The Not-So Dead: The Dead Series

By Isaiyan Morrison

All Faye wants is another chance at being normal: hanging out with friends, playing video games, reading the latest Manga... As a wraith, her craving for a normal existence seems forever out of reach. When she makes the move to the small town of Hueman, Texas with her not-so dead nomadic family, she prays this fresh start will be the one that sticks.

 

Until... one of her kind is murdered by a mysterious man in a black mask.

 

With only Carter, an unlucky human witness, by her side, Faye must find a way to prevent the body count from rising and protect her family's secret identity. As the man in the black mask lurks in the shadows waiting to strike again, her choice becomes a matter of life and death.

 

In the face of true evil, being normal is overrated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Isaiyan Morrison
• Release date: Apr 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224877171

Isaiyan Morrison

Isaiyan Morrison was born and raised in Minneapolis, but her heart is in the impressive magical worlds she dreams up. She hopes to share her love for world-building with her readers and help guide them through the extraordinary settings she creates. Her other passions include reading, and researching historical events. She also enjoys gardening, gaming, and spending quality time with her cats and her Presa Canario.

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The Not-So Dead

Copyright © 2012-2024 by Isaiyan Morrison

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Cover art and design by Masoumeh Tavakoli

Also By Isaiyan Morrison

DEAMHAN CHRONICLES

Deamhan

Kei. Family Matters

Dark Curse

Maris. The Brotherhood Files

Ayden. Deamhan Minion

Deception

Hallie. A Tit for a Tat

Divination

Remy. The Brotherhood Files

Veronica

OTHER WORKS

Behesians

The Not-So Dead

The So-So Dead

Old Farmer’s Road

This is the strangest life I've ever known

The Doors

Contents

1.Chapter One

1. Faye

2.Chapter Two

2. Faye

3.Chapter Three

3. Faye

4.Chapter Four

4. Carter

5.Chapter Five

5. Faye

6.Chapter Six

6. Faye

7.Chapter Seven

7. Carter

8.Chapter Eight

8. Faye

9.Chapter Nine

9. Faye

10.Chapter Ten

10. Carter

11.Chapter Eleven

11. Faye

12.Chapter Twelve

12. Faye

13.Chapter Thirteen

13. Faye

14.Chapter Fourteen

14. Faye

15.Chapter Fifteen

15. Carter

16.Chapter Sixteen

16. Faye

17.Chapter Seventeen

17. Carter

18.Chapter Eighteen

18. Carter

19.Chapter Nineteen

19. Carter

20.Chapter Twenty

20. Faye

21.Chapter Twenty-One

21. Carter

22.Chapter Twenty-Two

22. Faye

23.Chapter Twenty-Three

23. Faye

24.Epilogue

24. Essie

25.Chapter 25

About the Author

Chapter One

Faye

As the car turned down yet another dirt road, the rolling Texas hills came into view. Faye squinted out the car window at the afternoon sunlight, despite her developing headache. Even with her sunglasses and hat on, the burning sun hurt her eyes. Everyone else in the packed minivan hid as far away from the windows as they could, curled up under blankets or coats, but Faye couldn’t help watching the beautiful countryside filled with dandelions and other wild flowers they passed. She pressed her face against the hot glass and smiled at the colorful fields and the deep-green and brown hills.

Sure, great idea. Let’s move to Texas this time, where it’s always sunny and hot and there’s never any shade. Maddy peeked out from under her jean jacket, which she’d pulled over her head. Great idea, Dusk. How about we take a vacation to the surface of the sun while we’re at it?

Faye turned away from the window to look at Dusk who was lying in the back of the van with his head on Salome’s lap. A thin blanket covered his face and neck entirely. The contours of his Nordic face cast in the fabric, and his long, tawny-brown dreadlocks peeked out from under it in places.

We don’t have any choice. Essie said it was the best place she could find on short notice. The blanket moved with his mouth. Do I have to remind you why we moved in the first place?

No, I remember. So what? I handled it, but Essie and Tristan opened their big mouths.

Hey, I didn’t say anything. Essie did. Besides, we were going to have to move eventually, so what’re you complaining about, Maddy doll? Afraid of a little sunny tickle? Tristan joked from the driver’s seat, wincing slightly when the sun emerged from behind a cloud. God, I miss the Southwest! He wore his black cowboy hat, and two layers of sunglasses sat perched on his nose. His chest was bare and most of it exposed to the sun. Faye could see him shaking slightly as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. It was hard to guess what Tristan would do at any point in time, so she hadn’t been too surprised when he’d ripped his shirt off after exchanging places with Dusk for the driver’s seat. The scar on his chest from a bullet wound stood out in the sunlight as he winced again, his arms and stomach tensing.

You didn’t say anything at first, but you did tell them. Maddy pulled her jean jacket farther up, tousling her golden-brown hair. And why are we following Essie’s advice anyway? It’s not like she’s one of us.

No, but she is reliable, Dusk replied.

Maddy turned toward Faye. They both sat in the middle row of the minivan, with an open space between them. She shook her head tauntingly.

What? I got something on my face, Dora? Maddy asked.

Faye shook her head quickly and turned to look out the window again.

Will you stop fighting? We’re almost there anyway. Salome wore a floppy sun hat and a thick, white peacoat. Her designer sunglasses were probably not as good at filtering out the sun’s rays as the rest of the group’s thicker, drugstore ones, but it wasn’t abnormal for her to suffer rather than look 1950s fashionable.

Dusk halfheartedly chimed in from her lap. Listen to Salome.

Salome stroked his head over the blanket, smiling.

Maddy scowled but turned away from Faye. The van fell silent as they continued along the dirt road, and Faye’s shoulders relaxed slightly. She still wasn’t sure how to act around these people, her misfit family, even after living with them for two years.

Dusk was silent most of the time, unless he told them where to hide, when to get in the minivan, when to eat, when to sleep, etc. Dusk was a nickname, but it seemed no one knew what his real name actually was. He’d always just been there, picking up loner wraiths and trying to keep them safe. There was a slight European accent in his voice, but he’d never explained where he was from, and Faye didn’t have an ear for accents. She figured it was either Danish, Norwegian, or one of the other Northern European countries. All Dusk had said about his old life across the Atlantic was: Now I’m here. That’s all that matters.

Salome and Dusk had been dating since before Faye joined, and it was rare to find the two far from one another. Together they looked like two beautiful semi-angels, perfect in a way Faye only dreamed of. Salome was quiet too, but it wasn’t in the same way as Dusk. Sometimes Faye caught her staring at the wall, unmoving and unblinking. It was like she saw something else entirely, something dark and unpleasant. She’d always snap out of it, give a big, warm smile, and ask if Faye needed something, but underneath lurked a vacant sadness.

Tristan was hard to pin down, metaphorically, and literally. He was always moving, always cracking oddball jokes or making funny faces if he caught Faye staring. Boredom was his worst enemy, and as soon as he felt it coming on, he’d launch into another reckless or obnoxious activity. He always wore a dirty, black cowboy hat that hid his slicked-back brown hair. Tristan had told her that before his current life, he’d actually been a cowboy. He rode all over the Western plains, corralled cattle from horseback, and robbed a bank or two, but Faye didn’t believe him. It was impossible to believe most of the words that spewed from his mouth.

And then there was Maddy. She looked carefully over her shoulder at Maddy and received a quick flip of the bird.

Maddy was Maddy.

When Faye turned back toward the window, she noticed the change in scenery. They were surrounded by tall oak trees that blocked most of the sun. Everyone, except Tristan, relaxed a bit as the shade reached over them. He cursed at having his fun ruined. Faye watched the sun slant through the thick tree trunks. It wasn’t long before they rounded a slight curve in the road and their new home came into view.

It was an old, beat-up two-story wood house that looked ready to fall over at any moment. Before the front door was wooden steps leading up to it and a decrepit porch swing hanging from one rope. A small portion of a stone basement poked out of the ground, clashing with the sky-blue paint job on the exterior walls. The trees came almost right up to the house, a few of their branches brushing against the second-floor windows. The road forked ahead, one way leading to the porch steps while the other turned left toward a rundown, free-standing garage.

Yuck. Maddy took her sunglasses off and gagged at their new home. These places get worse and worse. I don’t even know why I haven’t left you all yet.

Tristan pulled the minivan up to the closed garage door and shut off the engine. His entire body trembled as it recovered from a long period of exposure to sunlight.

Let’s go. Dusk sat up and pulled the blanket off his face.

With their orders, the rest of the family exited. Faye grabbed the bright purple backpack at her feet, the only thing she still had from before joining her nomadic family, and pulled open the sliding side door. The woodsy smell of pollen, dirt, and decaying leaves filled her nose. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and breathed deeply, taking it all in. Dusk and Salome headed to the back of the minivan to grab their bags while Faye moved toward the garage. She tried to look inside the row of small windows toward the top of the garage door. Unable to see, she jumped again and again to get a better view. It was full of cluttered items: old paint cans, rusty bikes, something that looked like a wooden wall toward the back, ripped canvases, and more.

All right, jumping bean, come on. Tristan placed his hand on her shoulder. We can check out all the goodies later.

She tried to get one last look at the inside of the garage before he guided her toward the house with the rest of the family. Maddy stood on the porch steps when the front door creaked open. A dark-skinned woman with brown dreadlocks came out, which didn’t stop Maddy from pushing past her and heading inside.

Well hello, strangers. The woman smiled and leaned on the stair railing. What took you so long?

Dusk strode up the stairs, grinning slightly. It’s good to see you too, Essie. He wrapped the woman in a hug.

Been a few years. Essie pulled away and waved for them to follow. Then she turned and headed inside.

Faye was the last to enter the house. Inside was a large living room, though all the furniture—an oval rug, off-green loveseat, recliner, and a coffee table missing a leg—was covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs. The faded white walls were oddly decorated with occasional streaks of blue, green, and some other pastel color, as if a can of rainbow paint had exploded inside the room.

Essie hugged Salome now. Both women wore light summer dresses, though Salome’s was likely the more expensive one.

The place looks… lovely, Essie. Salome pulled back and examined the area with a skeptical eye.

Please. Essie rolled her eyes. I know it’s a fixer-upper, but it’s sturdier than it looks. Plus, it’s just far enough from Hueman. It’s hidden, especially with the trees all around. It used to be a speakeasy during Prohibition for the same reason. Then some painter had it for a while, hence the… Essie gestured at the paint streaks on the walls. Creative paint job.

It’s perfect. We can’t thank you enough for finding the place. Dusk pulled Salome close and stroked her arm. It’ll work.

Salome nestled against him. There’s a garden too?

Yup, out back. Essie thumbed in its direction. It’s mostly weeds right now, but I’ve seen what your green thumb can do, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Essie’s hazelnut-colored eyes noticed Faye. Ahh, she’s still with you? She smiled widely.

Faye gripped her backpack strap.

Of course, Dusk said. Why wouldn’t she be?

Essie held up her hands in defense. Honestly, because of her age, I didn’t think she’d last long. This life isn’t easy, Dusk.

I know.

Faye didn’t say anything. She could have said she didn’t really mind it. Other than the constant craving for energy, never being able to tan again, and being somewhat alive but not dead, her new existence as a wraith wasn’t so bad. Sometimes she missed the average parts of her old life, like eating hot food, going to the beach, and watching anime all day. She missed hanging out with friends, playing video games. Her new family was made up of wraiths who were hundreds of years old and had absolutely no interest in anything she loved. That was the worst part.

She could have said all of that, but instead she turned her eyes toward a haphazard, colorful painting covered in a thick layer of dust, hanging above the loveseat.

I’m sure in a decade or so, she’ll be able to handle almost anything, Essie said. In any case, Maddy’s probably upstairs, claiming her own room by now, but you and Tristan are welcomed to go pick out your own. She then said to Dusk and Salome, The master bedroom is just down the hall for you lovebirds.

Faye looked up at Tristan, who grinned wickedly at her. Wanna arm wrestle?

No, that’s okay. You can pick first.

Tristan tsked. You’re no fun, New Blood.

Once you’re all settled in, Essie said, I’ll show you around Hueman. Looks like the sun’s almost set, so it’ll be the perfect time to get a good look around.

Faye and Tristan headed upstairs. They visited the first room on their left and pushed the creaky door open. Inside was a large corner bedroom with two windows and a queen-size bed. It even had a sliding-door closet. It was perfect. Faye saw herself lounging on the bed playing her video games on her portable gaming device. She could even throw tapestries or posters onto the windows so the sunlight wouldn’t hurt as much.

Tristan tossed his duffle as quick as he could into it. Dibs. You should’ve accepted my arm wrestle offer. He stepped inside and shut the door in her face.

She sighed and moved to the next door, but it was a small, tiled bathroom with an old bathtub. On the left was another door, and when she opened it, she saw Maddy unpacking her things with a dangling cigarette in her mouth.

Keep moving, Dora. She, too, slammed the door closed, nearly catching Faye’s fingers.

Faye opened the door to the last, unclaimed room. It was extremely small with one grimy window and a twin bed but no closet. A cockroach scurried out from under the bed and disappeared in a crack in the floorboards. She caught the faint smell of mold coming from somewhere inside the cramped space.

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Chapter Two

Faye

Can I… uh… can I get a beer? Faye awkwardly held out a twenty-dollar bill toward the bartender.

The bartender didn’t hear her. She didn’t blame him though. She could barely hear her own voice. Raging EDM music shook through the club, drowning out the shuffling of sloppy feet from the dance floor in the other room. Blue, purple, and green lights roved over every wall, table, and chair in the front bar room. They didn’t hurt like sunlight, but Faye found them equally annoying. She would much rather have been back at the house.

But they had to leech, and in order to do that, they had to fit in.

"Can I get a