Page 68 of Cemetery Boys

“Uh-oh,” Maritza murmured.

Yeah. This was a big “uh-oh.”

Julian’s shoulders slumped. “Luca, you idiot,” he said as the boy crossed the road and perched on the edge of the curb.

“Hey…” Yadriel trailed off awkwardly. How much had he heard?

“I’ll help you guys,” Luca repeated. He didn’t look freaked out, or even upset. He looked more curious than anything.

Maritza and Yadriel exchanged looks.

“What is he doing here?” Julian scowled, pacing back and forth in front of Luca. “He shouldn’t have come all this way on his own.”

“Look, whatever happened back there was kinda … weird,” Luca said, a nervous laugh bubbling past his lips.

“We really didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” Yadriel said, because it was true and he felt like he owed an explanation.

“I want to help,” Luca offered again, shifting his grip on his stateboard as his eyes kept dashing back to Donatello and Michelangelo.

Jules groaned and dragged his hand over his face.

Maritza gave Yadriel a surprised look.

“You … do?” Yadriel was going to keep his word to Julian, so he wasn’t going to offer up any information without knowing what exactly Luca meant, or how much he knew. Or guessed.

Luca bobbed his head yes, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips as he watched Donatello wiggle at the attention.

“See? This! This is your problem, Luca!” Julian barked, throwing his hands up.

“Is Jules dead?”

He asked it so suddenly, and so casually, it left Yadriel speechless and staring.

“I’m not sure I believe in ghosts,” Luca admitted.

“Christ,” Julian groaned.

“But the skateboard.” Luca scratched the back of his head. “Jules has kind of a quick temper.”

“No kidding,” Maritza grumbled under her breath.

Julian huffed and tugged his hood over his head.

Luca gave them an apologetic smile. “He doesn’t mean nothin’ by it.”

Julian glowered, heavy brow pulled down over his dark eyes, but Luca seemed to be thawing his anger.

“But when he gets mad, he’ll throw it like that, y’know? It was really freaky.” He lifted his bony shoulders in a shrug. “Plus, you guys were talking to like, nothing.” Luca gestured vaguely. “So either you’re both crazy, or Julian’s dead,” he guessed. “And you guys can see him?”

Maritza looked to Yadriel, but he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he looked to Julian. He wasn’t going to say anything without his permission.

Luca followed his gaze, searching the air and tilting his head, as if he just needed the right light to see Julian standing there.

Julian’s eyes were hidden under the hood of his jacket. Yadriel couldn’t read his expression, but he could see his jaw was clenched. After a moment, he gave a curt nod. “Okay,” he said. “Tell him.”

Yadriel swallowed, trying to find his voice through the tightness of his throat. “Yes,” he said.

He regretted it immediately.