The last chapter. So sad. But the sequel will be up soon.

Chapter 23: Crawling On The Planet's Face

Jane, still standing at the center of the stage, looked as if she had forgotten how to breathe.

"We didn't know you then. This was planned for a long time," said Charlotte. She turned around. Her parents were looking at her with faces of utter disgust.

"I trusted you," Jane said. "I kept Frank from pummeling you…I defended you!"

Charlotte shook her head. "Jane, I…"

"No," said Jane. "Don't even try to make excuses. You three killed my parents. Whatever the reason, there is no excuse for that." She shook her head. "Dick warned me not to trust you. And I am not leaving for Transylvania with you, not now, not ever, at this point. I chose not to go from the start, but this has just confirmed it."

Riff-Raff said quietly, "We only ever needed one of the heirs."

Looking over to Dick, Jane said, "So, what's your say on the matter? Are you still leaving for Transylvania, even with our parents' murderers?"

Dick, his face made of stone, stepped towards the McKinleys.

Jane, a look of disgust and shock on her face, shook her head and said, "This whole prospect of being royalty has really driven you power-mad. You're leaving your family, friends, and entire life behind to be this flamboyant figurehead of a…"

"I never had a life!" shouted Dick, still staring stonily ahead. "I've never truly lived! I've always felt that I was meant for more than this, that I never revealed who I really was inside. The truth is, Jane…you don't even know me. That house I told you about? It was an apartment above a convenience store run by a guy named Perez, and it was held up every other month. Me and my roommate would go to this club every Friday night. I would be dressed up like this, and we would get completely wasted and do most everyone in the club, waking up in unfamiliar houses every Saturday, sometimes Sunday morning."

Jane, her mouth open, did not know what to say.

"So, then…" said Dick, looking directly at his sister, "Now you know the real Dick Majors. Now you know why Mom and Dad kicked me out. Apparantly being a sex fiend is genetic, in this case."

Frank smirked, and Columbia elbowed him in the shin.

Dick looked around. "And I believe…" he said, "that it is now time for you to leave. We will be departing shortly, as you know."

Jane glanced at Frank and Columbia, and then turned to leave. Columbia followed, and stared back at Frank, not budging from his place on the stage. Finally, Frank turned to look at Columbia, then glanced at Dick, an odd look of pride in his eyes, and followed the others offstage.

Magenta let out a gasp of breath once they disappeared. "Charlotte, what were you thinking?!" she shouted.

"That was incredibly irresponsible of you," doubled Riff-Raff.

Charlotte shrugged. "I was just doing what I thought was right. You two, more than often, do the opposite."

Dick looked at Charlotte, a slight look of admiration in his eyes. He averted his eyes once she caught his glance.

Riff-Raff shook his head. "Well then…" he said, "shall we?" He led the others to the control room, where they would program the house for flight.

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Outside, Jane sat on the ground, fishnets and all, waiting for the eventual liftoff of the house, trying to recount what had just happened. The cool breeze of midnight felt odd on her skin. Frank and Columbia stood on either side of her.

"All of us…" Jane said, "…we're going to be alone. You two hate each other and…well…I have no family to speak of now."

Frank had a small smile on his face. "You must know you're wrong about that."

Jane looked up at Frank. "This comes from the man who, in the past few days, has tried to rape and murder me."

Frank smirked. "Regrettably. But you know I can never leave you, now…we're a part of each other."

Jane looked up and smiled at Frank. "I guess you're right."

Frank then turned to Columbia. "And I've never hated you, Columbia, in any way."

Columbia, still looking at her feet, smiled sadly. "You should have told me that before all of this happened."

"We can move far away from here," said Jane, no expression in her voice. "We can live under false names, and never have to speak of this again."

Columbia shook her head. "You know how that turned out for your parents."

Jane frowned and nodded.

"We don't have to decide all of this now," said Frank.

Jane sighed. "I suppose you're right."

"Wherever we end up, we'll survive," said Columbia.

Frank put his arm around Columbia as the house began to lift off, swirling dust and debris around the three, lone people in the huge forest clearing. For once, the people in this place did not have to crawl and search for one another. They knew exactly where they were.

THE END…?

(Sequel coming soon)