Hope and Undead Elvis - By Ian Thomas Healy Page 0,38

pain.

Then they were past the throng and racing for the edge of the flames. Hope glanced in her mirror and saw people milling about, like they'd awakened from a deep sleep too soon. Maybe she'd somehow broken the spell woven by their leader. She hoped so.

For a moment, heat flashed all around as The Way burst through the edge of the fire line. Hope felt the skin on the left side of her face tighten from the intense burning. Then they were through it, racing underneath a dark canopy of trees. She turned on the lights.

The air cooled right away, and instead of stifling, smoky heat, the breeze blowing in her face was heady and redolent with the green scents of life. It invigorated her and she drove, putting as many miles as she could between herself and the Righteous Flame. After awhile, the only hint of smoke came from the car's interior and her clothing, and even the glow of the fire behind had vanished. Instead, the pure white moonlight filtered down through the canopy of overhead greenery.

They came to a break in the trees and Hope gasped. It seemed as if the sky was laid out across the ground before her. Then she realized the road skirted a lake or reservoir that reflected the stars. She stood on the brakes. The Way skidded to a halt at the road's edge.

"Come on, Elvis!" Hope threw open her door and started to pick her way down the stony bank to the water's edge. When she reached it, she crouched down to feel the water with her hands. It was cool, but not so cold that she wouldn't be able to tolerate it. She stepped into it, shrieking with laughter as it seeped into her boots.

"Be careful, Li'l lady," said Undead Elvis as he came to the edge of the bank. His white jumpsuit, as clean as ever, shimmered in the moonlight.

Hope ignored him and picked her way into waist-deep water. She shivered a bit at the chill, but the feel of caked-on dirt and ash washing away was worth every tremble. She didn't care if there were fish, snakes, sharks, or parasites. Taking a deep breath, she plunged full on into the water, submerging herself completely. Cool water seeped into her ears, making a muscle in her neck twitch. She shook her head under the water to let it soak her hair all the way to the roots.

She stayed under as long as she could stand it. When her lungs started to burn, she broke the surface, running her fingers through her sopping hair and laughing. Her Catholic schoolgirl outfit clung to her breasts like she was a finalist in a Spring Break wet t-shirt contest.

She splashed over to Undead Elvis. "Come on in! The water's fine."

"I don't think so, Li'l lady."

"Fine, then. You can watch my clothes while I swim. God, I'd do just about anything for some shampoo, body wash, and a razor." She giggled. "And as long as I'm wishing, how about a four-star hotel with free room service and a cabana boy to massage my feet?"

"We'll find those things in Graceland. I'm still The King."

"I'm going to hold you to that, King Elvis." Hope unbuttoned her dripping top and threw it at him. Her plaid skirt and thong followed a moment later. She kept her boots on in case there were sharp rocks. She didn't mind being naked in front of him; years of stripping had taken away her sense of modesty. Besides, he was dead. Surely he wasn't stimulated by her… was he?

She cocked her ass at a sultry angle and put her hands on her hips. She thrust her shoulders forward to enhance her cleavage for him. The moonlight and water would highlight the dichotomy of gentle soft curves and hard, taut muscles. "You like what you see, Your Majesty?" She dropped her voice into the low, husky register she used on stage.

He turned his head a little and Hope could tell he was averting his eyes behind his sunglasses. "You're very pretty, Li'l lady, but I don't feel right ogling you. It ain't polite."

"I don't mind." She twirled as if she were a model on a fashion runway instead of knee-deep in a lake.

"You go on and swim. I'll keep an eye on your things."

Hope smiled. "You're sweet, Elvis. It's a shame you're, you know, dead."

"Uh-huh."

Hope wasn't much of a swimmer, but she splashed around in the shallows, full of good cheer and