The Ungrateful Dead

by Rose Cooper

  He groaned. “Like I told you, we aren’t friends. But you seem cool, Anna. I wish we could be friends.”

  “Friends are overrated.” Anna repeated the line Millie had used.

  “Not if you’ve got good ones.”

  “And you’re saying you’re going to be a good one?” Anna asked. She definitely needed all the living friends she could get…but she had to make sure she could trust them first.

  “Better than most of the people in this school.”

  Anna nodded. This whole conversation was a little strange. Archer had to have a motive.

  The bell rang and Anna scooted her chair back. “Time to go.” She needed a good nap. Or coma.

  Archer followed Anna as she shouldered her way out the door and to her locker. “I mean it, Anna. I’m not a bad guy. You can trust me.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure.” She would say anything to have Archer quit talking. Finally he got the hint and walked away.

  But the misery continued.

  Anna groaned inwardly as she ran into her favorite person ever.

  “Annabel.” Olivia tilted her chin up and her blue eyes flashed as she flipped her platinum-blond hair over her shoulder.

  “Olivia.” Anna stepped to the left to move past her.

  Olivia blocked her.

  “What do you want?” Anna asked.

  “Johnny is mine.”

  Anna laughed. “Good for you.” She moved to the right but Olivia blocked her again.

  Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Johnny likes me too.”

  “And?”

  “So back off.”

  “I can be friends with anyone I want.”

  Olivia moved closer and said quietly, “Well, he wants nothing to do with you.”

  “I’m surprised he wants anything to do with you.” Anna could feel her face heating up.

  “Oh? And why is that?” Olivia gave a fake smile.

  “Because everyone knows you were the one who hurt him! Glass table ring a bell?” Anna clamped her mouth closed, wishing she could suck the words back in. Someone gasped. Someone else laughed. A few people moved closer.

  Olivia’s smug smile slipped. She pulled at her short, barely there skirt and readjusted her hold on her books. Students had stopped to watch, hoping for a catfight. Anna could hear whispers of people walking past. She knew this would soon be all over school, if it wasn’t already.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Is that the best you can come up with?” Anna said.

  “It. Wasn’t. Me.”

  Anna caught sight of Archer on the sidelines. He pointed to the corner. When Anna looked over, she saw Johnny leaning against the wall with some of his football buddies. He brushed some of his dark hair out of his eyes and rubbed his temples.

  Tabitha pushed through the crowd and sidled next to Olivia. “What’s going on, Liv?”

  “You sister here just accused me of something.” Olivia’s eyes drilled into Anna. “And I’m done. I’m going to once and for all prove it wasn’t me!”

  “You can’t prove something if it isn’t true,” Anna blurted out. What was wrong with her? It was like she didn’t have control over her words. Almost like—

  Anna scanned the crowd and caught sight of Eden. Her witchy friend winked when they made eye contact.

  Eden! Anna silently screamed. I’m so going to get you for this!

  People had their phones out. Anna was pretty sure somebody had to be filming this. She pushed through her gaping classmates.

  Archer walked over. “Did you see how Johnny was watching you? I think he was really concerned.”

  Anna shook her head. He was confused, not concerned. Big difference.

  “He likes you. You guys would be perfect together. I can tell.”

  Anna snorted. “How?”

  “What?”

  “How can you tell? You know nothing about me.”

  “Well…okay. But I’m being honest here—there’s something special about you now. Although you weren’t all that fabulous when you first started here.”

  “It hasn’t even been a year.”

  “But still. I knew who you were. Well, everyone did. That happens when you’re new. You stick out like a sore thumb.” Archer paused. “Sorry, no offense.”

  “None taken.” Anna sighed.

  “But then something changed in you over just the last few months. I have no idea what, but it’s like you don’t care anymore about all the popularity stuff.” Archer shrugged. “I know it sounds stupid, but there’s something about you. Like you’re a mystery or something. Then, just now, what you did, that took guts.”

  Anna cringed. It took a spell, not guts. “Well, everyone shouldn’t be so afraid of the popular crowd.”

  “It’s easy for someone like you to say that,” Archer said, wiggling his blond eyebrows.

  Anna pulled him over to the side, by the lockers. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know,” he whispered.

  “Know what?” Anna’s blood froze.

  Archer looked around. Then he lowered his voice. “I know your secret. But it’s okay. I’m not going to say a word.”

  Anna frowned. How did Archer know anything? She had barely spoken two words to him before today.

  “Look, Anna. Just know you’re awesome. Olivia tried to decimate you and you got away from her. And made her look stupid too. No one does that.”

  “Thanks,” Anna said. And she meant it. She wasn’t sure that Archer knew her real secret—that she was a Guided, a bridge to the other side. But she could always use a friend in this school.

  Especially one who was alive.

  Anna felt better after calling Eden.

  “I doubt he knows anything. Even if he did, nobody would ever believe him,” Eden said.

  “Yeah. You’re right,” Anna said. “I barely believe it myself.”

  Anna hadn’t stopped thinking about contacting a spirit. And the spirit she wanted to contact was that of her estranged great-uncle, Maxwell Maddsen. If any spirit was going to help her, one that was related to her was her best shot. As much as she wanted to see Millie again, Anna knew there were reasons why she hadn’t appeared despite Anna wishing she would.

  She and Eden had decided to try contacting Maxwell through a séance. Anna didn’t know the first thing about how to do one, though, so she went searching online at the Academy’s library and then at the town’s public library. She found nothing on the subject.

  There really should be a book out there called Séances for Dummies, Anna thought as she plunked down in the oversized leather chair in the Manor’s own library. Even if she figured out how to do it, there was no guarantee it would actually work.

  We really could use your help, Uncle Max.

  Anna sucked in a deep breath, taking in the faint scent of cigars. She was pretty sure Maxwell had had a thing for cigars when he was alive. And ships. Her eyes roamed around the room’s nautical-themed decor, from the sails that covered one wall to the rope along the top of the bookshelf.

  Not so long ago she thought she’d never go near this room again. After a recently departed Lucy had shown herself here and thrown hardcover books at her—those books were heavy!—Anna had been afraid of a repeat. But once she realized Lucy could get to her from anywhere, she was more afraid of the actual ghost than any room. Which made her think…would Lucy try visiting her again when she least expected it?

  Anna’s eyes darted quickly around the room. She didn’t want to get caught in a hailstorm of books again. But she did want to confront Lucy.

  Anna’s gaze landed on a book that rested on the upper bookshelves. It stuck out a little further than the others. She pushed the library ladder in front of the shelves and climbed up. Most of the books on the shelves were dusty, with wrinkled bindings, but this book looked shiny and new.

  Séances for the Beginner.

  This was definitely a sign.

  “Thanks,” she whispered to the unknown spirit that had helped her.

 
Anna took the book down and began to read. After an hour, her head felt as if it would burst from everything she’d tried to cram in there.

  She hadn’t realized there were so many written rules for everything.

  AS YOU PREPARE FOR A SÉANCE…

  Rule #1: Keep an open mind

  Rule #2: Three or more people is best.

  Rule #3: Never conduct a séance by yourself, unless you want to go insane.

  Rule #4: Set up a spirit-friendly environment.

  Rule #5: Spirits come out at night, so any ritual should be performed in the evening for best results.

  Anna laughed. Who wrote these rules? She had been contacted day and night by spirits when her mind had been closed, locked, and sealed. Although she had to maybe agree with the insane part.

  Anna blew the hair out of her eyes as she began skimming through the second half of the book, which was full of useful information. Periodically she paused and took a picture with her phone of anything that seemed particularly relevant.

  WHAT YOU NEED TO COMPLETE A SÉANCE:

  1. A Table—round or oval.

  Anna giggled. Apparently ghosts were afraid of corners.

  2. A White Tablecloth/Sheet/Paper: The color white will help attract the “good” spirits and prevent them from wanting to sleep over.

  Darn, thought Anna, I really wanted a ghost slumber party too.

  3. Lots and Lots of Unscented Candles (minimum of three): Please try to use white and purple candles for spirituality. These are to be placed in the center of the table.

  4. An Assortment of Scented Candles: to be placed around the room.

  Cinnamon to provide warmth and energy.

  Frankincense to aid in meditation.

  Sandalwood to help you stay focused.

  5. Meditation Music: mild and soothing, to help you relax and to set the mood. IMPORTANT NOTE: Turn it off before actually performing séance!

  6. A Voice Recorder: so that you can listen to the session later.

  7. A Medium: one person to conduct the séance. Someone in tune with their sixth sense.

  Anna stopped at the eighth item:

  8. A Recently Deceased Spirit: Try not to summon a spirit who’s been dead for a super long time. They usually don’t want to be bothered and may get angry over this.

  Wasn’t that the whole point of this? Not the angry part but the bothering part?

  9. A Charging Session for the Candles: Everyone should take turns holding each candle and visualizing the symbolic power coming from it. When you look at the white candle, imagine strands of peaceful smoke curling up. Each candle should be passed and held by each person before placing it in the center of the table.

  All I ever needed was a phone, Anna thought, sighing. And it didn’t even need to be charged.

  Eden laughed as her eyes skimmed over Anna’s séance notes. “Is this for real?”

  “According to the book I read,” Anna said. “Crazy, right?”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “And we only have two people,” Anna pointed out. “Not three.”

  “Do you really think we need three? None of the other stuff makes sense, so why would that?”

  “I know, but…I don’t think we should take a chance,” Anna said. What if there was a little bit of truth to it? “Who will be our third?”

  “What about your new lab friend?” Eden asked.

  “Archer?” Anna wasn’t sure about that. “What would I say to him? ‘Hey, you want to help me contact my dead uncle because I need help getting rid of my evil stepsister and her zombie friend’?”

  “No!” Eden snorted. “I can do a ‘before’ spell that makes him completely open-minded to the idea and an ‘after’ spell so he’ll forget.”

  Anna felt a little guilty that they were about to put a spell on an innocent victim. But they didn’t have choice.

  “Let’s do it.”

  • • •

  Convincing Archer wasn’t as hard as Anna thought it would be. Eden used the lowest dose of the spell on him the next day at school, and even with that, he was more than willing to be an active participant. He’d arrived at Anna’s house at eight p.m. Anna’s mom and Winston had gone to a movie.

  “Okay, guys.” He clapped. “Let’s get our ghost on!” He threw his hands in the air and let out a whoop.

  Eden and Anna turned to look at Archer.

  “Did…you just try to raise the roof?” Eden asked.

  Archer placed his hands in his lap and smoothed out the wrinkles from his canvas pants. “Sorry. I’ll control myself.”

  They sat on Anna’s bed, with the door closed, and the only light came from the moon shining through the slits in the blinds.

  “Okay, so it says that in order to summon a spirit,” Anna said, flipping to the next page in the book, “we have to join hands and close our eyes.”

  They moved to the floor and sat cross-legged on the purple rug. They held hands and closed their eyes while Anna read the next steps.

  “Breathe slowly, in and out. Keep your mind blank. You’ll want to be calm, comfy, and alert.”

  “That’s a lot to think about when you’re supposed to keep your mind blank,” Archer whispered.

  “Just try,” Eden whispered back out of the side of her mouth.

  “Now,” Anna continued, “we need to chant this next part together and repeat it until we get a response. ‘Our beloved Maxwell Maddsen, we ask that you commune with us and move among us.’ ”

  Anna lifted her head from the book and closed her eyes as all three of them repeated together, “Our beloved Maxwell Maddsen, we ask that you commune with us and move among us.”

  Nothing.

  Archer coughed as they continued to chant.

  “Our beloved Maxwell Maddsen, we ask that you commune with us and move among us.”

  Nothing.

  “Concentrate,” Anna whispered.

  “Our beloved Maxwell Maddsen, we ask that you commune with us and move among us.”

  “Please,” added Archer.

  Anna peeked at Archer. His face was bunched up and his eyelids were wrinkled from being closed so tightly. He was almost concentrating too much.

  They repeated the chant several more times, sometimes stumbling on their words and getting out of sync.

  A door slammed.

  “Oh my God!” Archer jumped, eyes as round as saucers. “It’s a sign. What do we do now?”

  “Well, we don’t freak out. That was just one of the doors closing downstairs below us. It was only a sign that Tabitha is home.”

  “But it could’ve been something more. I mean, how can you be so sure?”

  Eden and Anna exchanged looks.

  “Well,” Anna said, “it says once we receive a sign, we ask him to knock once if this is him, or two if not. But since you broke the circle, we’ll have to start all over again. From the beginning.”

  Eden let out a frustrated sigh.

  “Sorry,” Archer muttered as he sat back down.

  They repeated the chant only three times before asking for a knock.

  “Knock once if you are here, Maxwell. Knock twice if this is someone else.”

  Silence.

  “Knock once if you are here—”

  Their voices were cut off by a sound coming from outside the bedroom door. They all turned toward it.

  Knock.

  Knock.

  Knock.

  The knocking was slow and deliberate at first, with a pause between each rap. Then it became repetitious and faster.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  “So what do three knocks mean?” Archer’s voice shook.

  “If it’s a bad spirit, we need to quickly tell it to go in peace, then blow out the candles, turn on the lights, and run!” Eden whispered.

  The three jumped, blowing out the candles and turning on the lights. When they started to run toward the door, Eden stopped them. “Shhhhh!” She froze mid-moveme
nt and held her finger up. “Listen.”

  Anna strained her ears, and only then did she hear the noise. Barely. She quickly tiptoed to the door, with Archer right behind her doing the same. Anna turned the knob. She threw the door open and jumped back, bumping into Archer. “Ow! Sorry!”

  Tabitha and Harper were crouched down by the door in a fit of giggles. They laughed even harder when they saw Anna’s face.

  “Make it stop! My stomach hurts!” Tabitha had tears running down her face.

  “That…was…great!” Harper couldn’t talk without gasping for air. “Spirits!”

  “Ghosts!”

  “So…ridiculous! Who really…believes in…that stuff?”

  Eden stepped around the two. “C’mon, you guys. We’re outta here.” Anna and Archer followed without hesitation.

  “Hey, Ghost Ghouls, can I join your club?” Tabitha shouted.

  “That was great!” Tabitha stood up and leaned against Anna’s doorway.

  “Yeah, who knew they believed in stuff like that?” Harper said, laughing.

  “So lame.”

  “Totally.”

  Harper jumped as the front door slammed downstairs.

  “Do I have any black under my eyes?” Tabitha swiped a finger under each eye, smudging her black liner even more.

  “You look like—”

  A loud thump from inside Anna’s room made Tabitha jump. All the laughter died on their lips as they cautiously peeked inside the room. Everything looked in place. Except a large book lying on the ground.

  “Maybe it fell?” Harper said nervously.

  “From where? It’s in the middle of the room.”

  Harper shrugged.

  In slow motion, each candle in the room began flickering—first a spark, then a flame—until slowly, one by one, they were all lit. The flames danced higher and higher, casting eerie shadows along the wall.

  Tabitha’s mouth fell open. “Did you see that?”

  “Uh-huh,” Harper whispered. She herself had been a ghost for all of two seconds, and she was still creeped out by them.

  Suddenly the door slammed shut in their faces, catching the tip of Harper’s finger. Tabitha took off running down the stairs while Harper stared at her detached finger wiggling in the crack of the door.