Josh shuffled nervously through the hallways of Ghoulville High, clutching his schedule like a lifeline. The crowd was overwhelming, and he felt small, lost among the towering figures, ghostly apparitions, and otherworldly creatures that floated, skittered, and glided past him. It was clear that Ghoulville High wasn't like any school he'd seen in the movies—it was a wild mix of chaos and wonder.
He had hoped one of his siblings would stick around, maybe offer some guidance, but they had all scattered the moment they walked through the front doors. "Too cool to be seen with me, I guess," Josh muttered, trying not to take it personally. Acacia had barely waved, Theen had given him a shy, apologetic look before vanishing into the crowd, and Perkus simply nodded, his expression unreadable. Paylah had been the last to disappear, but not before flashing him a quirky smile and mouthing, "Good luck."
Josh sighed, hugging his bag closer to his chest. "Guess I'm on my own."
As he navigated the hallways, a pair of voices caught his attention. He turned and saw two students approaching—one was a girl with a cascade of bright, beaded braids, and the other was a tall boy with smooth, dark skin and eyes that seemed to change color as he moved. They were chatting, laughing easily with each other, and something about them felt warm, welcoming.
"Hey, you're new, right?" the girl said, noticing Josh. She gave him a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I'm Queequah, and this is Elñairé."
Elñairé waved, his smile gentle and reassuring. "Nice to meet you, Josh. We heard about you."
Josh blinked, surprised. "You have?"
"Of course! Melane's your mom, right? And she's the principal here, so… word gets around," Queequah said, leaning in as if she was sharing a secret. "Everyone's been talking about the 'new zombie kid'."
Josh's mouth fell open. "Wait, she's the principal? I thought she was just, like, the mayor?"
"She's both," Elñairé said, chuckling at Josh's expression. "Busy woman, huh?"
Josh tried to process that. He already knew Melane was important, but somehow, learning she was in charge of the school made everything feel even more intimidating. "Yeah… that's kind of a lot."
"Don't worry," Queequah said, patting his shoulder. "You'll be fine. Elñairé and I can show you around if you want."
Josh's relief was immediate, his smile brightening. "Really? That would be awesome."
The three of them wandered through the halls, Queequah and Elñairé pointing out landmarks like the cafeteria ("Stick to the left side if you don't want to get trampled by the werewolves") and the library ("Haunted, but the ghosts are mostly harmless"). They made Josh laugh, and for the first time since arriving, he felt a little more at ease.
As they headed toward the cafeteria, the mood shifted. A group was standing by the entrance, and Josh recognized them immediately: Acacia, flanked by two other students. One was a boy with pale, almost translucent skin and sharp, icy eyes—Wilhite. The other was a tiny, winged creature with a mischievous grin—Dorfere. Acacia's posse.
"Oh great," Queequah whispered. "The Mean Team."
Acacia caught sight of Josh, her lips curling into a smirk. "Well, well, if it isn't our resident zombie. Making friends already, Joshy?"
Josh felt his cheeks heat up, but before he could respond, Wilhite stepped forward, his icy gaze flicking between Queequah, Elñairé, and Josh. "Careful, you two. You don't want to catch whatever he's got," he said, his voice dripping with mock concern.
Queequah rolled her eyes, clearly unfazed. "You're hilarious, Wilhite. Really."
"Oh, I know," Wilhite said, flashing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm just looking out for everyone's safety. Wouldn't want any… accidents."
Josh clenched his fists, but Elñairé put a calming hand on his shoulder. "Ignore them," he said softly. "They're not worth it."
Acacia's eyes flicked to Theen, who was hanging back, watching the scene unfold from a distance. "Looks like your brother's too embarrassed to be seen with you. I mean, can you blame him?"
Josh's heart sank, but he forced himself to meet her gaze. "Whatever," he said, trying to sound braver than he felt. "I don't need anyone's approval."
Acacia raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his defiance. "Ooh, look at you, getting all confident." She glanced at Wilhite and Dorfere, and they shared a conspiratorial grin before walking away, leaving Josh, Queequah, and Elñairé behind.
"Don't let them get to you," Queequah said, once they were gone. "Acacia's just… well, she's complicated."
"Understatement of the century," Elñairé added, shaking his head. "But you handled that pretty well, Josh."
Josh wasn't sure he believed them, but their support made him feel a little less shaky. "Thanks, guys," he said, smiling. "I guess I just need to get used to… everything."
"You will," Queequah said confidently. "And we'll be right here to help."
As they entered the cafeteria, Josh glanced back and caught sight of Theen, who was still lingering near the entrance. For a moment, their eyes met, and Theen offered a hesitant, almost apologetic smile. Josh's heart twisted, but before he could react, Theen turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Hey," Queequah said, snapping him back to the present. "What do you want to eat? They've got, like, everything. And I mean everything."
Josh looked around, taking in the bustling room, the strange mix of students, and the endless array of bizarre and colorful foods. For now, he decided to focus on the positive—new friends, new experiences, and the small but growing hope that maybe he could fit in here after all.