Cemetery Boys: Chapters 15–20

by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel is determined to prove to his family that he's a brujo. When he accidentally summons the ghost of classmate Julian Diaz, the two boys investigate a series of strange disappearances.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapters 15–20, Chapter 21–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. vie
    compete for something
    Sirens wailed in the distance. A loud drill sounded from the construction on the main road. He could hear Maritza and her family’s raised voices—not yelling, just vying to be heard.
  2. clad
    wearing or provided with clothing
    He was wide and tall, clad in a pair of long khaki shorts, white tube socks, and a black T-shirt.
  3. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    His smile faltered as soon as he caught sight of Donatello and Michelangelo.
  4. mirth
    great merriment
    Julian snorted from the other room, but it lacked his usual mirth.
  5. smoldering
    showing scarcely suppressed anger
    Julian stood off to his brother’s side, a gray-and-black plaid shirt balled up in his hands. He watched his brother with dark, smoldering eyes.
  6. filigree
    delicate and intricate ornamentation
    Rusty grates of filigree and crosses sealed off the doors and windows.
  7. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    Maritza hung back. Donatello whined and Michelangelo shook himself out nervously. She cut Yadriel a wary look.
  8. unperturbed
    free from emotional agitation or nervous tension
    Donatello and Michelangelo were two unmovable boulders at her sides, lying on the cement and looking thoroughly unperturbed.
  9. telltale
    disclosing unintentionally
  10. glaring
    extremely obvious or conspicuous
    There weren’t any telltale signs of a struggle. Though, to be honest, Yadriel didn’t know what to look out for. Either way, there was nothing glaringly obvious, like blood or a murder weapon, let alone a dead body.
  11. chafe
    tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading
    Yadriel’s hoodie was sopping wet, and his jeans were starting to chafe.
  12. putrid
    in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor
    Then the smell hit Yadriel’s nose. It was an earthy, putrid stench.
  13. scrabble
    grope, scratch, or feel searchingly
    Julian thrashed, hands scrabbling at Tito’s arm, feet kicking wildly as he choked.
  14. careen
    move sideways or in an unsteady way
    He tossed Julian to the side with surprising strength. Julian careened through headstones and out of sight.
  15. lumber
    move heavily or clumsily
    In his peripheral, there was a flash of light, but all Yadriel could see was Tito’s lumbering form on top of him.
  16. spry
    moving quickly and lightly
    “He wasn’t tired or in pain, he was downright spry.”
  17. visceral
    relating to or affecting the internal organs
    He was so...visceral. He was so real. Even with his blurry edges and chilling touch, he was a force of nature.
  18. trinket
    a small cheap ornament, knickknack, or piece of jewelry
    The food and trinkets, the color of the marigolds and their really strong scent of apples lead the spirits back to the cemetery.
  19. straitlaced
    exaggeratedly proper or morally strict
    “You seem too straitlaced for that kind of thing.”
    “I’m not straitlaced!” Yadriel scowled.
  20. contraband
    distributed or sold illicitly
    When they got a safe distance, he stopped to shove the contraband into his already stuffed backpack.
  21. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    The idea of hanging out with a bunch of them at a party where most of them would be drunk and belligerent sounded torturous at best and dangerous at worst.
  22. appropriation
    a deliberate act of acquisition, often without permission
    He flicked the corner of a sugar skull face-painting kit. “This?”
    Yadriel scoffed. “No. I’m not supporting the mass appropriation of calaveras in Western culture—”
  23. rebut
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    “I can’t believe you’re making me do this!”
    “I’m not making you do anything!” he rebutted.
  24. obliterate
    do away with completely, without leaving a trace
    “Got tired of losing them all the time and Rio chewing me out. Putting them there obliterated the problem.”
  25. pristine
    completely free from dirt or contamination
    The car was nearly pristine. Everything smelled like warm leather. Clearly, Julian’s father had taken good care of it.
  26. objectively
    in a manner not influenced by emotion
    Objectively, Julian was a terrible singer, but, damn, was he committed. Shoulders rolling, Julian danced in his seat and sang like his life depended on it.
  27. inebriate
    make drunk (with alcoholic drinks)
    People moved through him, but no one seemed to notice. Either it was too cold for them to tell, or inebriation had dulled their senses.
  28. goad
    urge with or as if with a prod
    “I don’t drink,” Yadriel all but growled. He half expected Julian to guffaw or try to goad him into it.
  29. foolhardy
    marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
    Yadriel was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. To his foolhardy charm and striking features.
  30. sweltering
    excessively hot and humid; marked by sweating and faintness
    Biting ocean breeze on sweltering skin.
  31. heady
    extremely exciting as if by alcohol or a narcotic
    Yadriel let his eyes fall shut, in a heady daze.
  32. craggy
    having a steep, rough, and rocky surface
    Yadriel pulled up to the short guardrail, beyond which the craggy cliff face cascaded down.
  33. sparse
    not dense or plentiful
    “Best view of the stars,” he said, squinting one eye shut as he held his palm up, lining up the sparse stars between his fingers. The orange haze of the city lights chased them off to the horizon, where the sky turned inky-black.
  34. sustainable
    capable of being prolonged
    But he knew this wasn’t sustainable. No one was meant to last as a spirit floating between two worlds, but especially not Julian. He was a boy made of fire who’d been turned to frost. He was meant to burn.
  35. undertow
    a current that flows away from the shore after waves break
    These were treacherous waters and wading into them would only end badly. But a much more powerful force dragged him down like an undertow.
Created on Tue Oct 06 10:15:31 EDT 2020 (updated Thu Oct 08 14:01:03 EDT 2020)

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