Marco held back his tears. He didn't want Star to see him crying. She might start shedding tears herself. They just sat there in silence.
"Marco?" Star said. The boy stayed silent until Star repeated herself. "Hm?"
"A-are... are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah... no. No, not at all." The tears were coming full force and he couldn't stop them this time. He began to sob into Star's shoulder. The girl wrapped her arms around him and pat his back.
The duo was currently in a funeral home. Everyone was mingling and consoling each other over recent death in the family. Star and Marco were sitting at the back of the room. The latter regained his composure and wiped away his tears. "S-sorry about that, Star. I..."
"No, it's fine. I understand."
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz approached the kids. Both looked to have been crying. "How are you holding up, mijos?" The former spoke. Marco shrugged. Mrs. Diaz sat down and cradled Marco's head. "Oh, Mijo... it's going to be alright. Your Abuelita is in a better place now. She's dancing with the angels."
Marco sighed. "I know... I just... I just wish she was still here... I wish I could see her again..." He said. Star put a hand on his shoulder, but her mind suddenly reeled out an idea. It was a forbidden idea, one that hasn't been tried for centuries.
Mr. Diaz helped his wife and Marco to their feet. "It's time for your cousin's speech, Mijo." Marco nodded and walked with his parents and everyone else out of the funeral home. He looked back to see Star still sitting. "Hey, you coming?" He asked. Star shook her head. "I'm going to stay for a moment. I'll be there in a sec." Marco shrugged and followed the group.
At last, Star was alone in the room... with the closed casket. She pulled out her wand and looked at it. She always used her wand to help people and kick monster butt.
This situation definitely called for some magic.
Besides, as far as she knew, her wand could do anything, so why not this? Of course, this was a method that hadn't been done for centuries, but it had to be done.
For her friend.
Star approached the coffin and began twirling her wand. "Super Magic Life Giver!" Her wand glowed and shot a rainbow beam at the coffin, engulfing it. The box shook violently for a few seconds until it ceased.
Star looked at the casket hopefully, but after a few seconds she looked downcast. "Aw... I guess it didn't work..."
It was only a little bit later when the casket was placed in the ground. Almost everyone cried as their departed relative was put into the ground as a priest said a prayer. Afterward, everyone went home to mourn in the presence of their own households.
That night... the cemetery had an eerie air about it. The fog came in low and the crows cawed in the distance. It was eerily quiet... well, almost. One of the graves was making noise. More specifically, a banging noise and the sound of splintering wood underground. The ground began to stir and shake before a hand burst out of the ground.
Then another.
Then a head.
Abuelita burst forth from the ground, moaning. Her eyes were glowing pink. She looked around at the headstones around her and let loose a moan, releasing a pink gas that spread through the entire cemetery.
Most residents in Echo Creek felt the tremors of the multitude of restless dead.