The Ungrateful Dead

by Rose Cooper

  “Can you just talk to me for a minute?”

  Anna punched in her locker combo and opened the door.

  “Stop!” Eden grabbed Anna’s arm.

  Anna spun around. “What, Eden? What do you want?”

  “I just want to talk to you for a minute.”

  “And if I don’t talk to you, are you gonna cast a spell on me?”

  “Stop being dumb. You know I wouldn’t do something like that if I didn’t have a good reason for it.”

  “Hey, guys, are you two still fighting?” Archer stopped in front of them, smirking.

  “Go away, Archer.”

  “Maybe I don’t want him to go away, Eden. Ever think of that?”

  “You need to trust me on this. Stay away from him, Anna.”

  Archer laughed. “Yeah, Anna. Stay away from me. I’m dangerous.”

  The bell rang for first period. Archer was already gone but Eden wouldn’t give up.

  “I’m serious, Anna. There are things you don’t know.”

  “Why don’t you let me make decisions for myself, okay?” Anna slammed her locker. “Tabitha only has twenty-four hours left, so we still have to work together to help her. Meet me after school. But that’s it. After that, I’m done.”

  “How is it that now that we need Tabitha, she’s suddenly MIA?” Anna asked. She and Eden had cornered Harper in the hallway between classes and they’d scurried over to a dead-end hallway that was used only by the janitorial staff. No one could see them.

  Harper shrugged. “How should I know?” But she knew exactly where Tabitha was. She just wasn’t about to let Anna get to her before she could. Her appetite was growing at an increasingly alarming rate.

  “We have less than twenty-four hours before her head explodes! Don’t you get that?” Eden stood only inches from Harper. Finally, the witch had lost her cool.

  “She doesn’t care,” Anna said to Eden. “She wants this to happen.” She turned back to Harper. “She’s your friend. Or was. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  Harper shrugged. “Sure. But sometimes we have to make sacrifices.”

  “You don’t actually sacrifice your friends!” Anna shouted.

  “I was only friends with her because I had to be. So technically, I’m not.” As she raised her hand, a finger fell off, plopping onto her science textbook. She quickly scooped it up with her other hand and stuck it back on. “Look, I can text Tabitha to meet us here after school.”

  “No,” Anna said. “We’ll meet outside the cafeteria.”

  “Yes, outside,” Eden agreed.

  “Fine, whatever. We’ll meet outside the cafeteria after school. Then you can tell her what you did to her, and I can help put her out of her misery.”

  Harper was falling apart right in front of them. “Give it up, Harper,” Anna urged. “You don’t have a choice anymore.”

  “What?” Harper reached up to touch her ear. It was barely hanging on.

  “It will be easier for you to just let go,” Anna said softly.

  Harper had only one leg left to stand on. Her left one. Her right leg was lying on the ground next to Eden.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way.” Harper looked at her hands sadly as her fingers fell off, one at a time. But this time she couldn’t reattach them. They shattered, turning into dust as they hit the ground. The rings from her fingers made clinking sounds against each other as they fell.

  “It does,” Anna said, with more passion. “I know how badly you want to live. But you can’t. Not anymore.”

  Eden watched with wide eyes, not saying a word.

  “I can find another body.”

  Anna shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that.”

  “But it did before.”

  “Huh?” Eden said.

  Anna’s mouth fell open. “What?”

  “My old body, my Harper Sweety body, was sick. Not sick as in hot, but, like, really sick. I was in the hospital and the next thing I remember was looking down at myself. I didn’t understand what was happening. I went screaming for help. And that’s when I saw Mary. She was in one of the hospital rooms too. I was scared and…” Harper’s bottom lip began to tremble. “I jumped into her body. It was like a force pulled me toward her.”

  Anna gasped. “You took her body?”

  “Yes,” Harper whispered as she lost her balance and sat down on the ground. Her foot fell over to the side.

  “But she tried to fight me, which only made me want her body more.”

  “She was alive?” Eden threw a hand over her mouth.

  “Well, yeah.” She looked up. All sadness was gone. “She tried to push me out, but she was weak. I was angry and it made me stronger. You know, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Harper chuckled. “And it was so easy. I climbed into her hospital bed and pushed her. Just a little bit. And her spirit was pushed outside her body. Once I claimed it, she was even weaker. She didn’t stand a chance of surviving. Not against me, anyway.”

  Anna shook her head. She couldn’t believe what Harper was saying. Anna glanced at her phone. Mary. The ghost that claimed she’d lost her body. She quickly sent a text on her phone.

  “Is that why you were so eager to get your—I mean her body back?” Anna asked. “Because you knew Mary’s spirit would be looking for you?”

  Harper nodded. “Why else would I want to live the life of a poor girl?”

  The air in front of them shimmered.

  “Didn’t you ever think that Mary might have been the one who pushed you off the balcony?” Anna asked. “You’ll eventually have to see her. So just let go. Let go and move on.” Anna tried to stay calm.

  “I just need a little more time. If I can find another body…someone who is weak or—”

  The words died on Harper’s lips. Her facial features froze and the rest of her body went limp. Eden and Anna watched helplessly as Harper’s body slowly disintegrated in front of their eyes.

  “Um.” Eden turned to Anna. “Did that really just happen?”

  Anna nodded. It was over.

  “What happened?” Tabitha strolled up and stood beside them. “Eww, what is that?” She pointed to a small pile of ashes on the ground.

  Anna and Eden exchanged glances. When nobody answered her, Tabitha looked between the two girls. “What? What is it? And where’s Harper? She told me to meet her here. She said she could help me with these really bad headaches I’ve been having.”

  “It’s a long story,” Anna said.

  The overwhelming scent of lemons arrived just moments before Lucy did. She looked down at the pile of ashes and sadly shook her head. “That’s too bad. I really had high hopes for her.”

  “I knew you were behind this!” Anna shouted, pointing her finger inches from Lucy’s face.

  “Who are you yelling at, Anna?” Tabitha asked, taking a step back.

  “Go ahead, tell your sweet stepsister all about me,” Lucy said with a smirk.

  Eden gently elbowed Anna. “I’m guessing you’re yelling at Lucy but nobody else can see her.” She nodded in Tabitha’s direction.

  Anna’s eyes darted nervously between Lucy and Tabitha. It was what she wanted—to freak Tabitha out. But something was holding her back.

  “I see you’re still terrific at making decisions,” Lucy pointed out. “Maybe I should help you with that.”

  Eden pointed at Lucy’s now visible form. “It is Lucy!” She turned to Anna. “This is way creepier than I imagined. You know, since I knew her before.”

  “It’s great to see you too, Eden.” Lucy didn’t hold back her disgust.

  “I don’t get it, Lucy!” Anna was furious with the ghost. “Why did you come back and why did you do this”—she made a sweeping motion over the ashes—“to Harper?”

  “Obviously this isn’t how it was supposed to end.” Lucy folded her arms, hovering a few inches higher. “She either didn’t do it in time or she lost her nerve. I shouldn’t be surprised either way.”

  “
Why don’t you tell us how it was supposed to end, then, Lucy? Because you’re still not making any sense,” Anna said.

  “Yeah, tell us,” echoed Eden.

  “It was supposed to end with Harper taking over a living body.” Lucy pointed at Tabitha. “Yours, to be exact.”

  “What?” Tabitha crinkled her nose. “My body?”

  “But then you had to go and eat that stupid cupcake,” Lucy continued. “Which led to the whole brain thing, and so you turned out to be totally useless. So we had to switch to plan B.”

  “And plan B was…?” Anna wanted her to just spit it out.

  “It was you, Anna. I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out by now. She was going to kick you out and take control of your body.”

  “And what would’ve happened to Anna?” Eden asked.

  “She would’ve been forced to live just like me. As a wandering spirit.”

  “Yeah, we could’ve been the best ghoul friends ever,” Anna said, frowning.

  Eden shook her head. “It still doesn’t add up. Why did you even need a living body?”

  Lucy glared at Anna. “To get Johnny back, of course.”

  “Are we really back to this?” Anna yelled. “Because that’s so three months ago!”

  “Well, if you had just done what I wanted you to the first time, then I wouldn’t have to still deal with this.”

  Anna noticed Tabitha backing farther away. She looked as if she might break into a sprint at any moment. Maybe even back to New York.

  “Let us explain, Tabitha,” Anna said, taking a step toward her.

  “No, no, no.” Tabitha shook her head back and forth. She stumbled, then fell to her knees, groaning in pain.

  “Do something!” Anna shouted at Eden. They were just about out of time.

  “Yeah, do something,” Lucy said, laughing.

  Eden looked at Anna. “You know I can’t. I’m not strong enough.”

  “You could at least try, Eden,” Anna said. “Maybe you’re stronger than you realize. But you have to try….”

  Eden ran to Tabitha’s side, placing her hands on Tabitha’s while closing her eyes tightly and muttering words Anna couldn’t understand. But Tabitha’s cries grew louder. “Make it stop!” she sobbed.

  “I’m…trying….” Eden’s grip on Tabitha tightened as she chanted faster.

  Anna stood next to Eden. “C’mon. I know you can do this—” Her words cut off when she noticed Eden’s nose was bleeding.

  “Oh no,” Anna whispered as she realized what was happening. “This is hurting you.”

  Another pair of hands reached out for Tabitha. “I can help.”

  “Archer!” Anna had never been so happy to see him. Like Eden, Archer closed his eyes, placing his hands over Eden’s, and began mumbling. Each minute felt like an eternity. Eden’s voice became quieter until it was nothing more than a whisper. The air around them grew thick. A loud crack followed by a bright burst of light jolted Anna as Archer broke away and Eden collapsed.

  A slight breeze ruffled Anna’s hair as Millie materialized. “Oh my God! Is she okay?”

  “Please tell me she’s only unconscious and didn’t, you know, bite the dust.” Lucy hovered over Eden’s body as Archer held her hand.

  “What do you care?” Millie snapped.

  “I don’t. I need to prepare myself if I have to deal with her in the afterlife.”

  As if on cue, Eden came to and Archer helped her to slowly sit up.

  “You’re okay!” Anna hugged her friend. “I didn’t know this could hurt you. I swear. I’m so sorry. For everything.”

  “No, I’m sorry.” Eden coughed. “I shouldn’t have done a spell on you.”

  “I know you were only trying to help. But none of that matters anymore. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Tabitha groaned, holding the side of her head. She ran her hand over a small bump, wincing.

  “Are you all right?” Eden asked.

  Tabitha nodded, a dazed look on her face. “It still hurts. But not from the headaches. Not like before.”

  “It worked. We did it.” Archer winked at Eden.

  “I’m still confused about what happened,” Tabitha said.

  “It’s a long story,” Anna explained. “But it started when you ate that cupcake meant for Johnny.”

  “Yeah, I guess it was around that time.” Tabitha thought for a moment. “Do you think it was a gluten allergy or something?”

  “Or something.” Lucy snorted.

  “I wonder if Johnny got headaches like I did,” Tabitha said.

  Eden and Anna exchanged looks. “Why would he?” Eden asked suspiciously.

  “Because if the cupcake caused that, then maybe it did something to Johnny too.”

  Hope suddenly shot through Anna. “I thought Johnny didn’t eat the cupcake.”

  “He didn’t. Not really. But he did swipe a finger of frosting and sprinkles,” Tabitha said.

  “He did? What color were the sprinkles?” Anna fired off.

  “What? How would I know?” Tabitha gave Anna a weird look.

  Eden leaned in to Anna. “He could have regained a few specific memories. This could be good!”

  “Or very bad,” Anna whispered back. “Depending on which memories.”

  Millie cleared her throat. “Speaking of memories, remember that night in the cemetery with the Ouija board?”

  “You mean the night you disappeared on us?”

  “Yeah. Where did you go?” Eden asked.

  “I tried to get to your dad before we lost the connection completely.”

  “And?” Anna could feel her heart beat faster.

  Millie looked down, shaking her head. “Sorry. I tried to find him. I really did.”

  “Thanks for trying.” Anna meant it, although she couldn’t help feeling disappointment settle over her.

  “Maybe I can help with that too.” Archer took Anna’s phone, clicked through it while mumbling something, then handed it back to her.

  Anna searched through her phone. A box popped up saying “new update installed.” “What is this?”

  “It’s an update that gives you access to some really useful apps.”

  “Oh, like our Spell Phones?” Eden asked.

  “Kind of. Except her access is more…ghost-friendly.”

  “There’s an app called the Spirit Seeker?” Anna looked up.

  “Yep.” Archer smiled. “Contact any spirit you wish. It might take a while for some to get back to you.”

  “Wow.” Anna could hardly believe it. It sounded so easy. Maybe even a little too easy. “Wait a minute. So you mean this whole time, all I needed was an app? On my phone?”

  • • •

  Lucy had disappeared after that day, but Anna doubted it was permanent. Too bad she didn’t have an app for a spirit zapper. After explaining everything, Tabitha didn’t go running back to New York like Anna had originally hoped. Who would’ve guessed that her new stepsister was a believer in all the paranormal? Sharing secrets brought them closer, and they were actually able to tolerate each other while in the same room. Anna was even excited about volunteering together at the teen help line.

  Anna used the Spirit Seeker app to contact her dad. She was still waiting to hear from him. She was a little nervous thinking about actually communicating with him. Now she needed to contact Mary. She still hadn’t heard back from her, and now that her body was a pile of ashes, her only choice was to cross over. Unless she was the vengeful type and was looking for Harper.

  Eden definitely seemed happier with Archer around. He and Johnny were also becoming fast friends. The only downside to Archer being so powerful was the bad news that came with it. He broke the news to Anna and Tabitha that there was a spell on their parents. Which would really explain a lot. But because neither of them was familiar with dark magic—which was where the spell came from—they couldn’t break it. Not until they could find the source of the spell. Which only meant something evil was lurking in their
tiny town of Winchester Village. And for once, it wasn’t Lucy.

  Anna’s phone buzzed with a new text. She smiled. It was from Johnny. He could still make her blush, even over the phone. They were meeting up later. Johnny had regained memories of when Anna first moved to town, so they were spending a lot more time together.

  Everything was going to be okay. Well, minus the whole spell thing with her parents. But she’d worry about that later. For now, she wanted to hold on to this happy feeling and pretend, even if only for a moment, that things were finally falling into place instead of falling to pieces.

  “Ready?” Tabitha poked her head into Anna’s room. Today was their first day volunteering at the teen help line together.

  “Ready!” Anna scooped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

  She was actually excited to start helping. And Johnny would be there too. But that wasn’t the reason she wanted to volunteer. Okay, maybe a little bit. But she also felt that if she could help dead people, she could easily help the living.

  After all, how hard could it be?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks to all the wonderful people who helped bring this book to life:

  As always, my astounding agent, Rosemary Stimola, and extraordinary editor, Wendy Loggia. And a huge thank-you to the amazing team at Penguin Random House.

  Angela and Emma Sweeney, your support, friendship, and inspiration mean the world to me. I can’t wait for the day when I can walk (or gracefully trip) into a bookstore and see Emma’s book on the shelf!

  Amie Borst, I can’t imagine writing anything without you! You inspire creativity when least expected but most welcomed.

  My family and friends, for your unconditional love and support and unlimited supply of (what else?) chocolate!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Rose Cooper is the author/illustrator of Gossip from the Girls’ Room, Rumors from the Boys’ Room, Secrets from the Sleeping Bag, and I Text Dead People.

  When Rose was a teenager, she moved to a tiny town where her stepdad was a mortician, her mom was a corpse cosmetician, and their house was on cemetery grounds. She lives in Sacramento, California, with her family and makes sure all her texts are to the living.