Somewhere at an undisclosed location in the American Midwest

4 years later

It's been about 4 years since I was forced to leave Salem. Ever since I've been here at this facility, so secret not even the president knew about it, and he knows everything. It has been quite interesting, I must say. I suppose I can say I've made some new friends.

Every year I've been here I've asked Monger if I could leave and go to Salem, and every year it was the same answer, no. After the third year asking to go back to Salem, at least for October, I gave up. I knew Monger was never gonna come through and say yes. He doesn't even have the heart to say yes to a better vending machine. The thing ate my dollar, literally. I put it in, and it spit it back out in little shards of green paper! I couldn't even put it back together it was so small.

Ever since he brought me here, I pretty much just kept to myself, except when Monger wanted me to assist Dr. Cockroach with something big. Other than that, I never really left my room. He let me paint my room. It went from an ugly gray color to a much more sublte lavender purple. There's a bed, an actual bed, with sheets. Plain boring sheets, but sheets, and a blanket, and some pillows. It's not as comfortable as my bed back home, but I guess it has to do. I still got my tablet, though. He let me keep anything I had with me when I left. I have a TV in my room. It wasn't very big.

I was sitting on my bed in my room when I heard a knock on the door. I got up and looked out of the peek hole in the door. It was Monger. I wonder what he wants.

I partially opened the door. "Hello," I said peeking my head through the crack.

"Here is that plane ticket you wanted," Monger said as he handed me the piece of paper.

I open the door a little more and stood in the opening. "Oh, thank you," I replied, taking the ticket from his hand.

"Now, if there isn't anything else, I should be going," he said.

"Oh, no there isn't. Thank you." I smiled at him.

"Well, if there is, don't hesitate to ask. I want our newest monster to be comfortable," Monger said.

"Ok, bye."

"Have a nice day now," he said as he walked away.

I closed the door staring at the ticket. I can't believe he actually got it for me. I didn't even ask to go this year. Wow! I leaned against the door and slid down to the floor. Wow! Who was that, and what did he do to Monger? I guess he's not such a bad guy after all. I can't believe for the first time in years I'm actually gonna be going to Salem this year. I got up off the floor and sat back on my bed thinking about what to bring. I didn't actually think I'd be going. I can't wait to see everyone again. I hope Grandmother didn't lose her store.

He called me a monster. I'm no monster. Well... maybe in the late 1600s, yes... but now, no.

The Next Day: DUN, DUN, DUN!

I was standing in line to get my bags checked at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. I was wearing a long black dress, and my black velvet cloak that reached the ground. I wore my silver-plated pentacle on the purple ribbon that Grandmother gave me before I left. I carried my bag over my shoulder, under my cloak.

It was my turn at the desk. I gave the lady my ticket, and she scanned it into the computer. A strip of paper came out. I gave her my suitcase and she attached the strip to my bag and put it on the moving platform that sent it to who knows where. She gave me back the ticket, and I head to security.

You know, now they have all these safety precautions and checkpoints to pass before you can get on the plane. You know, to try and stop terrorists. It doesn't work. Some still manage to get by.

Anyway, I walked over to get in line to go through that metal detector. I couldn't help but notice what felt like somebody following me. I shook it off. It's the airport; everybody's going to the same place. They're supposed to be following you.

When it was my to go through, I had to put my bag, cloak, shoes, and jewelry in a plastic container on this belt that pushed it through a special machine. I walked under this square arch thingy, and TSA person said I was ok to go. I collected my things and proceeded to the gate where my plane would be.

I still have that strange feeling I'm being followed. By who, I don't know, but I can sense their presence, and it is quite familiar.

There were a lot of places to sit at the gate. I didn't know where to sit. I ended up sitting close to the boarding door. There were TVs everywhere. The one above the counter at the boarding door showed whether or not the plane was going to arrive on time and another important airport related information. The one hanging in the view of the seats, were showing the local weather conditions for the city, those surrounding the city, and at times, what happening across the nation.

It was almost time to board when airport personnel at the desk started making announcements about the flight. They mentioned stuff about in-flight wifi and what handicap people should do and those with strollers and even first class people.

You know what I think is unfair, letting those first class jerks on before the handicap. And you know what else I think? Just because you're obese does not mean you're disabled. The only condition you have is being a bottomless pit that has no concept of the English language, or how to be polite, or to know when to stop eating.

They started calling zones to board the plane. That was a bit confusing, but I just waited until the zone on my ticket was called.

An announcer came over the intercom. "Now boarding zone three," the voice said.

I look down at my ticket. Yup, that's me. I grabbed my bag that I had placed on the seat next to me. It seems as if everyone wanted to get on the plane at the same exact time. They all started to rush to the boarding door. One almost knocked me over, so I decided to start pushing through everyone. It was really hard trying to get through, especially through the fat ones.

So, anyway, after I got through the crowd of people, I found my seat on the plane. According to my ticket, I had the seat right next to the window. I placed my bag on the floor, and buckled my seatbelt. My seat was pretty comfortable, even though I could see much from my window on the account that it was just in front of the plane's wing.

I could see the people on the ground putting the suitcases and other things onto a belt that brought it up to the plane. I watched as they loaded the last of the suitcases.

I felt someone sit down in the seat next to mine. Could this be my possible stalker? I dare not turn around. I watch as the people on the ground put the belt away from the plane. They drive it like a car!

I could hear the mysterious stranger next to me buckle their seat belt. I just stared out the window. They placed their hand on my shoulder.

"My dear, is something wrong?" the voice asked in a kind, gentle manner.