One of humanity’s worst nightmares has happened. The dead rose from their graves. Chaos and death follows but humanity prevails. A new governmental branch, Revenant Reintegration, creates housing and jobs for the undead, to forge a future where both the living and formally deceased can live harmoniously. But things are far from perfect.
Alfie, a law-abiding citizen, lives a monotonous, lonely existence, delivering meals to RR residential blocks, with little memory of his former life. The endless tedium is disrupted when Jake, a handsome revenant, catches his eye and asks Alfie on a date.
Jake invites him to Cadere, a restaurant which caters exclusively to residents. Nervous and very much out of practice, Alfie is charmed by Jake and thrilled by the possibility of finding love ... until their meal is served.
When the opportunity to indulge in his darkest craving is put right in front of him, will Alfie hold back the monster he truly is or give in to satiate his hunger?
“Is this your first date since waking up?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Alfie was shocked by the strength of his disappointment.
“But this is the first time I’ve asked someone out.”
Alfie, embarrassed, looked down at the menu without taking in any of the words. “Oh.” He bit his bottom lip to stop a pleased smile breaking out across his face.
“You two ready to order?” Emma said, her cheerful smile fixed in place. It was a nice change, having someone, someone who wasn’t an RR employee, be friendly to him without artifice. Alfie supposed it was part of her job, but she seemed genuine.
He focused on the menu. He didn’t recognize anything. Creier Pane, Cervelle De Veau, Maghaz Masala. What the hell did they mean? Alfie didn’t think he could pronounce them, let alone eat them.
“I’d recommend the Tuslob Buwa. Don’t worry,” Jake said when Alfie opened his mouth to ask more. “I guarantee you’ll love it. Trust me.”
Alfie flicked his gaze back up at Emma. She was still smiling and didn’t seem bothered by his ignorance. “Sure,” he said to Jake.
Jake ordered for both of them then, taking hold of Emma’s wrist before she could walk away added, “You know how I like it.” He winked at her and Emma’s smile grew. The only word that came to mind was flirtatious.
A sharp pulse of jealousy throbbed in Alfie’s chest, at how easily Jake touched her and how Emma looked at Jake with open hunger and familiarity. Alfie tried to squash the bitter feeling. Jake was here with him, had gone out of his way to ask Alfie out. Besides, Emma wasn’t like them so she wouldn’t, would she?
Alfie cleared his throat and asked with forced nonchalance, “You’ve been here before?”
“Once or twice.”
The vagueness of Jake’s answer didn’t stem Alfie’s unease. It made him realize how much he liked Jake, how he’d hoped they might have some sort of future, even if it only meant a second date. He swallowed and said, “You two seem to know each other well?”
“Who? Emma?”
Alfie nodded.
Jake was watching him closely and Alfie wished he’d kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t any of his business. This was just a date. Jake might have hundreds of them lined up. It wasn’t anything serious. But it had been to Alfie. His first night out with a man who found him attractive, who listened to him rather than spoke over him or referred to him in third person. It had made him feel normal, made him feel important to someone, something he’d never had a chance to experience in his old life.
Jake's eyes widened a fraction and he clasped Alfie’s hand in his. “Alfie, you don’t need to worry about Emma.”
Alfie wanted to say he wasn’t, but instead he said, “Really?”
“Really.”
Jake didn’t laugh at Alfie which was a relief, but all the same, he still felt a little mortified. “Sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Emma, she ...” Jake leaned in close and said in a hushed voice, “She has a thing for guys like us.”
“A thing?”
“Yep.”
“For people like us?”
Jake nodded.
Alfie gaped.
Jake did laugh this time, a low rumbling noise. Alfie liked it and wanted to hear it again.
“But ... how? I mean we’re ...”
Jake shrugged and sat back. “It’s not unheard of.”
Alfie opened his mouth to argue he’d never heard of it. But he supposed people had all kinds of things. It was just hard to imagine being part of someone’s fantasy. It at least explained her overly attentive behavior. Emma wasn’t just hankering after a large tip; she wanted to ogle Alfie and Jake. Alfie guessed he didn’t mind. He himself had been ogling Jake since he arrived, and had been daydreaming about him all week, sometimes at night when his block’s lights were shut off and he’d slipped his hand beneath his underwear. Blood rushed to his cheeks.
“What are you imagining?”
“Nothing,” Alfie said too quickly.
