I tucked the ring away in my pocket and set Hattie’s hand down when I felt a slight twinge at her knuckle - a movement. There was a long, metal pipe that Lucas had used as a weapon lying on the floor a few feet away. I stepped over to it and picked it up off the ground. I didn’t want to make any noise. I didn’t want Lucas to hear the act take place.

Several fingers on Hattie’s left hand were beginning to tremble. This was the first time I had ever seen what it was like for someone to wake as one of those things. But I would not fully see it yet. I never wanted to see it. I knew that if I waited much longer, I would see her dark eyes pop open. Her jaws would try to clench around my skin. She would no longer be Hattie. She would be just another greyskin.

Both of her hands were shaking now. I gripped the pipe with both my hands and held it back like a bat. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

This isn’t Hattie, I thought to myself. Hattie is gone. This is just another greyskin. Hattie is gone. Hattie is gone.

I opened my eyes and swung down as hard as I could and the pipe landed against the side of her head. Her fingers still twitched so I had to do it again. Sobs escaped my lips as I raised the pipe. Again. Her blood splattered, black flecks hitting my face as I swung again. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but I couldn’t.

Finally, Hattie’s body was completely still and I dropped the pipe to the floor. I just about threw up like Lucas had outside, but I was able to hold it in. I turned away from her body and made my way out of the restaurant. Lucas was still sitting in the parking lot. I knelt down next to him and handed him his mother’s ring.

“She won’t become one of them,” I said softly.

He didn’t say anything, but he let me hold him as he stared at the ring. Neither of us slept that night. We just sat in silence until the morning came.

One Year Ago