Page 106 of Echoes

Iris was all alone. She was sitting in the car that they’d bought together. Daphne had paid the largest portion because she made more money than Iris, and she’d put it in both of their names, which meant that when Daphne’s parents had come to take everything, they hadn’t been able to take the car. She sat there and thought about how she couldn’t do this on her own. She couldn’t do this without Daphne being right beside her, encouraging her and instructing her. Yes, Daphne had told her exactly what to do, and Iris had the instructions written out in her pocket as well. She’d managed to get the keys without anyone noticing her, and now, all she had to do was go inside the building and bring the love of her life back from the dead. Iris laughed a little because she still couldn’t believe this was happening.

“You can do this, my love,” Daphne told her.

Iris couldn’t see her, though.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Look outside the car,” Daphne said, and Iris realized that Daphne had yelled it.

She turned to see Daphne standing outside the vehicle, and she looked even lighter than earlier, meaning they only had two more visits, if they were lucky, and that she could disappear at any minute, leaving Iris alone without her again, never being able to move on. Iris got out of the car and held up the box with the device inside it.

“I have it.”

“We should get you inside before someone sees you. We need to do this as quickly as possible, okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

“Remember where the other pieces are?”

“Yes,” she replied as she walked toward the building.

Daphne more floated than walked with her until they got to the building and Iris pulled out the key. She unlocked the door and held it open for Daphne, who gave her a look that told Iris that it wasn’t necessary. Iris nodded and went inside. She had to be quick, finding the other parts, because there was security patrolling this part of the building.

“In there,” Daphne said, and she pointed with a faded finger toward ametal cabinet.

Iris hurried, opened it, and found a small square of metal that didn’t look like much. There was a wire sticking out of the top, but that was it.

“And in there,” Daphne added, trying to keep Iris on task.

Iris opened the other cabinet and pulled out two more metal pieces.

“You need to put the two ends on first. Then, the core.”

“I remember,” she said.

“Of course, you do,” Daphne replied, sounding proud.

Iris pulled the unfinished device out of the box and twisted the metal ends into position. Then, she lifted the core and used the small screwdriver she’d brought in her pocket to unlock the door.

“Now, connect the core by twisting the wires together. There’s just one more step after that.”

“Okay.” Iris quickly twisted the wires together and set the core in place before she screwed the metal door back on. Then, she held up the device, which rested in both her hands, and said, “Got it.”

“The cord needs to be plugged directly into the breaker box,” Daphne told her.

“Where’s that?” she asked, feeling like she’d forgotten everything Daphne had said to her earlier that day.

“In here.” Daphne pointed to a door to another room. “The cold storage is in there.”

Iris froze and said, “Your body is in there…”

“Yes,” Daphne replied.

“I don’t know that I can see your body. I didn’t because your parents identified you and told me I didn’t need to see you. Then, the casket was closed, and… I guess you weren’t even in it.”

“I don’t know what I’ll look like, Iris, but I remember the accident. The car hit me, and I remember ending up on the ground. I know there had to be blood, but I don’t know what I’ll look like in there.”

“I can’t do this, Daphne.”