I swallow hard, trying to muster the courage to be more confident than I feel. “Someone has been raising the dead. We know you were a suspect the last time this happened, but it wasn’t you.”
For the first time, a hint of surprise flashes across his dad’s features. “And how would you know this?” His eyes land squarely on Wade, who drops his gaze to the ground and shakes his head imperceptibly.
I narrow my eyes and jut out my jaw. “Look, I don’t know what you did back then or why, but we need your help now to consecrate the cemeteries involved. Wade believes this is something you can do.” Squirming under the weight of his stare, I add, “Is…is it something you can do?”
Wade’s dad is far more commanding of the space than any of us. Even Dominic shrinks back as Wade’s dad steps toward me. “I told you I would be back. It appears your meddling has caught up with you, has it?”
I shake my head vehemently. “This wasn’t me.”
His eyes narrow down to silver slits, but he tips his head to the side. “Surprising. This has the stench of your family’s tampering all over it.”
I practically snort. “Stench of my family’s tampering? Excuse me? What is your problem?”
Wade steps between me and his dad, splaying his arms out wide in protection. I peer over his shoulder, refusing to cower. No matter who this guy thinks he is.
Wade takes a tentative step forward. “It wasn’t her. The guy who did it is in custody and is working to reverse the spell. But Autumn’s right. We need your help to consecrate the graves so the cemetery returns to its tranquility. All things considered, I know I can’t—”
Wade’s dad raises a hand, cutting him off. “If you are asking to change my mind…”
“No—nothing’s changed. I just mean, I know I can’t, but you can. Autumn is doing everything she can to put things right and she’s only got half of the pieces. Please, just help us,” Wade says, dropping his arms by his side.
“The revenants cannot return to the cemeteries…” Wade’s dad begins.
Wade nods. “We know. Autumn is going to lay them to rest inside.”
As if this makes total sense, he drops his chin in apparent understanding. “Fine. So long as his remains are taken within, I will do as you wish. But this doesn’t change anything—”
Wade nods feverishly. “I know. I get it.”
“I’m glad someone does, because this conversation is cryptic at best,” Dom mutters under his breath. “Even for me.”
“Fine,” he nods.
Wade exhales slowly, letting his shoulders drop. “Thank you.”
“Which cemeteries have been desecrated by this magic?” His dad asks, flashing his eyes to me again.
“Windhaven and Mistwood Point. They’ll—”
Before Wade can get any other words out, his dad opens the smokey black portal and turns to walk through it. However, he stops, turning back to us. “You’ll need this, necromancer.”
From what appeared to be an empty hand, he flicks his wrist like he’s throwing a frisbee—but what extends from his grasp is more like a bright yellow cord of light. It winds its way around grandpa’s revenant, binding him around the midsection. The other end bonds itself to my midsection in much the same way.
“What is this?” I say, raising my arms in surprise.
“A guarantee. You’re bound together now. Until put to rest, you can’t lose him. That’s not a problem, is it?” he says, raising a single, sardonic eyebrow.
“N-no…but how do I get rid of it?” I ask, poking the energetic rope with my pointer finger. The energy of it feels like swiping your finger through a running kitchen tap. And just like the water, it remains intact even as my finger moves through it.
“You won’t have to. As soon as his body is released, so will the cord.” With that, Wade’s dad walks straight into the black portal and vanishes as it condenses in on itself.
“Well, on the upside, it looks like whatever your dad did calmed it down,” Dominic says, raising his eyebrows to his hairline.
“All right, so what do we do to help?” Wade says, ignoring Dominic and turning to me.
I shake my head. “Other than helping to round up the other revenants, nothing beyond this point. I have to do this alone.”
“Are you sure we can’t—” Wade begins.
“I’m sure,” I nod.
“Well, I, for one, wouldn’t enter in there if someone paid me. It’s like whatever’s on the other side of that door doesn’t even exist,” Dominic says, shuddering.
“Go see Sheriff Gordon and find a way to round up the others. Bring them here,” I say, turning to the door. “I’m going to find Abigail and get started.”
Wade nods. “All right, we can do that.” He takes a few steps toward the entrance but stops and turns back to me. “Be careful. Please.” His eyes plead with me and my solar plexus constricts.
Holding his gaze, I place a hand on his cheek. “I will. Make sure you do the same. Okay?”
His lips press into a thin line, but he dips his chin.
“Text me when you’re back and I’ll come to collect them, but do not, under any circumstances, come inside. Either of you,” I say, eyeing them both.
Again, Wade nods. Turning to Dominic, he says, “Come on.”
Casting one quick glance as his grandpa’s still body, Wade walks out, back the way we came in.
“See ya around. Try not to be zombie food, okay?” Dominic says, slapping me on the shoulder as he walks out after Wade.
“They’re revenants,” I say, sticking a tongue out.
“Tomato, tomahto,” he says over his shoulder.
Grinning to myself, I shake my head and turn to face the door. Grandpa continues to hover beside me, as if in some sort of status, but for my own peace of mind, I don’t want to linger long.
“All right, Autumn, let’s figure this thing out…” I mutter to myself as I walk up to the wooden door.
As it turns out, the doorway isn’t as unusual as originally thought.
