Neal Shusterman - Everfound

If youve just woken up to find yourself in Everlost, you might be scared and confused. Dont worry, everythings going to be okay. Sort of. They call me Allie the Outcast, and Ive put together a list of frequently asked questions for new arrivals. Its a pretty good idea to read them, even if youve been in Everlost for a while, because in Everlost its so easy to forget

What is Everlost?

Everlost is a world in between life and death. If youre stuck here, then it means you didnt quite make it to the light. Of course, we can still see the living world, all around us, but we cant be a part of it.

Why cant I touch anything or talk to people? Why is the world around me so blurry and faded?

Youre dead. Get over it. Youre a spirit, or Afterlight. Were called Afterlights because we give off a faint glow-which makes it easy to see things in the dark. Were like our own flashlights. We call newly awoken Afterlights Greensouls.

It was winter when I crossed into Everlost, but now its fall. Why is that?

All Afterlights sleep for nine months when they cross over. Thats how long it takes to be born into Everlost. We call spirits that havent yet woken up Interlights.

Why do I sink into the ground if I stand still?

Youre a spirit, and spirits can walk through walls-and the floor is basically just a wall beneath your feel. We sink faster through wood floors than through concrete, dirt, or stone. Its best to stay out of living-world buildings, or you might find yourself sinking to the center of the Earth.

If Im a ghost, how come some places are solid for me?

Those are called deadspots. Places that no longer exist, but were loved, or important in some fundamental way, cross over into Everlost. Spots where people died cross into Everlost as well, and so do beloved objects.

Whats this weird coin in my pocket?

Dont lose your coin, and dont let anyone take it away from you! That coin will get you where youre going, when youre truly ready to go.

Uh where was I going?

I wish I knew, but no one in Everlost can see into the light at the end of the tunnel, so no one knows whats there. Maybe its whatever you believe is there or maybe not.

How long will I be in Everlost?

That depends. If youre ready to go, and you still have your coin, it might not be long. But if you lose your coin, or you choose to stay, you could be here for quite a while.

This weird thing keeps happening. I keep getting stuck inside living people. I can hear their thoughts, and its like I can take over their bodies. Whats up with that?

If you can do those things, then youre a skinjacker. Congratulations! You have one of the most awesome powers in the world, because you can possess anyone you want. But be careful to use your power wisely. Im a skinjacker, so I know how tempting it is to abuse that power. Its important to remember not to stay too long in any one body, or you can get stuck there!

Why can I skinjack?

Because youre not 100 percent dead. Your body is in a coma somewhere.

I cant skinjack, but I do find myself changing in weird ways. Why?

We are what we remember. If we remember we had big ears, our ears slowly get bigger. If we remember we have freckles, suddenly were all freckles everywhere. I had a friend who died with a smudge of chocolate on his face. You dont want to know what happened to him.. ..

Why do I find myself doing the same things over and over again every day?

You know how ghost sightings always seem to have the ghosts doing the same things every day? Well, were the ghosts now. Try to break the pattern if you can, otherwise you can find years have passed without you even noticing. Its easier to break the pattern if youre around skinjackers.

I cant remember my name, and its freaking me out!

Unless youre a skinjacker, youll tend to forget things. Maybe even everything about your life. Thats why most Afterlights have nicknames-its because they cant remember their real names. Skinjackers might take nicknames too, but for entirely different reasons.

Ive been hearing a lot about Mary Hightower, and how she can help me. Should I look for her?

Absolutely not! No matter what anyone says, Mary Hightower is NOT your friend-and if you find one of her books, remember you can only believe half of what you read the hard part is figuring out which half.

I just fell off a cliff, and I didnt even get hurt. How is that possible?

As far as I know, we cant feel physical pain in Everlost. Wounds heal instantly, broken bones unbreak-because theyre not really bones at all, just the memory of bones.

I really hate this stupid shirt Im wearing, but it wont come off. Whats the deal?

Whatever you died in, youre stuck wearing it. Its a part of you now, just as permanent as your skin. You can cover it with something else, if you manage to find some clothes that have crossed, but you cant take off what you died in. Just be happy you didnt die wearing that tree costume from your third-grade play, or a Mexican wrestling mask.

Arent there any adults in Everlost?

No. There are lots of theories as to why. Some people say that they cross with so much baggage, they all sink to the center of the earth, but I dont believe that. I think the older you get, the harder it is to break out of the tunnel. For grown-ups, that tunnel to the light is so thick, theres no way theyre falling out of it. They get where theyre going whether they want to or not.

Did I just see a giant silver blimp in the sky?

It wasnt a blimp, it was a zeppelin-a rigid airship. More specifically it was the Hindenburg, which blew up in 1937. Its been here in Everlost ever since.

Whats a vapor?

Its what you call a group of Afterlights. You know; a pod of whales, a pride of lions, a vapor of Afterlights. Mary made that up. She makes up lots of things.

Actually, Im pretty cool with all of this. In fact, I feel more content than I ever have before.

Then youre ready to move on. I wish you a safe journey into the light!

I have so many more questions, cant you tell me more?

Im sorry, but there are some things youre going to have to learn for yourself. Good luck!

Allie the Outcast

The boy jacked a jaguar, slipping into its sleek body and sending its simple feline mind to sleep. He owned the beast now. Its flesh was his. Muscular magic in a compact four-legged frame, perfectly designed for running, stalking, and killing.

He had taken on the name Jix-one of the many Mayan words for jaguar-due to his inclination toward great cats, and he furjacked one every chance he got. He preferred wild jaguars, living in the jungles of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula-creatures that hadnt lost their will to hunt.

Reconnaissance was Jixs specialty: tracking and spying on Afterlights who His Excellency the King believed to be a threat. Afterlights such as the Eastern Witch-the one they called Mary Hightower.

His Excellency had created a barrier of wind upon the Mississippi River to keep her and other intruders out, but the Eastern Witch was shrewd and relentless. With the help of her own skinjackers, she had destroyed a living-world bridge, causing it to cross into Everlost. Then with a train full of followers and slaves, she rode a powerful locomotive across the river.

At least that was the story.

Others said that she never made the journey herself-that something strange and mysterious happened to her, but no one could agree as to what it was. She flew off into the sky. She melted. She turned to stone. She turned to flesh. Each rumor was more outlandish than the last, and no one knew for sure if any of them were true.

Jix was called in for closer surveillance. Discover their numbers, discover their intent, then report back to the king. If these trespassing Afterlights were truly a threat, they would be dealt with quickly, and would never see the light of day again. It all depended on Jixs report.