"Please...please don't put me back. I'll do anything. I promise. I can make your wildest dreams come true. I can make you rich and powerful."

I knelt in the attic on the bright morning of November 1, a warm shaft of sunlight falling across my lap. In Mexico, it was the Day of the Dead, a holiday where people celebrate those who are now gone. If I had any grace and timing at all, I would have waited until today to wake the dead – more fitting that way. I held the book in my hands and scrunched my lips thoughtfully back and forth. Next to me, Jess flicked her eyes uneasily between us.

"Don't listen to it," she said anxiously.

"Do listen to me," the book begged. "I'll do anything; just don't lock me up again. Please."

Untold riches, huh? Fame to my heart's desire? Anything I want?

I looked at Jess, then at the book. "Sorry, I already have everything I want."

Leaning over, I set it in a metal lockbox.

"Wait! No, wait!"

I closed the lid, locked it, and put the key in my pocket. I picked the box up, got to my feet, and carried it to the farthest, darkest corner, where I set it down. I put a tattered cardboard box on top of it, and pushed a trunk against it, completely boxing it in. The book's sobbing was muffled, but still audible.

Dusting my hands, I turned to Jess. "You thought I was actually going to listen to it, huh? Glad to see you think so highly of me."

"Alex...you literally caused an invasion of zombies last night."

I sighed and shook my head. "Jess, Jess, Jess...stuck in the past."

She rolled her eyes.

Reaching up, I pulled the light cord and plunged the attic into darkness. We climbed down and I closed the door. It thumped into place with grim finality, and I nudged Jess in the ribs. "Wanna watch a horror movie?"

"No."

I stuck out my bottom lip. "Pwese? I just wanna hang out with my sister."

She considered for a moment, a battle raging in her eyes, then let out a deep, burdened sigh. "Fine," she said, "but not about zombies."

"Deal."

With that, we went off to watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

And everything was right in the world.