The morning sun crept through the heavy curtains of Josh's room, casting shadows that danced on the walls. He was awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind buzzing with anticipation. Today, he would be going to school for the first time since becoming a zombie. But it wasn't just any school; it was a place filled with supernatural beings—creatures he'd only seen in horror movies or read about in myths.
Josh shuffled downstairs, drawn by the faint clinking of dishes. The kitchen was already buzzing with activity; Acacia floated a stack of plates to the table using her wand, while Perkus leisurely read a book, occasionally glancing over his glasses to check for any mistakes she made. Theen was hunched over a bowl of cereal, hair slightly disheveled, and Paylah was idly tracing patterns in the air, giggling as small wisps of smoke curled from her fingers.
"Morning, kiddo," Melane said, her voice bright. She was already dressed, a contrast to Josh's rumpled pajamas. "You ready for your first day at Ghoulville High?"
Josh swallowed, trying to push down the knot of anxiety that had been twisting in his stomach all morning. "I guess so. But… what if they don't like me?"
Perkus snorted, closing his book with a sharp snap. "Oh, they won't. But that's not necessarily a bad thing."
Josh's eyes widened, and Melane shot Perkus a warning look. "What he means is, it's normal to feel out of place at first," she said, her tone softening. "But you'll find your people, Josh."
"Assuming they aren't terrified of a zombie," Acacia muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She waved her wand absentmindedly, causing a stray spoon to hover in mid-air.
Josh tried to laugh, but it came out more like a nervous cough. "Yeah, right. Sure."
Melane touched his shoulder, guiding him to sit down. "Before you go, there's something important I need to tell you about… souls."
Everyone fell silent, even Paylah, who had been giggling to herself. The shift in atmosphere made Josh's pulse quicken. "What about them?" he asked.
Melane's eyes flickered, and she took a deep breath. "Souls are… delicate. They carry memories, emotions, and everything that makes a person who they are. You have one, Josh, but it's been altered because of your resurrection. You need to be careful with it."
"What do you mean?" Josh's brow furrowed. "Am I different from… before?"
"You're still you, but there are limits now," Melane said, her gaze steady. "If your soul is damaged, it can affect your abilities, your emotions, and… well, everything. It's important you don't let anyone mess with it."
Josh blinked, trying to process what she was saying. "So… I'm fragile?"
Melane smiled softly. "No, you're strong. But you're also unique. That makes you both resilient and vulnerable. It's a balance."
Acacia, who had been twirling her wand between her fingers, glanced at Josh. "Don't worry. We've all had to learn to deal with it. It gets easier." For once, her voice wasn't sharp or mocking, but sincere.
Josh nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed her. The weight of her words hung in the air as they finished breakfast.
***
The ride to school was a blur. Josh's thoughts kept circling back to what Melane had said about his soul. He tried to distract himself by looking out the window, but every turn revealed something new and bizarre about Ghoulville: towering figures made of mist gliding through the streets, clusters of bats that morphed into people mid-flight, and what looked like a flock of phoenixes soaring above, their fiery tails leaving streaks of light in the morning sky.
"Wow," he whispered. "This place is..."
"Home," Theen said, his voice low and almost affectionate. Josh glanced at him, catching the hint of a smile that made Theen's normally serious face look softer. Josh smiled back, feeling a little braver.
When they arrived at Ghoulville High, Josh's bravery wavered. The building loomed above them, gothic and grand, with colorful banners that fluttered against the dark stone walls. Students of every shape, size, and species filled the courtyard—some floated, some slithered, and others flew overhead. As soon as Josh stepped out of the car, hundreds of eyes turned to him.
His heart thudded in his chest. "They're staring."
"You're new," Perkus said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And you're interesting. That combination makes people curious."
Josh bit his lip, resisting the urge to run back to the car. But before he could make a decision, Melane handed him a small piece of paper. "Your locker combination and schedule," she said. "Keep it safe, and remember—take it one step at a time."
Josh took the paper, clutching it like a lifeline. "Thanks."
Melane smiled, her eyes warm. "You'll do great, Josh."
He nodded, forcing himself to believe it. As he walked toward the entrance, he could still feel everyone's eyes on him, but he straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. Maybe, just maybe, Melane was right.