“Already Dead” Ch. 1

“Already Dead” Daniel read as he passed over the next house on his list. There were actually no words written on the door, but the simple X indicated the words. It was the sixth new house so far today. As Daniel moved on to the next one, he reapplied the Vaseline under his nose and took a long breath in. Then he reapplied the full face mask, and looked down at his list, even though he already knew who was next.

The Douglas household was next, and was supposed to contain Peter Douglas, his wife Muriel, and their youngest daughter Harriet. Their other child, Margaret Young, had died several months before, along with her husband Jacob.

He had last checked on them three days ago.

Daniel reached into his medical bag and grabbed enough medication for three, then walked up to the door with a circle on it and knocked.

There was a shuffling inside as whoever could walk made their way to the door. A few moments passed, and he could hear the sound of labored breathing on the other side. Then the door swung open, the man at the door holding his hand up momentarily, as he tried to block out the sunlight that rested just above Daniel's right shoulder. After a moment and a few more breaths, the man lowered his hand, meekly smiling at Daniel.

“Hey Pete,” Daniel said with a friendly lilt.

Peter smiled. “Hey Daniel. Three days already eh?”

Daniel nodded. “You all accounted for?”

Pete sighed. “Harriet is upstairs and Muriel is outside under the tarp. I checked about an hour ago to make sure. Something had tried cutting the ropes, but it didn't gotten very far. I have already replaced them.”

Daniel kept nodding, an empty, dull gesture that was meant to illustrate that he was following what the man was saying. But he was only half listening. As Peter spoke, Daniel could note how much effort it was taking for Peter to speak. His words were tumbling out, and it was clear he didn't like standing. He was leaning on the door, acting as if he was just relaxing. But Daniel could see the way the cloth of his shirt was being pulled taut at the elbow.

Peter was holding himself up.

And even if those other details didn't make it clear, the yellowing of his eyes and the smell of puss that reached even past the filters was enough to make it clear.

Peter was past the point of no return.

Calmly, Daniel retrieved a bottle in a plastic bag and hand sanitizer. Peter held out his hands, which Daniel promptly doused in the antiseptic fluid. After Peter had rubbed his hands together for the requisite five seconds, Daniel handed him the bag with the medicine.

“Make sure that Harriet keeps up with the routine. Twice daily.”

Peter grimaced as the diagnosis fell on him. “I'll call my sister in Albany. She will act as next of Kin.”

Daniel nodded. “I'll make sure to note that. You get some rest Pete.”

Peter smiled. “Oh, I'm sure that won't be a problem.

A bit of dark humor, and the transaction was complete. Peter closed the door, and Daniel started walking away.

Daniel took out his clipboard, and with a sigh, he added an X next to the name of Peter Douglas.

Then he checked the next name on the list.

He put a X in the box that said cleared.

He didn't need to check that house. He had received the news the other night in between his shifts. It was a big issue with the system they had been forced to use. The records did not update quickly enough.

He kept to the grass, now taller than the houses that neighbored either side of the property. Walking up to the door, he froze for just a moment as a face flashed in front of his vision. He shook his head, then reached into his bag and grabbed a can of black spray paint.

A simple X was all that was required.

He took a long breath in, and exhaled in a long, drawn out effort. He lingered on the end of it, neither breathing out any further, as well as not breathing in. He waited until the empty space outside of the respiration had just began to become uncomfortable, then breathed in, turned around and headed down the walk.

Seventh house today.

On to the next one.