Kind of like how this story began, Osborne sat alone. This time outside of his and Shauna's room on the second (and top) floor of the motel they took refuge at with the Rays. Said motel had those convenient dingy chairs outside each room.

Ozzy was letting nature dry his wet clothes. The mid 70 degrees Californian night served as the spin cycle he needed. Shauna was in their room showering, he would head back in when she was done. Plus, he found an unfinished and untouched joint in his shirt pocket, unharmed from the fountain. They must've missed it during their smoke session. Ozzy played with it in his fingers until he decided that mama Wilkes didn't raise no quitter and sparked it up. His high soon jumped started once more.

Next to the Acolyte was the room where the Rays had set up shop. They had been quiet since they arrived back. Knowing them though, Tiffany would probably have taken up home making (seeing how her matriarchy is the family's only sanity anchor), Glen was probably passed out and asleep by now and Chucky and Glenda were most likely commencing the dismemberment of the body they had in their bathroom. The unseen probably knew what Lottie was up to, hard to get a read on what that girl is thinking with her face of stone.

At that moment, the Ray's door opened, oh speak of the devil.

"Yo, Lottie," Osborne greeted with a nostril exhale.

"Osborne," she acknowledged him. Chucky's youngest daughter had taken off the one set of clothes she had on in the fountain and wore one of the complimentary bathrobes courtesy of the motel. Of course, the one size fits all only applies to humans. The white sleeves engulfed her arms completely, even hiding her hands. The robe draped to the floor and slithered behind her as she walked about. You know, she kind of looked like the little King of Hearts from Wonderland in his oversized garb. Ozzy silenced a snicker but Lottie continued to look unamused.

"I was about to shower…" she explained, " but Dad and Glenda are about to play chop shop in ours."

"...You can wait out here if you want," Ozzy told her. Lottie accepted and sat down beside him, heaving herself up on the chair outside of her family's room.

Just then, Glenda suddenly emerged from the Ray's room. Her dress was still soaked in fountain water, but some places (her sleeves mostly) were damp with blood.

She didn't look at her sister or Ozzy. She just shuffled over to the fire axe on the wall and yanked it off.

"We need this for reasons," she quickly said, then hastily returned to her room. Lottie and Ozzy could still hear her when she was inside.

"Hey dad, I got the axe! You ready to go Paul Bunyan on this shit!?" Within minutes they soon heard Chucky and Glenda loudly singing 'I'm a Lumberjack' from Monty Python. Judging by the gorey sounds of flesh being ripped and bones being crushed, they had got to work. Lottie let out a single 'ha'.

"That's my dad and Glenda for you," she commented, "Any reason why you're out her alone, Osbourne?" Ozzy laid back in his chair, looking up at the sky.

"It's a beautiful night…." he mused then domed the last of the joint and flicked the roach over the railing and to the parking lot below. Lottie watched this with interest.

"Why do you smoke?" she asked him. It wasn't accusatory, rather out of curiosity. Now, there were many ways for Ozzy to approach this subject. He could blabber on about 'how weed actually isn't that bad for you', but rather he decided to tell it straight.

"That's a...broad question, Lottie. Why do I blaze? I think that overtime I forgot. I remember starting when I was fourteen….I mean, it's like a hobby, I think. Helps me relax." Lottie hummed knowingly.

"You know, my dad says the samething about killing." Ozzy suddenly looked hurt.

"If you're saying what I think you're saying…"

"Haha, no, no, I'm not saying you're like my dad….goodness no. I just think that it's strange that people always say something that they shouldn't really be doing helps them relax, as if it's a satisfying justification."

"Truth be told, there's a fine line between first degree murder and possession and consumption of a schedule I drug," Ozzy laughed, "But doesn't everybody have that? Like something they shouldn't be doing but do it anyways because it helps them feel better? But even then it just goes so far beyond that...you know what I'm trying to say, right? Something that relaxes you so much that you so much that you just become neutral about everything. Just accepting everything as it is. Forgive if I'm not making any sense, pardon me, I am a bit buzzed here and now so I'm just spitballing." Lottie was silent in a brief moment of thought.

"I know what you're saying, or at least trying to; finding your balance. I mean, sometimes I meditate with Glen. .. 'Lottie, if there's one thing I can tell you, it's to meditate as much as you can. That way, you won't have to face the terrifying horror show that our lives have become' he tells me. I also do ballet, and a lot of it."

"No way," Ozzy gasped, "You dance?" Lottie gave a guilty smile.

"No dancing, just mind gymnastics through movement. This doll body can't keep me from it. Maybe there's still art in it; taking something ugly and wretched as this body and making something beautiful out of it."

"Ugly and...wretched? Is that really how you see yourself?"

Lottie lowered her head. Her hand inched out from the robe sleeve shyly and touched her face. She pinched her cheek a bit and pulled at her plastic flesh. She sighed.

"The THC you insist on taking can't inhibit your vision that bad. Osborne, look at me; I only resemble a human girl from a distance. True, this body may or may not be everlasting life, but most may consider it a monstrosity….you may not believe me, but there was a time when my family and I were beautiful."

"What's it like? Having your soul ripped out and put into a toy?" Ozzy asked after a moment of thought. He wasn't about to play child therapist, but he could at least become aware.

"I think 'ripped out' is the wrong way to describe it. Believe it or not, the whole voodoo process is actually quite comfortable, especially when you're in a dying body," Lottie was already having flashbacks.

"I remember. My dad came running in the Tilly mansion, sweating and shouting at us. He told us that 'they found us and they were coming and if we didn't leave right at that moment, then we would all be dead within the next hours. We had to make it look like accidents...I threw myself down the stairs….thinking back maybe I should've picked a less painful method. Being near death is a high itself. You just lay there motionless. Your eyes are closed but yet you can still see just a hint of light….then you begin to feel cold. Really, really cold like every nerve under your skin suffers frostbite at the same time. I don't recall a lot during this period, but I could faintly hear my dad above me, reciting the voodoo chant. Right as he gets to the fifth or so verse, it starts getting a little warm and breezy and it feels great. Then the light faded and everything went dark. Then I woke up...in this doll body. I was lying on the floor right next to my human one, I died with my eyes open." Lottie folded her hands in her lap, each one squeezing the other tightly. Ozzy sighed.

"So, that it now, isn't it? You're stuck in that body?"

"Until the day I die," clarified Lottie, "But, if we had the Heart of Damballa and a host then I would be free, but if I were to do that...I would feel dirty. Living life in a body that isn't truly mine. I got this doll for my sixth birthday. I would sleep with it every night….it was like my baby….now it is me and I am it. It's better to live as a monster with a purpose then a monster trying in vain to find one. And I can accept that."

"You're not a monster, you know," Ozzy said, "You saved me, remember? Two people are alive because you came through. Also, I never thanked you for it...so, thank you, Lottie for saving me and my girlfriend." Lottie gave him a quizzical look.

"Think nothing of it...but how do I know you're just saying this to get on my good side? To put a good word in for you to my dad so we can just let you go when all this is over?"

"Oh, I'm not thanking you out of kindness or to be a kiss-ass," smiled Ozzy, "I'm thanking you because….well, you're my friend, Lottie...and I'm glad you're here." Lottie felt an inhale of air go down the wrong pipe, she coughed roughly before finally making eye contact with Ozzy.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die….well, actually I don't hope to die, but yes. As weird as it is, you out of all your family make me feel the safest. There's something so human about you. Like you haven't fully crossed over to the dark side. You and your folks, you're not as evil as you think. You may plan to destroy the world, but it doesn't take a detective to see the doubt in all of you, even your dad." Lottie paused thoughtfully.

"Osborne….I can't guarantee your safety at the end of the line and if my dad turns on you, I will stand by him. But for now...I'm rooting for you, all the way. You're...my friend too, Osborne, and I'm glad you're here too." Ozzy outstretched his arms.

"Bring it in, Lottie."

Chucky's daughter smiled and to humor him accepted the embrace. She had to stand up in her chair to do so. She couldn't reach his head, so she just placed her head just below his shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Lottie and I'm here to give you lots of love." Lottie's fake doll voice suddenly played. The hug instantly broke apart.

"Oh my," Lottie blushed, "Sorry, sorry….sometimes it just happens...when I get squeezed a bit too much."

Ozzy tried to mute his laughter, but once again the THC that had him pebbled worked against him. Lottie couldn't help but giggle along with him.

"Oh my god!" Ozzy exhaled.

"Yeah, just don't tell Glenda. I don't want to get groped every now and then. Speaking of my sister," Lottie slid out of her chair, "I think the shower may be open. You should get some sleep too, Osborne."

"I know I will," he stretched, "Night, Lottie. Remember you're my friend, don't forget it."

"That means a lot to me, Osborne," Lottie smiled, turning the door handle of her room "Thank you."

"No really, I mean if this was Undertale I would be Frisk and you would be Sans, because that's how much you mean to me."

"Hahaha, yeah….G'night, Osborne." And Lottie closed the door behind her.

Ozzy also returned to his own room.

Shauna was hugged up against a pillow. The motel's poor excuse of an AC was barely functioning, so it wasn't idol to be just in a sports bra and compression shorts designed for men, that's usually what Shauna wore to bed, while at the same time smelling of Irish Spring. This however was not the case since she had to use the cheap shampoo and what not the motel had provided. She had just flipped the pillow over to the warm side when she felt someone lift the covers and get in bed beside her. A pair of tattooed arms wrapped around her.

"Hi…" Ozzy hummed as he pulled her to him, lowering his head onto her head, her buzzed hair brushed up on his chin. Despite being an up and coming sports star, Shauna was through growing. At least in height, stopping only at 5' 4''. No matter what, Shauna, you'll always be my womanlet...Ozzy, who stands at at a solid 6' would tell her in the lovey dovey moments...and this would be one of them.

"Hi," Shauna turned and planted a kiss on his lips, "You seem a little more dopey than usual."

"What else is new?" her boyfriend yawned, "Fuck, it's cool in here." He shivered. Shauna continued to caress his arms.

"You gotta keep your chest warm, your arms will handle themselves," she said. Ozzy smirked lovingly and mischievously.

"Oh, really...well, how's about I take care of your chest for you?" Shauna felt his hands move up her abdomen and to her breasts. His arms hugged them together. Shauna gasped a little, but settled down.

"Why you need to make everything so pervy?" she chuckled.

"But you feel warmer….don't you?" Ozzy shook his head purposely for as he let his dreadlocks fall onto both of them. Shauna blew a little to move away the locks that had fallen in front of her face. The couple remained like that, locked in a spoon position for warmth.

"Do you trust them, Shauna?" Ozzy asked suddenly. Shauna stirred.

"Hmm?"

"Lottie and her family….the Rays. Do you trust them?" Shauna pondered this.

"As far as I could throw them."

"I bet you could throw them pretty fucking far. I've seen you shot put before…"

"You know what I mean," Shauna deadpanned, "But...you're probably right. I think I might. Why do you ask?"

"You can call me crazy, but then again I think you already have. But I think we're lucky that they found us before the Cult did….I think I might be seeing the light with them…" Ozzy said nervously. He couldn't see this, but Shauna's eyes widened.

"Oh dear god, you actually developed a bond with them, didn't you?" she gasped, "Is that all it takes, Ozzy? Just one smoke sesh and you and one of the most infamous killers of our time are suddenly bros?" Ozzy shook his head defensively.

"No, I mean, but we both want the same thing. Chucky just wants to keep his family safe and I want to keep you safe. It's symbiotic."

"Last time I checked, we were his prisoners. That man...thing isn't our friend, he's our warden."

"That's actually kinda poetic, the whole 'warden' thing. Nice one, Shauna."

"Why thank you, I try," Shauna smiled, "But seriously, he's just waiting for the right time to waste us."

"C'mon, you had fun in the fountain tonight...I saw you."

"No…" Shauna said firmly, "Not really….maybe...uh, I have the right to remain silent." Ozzy snickered as he kissed her again.

"That's not the point thought, Ozzy. Playing in a fountain didn't make us closer to him or anything. If there's one thing I learned in the rink, it's that easiness doesn't last."

"True," said Ozzy, "But maybe it brought us much closer than we realize...they need us and we need them. You can't forget that." Shauna answered with a tired 'mm-mm'.

"Yeah...could be. I'll sleep on it...I love you, Shauna."

"Love you too, Ozzy."

The couple found sleep oddly easy that night.

"There, done!" Chucky finished tieing the last black garbage bag, the one containing one of the quarters of the manager's dismembered torso. Whilst Glenda scrubbed the last of the blood off the bath/shower floor. Now Lottie would be able to shower.

"Lottie, shower's open," Glenda notified her younger sister.

"At last," Lottie claimed the bathroom, hoping the shower would at least have hot water. She shut the bathroom door and the shower promptly started.

"Well only one thing left to do." Glenda raided the closet and pulled out one of the two blankets reserved for guests. The other one was in use by Glen, who was asleep in the single chair. Beneath his pillow was his blade. A ronin needs to be ready for anything.

Glenda unrolled the blanket and laid it out on the floor. She then laid herself down on one side of it. Her mother, sitting up in bed reading a magazine from the lobby took notice.

"Glenda, sweetie, what are you doing?"

"I like sleeping in blanket burritos." Glenda explained, then rolled herself across the blanket until it was completely coiled around her. Her legs were too short to protrude of the other side, so only her head popped out.

"Success!" She cheered and tried to squirm forward, but to no avail. She heaved a couple times and tried to move like a worm, but this too will be in vain. Chucky stood a little amused over her.

"Daddy…." she said innocently, "Can you put me on the ottoman? Please and thanks?"

"Sure." Chucky sighed. He slipped his hands under his daughter and lifted her up. I'm just going to say it on Ozzy's behalf, she looked like a blunt wrapped up like that. Chucky then waddled over to the ottoman and set her down.

"Thankies," Glenda yawned.

"Yeah...sleep tight, Glenda," her father set a spare pillow beneath her head.

Chucky caught the contagious yawn as he made his way over to Tiffany. He hovered over her a little bit before collapsing onto her. You'd think he did it on purpose because his head lay on her chest. Tiffany set the magazine aside.

"Aggggggggggggggggggggh," moaned Chucky, "I'm fucking bushed….bones are a lot tougher to break then I remember, Tiff. Goddamn." Tiffany giggled as she slipped her hand under his shirt's backside. Her nails lightly traced against his bare skin in circles and indescribable shapes. She usually did this to help her husband relax, but this time it seemed that it was appropriate.

"Chucky, it sounds like you're saying that you're getting to ol-" Her husband gasped and put his hand to her mouth. He shushed her with playful violence.

"No, Tiff, no, don't say it. Don't say the 'o' word. Not there yet!" Tiffany, smiling beneath his palm, lifted his hand from her.

"But it is true, isn't it?" Chucky shook his head viciously.

"No. No it isn't. Far from it. We're only supposed to be like 58. But subtract some of the years we've been dead...that makes you like high thirty-ish and in my case, I'm like 32. C'mon, we're still on the front nine."

"Hahaha," Glenda laughed from the side, "You're in denial, dad. You got dad's breath all over you."

"Dad's breath?" Chucky questioned.

"Yeah, it means you're getting old."

"Glenda," gasped her dad, "I outta wash your mouth out with soup for such language! Damn, have some fucking class!" Glenda smirked triumphantly.

"Love you, g'night!" she rolled over and was silent. Tiffany looked unsure at Chucky still lying on her.

"Don't expect me to move, Tiff, I'm here for the night," he said. Tiffany continued to trace her nails on his back gently. Whenever she hit a stitch, Chucky would moan pleasantly. Over time they had gotten worn and sensitive. It almost seemed that Tiffany was petting him like a cat.

"Do you think I've been getting soft, Tiff?" he asked out of nowhere. Tiffany paused her scratching but soon resumed.

"In what ways?" Chucky moved his shoulders, simulating a shrug.

"I dunno….what about tonight? Didn't I seem kind of different with Ozzy?"

"Well, you were much more pleasant with the kids...but why does it matter? We were just taking it easy. Hell knows we need it after all this time of running here and there."

"Don't worry, it all ends when we get the amulet back together again...and the other one." Chucky said.

"And when we….kill Ozzy," reminded Tiffany.

"Yeah….that too," Chucky flipped himself against her.

"You don't sound so sure, Chucky." She looked down at him.

"It's a simple kill, Tiff. I'm always sure….there's not other way. For us to be safe, Ozzy has to go." Still, unease in Chucky's statement. Tiffany hummed.

"If there was another way, one that involved no one dying, would you take it?" she asked, expecting an obvious answer (to Chucky standards).

Chucky stopped. He thought for a bit, leaving the room silent. Save for the running shower in the bathroom. Again, a throwback to the earlier chapters, Lottie was the one who ominously broke the silence…

The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

Chucky and Tiffany glanced over to the bathroom door. Accompanying the sound of rushing bath water was Lottie. She was singing…slow and melodic, the acoustic version.

You cast a spell on me, spell on me

You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me

And I decided you look well on me, well on me

So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Her parents had heard her sing before. But this time was different. The words, the flow, they didn't seem like they had been rehearsed. The way she sung...there was energy and emotion to it, as if she was living the song. Whenever the song called for a beat, she would audibly tap the shower wall.

Turn the lights out now

Now I'll take you by the hand

Hand you another drink

Drink it if you can

Can you spend a little time,

Time is slipping away,

Away from us so stay,

Stay with me I can make,

Make you glad you came

Chucky also knew this song...it was one of his Glen's favorites. It wasn't hearable, but he was humming. Tiffany had stopped tracing around on his back. That arm had to be used to prop up her head comfortably while she her daughter's music hit her.

The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

The bath water carried Lottie's voice under the closed door in such a perfect way. Chucky's eyes fluttered tiredly as he pulled closer to his wife.

You cast a spell on me, spell on me

"Hey Tiff?"

You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me

"Yes, Chucky?"

And I decided you look well on me, well on me

"Maybe...just maybe, if there was another way...maybe, I don't know."

So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Chucky was able to doze off soundly as his daughter continued the song. The bone chopping fatigue had finally caught up to him. His wife kissed his sleeping form. She would stay up and make sure Lottie would get to bed.

Turn the lights out now

Now I'll take you by the hand

Lottie's voice lowered, each time more than the last. The wall taps became less frequent.

Hand you another drink

Drink it if you can

Can you spend a little time,

Like Osborne Wilkes, sleeping in the room next to him, Chucky had decided he too would sleep on it.

Time is slipping away,

Away from us so stay,

Stay with me I can make,

Make you glad you came