Everything was going to depend entirely on timing and placement.

And surprise.

I hadn’t mentioned anything to Mischa about Jennie’s theory. Perhaps the spirits inhabiting her soul knew what was coming. But they would have to exert enough power to control her thoughts and body if they wanted her to thwart our plan. That was a gamble I had no choice but to take.

The parking lot at Gundarsson’s was packed that afternoon even though we were arriving relatively early. As Mom parked, I grimly thought to myself that the owners of our town’s small funeral home had to be raking it in that year, with so many unexpected deaths.

In the crowded lobby, black fabric had been hung over the two hanging decorative wall mirrors. Candles arranged on a credenza burned brightly. According to Jewish tradition, they were supposed to burn for the entire shiva, or mourning period. They reminded me of the seven-day candle that Kirsten had given Mischa over the winter for protection; Mischa had kept the flame burning continuously that entire week out of fear for her life. There weren’t many Jewish families in Willow, but Gundarsson’s had done their best to honor Jewish tradition. Some guests in attendance helped themselves to black ribbons set out in a basket, which they fastened to their dresses and coat jackets with safety pins as a means of performing the custom of keriah, or tearing one’s clothes during shiva, without actually destroying their outfits.

I scanned the guest book log to see who’d already arrived. Michael Walton, Mr. Dean… so many people from school I hadn’t thought much about since moving to Florida. A stack of cards stood in a crystal dish, and they were printed with Mr. and Mrs. Portnoys’ wedding photo on one side, and a prayer I didn’t recognize, El Maleh Rachamim, on the back.

Mom slipped into the crowd to say hello to a few people, and upon feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turned to find Henry standing behind me, holding a stainless steel water bottle. Standing so closely to him again after having had sex with Trey the day before brought heat to my cheeks, and I prayed I wasn’t blushing. It was stupid to be so self-conscious—it wasn’t like virginity was visible, like a suntan. But I still hoped he didn’t notice anything different about me.

“Hey,” I said as I took a small step away, intent on maintaining the gap of two feet between us. My commitment to Trey had strengthened since the last time I saw Henry in person. If we could successfully pull the evil spirits out of Mischa and trap them that day, then my next priority would be to figure out how keep Trey safe—even if that meant leaving my entire life behind to be with him. I was sure that if I vanished, Henry would be deeply hurt—especially after the kiss we’d shared in his truck. But I would have to worry about that later, once I knew for sure that I had a future to plan.