing for James. He can't take solids. He's fed through a feeding tube because he won't eat." Rachel smiled again but Patricia could see a frown hidden at the corners.

"Oh, okay. I see. Just a coffee then." She straightened and then walked off towards the cafe. Rachel took a quick look at James. He had his back turned as usual. She looked at Lillian. She seemed to have lost interest in the fish and the frog spawn. She was sitting cross legged watching James. Rachel turned to see Paticia nearing the Cafe. She turned back to the book on her lap and began reading again, zoning herself out from the world.

With every second that she watched the boy, Lilly got more and more interested by what he was doing. Eventually the small girl shuffled over to him. He didn't look up or turn around when she poked him.

"I'm Lilly. What is your name?" The boy said nothing and continued to stare at the brightly coloured upturned goldfish. Lilly poked him again. This time he looked up.

"Can you see me?" He asked slowly.

Lilly scrunched up her nose in confusion. "Of course I can see you. You are right here." She edged closer to the boy.

"Well you shouldn't." He said. He turned round to face Lilly. "I'm dead."