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“Wait, wait. Hold on a tick. You don’tthinkyou did or you don’tremember?” Precipitation sat up, frowning. “You’re not slipping are you, sweetie?”

“No, I’m—”

“What’s your name?” Precipitation demanded.

“Huck Sharpe.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a sculptor.”

“How did you die?”

“The Thing in the damn stairs killed me.” Huck smiled reassuringly. “Hey, I’m okay. I swear.” He paused. “Okay, so therewasone tiny brain fart earlier, but that’s it—”

“Henry!” Precipitation scolded, on his feet in a second and crashing into Huck’s space. “We’ve been over this. You have to remember! Or else—”

“Or else I turn into a mindless empty shade,” Huck recited dutifully. He squeezed Precipitation’s shoulders. “Hey, I got this, okay? It came back, I promise. I didn’t forget.”

“Fine.” Precipitation did not appear entirely convinced.

“It’s very sweet of you to worry about me.”

“Well, seeing as how you’re my only sane companion in this everlasting hellscape, I’m really just acting out of self interest.” Precipitation smirked. “Besides, if you and your precious medium don’t work out, maybe I’ll give you another go.”

“Didn’t you tell me I reminded you of your father and it would be super gross?”

“Desperate times, sweetie. I’ll take what I can get.”

“Wow, thanks. I feel so honored.” Huck chuckled, and he pulled Precipitation into a hug.

He was struck by how different touching Precipitation was now since he’d touched Grant. Precipitation was dead like Huck, and the sensation was cold, hard, and distant. Grant had been so warm and soft and so vibrant, and the mere memory was vivid enough to make Huck blush.

Which was very weird since he hadn’t thought he even could blush, and yet here it was.

Precipitation patted Huck’s back. “Oh, happy to help, sweetie. It is my Christian duty to give to charity, you know.”

“Ha ha.” Huck snorted. “I’m gonna go.”

“Have to prepare for your date, hmm?”

“Yeah.” Huck started to walk away, but he paused. “What the fuck can I even bring for a date? I can’t grab any flowers. Fuck, what if he doesn’t like flowers? Wait, no, it doesn’t matter because I can’t even pick up any. Wait, wait, chocolate? Candy? No, he might not—”

“Sweetie!” Precipitation cut in. “Hey, listen to me. You will be enough.”

“Really?”

“Of course, sweetie. You’re wonderful.” Precipitation winked. “And if you’re still worried the date isn’t going well, offer to grind his corn.”

“Thanks, Sip. You’re the best.”

“I know.” Precipitation batted his eyelashes and waved. “Have fun, sweetie! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Huck imagined that was a fairly short list.

After saying goodbye to Precipitation, Huck headed upstairs to wait for midnight to roll around. Not having a specific room like Precipitation, Huck preferred to hang around the turret with the ceiling that Mrs. Charles had wrecked.

It was once a grand suite called the Captain’s Quarters, but the decor and furnishings had all been pulled out since the tarp leaked whenever it rained. It was now an empty room, but Huck liked it up here. The peace and quiet was without compare, and he could peek through the boards covering the windows to see the stars.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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