Letum Nex Unclean

It's not easy growing up as an only child in the only funeral home in town, especially when your parents suck every dime out of every living and dead soul that comes through the door.

Kids at school think I'm creepy, unclean - okay, that's kind of my fault, but hey, it was an accident. Lesson learned: never give a girl a tour of the crematory and prep-room when Mom and Dad are gone, no matter what she promises.

My name doesn't help: LETUM NEX? Nex means death and Letum is the name of the female grim reaper. Guess my parents were hoping for a serial killer... or maybe just really, really wanted me to stick with the family business - still not sure which. But I go by Lettie - means hope. I've got a strange gift that gives me the hope that I might just make it through all this, but I gotta keep it a secret... because... well... for someone my age... it's kind of illegal.