After a few hours, Jillian finally returned home while the purple sky started to blend with the rising sun creating a beautiful orange effect as it rose. The house felt different now as the sun began to shine through the house's windows. It's no longer just a reminder of a bad birthday party and months spent being tormented by her sisters and Mary-Ellen. Now it truly felt like a warm home to her. When Jillian got into the house, she immediately ran to her room to see Petey.

"Petey!" she called to him happily. To Jillian, the little lizard seemed very happy to see her again as the sunlight reflected off of his glass cage from the windows. She immediately picked up her reptilian companion and in one hand and began to slowly pet him, while sitting down in her chair at her desk. Over the past few months of Jillian keeping to herself or possessed by Slappy, Petey was always a constant source of comfort for Jillian.

Jillian held the small lizard in her hand and examined him. "Harrison fed you well, didn't he?" she cooed. Harrison found the time to check in on Petey and feed him while The Zinmans were in Los Angeles. After a few minutes of cuddling with Petey, Jillian fed her pet and put him back in his cage with the cracked lid on top. She was exhausted from the plane ride and slipped into her bed for a nap.

About three hours later while it was still late morning, Jillian woke up. "No nightmare." she said quietly to herself. "Whew, great.". After a shower and change of clothes into her favorite t-shirt and jeans, she decided to walk into the basement before visiting Harrison.

She crept down the stairs into the kitchen, then opened the door that led through to the basement. In the past few months, she hadn't been down to the basement of her house. With her mother and father taking turns to handle laundry, Jillian felt no need to venture there. However today was different. After the birthday party fiasco, Bob Zinman repainted the basement after it was thoroughly cleaned into a sunny, canary yellow color (much to Mrs. Zinman's delight).

Once Jillian crept down the basement steps, with each step creaking and groaning, she stepped into the section where Eddie's party was. She sat down against the yellow wall on the hard floor in thought. Except, this time the thought of the party didn't anger or make her cry.

"I lived through a hideous doll and ugly dummy's torment." she said to herself, in amazement. The absurdity of the situation made shake her head and chuckle.

Jillian felt as though she could still hear the sounds of groaning and puking children from being covered in Slappy's horrid-smelling green gunk. The thought made her shudder a little, but instead feeling upset she then stood up and moved from her spot into her dad's workshop. She stared at the big buzzsaw on the table, but grinned. Her dad's hobby was the reason Slappy lost his physical body, but the reason why Mary-Ellen was gone too. She felt that had her father not been a carpenter, she never would've been rid of them.

Jillian walked through the basement to the stairs. She took one last look and smiled. The basement was no longer just a reminder of where she got possessed. But where her father's passion was something that saved her. She was now more determined than ever to get her blog started with Trina O'Dell and her other friends she met too. And to get her plan into motion.

Jillian went into the kitchen and ate a bowl of cereal by herself, full of hope and determination. She was excited to tell him about being on the show and the plan to defeat Slappy if he ever comes back. Once she finished, she wrote a note letting her parents know where she was going. She slipped on her black sneakers and left the house.

It was a beautiful day as Jillian walked down the block to Harrison's house. As she got closer she saw the boy shooting his basketball at his adjustable basketball hoop on the curb.

"Hey Harr!" called Jillian happily as she got closer.

"Sis!" he called back after making a shot. Both were very happy too see each other, and giving each other high fives.

"Thanks for taking care of Petey." Jillian said to Harrison.

"No prob at all." he replied calmly, but smiling. "How was the show Jillian?"

"It was strange." joked Jillian.

"Ha-ha." groaned Harrison. "But really, how did it go?"

"It was actually great, Bert was really nice." answered Jillian then she laughed. "He smiles a lot though."

"Well, of course he does. He's the host." retorted Harrison laughing too.

"He was really nice though. He helped me big time." she said. "But guess what?"

"What?" demanded Harrison.

"Slappy had other owners. Other than Jimmy." Jillian told Harrison.

"Other kids?" asked Harrison, his serious eyes wide in shock.

"Yep. Four before me. And they're all girls too!" Jillian explained.

"Oh man. Did he want multiple brides or something?" Harrison asked still looking very shocked and confused.

Jillian then explained who the four girls were and their history with Slappy. Purposely leaving out Kris and Lindy's plight and the extra and friendly dummies.

"They sound awesome!" said Harrison enthusiastically. "But what happened with the twins you mentioned?"

Jillian's expression got serious. "Kris and Lindy dealt with a different dummy. One that was more horrible than Slappy."

"No way!" cried Harrison. "There was another one?!"

"Yes! There was a dummy out there that was more horrible than Slappy. And that's something I got to talk to you about."

Harrison looked serious now too wondering what Jillian was going to say. Jillian spoke again.

"Harrison, if there was another dummy like Slappy out there, who's to say there isn't more. Or even if Slappy can come back." Jillian explained, sounding very serious.

Harrison looked concerned at that thought. "Don't even joke like that." he spat.

"I'm not. Trust me. We decided that we would all work together if Slappy ever returned. You helped me big time when the dummy controlled me. Can you help us beat him again if he or some freaky dummy ever comes back?" asked Jillian hopefully.

Harrison's usually calm demeanor had faded into a troubled one when she asked that question. He wanted to help her, but he didn't want her to be possessed again. Or any of the other girls that she befriended for that matter. He regained his composure.

"Well let's have a plan when that day comes, okay?" he said calmly to her. "We definitely have to have Jimmy there the day we defeat him or some other psycho doll."

"That's the idea." replied Jillian. "We will have to have Jimmy's help. He knows the spells."

"Okay, I'm in." Harrison said smiling at Jillian.

"YES!" shouted Jillian excitedly. And the two friends high-fived each other. "That makes nineteen!"

"Nineteen?" asked Harrison, his brow crinkled into confusion.

"Oh boy." sighed Jillian.

After explaining the thirteen living dummies to a bewildered Harrison, Jillian made her way back home. Her parents and family were now all awake and having brunch at their kitchen table. Jillian happily joined them.

Her mother gave her an envelope that was mailed to her. "This came for you while we were gone, Jill. It's from Jimmy O'James." she said handing the envelope to Jillian. Jillian opened the envelope and it was two pieces of paper stapled together. She read the first note slowly to herself while she drank her orange juice.

"Dear Jillian, I hope everything is going well for you. I'm going back to performing ventriloquism with my new dummy, Tommy O'Thomas. I'll be on tour so I'm sending this note along just in case HE ever shows up again and I can't help. These two spells are key to defeating him. I doubt he'll ever return, but you can never be too prepared. Stay strong.

With regards, Jimmy."

Jillian looked at the second sheet attached and it had two spells. The first spell was the spell that saved her. The second was longer. And almost identical to Slappy's spell that would be in the front pocket of his gray sports jacket.

Jillian almost dropped the slip of paper on the table. It felt like an early Christmas gift for her! Jillian stared at the paper in wonder. The paper was the key that she needed. Bob Zinman looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

"What's that you got there, Noodle?" Mr. Zinman asked.

"Oh just a note from Jimmy. He was just wishing me luck with life and he's going back to ventriloquism." she said, hoping she sounded convincing.

"He is? That's wonderful!", he then added "Well, hopefully next time he makes sure he has no living dummies in his act." he joked while he looked back at his newspaper chortling to himself.

Jillian found the quip a little mean, but she couldn't resist a chuckle. She folded the paper and put it in her pocket. She thought it would be tactful to not tell her parents the plan. Not yet.

It was a lazy day for The Zinmans. After a visit in Los Angeles, and a long flight from the city, it was time for a day to relax in their minds before things picked up again after the weekend. Jillian spent the day with each of family members to make up for the time she spent by herself. She did household chores with her mom, watched an episode of Blue's Clues with her sisters, and spent time with her dad in his workshop. Once nighttime fell she and her family sat down and watched together until it was time for Katie and Amanda's bedtime.

While her parents were watching late night TV together, Jillian offered to help her little sisters get ready for bed. She helped them put their pajamas on and tucked them into their separate beds in their bunk bed. After much urging from her sisters, Jillian read them their favorite bedtime story, Cinderella.

"And they lived happily ever after." Jillian finished.

"I love that story!" Katie squeaked in a yawn on the bottom bunk.

"Me too." Amanda said also yawning.

"You two need to get some sleep." Jillian demanded. "We're going to see Grandpa and Grandma tomorrow morning."

"Okay." the twins responded softly. As they began to get more comfortable in their beds to fall asleep.

Jillian closed the book and put it back on the shelf with their sisters' other fairy tale stories and turned off their ceiling light. As Jillian was leaving their room, Amanda called to her.

"Jillian?"

"Yes?" she answered switching the light back on and turning around to face her sister who looked very distressed.

"Do you think Slappy and Mary-Ellen can come back?" Amanda asked nervously.

Jillian felt saddened at hearing that, and the look of fright on Amanda's face didn't help either. But she didn't allow it to show. Katie too looked uneasy, which was unlike her. Jillian knew what she had to do. She sat down in a small chair that was at a close enough distance for both Katie and Amanda to see her.

"No. I don't think they can, okay? Remember they had to split." Jillian told them softly with an easy smile.

It took the girls a second, but they got the joke and laughed. Jillian, now standing and walking over to them.

"They're gone, gone, gone." she said. "And don't worry if they ever did come back, I got your backs." she said confidently. That made the two little girls feel more at ease.

She then had a thought. "Remember when you guys scared me with Slappy?"

"Yeah..." said Katie sounding guilty.

"Sorry, Jillian." said a solemn Amanda.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not mad anymore. But afterwards, you two tried to tell me about Mary-Ellen when I was going ballistic right?" asked Jillian.

"Yes." the said together nodding, puzzled at what point Jillian was going to make.

"Well, I'm sorry I didn't listen." sighed Jillian. "I just wanted you two to know that."

Katie and Amanda felt very happy to hear that. They both got out of their beds to hug their big sister. Jillian then said, "I love you guys. Now it's really time for bed, I promised Mom and Dad.". The two girls got back in bed and Jillian then re-tucked in and kissed each sister on their forehead, just like their mother does.

When Jillian got to her room, she shut her door behind her and she sat down at her desk and pulled out Jimmy's note from her pocket. She studied the words Jimmy told her to say, carefully practicing them over and over before she went to bed -just to be prepared. After a few tries she gently tucked the piece of paper back into her pocket.

"I'll be ready, Petey." she said sounding determined looking at the tired lizard. "I owe Jimmy big time." .

After slipping into pajamas, Jillian got into her bed and finally went to sleep. But it wasn't too long until Jillian began to dream.

Jillian was back in her old basement, not the new yellow painted basement. It was decorated for a birthday party. She was staring out in front of her, confused, and saw several six-year-olds and was sitting in a stool next to Harrison, who was waiting for her next line. But to Jillian's horror, he was holding Mary-Ellen and she...was holding Slappy.

Jillian immediately realized where she was. It was Eddie Simkin's Birthday Party. Suddenly, before Jillian could scream or grab the two toys, she saw the annoyed and groaning Eddie Simkin speak. "Eddie! WAIT!" Jillian shouted.

"This isn't very funny." he called to Jillian, ignoring her. "Can't you be funnier?" Jillian gasped and knew what was going to happen next.

"You want funnier?" Slappy shouted. "I'll show ya something funnier, kid!"

"Noooooo!" shouted Jillian. She braced herself and prepared for the worst.

But the dummy didn't spew green gunk. He instead raised his little wooden arm and snapped his little fingers. With a faint 'pop' the basement was empty! No Mary-Ellen, Harrison, Eddie Simkin, or six-year-old kids. It was Jillian who was shocked at what she witnessed, and Slappy.

The dummy hopped off her lap and sat in the stool across from her, grinning. He was grinning the same smile that sends shivers up Jillian's spine. Jillian didn't know what to say. But the dummy spoke first.

"Ah, that's much better." he rasped, stretching his arms and legs. "Doll, it's time you and I had a little talk."

Jillian's expression of shock went to one of anger. She glared back at the dummy, crossing her arms. "I don't want to talk to you, dummy."

"Like you have a choice." he sneered.

"I do." she retorted.

The dummy giggled at that response, much to Jillian's annoyance. Then the giggle turned into a screeching cackle. Slappy's joints were rattling as he laughed.

Jillian couldn't bear it any longer. "Fine! What do you want?!" she yelled holding her ears.

"You know what I want." Slappy rasped at her.

"I'm NEVER going to be your bride, Slappy! NEVER! I hate you!" snarled Jillian.

"You're false bravado is cute, but wasted kid. I've seen scarier kids in the Mickey Mouse Club." the dummy sneered raising an eyebrow to her.

"I'm dreaming." reasoned Jillian. "This is just a stupid, stupid nightmare and I need to wake up."

"You don't need to do anything unless I tell you, slave." Slappy growled in his harsh voice. "Besides, I'll just come back in your next dream too. Maybe I'll fly with you and Harrison."

"What do you mean?" hissed Jillian slightly blushing, her eyes narrow slits at her tormentor.

"I never left Jillian! That's what I mean!" he rasped loudly at Jillian, pointing to his left cold cerulean eye. His grin bagan to grow wide into a sinster and mocking smile.

"Wha-?" gasped Jillian. "You mean-?"

"That's right soft head! I'm still in your pretty little head!" he shouted, and he began to cackle an ugly laugh.

"So my eye is because-?" she asked, her voice shaken.

Slappy only winked at her.

"But-but Jimmy-" Jillian spluttered. "Jimmy spoke the spell! He got my body back!"

"Oh suuuure." sneered Slappy. "Sure, that geek gave you control back. But that doesn't mean he got this handsome dummy completely out of your mind." he finished, straightening his red bow tie.

"Why me?" Jillian asked herself, beginning to break down. But she stopped. She wasn't going to give up. "Two things. You're about as handsome as a train wreck. And if he beat you once, he'll do it again."

The dummy's sinister grin faded, and he was now frowning and glaring at Jillian. "Watch it, idiot." he hissed in a growl. "I left a little part of me behind that day. That's why you have nightmares about me and trust me, they can always be much worse."

"Why?" asked Jillian throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Why Slappy? Why do you make me keep reliving this day the most?"

"Because you need to learn a lesson, slave." he rasped. "But I'll make it stop.". Slappy's cold eyes were slits now. His grin returned, slyly. "Think about it."

"How so, Slappy. What do you want?" demanded Jillian.

Slappy looked annoyed. "A BRIDE YOU IDIOT!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the empty basement and house.

"No way!" Jillian grumbled through her gritted teeth. "I already told you no."

Slappy regained his composure. "Just become my bride, and the nightmares will stop." he drawled. "Oh, and have your dad make me a new body. I want a checkered suit this time."

Jillian was furious as it all made sense to her. She wanted nothing more than to heave Slappy into the buzzsaw that would be in the next room but it was bare. No tools, no saw. But then she thought about what Kris and Lindy's story and how she felt sorry for him. ("Maybe I can reason with him.") It was her last chance.

To Slappy's surprise, Jillian's glare turned into one of grief. "Slappy, I know about your creator. And I know about your brother. Mr. Wood."

"What is this?" the dummy asked nastily.

"Just listen to me! Please!" pleaded Jillian.

The dummy rolled his eyes. "Fine, slave. Make it fast."

"Look, Katie and Amanda bothered me into oblivion. I was so angry at them, I wanted nothing but the worst for them and I wanted revenge. Then my parents never listened to me, no matter what. I know about infuriating family. Wood was a jerk and your creator made you for all of the wrong reasons. Maybe we can be friends, Slappy. I get it." soothed Jillian. Jillian hoped that he would see sense. Hoped that maybe one more time she could escape Slappy.

Slappy tapped his chin with a wooden finger. His expression looking thoughtful. "Hmm..." he said softly. Much unlike Jillian ever heard him speak!

Jillian thought her words worked. That she could help the dummy reform. That maybe Bert Lawrence's advice of shared pain would help. But all hope was dashed, when the dummy began making choking noises and pointing his finger into his long open mouth. Causing Jillian's hopeful mood to fade away into distress.

"YUUUUUCK!" Slappy choked out. "Warn me next time before you get sappy with me! I don't want a sappy bride!"

Jillian sank in her stool. That was her last chance and idea. "Slappy, I'm NEVER going to be your bride. It's never going to happen. I told you, I'll be your friend. But that's it. I'm only twelve."

"I don't care about your age or your friendship, idiot." he snarled. "I want slaves, Jillian."

"Not going to happen." Jillian crossed her arms and glared at Slappy.

"Have it your way." the dummy rasped. "Tell me, do you like your puke chunky or smooth?". Slappy then tilted his round wooden head back and opened his long jaw. A familiar gurgling sound began to emit from the dummy.

"NOOOOO!" shouted Jillian. The dummy was going to vomit directly onto her. Jillian struggled to move from her stool but she couldn't budge the stool or even get up. She tried hard to move but she couldn't. But then Jillian looked at her outfit. It was the same clothes she got dressed in for the day! And then she remembered Jimmy's letter! She could feel the paper in her pocket. She tried uncrossing her arms to reach into her pocket to get the paper, but she couldn't uncross her arms. She tried remembering the same words, but she couldn't remember the pronunciation.

Jillian was about to give up and cry. She felt hopeless. But Jillian had one more idea. "I'm not alone." she said to herself. "I'm not alone."

She shut her eyes and thought hard. Thought hard about her family, Harrison, Jimmy, and her new friends she made. After a second, the gurgling sound stopped. She opened her eyes, and was shocked. Harrison and Bob Zinman had picked the dummy up and were holding the dummy his arms, both stretched out as if they were having a tug-of-war with him. The dummy thrashed and tried swinging out of their control, but he couldn't.

"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME JILLIAN!" shrieked Slappy still trying to wrestle his way out of Harrison and Mr. Zinman's grasps.

Jillian looked behind her. Her mother, Katie, Amanda, Jimmy O'James, Kris, Lindy, Amy, and Trina were standing with her. Jimmy then nodded to Jillian, while Mrs. Zinman put her hand on Jillian's shoulder. Jillian was free and she uncrossed her arms. She immediately checked her pocket. "Yes!" The slip of paper! Slappy immediately noticed Jillian. And then the dummy's expression was now one of horror. He knew what was on that paper.

" WAIT! Jillian, please! Let's be friends!" the dummy wailed. "Please don't! I don't want to go to sleep!"

"Goodnight, Slappy." hissed Jillian and she read the OTHER spell. "Kallah Meeha Arumah Kalumah Noba Reemuh Maru Odoni Mallah Arak Meramo!"

The dummy let out a deafening scream and began to shake violently. The dream versions of Harrison and Mr. Zinman heaved the dummy across the room and he hit the wall with a thud. Jillian and her friends watched Slappy. Jillian's face of shock slowly became one of triumph as she watched Slappy, as she was standing with her friends and family.

He got up to balance himself on the wall. He leaned against it, still screaming and clutching his round head. Suddenly there was a loud CRACK and the top of his round head that divides his painted brown hair. It cracked open like a walnut, causing a crack to run down his wooden face. And a green flame shot out through the opening at the top. Slappy then staggered against the basement walls that were now becoming yellow again and looking more like how Jillian found the basement in the morning.

Staggering against the wall, he began clutching his stomach and covering his mouth, with the green flame still bursting and fluttering out from his head. With a sharp yelp of pain, the same green flame bursted through his body and charred the middle of his white shirt and then Slappy choked green fire from his mouth. Now the dummy's wooden body and face was fully on fire. He looked across to the stunned and satisfied Jillian, but he couldn't speak. His eyes were still wide and burning in outrage at her.

Slowly, he began to walk and stagger close to Jillian now. His screams were muffled into choking-sounding noises that the fire inside of his head and inside and on his body was causing. Jillian had been frozen in place of what she was seeing. Of seeing the dummy suffer, at long last. ("Revenge.") The Spell of Pain, it was described to her on the sheet as she reexamined the paper. He finally collapsed and hit the floor with a clonk. He shot one hand out to grab Jillian one more time but she dove backwards out of his reach. Once Slappy's hand landed, Jillian saw his now charred blue eyes slump in different directions as the fire stopped.

Jillian shot out of bed. Coughing and choking. She ran to her window, opened it and poked her head out. She opened her mouth and for a second time a small green mist crept out of her mouth in a small cloud and hissed as it dissipated in the sunlight.

She slammed her window shut and slumped in her office chair breathing heavily. Her lizard was startled and looking at her. "Sorry Petey." she said still breathing heavily.

Still in her pajamas, Jillian slowly walked to the kitchen feeling hot. Her parents were awake. Bob was reading the newspaper while Connie was scrambling eggs.

"You're up early, Noodle!" chirped Mr. Zinman from the kitchen table as Jillian walked to the refrigerator still dazed and getting the water pitcher.

Jillian said nothing as she got a glass from the cabinet and began pouring the water in the cup. Mrs. Zinman spoke next. "We're going to your grandparents house today, Jillian." She turned to Jillian. "Can you put on the nice dress they bought you-". Her words stopped. She gasped.

Mr. Zinman heard this. "Connie, what's wr-" he snatched his glasses off in shock.

"J-J-Jillian." she stammered. "Your eye!"

Jillian who was drinking her water was nervous from her parent's reaction as she took each sip. She put her glass down in the sink.

"My eye?!" she choked out. She prepared for the worst.

Now their expression was one of happiness!

"Your eye! It's green again!" her mother said happily.

Jillian didn't waste anytime bursting from the kitchen and rushing into the bathroom to see herself. Her mother was right. For the first time in months BOTH of her eyes were green again! A beautiful jade green. Jillian's smile couldn't have been surgically removed from her face as she stared at herself in the mirror.

Now truly, Slappy was gone. The living dummy that tried to ruin her life was gone. Jillian was free. Her mother rushed upstairs to see her.

"Jillian?" she called from the hallway leading to the bathroom.

"I'm in the bathroom, mom!" she called back. Mrs. Zinman walked through the open door and hugged her daughter.

"How? What happened Jillian?" Connie asked, her words coming out all at once.

Jillian took a deep breath. "Remember. Talking Jillian." she thought then spoke.

"I had a nightmare about Slappy. But I beat him. And I think I beat him for good." Jillian said proudly.

Mrs. Zinman looked shocked but her features grew into a look of pride for her daughter and she said, "I'm so proud of you, honey. Good job, Jillian!"

Jillian felt relieved and happy that her mother believed her. It still was a good feeling to know that her parents truly believe the mayhem around the house was caused by Mary-Ellen and Slappy. "Thanks mom." Jillian breathed looking very proud.

Her mother kissed her on the forehead and turned to return to the kitchen. "I gotta get back to breakfast before your father burns it." she joked. "You can tell us all about it when you come back down for breakfast, hun. Okay?"

"Okay mom." Jillian replied. Her mother walked back to cook breakfast in the kitchen. Jillian turned back to the mirror and stared at herself again.

"It's over." she announced to herself. "It's over.".

For the second time, Jillian Zinman defeated Slappy the Dummy.

A/N: Now I understand why R.L. Stine loves writing for Slappy. He's such a diabolical jerk, that it's so fun to write his dialogue! Absolute blast to write! :D

Any and all feedback is welcome! Thanks for reading!