Cemetery Boys

Yadriel is panicked as he holds Julian’s spirit, as blood stains Julian’s shirt. Julian’s spirit disappears. Maritza rushes inside when she hears Yadriel shouting. The bells toll midnight and Maritza tells Yadriel that Miguel’s spirit did not return with the others. In their panic, they feel another spike of pain through their bodies—another brujx is in extreme danger. Yadriel recognizes this pain as the same feeling that drew them to the church the first time—Julian’s pain. Yadriel does not understand how Julian could be dying all over again.

Using his portaje, Yadriel casts a spell that shows them the golden thread connecting Julian to the St. Jude necklace. Following the thread, they find a trapdoor that leads to a crypt beneath the old church. There, they find Julian’s spirit and his “flesh-and-bone body,” barely alive but still breathing (252). Julian’s body has been stabbed by a sacrificial dagger. Next to him, three more people have been stabbed in the same way. Miguel is one of the victims and he is, unlike Julian, already dead. Tío Catriz reveals himself as the murderer. He wants to summon Bahlam, gain the powers that he was born without, and reclaim his birthright as leader of the brujx.

Though Yadriel tries to talk his uncle out of it, Catriz cannot be swayed. Catriz wants to punish the brujx who cast him and Yadriel aside. When Yadriel tells him that Enrique apologized and accepted him as a brujo, Catriz is enraged. He is now the only outsider, which fuels his desire for revenge even more. Catriz continues with the ceremony and Julian writhes in pain. Yadriel watches as Bahlam, in the shape of a humungous jaguar, begins to rise from the cenote, or water-filled sinkhole. 

Yadriel tries to tackle Catriz, but the older man gets grabs him instead. Maritza yanks Catriz’s hair, tearing off his headdress. Catriz strangles her, leaving her gasping on the ground, and knees Yadriel, almost knocking him out. Ignoring the injured teenagers, Catriz continues his incantations. While Catriz is distracted, Yadriel darts forward and tears the jaguar head amulet off his uncle. Without the amulet, Catriz has no power, and he stumbles back into the sinkhole full of bloody water. The jaguar bites Catriz’s shoulder and drags him beneath the water to Xibalba.

Yadriel and Maritza rush to Julian’s side. Julian tries to tell Yadriel that everything is ok, speaking to him in whispered Spanish. Yadriel is crying, desperate to save him, but Julian is dying and there is nothing they can do. When Maritza finds her portaje rosary, Julian is already dead. Yadriel is inconsolable, determined to resurrect Julian. Going against all the brujx teachings of using only animal blood, Yadriel cuts open his palm and summons Lady Death. The goddess appears in a cloud of marigolds. She tells him that while she cannot bring the victims back, he can. Using the amulet, Yadriel sacrifices himself to bring all four victims back to life. Yadriel clings to thoughts of Julian as he passes out, on the very brink of death. 

Julian is awake and alive. He looks around the room and sees Maritza yelling at Lady Death—whom Julian does not see—demanding she save Yadriel. Julian panics when he sees Yadriel’s body and desperately tries to wake him up. Maritza uses blood from the ground to try and heal Yadriel. There is a flash of golden light, and they see color begin to return to Yadriel’s face. Victorious, Maritza bitterly says to Lady Death, “And I did it without animal blood, bitch” before passing out (271). Miguel wakes up and goes to check on Maritza and Yadriel. Julian is extremely protective of them and throws himself over Yadriel to keep Miguel away. Miguel goes to get help and returns with Enrique and the other brujx. Even though Julian knows they’re here to help, he crouches over Yadriel’s body. He is scared and angry for Yadriel, wanting to keep him away from the family that did not accept him. Maritza’s sister confirms that Maritza is fine, just exhausted from the spell.

Enrique asks Julian if Yadriel is his friend. Julian snaps back that Yadriel is “¡Mi querido!,” his beloved (273). Enrique and Lita gently hold Julian back so that Miguel can carry Yadriel upstairs. Julian shouts at him to be careful not to hurt Yadriel. Enrique tries to calm Julian, but it doesn’t work. As ambulances arrive, Julian begs to go with Yadriel, but is not allowed to go in the same ambulance as Yadriel. In a separate ambulance, Julian is connected to an IV as a paramedic cares for his wounds. When Julian wakes up, Rio and his old friends are by his bedside. The official story is that Julian was kidnapped by Catriz and held with the other victims for days before Yadriel and Maritza found him. Julian immediately tries to get up to go see Yadriel. His friends reassure him, but Julian keeps trying to get out of his hospital bed. Eventually, Luca throws himself across Julian to keep him down. 

When Yadriel wakes up, he finds his family around him. He immediately tries to apologize for everything, crying into his father’s shoulder. Enrique comforts him, reassuring him that Maritza has already told them everything and that Yadriel has saved everyone. Enrique calls him his “brave, brave son” and hugs him (280). Yadriel apologizes for not being able to save Catriz, but Enrique tells Yadriel that his uncle’s death was not his fault.

Yadriel initially assumes that Julian is dead, but Maritza tells him that he brought everyone back from the dead. Yadriel is astounded. No brujx has been able to resurrect anyone in thousands of years, but Yadriel managed to bring four people back to life at once. Before anyone can stop him, Yadriel gets out of his hospital bed and goes in search of Julian. When he finds his room, they hug and kiss. Yadriel is initially nervous about the hug but realizes that he doesn’t care that he’s not wearing a binder in front of Julian. Yadriel threatens to kill Julian if he ever scares him like that again. Julian agrees and they kiss again.

Days later, Yadriel and Julian run through the cemetery hand in hand. Julian is coming to support Yadriel at the aquelarre ceremony. Though Rio does not initially want to let Julian go, Enrique promises to drive Julian home after. Yadriel and Julian share a kiss before they head inside the church. Inside, brujx—both living and dead­—marvel at Yadriel. They have heard of his heroic actions and smile at him approvingly.

At the front of the church, they find Yadriel’s family, including his mother. His mother is happy to see him. She promises to talk with him and Julian after the ceremony. Maritza and Yadriel stand at the front of the church with other brujx who are coming of age. Enrique delivers a speech, celebrating change, difference, and inclusion. He apologizes to Yadriel for failing him as a father and a leader and welcomes him as a brujo. Enrique says, “Growth isn’t a deviation from what we’ve done before, but a natural progression to honor all those who make this community strong” (290). He welcomes all the brujx and Lita leads them in a prayer to Lady Death. Yadriel is overwhelmed with joy and happiness. He knows that the speech hasn’t fixed everything, but it is a huge step forward in the right direction. Yadriel is excited for this “better beginning” (292).