Page 28

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because returning your remains is connected to resolving your death. I did not hide your body from your family to punish you. I protected it because your circumstances are unfinished, and returning it prematurely could strengthen the wrong part of your attachment to this world.”

I stared at her. “You lost me again.”

Miss Veda nodded as though she expected that. “You died on Halloween.”

“I know when I died.”

“You know the date, but you do not yet understand its significance. Halloween already carries unusual spiritual energy because the boundary between the living and the dead is naturally weaker. For you, it carries even more weight because it is also the anniversary of your death. When that date comes around, your ability to interact with the physical world will increase.”

“So, Halloween makes me stronger?”

“Yes, but Halloween by itself is not enough to resolve what happened to you.” Miss Veda explained, her tone turning more instructional. “Your death left several things unfinished at the same time. You were murdered, and the people responsible are still living without consequence. Your girlfriend never learned what happened to the man she loved. Your son entered this world after your death, leaving a blood relationship that never had the opportunity to exist while you were alive. Your mother is still praying for your return, and your physical remains have never been recovered.”

Hearing my entire fucked-up situation laid out one piece at a time made it sound even worse.

“So you said all that to say what exactly?”

“For your death to reach the kind of resolution that would allow your remains to return safely, certain circumstances must align. Your girlfriend needs to be here because her emotional bond to you is part of what remains unfinished. Your son needs to be here—or near enough—because his blood connection gives you the greatest access to the physical world. Most importantly, it must happen on Halloween. It is the anniversary of your death, and the boundary between the living and the dead is at its weakest while your connection to the physical world is at its strongest.”

I studied her. “Strong enough for what?”

“Strong enough for you to cross much further into the physical world than you normally can.”

“Meaning I can actually be alive again?”

“Temporarily,” she corrected. “Halloween gives you the opening, and your family gives you the strength to use it. But neither of those things can turn a spirit back into a living man on their own. That part requires me.”

“So how far are we talking?”

Miss Veda’s mouth curved slightly. “Far enough. And that is the only answer you’re getting right now. When the time comes, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.”

“You really like keeping shit mysterious, huh?”

“I prefer not to explain things before they become necessary. It saves me from having to explain them twice.”

“Well, we got one thing in common.”

My jaw tightened before she even got to the rest. “What about the mothafuckas who killed me?”

Her expression hardened. “They will need to be present that night too. The violence that ended your life cannot remain completely unanswered while everything else is expected to settle around it. The person, well, people, responsible for your murder must face the consequences of what they did.”

I tilted my head. “So you saying I’ll be able to get my revenge.”

“I am saying the imbalance created by your murder has to be resolved.”

“That sounds like the spiritual version of yes.”

“You may interpret it however you wish.”

Oh, I definitely will.

The idea of seeing the mothafuckas responsible for putting me in that situation should’ve made me feel better, but Mama was still sitting heavier on my mind.

“And after all that, my body comes back?”

“Once those conditions have been met and the events surrounding your death have reached their conclusion, I can release your remains from where they are being protected. They will return to the physical world somewhere they can be discovered naturally.”