A/N: Chapter 10 is up! I wrote this at 11 at night. Enjoy and remember to review.

Disclaimer: Alas, I own it not.

Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? - Marilyn Ferguson

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "Or Madame, truly your forgiveness I implore - The Raven, E.A.P

"…And when they got to see what had made the car move, they saw thirteen sets of handprints." Tabitha surveyed the group of girls in front of her. "Isn't that right, Kitty?" she asked with a smirk.

Kitty gripped the pink pillow she was holding tighter. "It really did happen," she insisted.

Tabitha grinned. "Of course."

Tabitha had reappeared at the institute again and had insisted on having a slumber party. Armed with microwave-able popcorn, pillows, and nail polish, the girls - Jubilee, Amara, Kitty, Jean, Rogue, Rahne, and Tabitha – had assembled in the bedroom for girl time. They were now in the scary story phase of the slumber party, each taking turns churning out urban legends, tall-tales, and ghost stories.

"I've got one," Amara said. "A girl was babysitting some children one night. After she put them to bed, she went downstairs to watch TV and the phone began to ring. She answered the phone but all she heard was laughing so she hung up. The phone rang again later and she answered again – more laughing. She got scared and called the police. They couldn't do anything at the moment but told her that they'd trace the call next time. After she got another phone call she decided to call the children's parents but the phone rang again. She picked it up and it was the police. The call was coming' from inside the house."

"Whoa," Rogue said.

"Spooky," Tabitha commented.

"If you think that was spooky, wait 'till you hear this one," said Jubilee. "You know that old man who died yesterday? The one who used to live down the street?" They nodded. "Well, I'm pretty sure that when they buried him yesterday, they buried him alive."

"No way," said Jean, "They would have had to embalm him."

"You don't always have to be embalmed."

"Okay," said Jean, still skeptical, "but how do you know he was buried alive?"

"I took a shortcut through the cemetery one day and while I was passing his grave – Mr. Hedrick – I heard this scratching noise coming up from the ground."

"Sure you did."

"It's true."

"Then prove it," said Tabitha.

"No way," exclaimed Jubilee. "Besides it was just a story, you guys, gosh."

"If it was just a story then you won't mind going to pay Mr. Hedrick a visit, will you?"

"Hell no! It's the middle of the night."

"One of us will go with you. Ya know, to make sure you don't get spirited away."

Jubilee considered this. "Fine then. Who's coming with?"

Jubilee's grip tightened on the handle of the kitchen knife as she and Kitty approached the cemetery. After she had accepted the challenge, it had been decided that she would stick the knife in the ground to prove that she had actually visited the grave. Once at the grave, all she had to do was stick the knife in the dirt and run back to the corner where Kitty was. Easier said than done.

"Like, good luck," said Kitty nervously. Jubilee nodded entered the cemetery. She hardly needed her flashlight; the moon was bright tonight and illuminated Jubilee's blue nightgown and bathed the expanse of grass and tombstones in a bluish glow.

She noticed several graves as she made her way to Mr. Hedrick: John Martin, Peter Brown, Lydia Smith. She shuddered ad continued on until she arrived at Henry E. Hedrick. She took in a deep breath, bent down, and plunged the knife deep into the earth before turning to get up.

She immediately fell down on her knees. She got up again but was again brought down to her knees. She felt it now, a grip on her nightgown. She began to panic. Frantically, she fought against the tug until with a burst of adrenaline she tore free. She scrambled up and made a mad dash out of the cemetery and towards the corner where Kitty was anxiously waiting.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive! Whatever it was grabbed my nightgown and ripped it. I've never been more terrified in my life!"

They were at the cemetery, investigating the events of last night. When they reached the grave, the wooden handle of the kitchen knife greeted them. Jubilee shuddered involuntarily. Reaching down, Tabitha tried to pull it up out of the ground. "Why'd you shove it down so far?" Tabitha asked, finally freeing the knife. She held it up to the others. A blue piece of cloth was impaled on it.