After dinner, Grant showed her where he was sleeping. He excused himself after, saying he’d promised Annabelle he’d bring her food.

  The night was dark. All she could see outside her window was the faint outline of flowers and grass. They really must have been outside the city limits. She flicked the light off and suddenly, she saw another outline in the window. Like the outline of a person, radiating a deep, bck void.

  Marcie jumped back, smming herself against the wall. She scrambled to flip the light switch again. When the room lit up again, the outline was gone.

  Had she just imagined it?

  She stepped cautiously towards the window. There were curtains. She could close the curtains, but then she wouldn’t be able to see if something was coming.

  Maybe she could sleep in someone else’s room. With Tío or Mrs. Ruiz. No, not an option. If the Void really was out there, the st thing she’d want to do would be to lead it right to them while they were still recovering from the earlier fight. Besides, didn’t Tío say that this house was hallowed against demons? It must have just been her mind pying tricks on her. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to turn off the light.

  Hunter’s absence was finally sinking in. Marcie sat on one side of the bed and felt the emptiness of the space next to her. It was so unfair of him to leave. How could she be held accountable for a past she could barely recall? He was the one who resurrected her, so he shouldn’t be allowed to walk away!

  As she stewed in anger, more heat rose in her chest for every reason that proved that she wasn’t in the wrong. But not a single reason made the room feel less empty or her less scary. There was no use lingering on it. She didn’t want to work herself up again. And if what Hunter said was true—hell, if what Grant said was true—she didn’t have the right to be upset.

  She snuggled into the bnkets. They had an old smell like the rest of the Chapel house. She rolled over so she could still keep an eye on the window, then pulled out Grant’s phone.

  The lock screen fshed open. The picture that popped up was one she actually recognized. Grant’s brother—Michael, if she remembered correctly—was leaning with an elbow rested on Grant’s shoulder. Michael was a head taller, but a whole lot skinnier. Even then, when Grant looked to be about 15, he was already a beefcake. But in the photo, Marcie could see the full genuine smile on his face. It pulled at the corners of his eyes and made him shine. It was the same smile he saw in the kitchen when he was making his tortils, and when Mrs. Ruiz served him his tyuda. It must've been the best thing he'd ever eaten the way that grin was pstered on him. And despite everything, seeing it made her kind of happy.

  It was only when the screen went dark again that she realized how long she’d been studying it. When she clicked the power button again, a new picture popped up. Her breath hitched. It was her, Hunter, and Grant all soaking wet at the boardwalk carnival before it was all torn down. They must have been eleven or twelve. That day, they went to the carnival to celebrate her first week at Ridgeview. It was also the day Hunter finally told her he liked her, she could even see it in the photo. Hunter was standing so awkwardly close to her it skewed the framing of the picture.

  After a moment, the phone screen dimmed again and when she flicked it on once more and brought up the keypad for a four digit pin. That idiot forgot to take off his lock. But, before she got up to bother him for the code, before she got all worked up again, she thought of the st picture she saw on the lockscreen. What day was it?

  She typed 0-9-0-1. September 1st. The phone buzzed, indicating she’d gotten the passcode wrong. Maybe the date was a little off. September 2nd? Buzz. August 31st? Buzz. Marcie was quite ready to throw in the towel when she thought of one st date.

  1-0-0-1.

  The phone opened to Grant’s home page. No way that worked. October 1st. The day she died. Why would Grant keep that as the lock to his phone? Why would he want a constant reminder?

  Marcie forced herself to press on. This newfound knowledge already felt like an invasion of privacy. Opening up his texts, she skipped over his group chat with Julie and her squad, no matter how much she wanted to pry. It seemed Grant had been ignoring it too, seeing as how there were over one hundred unread messages from it. She didn’t have to scroll far to find his direct messages with Hunter.

  Opening it, she found that they’d been texting a whole lot more than she had anticipated. The texts started a little after Hunter resurrected her. It was only weeks ago, but it felt like ages.

  Grant: Hey…I didn’t mean to bring up old shit. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through but im grieving her too

  Hunter: I don’t want your pity

  Grant: Okay. I’m sorry.

  Grant: For what it’s worth, I haven’t been friends with them since it happened

  Another week went by without any correspondence. Then, it picked up again right before they went to see Grant.

  Hunter: I wanna talk

  Grant: Okay!

  Grant had responded almost immediately.

  Hunter: I just need to know what happened that night. Can we come over?

  Grant: Sure. Who’s we?

  Hunter: A friend. Look a lot of shit has happened recently. Will you help or not?

  Grant: Yeah. Feel free to bring anyone

  Then, there was a short break in their communication before…

  Grant: BRO WHAT THE FUCK

  Hunter: I know it’s crazy

  Grant: HOW?

  Hunter: I followed a guide

  Grant: Like a WikiHow wtf are you talking about

  Hunter: I know this is sudden, I’ve been telling Mar I was nervous about telling you. But we need your help

  Grant: With what!

  Hunter: She doesn’t remember how she died. You were there apparently. We just want answers

  Grant: BUT HOW?

  Grant: THIS IS FUCKING INSANE

  Grant: Like I saw them bury her dude

  Hunter: Dude, get it together. This is real, you can go back to losing it after u tell me what happened.

  Grant: Look, if I’m being honest, I don’t know much. One minute we’re all hanging out, the next she falls off a cliff. But, I know where we might find some clues

  Hunter: Okay, can you show us

  Grant: Yeah, just give me a couple days

  Hunter: How’s your mom?

  Grant: She’s okay, a little freaked but she fainted right after and I covered up the bullet hole in our carpet. I think she believes it was just a nightmare

  Hunter: That’s good. Sorry for making a mess

  Grant: It’s fine

  Grant: How’s your family? I heard your sister’s getting married

  Hunter: Yeah. Her fiance’s fine I guess. Kind of a pin normal dude. Beth is…

  Grant: Being Beth?

  Their texts became friendlier and friendlier, like they were getting back into an old rhythm. It was odd to see them be pleasant to each other, even in these small ways. For a long time, Hunter was just as bitter as she was. It was a whirlwind watching a py by py of him letting go of that bitterness. Now it made sense why they seemed all friendly. Damn, she really needed a new phone. She didn't even know what happened to her old one.

  The text cursor blinked over and over. Marcie wanted to apologize, but she still didn’t know what exactly she had to be sorry about. For not seeing Hunter’s protective side? For how things were before she died, who she was during a time she couldn’t remember?

  Instead, she started simple.

  Grant: Hey. Grant gave me his phone so we could talk

  Almost immediately, three dots popped up like Hunter had been waiting for this. The dots went away for a moment before reappearing.

  Hunter: Hey.

  Hunter: What did you wanna talk about?

  Grant: I don’t like how you left

  Hunter: I know it was sudden, but I just need time to think

  Grant: Think about what? You said that those demons were coming back in 3 days and you just left me here?

  Hunter: I’m trying to figure that out

  Grant: Oh so your dad was just an excuse

  Hunter: What do you want me to say? Now you know how it felt when you left me on the side of the road.

  His question hung in her mind. The welling frustration that had been building and building was reaching a fever pitch. Why did she have to lead them in circles again? What the hell were they even fighting about anymore? Even if she didn’t understand why he was upset, could she not just give one apology?

  Grant: Can I start over

  Hunter: Please

  Grant: I didn’t mean to hurt you but I did. How can I make up for it?

  Hunter: Just give me time. I didn’t leave cause I was mad at you.

  Those three dots appeared again and lingered for a long time.

  Hunter: Okay, I was a little upset. But I cooled off like I said. I still need a couple days to figure out how to solve this. Basil said they caught visions of an attack on the house. I already told Mr. Sosa. Hopefully he’s prepared too

  It was that name again. Basil—this mystery person from college that was somehow instrumental in her resurrection. Marcie forced herself to push down twinges of jealousy.

  She’d felt it too the first time Hunter mentioned them and even though he’d told her the scope of Basil’s involvement, it took considerable effort to put that feeling away. And it wasn’t that she thought he was cheating or anything, they said they’d never break each other’s trust like that. Besides, she got the same jealous feeling with Grant around. But when he spoke about both of them, it was apparent that Hunter wasn’t always telling the full truth, like there was more to both of them that he was hiding from her. In the end, it just made it all the more frustrating that he accused her of doing the same.

  Marcie typed ‘If you’re not mad anymore then why aren’t you back?’, before deleting the message entirely. Don’t start another argument, she had to remind herself.

  Grant: I don’t think we can fight them. They could kill you. What are you pnning to do?

  Hunter: In their vision, Basil told me I came back the night of and I was doing idk magic

  Grant: Like from the book

  Hunter: Yeah but I didn’t have it. So, I’m gonna find that man. The one I saw in the store and after that first night we saw Marty. I think he can teach me

  Grant: You don’t have to protect me

  Hunter: This isn’t about protecting you, Mar. You’re sort of an unkilble force of nature. I know you can protect yourself.

  Hunter: You’re a superpowered zombie with family connections to an underground magical task force and I’m just a guy who believed in ghosts a little too hard and found a spellbook on the internet. I need to be able to hold my own when shit goes down. You said we do things together now and this is my way of actually being able to do that

  Grant: Okay. Okay. That makes sense

  Even knowing he was thinking about what she’d said all that time ago felt like such a relief.

  Grant: So you’re not mad?

  Hunter: No

  One question still hung in Marcie’s mind.

  Grant: Why aren’t you more upset?

  Hunter: Cause I can’t be Mar. I don’t know what I thought was going to happen after I resurrected you. It’s not exactly what I pictured, I’ve just been readjusting.

  Grant: What were u picturing?

  Hunter: Idk. A second chance maybe. I know you don’t remember but it was rough when I went to college. I didn’t make time for you and you needed more from me. I wanted to give you everything you wanted. And that’s still true. You just want something else now.

  Marcie rolled so she faced the ceiling. The pillows under her head were limp from age and the sheets didn’t retain much warmth. She stared up and tried to make sense of her thoughts. What did she want?

  This whole time chasing answers felt more like a need than a want. It felt like there was a gaping metaphorical hole in her chest where parts of herself were supposed to be. Well…she knew there was also a literal gaping hole in her chest where parts of herself were supposed to be, but that was sort of besides the point. In the small glimpses of her memories, she saw those parts returned.

  But what about all the memories before the ones she’d lost? Like when she and Hunter took a day trip to hike the Jenner Preserve, or their weekend outings to San Francisco, risking staying the night in the car so they wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel. Even days after school when they picked up a pizza from Bernillo’s and had a picnic on the beach.

  Grant: When this is all over we’ll be able to do the normal stuff. Stargaze and rex on the beach and do snack runs. I promise.

  Hunter: I’ll hold you to that

  Grant: Please do!

  Hunter: For now, give me three days and then I won’t leave your side again.

  Grant: Promise?

  Hunter: Promise

  Grant: Grant is gonna see all of this isn’t he

  Hunter: Oh for sure

  Grant: UGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

  Grant: Thank you Grant

  Hunter: Thank you Grant

  Hunter: Okay, I think I need sleep. You should rest too.

  Grant: Yeah I prolly should. Goodnight <3

  Hunter: Night babe

  Their send off texts always filled her with warmth. It was their nightly ritual every time they didn’t get to sleep in the same bed. To her, this was a ritual that they never let go of, at least when she was on a pne of existence that had cell service. But she wondered if during the year of lost memories there were some nights where they didn’t have this little back and forth. She wondered if it was really his fault or hers.

  When she put down the phone to stare out at the pitch bck dark outside the window, all of the warmth seeped out of her. Marcie's entire body rexed seeing that no one was there watching, but the room was still empty.

  A notification made the phone buzz again and she quickly clicked it open again in hoping that Hunter had changed his mind about going to bed. But it wasn’t him.

  Annabelle: I’m scared

  Marcie, against her better judgement, responded.

  Grant: Me too.