Page 81 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Chapter 21

Raven

Jinx makesme revive Howard five times before I fall apart. Chest shaking, sobs growing louder with each breath, I hold my hand over his body, trying to force myself to make it work again. But every time I try to call on Death’s power, I hit a wall. All I see is Dad’s slacken face and gray skin. All I can think about is the way Mom’s gaze blazed with insanity. All I feel is his cold hand clutching my ankle through the dirt as he uses it to dig his way out of the grave on Mom’s command.

“You see, baby? It worked!” Mom’s eyes are bright, cheeks red from the chill in the air. “He’s back.” She digs her nails into the dirt and starts digging a hole like a dog searching for the special place he buried his bone.

Shivers skate down my spine when his grip grows stronger, pulling me toward the hole when he yanks on it. He’s trying to force his way out of the dirt, but there’s too much covering him. He won’t make it unless we get it off of him. Imagining him choking on mouthfuls of dirt spurs me into action, I lean forward, peel his hand off of my ankle, and start digging alongside Mom.

“Good, baby, just like that. He’s almost out.” Mom uses both hands to pull a big pile of dirt off the grave and giggles. “Hold on, hunny! We’re almost there!” she screams at Dad, as though he can understand her.

Maybe he can. For all I know, the man buried beneath all this earth will be exactly how he was before he died. Except deep down, I know that’s a stupid wish. That cold grip was nothing like how my father felt. His embraces were warm and smelled like a campfire. His rough hands patting my shoulder as he passed were always sparked with love, not the cold, nothingness I felt seconds ago.

Whoever we’re unburying is not my dad.

Shoving my hands into the dirt, I continue to dig despite all of this. My heart won’t let me stop. He already died once, and I can’t bear for it to happen again. Not when I can do something about it this time. I drag another heap out of the hole, and Mom catches my arm, gasping. I follow her gaze which is set on Dad’s grave, mouth dropping open when I see him.

Dad is staring at her like she’s the light at the end of a tunnel and he can’t wait to reach it. Strange noises rattle out of his mouth, but none of them form actual words. Mom crawls into the grave, grasping both of his hands and pulling him out of the dirt. Maggots tumble from his body, spilling from holes they’ve burrowed into his skin. I fall onto my butt, scrambling back as she brings him out.

“What did you do?” I whisper, eyes rounding like saucers. “Mom, what did you do?”

Her head snaps to me and her lip curls. “I brought him back.”

I open my mouth to say something, but she screams in frustration, shaking Dad like a ragdoll.

“He’s fucking alive now, Raven! Don’t be an ungrateful little bitch.”

Shock blasts through me, sucker punching me in the gut and stealing my breath away. I’ve never seen her like this, never heard her talk like this. Who is this deranged woman and what did she do with Mom?

With a scoff, she swings her gaze to my dad. “Teenager Raven is difficult, as always.”

As always? My face wrinkles, and I try to reason as to what she means. Sure I’m moody, but so is she. I listen, get good grades, and follow the rules. What the hell does she mean by difficult? I’m not a golden child, but some parents would kill to have a kid like me, especially one who keeps her nose out of trouble and in a book instead.

“Come on. Let’s get him home.” She stands, placing her hands under his elbows and bringing him with her.

Dad wavers on his feet, head swaying back and forth like it might fall off. “Grogrgiosasaba.”

“Mom, we can’t take him home. He’s not right.”

“Enough, Raven! Either help me get him in the car or you can walk home.”

My chest hollows out. Hurt ripples through me when I realize she means it. She’d leave me here to take this abomination home.

Pressing my hands against the mat, shoving them deep in the blood, I shake my head, rocking back and forth.

“Giving up already?” Jinx asks with a tsk. “I thought you had more gumption than that.”

“Leave her alone. Howard won’t be whole again.” Adler’s protective voice caresses my skin.

Everett pulls me into his arms; the blood that covers me smears over his skin and clothes, but he doesn’t care. He wraps me in a tight hug, as though he can squeeze away the memories and what I’ve done.

“Fine, it doesn’t matter anyway,” she says.

Howard’s body convulses, and a spiral of white mist floats out of his mouth, shooting toward Jinx. She made me bring him back so she could steal his soul?

“You’re a bitch.” I spit the words at her over Everett’s shoulder.

“So I’ve been told.” With a smirk, she winks and disappears, taking Howard’s essence with her.

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