The Ungrateful Dead

by Rose Cooper

  “Olivia’s trying to get back at me,” Eden whispered as they walked down the hallway to their next class.

  “Get back at you for what?” Anna asked. “For having your own friends and not letting her boss you around anymore? Hardly sounds like something she needs to get revenge for.”

  Eden slung her tote bag over her shoulder. “Hate to play the old evil-twin/good-twin card, but it’s true. Trying to make my life miserable only makes her little black heart beat with pleasure. She’s not a good person. Look at the way she treated you.”

  How could Anna forget? When Anna had first started school at Winchester Academy, Olivia had conned her into doing all her homework, as well as that of her mean-girl clique. When Olivia said jump, Anna did. Now she couldn’t believe how gullible she had been. No, not even gullible. Desperate for friends. Desperate to fit in. But she had already found a great friend in Millie. She shouldn’t have tried so hard.

  Even if Millie was a ghost.

  And her great-aunt.

  “I miss Millie.” Anna looked sadly at Eden. “Is there a way we can call her back? Could you cast a spell or something?”

  Eden shook her head. “Sorry. But she’ll come back. When the time is right.” Eden winked, flinging her golden-blond strands over her shoulder. She had changed her hair color from platinum blond in an attempt to not be mistaken for Olivia.

  Anna wished she had even an ounce of Eden’s confidence. But unlike hair color, it seemed like something you had to be born with.

  • • •

  After lunch, Eden grabbed Anna’s arm as they were walking down the hallway. “Look who’s with them!” she whisper-yelled.

  “Olivia, Tabitha, and…Harper?” Anna glanced at Eden. “What’s going on?”

  Eden shrugged, not taking her eyes off the group.

  It was always Olivia and her clones that walked the halls. But Olivia’s other friends were nowhere to be seen. Harper was wearing Anna’s jeans and the new top her mom had let her buy at Forever 21.

  Anna could feel steam pouring out her ears. How dare Harper raid her closet?

  The two groups glared at each other in an uncomfortable silence as they passed each other. Anna half expected a musical gang fight to break out.

  Hating confrontation to the fullest, Anna decided not to even mention the fact that Harper was wearing her clothes. Instead, she looped her arm through Eden’s, pulling her around the wicked trio, in time to see Olivia’s eyes smolder with anger.

  There had to be more to Olivia’s nasty attitude than she knew, Anna decided. All her oozing hatred had to come from somewhere, and Anna wasn’t buying the whole evil-twin thing. People weren’t born evil. Something made Olivia that way. If only Anna could figure out what it was.

  Anna should’ve known she’d be running into one of them again later that day. Harper pretended not to see Anna in the hallway between classes, and bumped right into her. Hard. Anna’s books went sailing out of her arms and scattered, littering the hallway. She felt like the scene was pulled right out of a teen movie.

  Eden bent down to help as Anna looked over her shoulder. “Excuse you!” she yelled. Harper acted like she didn’t hear her as she popped her shoulder back into its socket, not even flinching in pain.

  “What the—” Anna stared after her.

  “Hey, you dropped something!” some guy yelled as he stepped over the mess, chuckling.

  “Yeah, thanks for helping, jerk.” Anna’s day was definitely not going as planned. Neither was her life.

  Later that night, Anna’s mom agreed to let Anna hang out at the clubhouse. She didn’t have much homework, since it was a Friday. And her mom was so worn out from work that she didn’t even bother grilling her on the who-what-when-where-and-why’s. Although Winston decided to intervene.

  “Take Tabitha with you. It would be good for her to make friends and start fitting in.”

  Anna wanted to tell him no, and that Tabitha was definitely fitting in wickedly well all on her own, but she bit her tongue. There was no point in arguing, since she already knew Tabitha wouldn’t go anywhere with her.

  Winston called Tabitha downstairs. “Anna’s going out with some friends and wants you to join her,” he said. “How about it, honey?”

  Anna raised an eyebrow.

  “I’d love to. Thank you for thinking of me, Anna,” Tabitha said sweetly.

  “What?” Anna stared at Tabitha in disbelief.

  “I knew you girls would get along wonderfully!” Mom clapped her hands together. “Didn’t I tell you, Winston?” She gazed at him with a lovey-dovey look that made Anna want to gag.

  “Yes, you did.” He smiled, looking from his daughter to Anna, although the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  Anna was pretty sure he could see right through Tabitha’s little act. Maybe he would put an end to this and call her out. Force her to stay home. Or better yet, send her packing back to her mother in Manhattan. Anna put on her coat and sneakers and slid her phone into her back pocket. Hopefully, the dead would leave her alone tonight. She hadn’t had any messages today on her iPad. Maybe that was a good sign.

  Outside, a car honked.

  “That must be Eden’s dad,” Anna said. “He’s giving us a ride there. I think we’ll probably walk home, though.”

  “Call us if you need a ride,” her mom said. “Otherwise, home by eleven!”

  “Okay, you girls have fun!” Winston practically pushed them out the door.

  Eden was sitting in the passenger seat of her dad’s car, and when she saw Tabitha, she gave Anna a sideways glance.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Anna mumbled, sliding into the backseat after Tabitha.

  Tabitha avoided eye contact and stared out her window.

  “So, change of plans,” Eden said, holding up her phone. “Everyone is hanging out at Spencer’s house instead.”

  Anna got along well with Spencer. They’d totally bonded after realizing Lucy was haunting both of them. But Anna hadn’t talked to him much since Johnny’s accident. He had seemed kind of distant. Maybe he thought the ghost thing was contagious and didn’t want to take chances hanging around her again.

  This was the first time Anna had been to Spencer’s, but she knew he lived in one of the largest homes in the village, even larger than the Ashburys’, within a gated community.

  Mr. Ashbury gave his name to security and the guard punched in a code. The wooden arm in front of the car lifted to let them through.

  Access granted.

  They drove down a winding lane flanked with pines. The sprawling homes they passed were each more extravagant than the next. The car finally pulled into a circular driveway that sat in front of a huge, modern-looking glass-walled edifice that was lit up like a diamond. A giant chandelier sparkled from the second-story window. Water glistened as it cascaded from the enormous three-tiered fountain that was the centerpiece to the driveway.

  And an unearthly glow emanated from twin statues that flanked the entranceway, giving Anna a creeped-out feeling.

  She was hypnotized by the grandeur of the home. It was like the Manor times five. And it looked brand new, not gaudy and old and reeking of death.

  Once Mr. Ashbury had pulled away, Eden led them in through the front door without even knocking. To say it was noisy was an understatement. Anna’s chest picked up the bass from a song she didn’t recognize as an army of shadows laughed and danced to the beat.

  Eden leaned into Anna. “Arfu mmph glickwr,” she said.

  “What?” Anna shouted. “I can’t understand a word you’re saying.” The music was so loud she thought her eardrums were going to blow out.

  Tabitha suddenly leaped across the room. “Spencer!” There he was, sporting his trademark large black glasses and wearing a flannel shirt, his hair floppy. Tabitha flung her arms around him. Anna’s stomach gave a tight pinch.

  He made eye contact with Anna over Tabitha’s shoulder and gave her a wink.

  “How did that happen?” Eden sh
outed over the music.

  Anna shrugged. “Didn’t know they were so close.”

  “Look who decided to join the party.” Olivia crept up, looking right at Anna as she spoke.

  Tabitha crossed over the invisible line to enemy territory and stood beside Olivia.

  Without a word, Eden pulled Anna away and guided her across the room and through a set of double doors that led to the backyard. It was really cold out. As cold as a mausoleum must be, Anna thought, shivering.

  She tried to blink away scary thoughts. Why did her mind always have to be cluttered with death?

  • • •

  An hour later, Spencer’s party was still going strong. Aside from bumping into Olivia when they’d first arrived, Anna hadn’t seen her since. Which normally would’ve been a good thing, except Anna couldn’t leave without Tabitha.

  “Did you call her?” Eden asked.

  “Yeah, and texted. She’s either ignoring me or her phone is dead.”

  “Probably the first option.”

  “Yeah.” Anna had decided to walk home, and it was already 10:45 p.m., which didn’t give them much time.

  “Hey, I found her.” Eden pointed to the room across the hall.

  Anna heard Tabitha’s voice as she got closer and stopped in mid-step. “Is that Johnny she’s talking to?”

  “Kind of sounds like it.”

  Sure enough, Tabitha was with Johnny, doing her sickly-sweet fake voice and laughing at every word he said. Anna and Eden hovered outside the doorway, making sure to keep out of sight.

  “Anna really said that?” Johnny said.

  Anna’s ears perked up at the mention of her name. She pulled Eden closer to listen.

  “Yep,” Tabitha said. “Isn’t she just horrible? She even said she would sabotage me at school to make sure I didn’t have a single friend.”

  “Well, you have me,” Johnny said, and Anna didn’t need to see him to know that he was probably smiling down at her.

  Anna leaned back in the hall, filled with disbelief. How was it that nobody could see past Tabitha’s fakeness? “I want to go now.” Her knees trembled as she tried to steady herself against the wall.

  “What about her?”

  “Forget her. She can find her own way home.”

  It was late in the afternoon the next day when Anna finally rolled out of bed. She had two missed calls on her phone and several texts. One was sent from Tabitha’s phone, but it was from Harper. And it had been sent only a few minutes ago.

  Guess who my new bestie is? That’s right. Your stepsister. And you’re in huge trouble. Just thought you should know

  “What?” Anna gasped. When had that happened? This was going to be really, really bad. Her stepsister and her ungrateful undead/dead “friend” were now besties? What had Harper told Tabitha?

  Anna had crept in last night and gone straight to bed. She had no idea when—or how—Tabitha got home. And frankly she didn’t care. But still, her stomach was a pit of snakes and she got chills just thinking about dealing with the wrath of her mom.

  Anna found her mom in the kitchen. Which meant Winston had to be near.

  “How could you leave your stepsister like that? She didn’t get home until one a.m.! We were worried sick!” Her mom went on and on about how awful Anna was, and how poor Tabitha had the worst night in the world.

  “So what’s the damage?” Anna wanted to get straight to the point. “Am I grounded a week? Two weeks?”

  Her mom’s eyes widened as she glanced behind her. “I was able to get your punishment lessened to a week,” she said in a guilty whisper.

  “Why are you whispering?” Anna asked. “And what do you mean you were able to get it lessened?”

  “Winston was saying a month. But I thought that was a little much.”

  “Winston? Why is he deciding how long I’m punished for? You’re my mom.”

  “Yes, but he’s your stepdad now,” her mom said.

  “Exactly. Stepdad. Not my real dad.” Anna said the last part louder than necessary.

  Anna’s mom started unloading the dishwasher. “Spare the attitude. We’re a family now. A real family.”

  “Because what, we were a fake family before, when it was just me and you?” Anna said, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t help it. She hated Winston.

  “Anna.” Her mom’s eyes softened with regret. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “That’s it,” Winston barked, coming from behind Anna. “You don’t talk to your mother like that.”

  Anna looked at her mom, who remained silent. Was she really backing him up on everything?

  “Whatever.” Anna didn’t bother hanging around. Instead, she sped up the staircase.

  Tabitha and Harper were sitting on the top step of the second flight of stairs.

  “Yeah,” Tabitha said in a mocking tone. “You really shouldn’t talk to your mother like that.”

  “Just shut up,” Anna said, pushing past them. “I thought you were ‘out.’ ” She made air quotes when she said “out.” She was dying to know what Tabitha knew about Harper and vice versa, but she didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of asking them.

  “Oops,” Harper said. “I guess you never know where we’ll be.” She cracked her knuckles, and for a split second it looked as if one of her fingers bent abnormally sideways.

  “There’s no way we were going to miss this show,” Tabitha said, gloating. “Especially after I told my dad how you ditched me and left me all alone to wander the woods. In the dark. Late at night.”

  “Anything could’ve happened to her,” Harper said sympathetically.

  • • •

  As soon as Anna got to her room, she locked and bolted the door. Then she called up Eden and told her everything.

  “She said she had to walk home?” Eden laughed. “Spencer’s dad drove Tabitha and Harper home soon after you left.”

  “Unbelievable!” Anna felt like punching a wall. “My mom said they didn’t get home till one a.m. She said Tabitha’s sweater was ripped and her face was streaked with dirt and tears, her elbows skinned. She claimed to have rolled out of the way of an oncoming speeding car.”

  “Yeah, that she threw herself in front of. Wow. Your mom got played.”

  “She even told Harper what a great friend she was for sticking by her and staying the night to make sure everything was okay.” Anna threw her arms in the air. “How is she able to just move in and ruin my life?”

  “Well, you know what you gotta do, right?”

  Anna found herself nodding. “Play the game better than her.” She was ready to do whatever it took to send Tabitha running all the way back to her mom’s. And then she was going to have to get rid of Harper. For good.

  But to play, they were going to need some help.

  Help from the other side.

  Although there was one problem.

  Spirits contacted Anna easily. But this time, she was the one who was going to have to do the contacting.

  Monday couldn’t come fast enough. Anna spent the morning trying to pay attention to her teachers—but all she could think about were her three problems.

  Tabitha

  Harper

  Winston

  During science class, her lab partner, Archer, kept glancing over at her. Anna pretended not to notice and kept her head down, acting as if she were writing notes. She remembered Archer from the Ashbury twins’ big party at the start of the year. He had thick blond hair, wore preppy clothes, and generally looked nervous. And she’d seen him with Olivia sometimes. She didn’t really know him, though. He didn’t talk very much.

  After the hundredth time she caught him staring, Anna gave up and sat back. “What?”

  Archer looked around and then leaned toward her. His elbow rammed Anna’s off the table. “Tabitha’s your sister?”

  Anna crossed her arms over her chest. “Step.”

  Archer nodded. “Is it true that her dad is the mortician?”
r />   “Maybe you should ask her.” Anna didn’t want to be accused of “broadcasting her business” or anything.

  “Oh.” Archer’s eyes kept darting around. “So is she nicer at home than she is at school?”

  “What?”

  “Well, she seems so…cold. You know, at school. Is she always like that?”

  “You mean like Olivia?”

  Archer’s jaw dropped and Anna couldn’t bite back a smile. “You can go ahead and tell her I said that.”

  “Tell Olivia? Why would I do that?”

  “Um…because you’re friends with her.” Anna wasn’t afraid of Olivia. Not anymore. Anna had battled against ghosts and lots of unpleasant deadly things. Olivia was just a regular girl who thrived on power. As long as everyone gave it to her, nothing would change. But Anna wasn’t contributing to it.

  Archer rolled his eyes. “You’ve got that wrong. I’m not friends with her. Not since the accident.” He whispered the last part, and Anna knew he was talking about Lucy’s accident.

  “What’s that have to do with you?” Anna asked, frowning.

  “Lucy Edwards was my cousin.”

  Anna’s mouth quirked up. “You’re related to Lucy?”

  “Yeah. We weren’t close, but still, she’s family. How can I be friends with someone who tried to hurt her?”

  “Hurt her?” Anna asked.

  “Well, yeah. You saw how Olivia made fun of her every chance she got.”

  “Right.” Anna nodded absentmindedly. Except Archer had still seemed like friends with Olivia the night of the party. Before Lucy’s accident. And why had he stood by watching stuff happen to Lucy if he was so against it?

  “So why exactly did Olivia push Johnny that night?” he asked. “I could never figure that out.”

  Almost everybody thought that Olivia was the one who’d caused Johnny’s accident. Anna was the only one who knew the truth. “Did someone put you up to asking me? Like Olivia?”