Welcome to a chapter of chaos and loss!

Firephoenix: Thank you for at least ATTEMPTING to sleep before reading this; I've been in that situation too many times myself not to judge.

Noro: Thank the discord server for Jack meeting Ivy's dad! The discussion was very much "oh wouldn't that be awful" and I just quietly took notes like yes...how sad… I'm sure we'll never see it...

Haley: Glad to help with lockdown anxieties & boredom! It was a ton of fun to put Jack in something that's close to his element but not enough to have him comfortable. And YES I know what the fluff does that's EXACTLY why I write it!

GoldGuardian2418: Fasching is a great time! I've known I was going to use it in the story since the beginning, and so finally getting to write it was a treat. And yes… Ciaran, buddy, watch out.

Guest: IT'S THE FINAL SHOWDOWN! *kazoo*


February 18th

Vaihingen Forest

12:30pm

Ivy had noticed, in the brief moments she could take the time to do so, that her gauge of temperature was altered. The winter air and accompanying harsh wind had no effect on her skin, despite the exposure of her arms. Even the sensation of Jack's usually cool bones had been absent as she'd ridden on his shoulders, and she'd had to repeatedly touch his jacket to assure herself that he was still there. She guessed, with a sinking feeling in her stomach, that this was what being a ghost meant - all feeling from the outside world dulled and muted, everything blurring together into a formless monotony.

But even with her senses subdued, she still felt the oppressive chill through her soul as they stepped within the trees.

The sounds of the parade had vanished entirely - which shouldn't be possible, it was only a few blocks over, wasn't it? She glanced upwards, careful to not send herself flying backwards, to see if any sky remained. A few hints of the pale blue coil were seen, but Ivy swore that the view was warped, the few wisps of clouds hanging unnaturally that were obstructed by the thick, black branches that wove above their heads. She steadied herself and made sure not to cling to Jack any tighter, no matter how much she wanted to - the last thing she needed was to give him another reason to leave her behind on a silver platter.

Jack stepped expertly around the roots, finding the worn path that Ivy herself had all those months ago with an effortless instinct. She scoffed to herself, ducking around branches out of habit as she thought about how easily she'd ridden in here. How had she not felt the utter wrongness of this place?

Moss replaced twigs and dirt, making Jack's creeping all the more simple. He seemed to perfectly fit behind the trees, thick and thin alike, stretching out his limbs until he nearly resembled a spider, carefully and unnervingly picking its way through the underbrush, stalking the creature in its trap.

Speaking of…

"Hey," she whispered, quietly as she could. "I know you told the Classics you were going to bring Ciaran back to Halloween, but… is that what you actually want to do?"

Jack didn't pause, instead craning his neck at an angle that made Ivy wince to peer around the next trunk. "I think it's best that I don't tell you what I want to do to him, lest you look at me too differently."

"I'm being serious, Jack."

"As am I." He swung his head back around, tilting it at her curiously. "What would you like me to do?"

Ivy bit her lips, trying not to mind how her teeth slid through her lip. "I know he hurt the Town and everything -"

"And killed you -"

"Yeah, I know!" It was louder than she would've liked and they both shut up a moment, evaluating their surroundings. When nothing changed, Ivy continued her hushed rant. "Trust me, I'm not planning on giving him a hug and singing kumbaya or some shit. But… I don't think we should kill him, either."

Jack hummed at that, at least seeming to think it over. "I've no love for taking the life of another - in fact, I've sworn to never do it again. But in this instance…" he sighed, looking at her pointedly. "If he is as tortured as you've hinted, death may be a kindness."

"I dunno." She shrugged, wondering how to lessen the uncomfortable squirming in her stomach. "But this doesn't feel right, either."

Jack almost fully paused at that, even rubbing his skull in frustration. "We'll subdue him, and all go back to Halloween. If we take him out of your body, keep him in Halloween and away from anyone else, we should be alright."

Ivy didn't protest - what could she even offer as an alternative? But the hot squirm of shame writhed in her all the same at the thought of Ciaran's worst nightmare coming true once more: abandoned and isolated in Halloween as a prisoner.

A sharp inhale shook her from thoughts and both of their heads snapped to the side, where a flash of bright green light shone through the trees, flickering as erratically as a dying bulb.

"He's burning out," Jack whispered, a strange mix of fascination and pity in his voice.

"Is that a good thing?" Ivy asked, the same morbid curiosity causing her to lean forward.

"Not quite," Jack admitted reluctantly. "He's losing control, but not the power itself - it'll be more random." His face set in a determined frown, and Ivy felt a flash of longing for the light-hearted grin she'd grown to love. "We'll have to be on our guard."

Ivy held back a quip and pushed herself off Jack's shoulder, the pair ghosting their way through the trees with practiced silence.

They came upon small clearing, and while it wasn't the one with the doors, it was close enough to make Ivy nervous. She caught sight of Ciaran leaning over a log, his - her? - hand digging deep into the wood, green liquid seeping from between his fingers and leaking onto the ground below. His other hand clenched one of the spirits, not seeming to notice how the black smog pillowing off them stained and burned the stolen fingers.

"Where is it?" he yelled, causing Jack and Ivy to wince as the mix of Ivy and Ciaran's voice clang harshly together, power and rage coloring every word. "Where is the Door?"

Jack stepped forward, eyes flashing, and Ivy had only a moment to take cover before the Pumpkin King sent one hand of black fire towards the unsuspecting ghost, the other sending a line of raised earth to knock him off balance.

Ciaran shouted in a blend of shock and pain as he was thrust to the side, letting go of the spirit in surprise (who wasted no time in bolting away into safety of the surrounding trees). Ivy recoiled at the phantom pain along her arm, eyes widening in horror as Jack's flames singed the side of her human body.

Well, shit.

Frustratingly quick, Ciaran launched a counterattack, torching the few remaining leaves of the nearby trees, sending the smoke billowing towards Jack. Ivy glanced up as it crawled into the sky, cursing at the spotlight he was shining on them. Trying to keep out of sight as the two exchanged blows, she floated in Ciaran's blind spots as much as possible, doing her best to hold in the cries of pain as her body took yet another beating. Pain, it seemed, was the exception to the numbness.

Jack managed to knock Ciaran back, Ivy's spine connecting to the bark with a loud crack! Instantly, some of Jack's defenses dropped, his eyes widening as Ciaran groaned.

"Don't worry about it, Jack!" Ivy shouted. "Do what you have to!"

Ciaran's prepared defense plummeted nearly as fast as his jaw. He whirled around, gazing at Ivy with glowing green eyes, illuminated both by Ciaran's power and sheer disbelief. Jack took advantage of the ghost's confusion to call for the earth to climb up Ciaran's legs, trapping him in place.

"Ivy!" He gasped, hands shaking. "You're - I thought -"

"Oh, don't worry, you killed me," Ivy spat, floating through a tree for demonstration despite the uncomfortable poke in her stomach. Jack crept closer behind Ciaran, nodding for Ivy to continue. "Looks like we're on the same page now. I mean, I could steal your body to make us even, but -"

Ciaran moaned, head dropping to his hands. "I didn't intend for this to happen!" He cried. "Was I too late - did the corruption prevent you from passing on?"

Ivy frowned, floating closer, trying to shake off how odd it was to argue with her own face. "I was given the option to," she said slowly. "I came back because this is wrong. So, since you also stuck around, I'm gonna guess it was to get revenge, right?"

Ciaran's eyes flickered, one hand raising to his head. "I don't - it was so long ag-oh!"

He was cut off as Jack's arm snaked around Ivy's neck, one fist of black fire held threateningly close to Ciaran's eyes. He struggled, green energy flaring and lashing out, but Jack held fast, until Ciaran made a noise of triumph and jutted his chin towards Ivy.

The ghost in question had slowly floated to the ground, one hand clasped to the side of her face, where an uncomfortable warmth, intense as a candle wick, licked along her transparent skin. Jack's eyes widened in realization and he dropped his hands as quickly as though he'd been burned. Ciaran, in a move he must have stolen from Ivy's memories, drove his elbow back, knocking straight into Jack's weak sternum and sending the skeleton backwards. As Jack's concentration broke, so did the hold over the ghost's legs. He stood there, free and flickering, a new wave of rage and grief on his face.

"Stand away from this, Ivy," he said, true sorrow in his voice. "I realize I have already hurt you beyond repair - please do not make me do it again."

"This isn't going to work, Ciaran," she said, trying to control the shaking in her voice.

"I know!" Ciaran dug the hands into her hair, the whites of her eyes blocked out by his green glow. "But what other choice do I have?" He screamed the final word, the pitch higher than a human should speak, as Ivy's body lurched and quaked. The scream went higher when Jack shot another jet of black fire, Ivy's skin curdling and dissolving as the ghost desperately tried to stay upright. He flung his hands out, creating a protective green ring, but it was too late - the body fell forward to its knees, eyes going blank and mouth slackening.

Ivy gasped for air that wasn't there, clawing at her form in agony, eyes fixed to the look of pained determination and apology on Jack's face as he attacked again.

The ground reeled and green gas erupted from Ivy's mouth, ears, and eyes, growing and swirling as the wind picked up. Ivy gripped a tree root as best she could, watching as Jack took cover from the tornado of light that rose to the tops of the trees before solidifying into Ciaran's ghostly form, curls flopping into his eyes as he spun to be upright.

Ivy's body hung in the midst of the cloud, limp, each vein illuminated from Ciaran's control.

She fought through the paralysis of her form, glitching more than moving as she pulled herself forward. "You don't understand!" She shouted, a shudder racking her form when Ciaran slowly pulled his head upright, staring down at her. "If you destroy the Gateway, then you wipe out history! And now that you've killed me -" and she didn't feel an ounce of shame in watching him wince - "you've given me your fate!"

"No!" Ciaran dug his hands into his scalp once more, shaking as frantically as the trees around the trio. Ivy quickly glanced over to see Jack gearing up for another shot, one lanky arm still clutched around a tree to keep earthbound. Sticks flew through Ivy's form, whirling around the agonized ghost. "I didn't intend to - I was killed by monsters, and -"

"So was I!"

Dirt and roots were ripped up, tree branches bending and snapping in the force of the ghost's anger. Ivy stared into the eyes of her friend, wide and crazed in a way she now realized had always been lurking beneath and felt her chest ache.

"I did nothing wrong," Ciaran gasped, one ginormous, glowing hand digging into the earth. It sent tremors and shockwaves out, but Ivy managed to float, undisturbed. "Those creatures stole everything from me, I did nothing -"

"You don't have to lie!" Ivy yelled, trying to draw Ciaran's attention as Jack slipped from his protective perch. "Look, I don't know what happened when you were alive or when you were brought to Halloween. I don't know if you really did die innocent or if you pissed off whoever killed you, but -" she remembered what Jack had said to her, his voice low and manner commanding her attention. "There's things that we do when we're acting on emotion. We can't change that, but we can change the way we respond to it!" she flung her arms out, indicating the burning forest. "No matter how much we dread doing so."

"I am in control!" Ciaran shouted, one hand dragging down the side of his face. "Why not control what others think?"

"We have to -" she broke off, remembering the panic that had shot through her when the ivy vines had nearly choked her, and the knowledge that she was why they had grown. "We can't just change the past with lies. I know it's easy, believe me I know, it's so, so much easier than saying we were wrong, but… if we lie to others enough, we start lying to ourselves."

"I am not lying to myself," Ciaran snapped, a new gleam of green coloring the air around them. "I thought you would understand how it feels to be wronged by others. You haven't done anything wrong either, I understand, but -"

"But I did!" Ivy ducked as a tree was torn from the earth, collapsing to its side with a sickening thud. "I was wrong, Keer!" The nickname seemed to placate the ghost, some of the whirlwind easing. "I lied to make myself feel better, but I just ended up being scared and angry and feeling worse! We need to admit when we do something wrong, and - and this is one of those things!" She gestured to the destruction around them. "I want to think that I know you, Keer. You don't like hurting people, so stop this! Leave Halloween alone, find some other way to deal with-"

"With what?" He snarled, the anger returning. "With the knowledge that the place I consider Hell survives, harming others of my kind? Hardly."

"But -"

Jack chose that moment to strike, black ripping through the multiple green tethers that had buried themselves into the earth or latched around nearby trees. Ivy was thrown backwards, the world blurring and clouding as she phased through branches and bushes. She shook her head, taking a frustrated moment to blow her slowly floating strands of hair from her face.

"Need a freaking hair tie," she muttered.

The crack of bone caught her attention. Her gaze shot up, staring as Jack twisted his hands around, the rocks and dirt that had been part of Ciaran's tornado slowly circling him instead. He darted easily underneath the ghost's massive form, trying in vain to snatch at Ivy's body, still floating listlessly in midair.

The bark of the trees burst into green flame, slowly popping and eroding as they were burned from within. It wasn't quite a conscious move, Ivy thought. She was beginning to see what Jack had meant by unpredictable - Ciaran's entire form was jerking, sparks flying off him and landing on the forestry. Jack created a black lasso of energy, forcing Ciaran's face to the ground, where the plants immediately withered and the greenery pulled away. The ghost snarled and twisted, his mouth opening in a scream, fire shooting out. Ivy flipped backwards, arms coming up into a defensive stance, when the color of the world faded. She shut her eyes as warmth enveloped her, every atom of her body braced for impact, only for confusion to furrow her brow when instead of scorching pain she felt soft waves of energy.

She opened her eyes to utter darkness, blinking in disorientation. She could still hear the sounds of the fight, but it was strangely muted, as though she was hearing it from another room. Carefully, she reached a hand out to caress the dark fire that circled her.

As soon as her fingers made contact, emotions that weren't her own shot through her mind. Panic, determination, and surge of protection so strong her head swam. She felt the phantom attacks on her own form, and with a jolt of fear realized that Jack's energy felt weaker.

She pressed her shoulder against the barrier, gritting her teeth when it didn't yield. "Jack! Let me out! You can't fight like this!"

No words came through the connection, but Ivy got the sense of dismissal all the same. She flipped in the small cocoon, testing to see if she could phase through. Jack sent a few mental nudges back, a stay put, which Ivy ignored all together. Like hell she was going to let this self-sacrificial idiot struggle while she stood to the side. Just as she reared back to hit the protective wall, a searing pain shot through the connection. Ivy's atoms buzzed and burned, her form dissipating to mist for a moment as her shape was replaced with the sensation of unwinding. The darkness melted away, defenses destroyed, and she blinked back to awareness as she floated in midair, pulling herself together. She flipped forward, her own discomfort forgotten at the sight of Jack's body being lifted into the air, each bone shaking and grinding together, before being slammed back against a tree, ribs and clavicles flying. His skull split, rolling away from the body, and his posture went limp in a way that made Ivy's stomach turn.

"Jack!" She screamed, kicking frantically in the air as Jack didn't move, the feeble flicker of his aura waning under the tangle of Ciaran's influence. By some miracle she managed to claw her way to Jack's side, picking up his neglected skull and desperately trying to cram it back onto his neck. Jack gave a faint groan that seemed to echo from the deepest parts of his body, even as his eyes remained closed. She smoothed her hand across his face and chest, frustration clogging her throat as she realized she didn't even know what to look for.

A scream was slowly building in her chest, reminding her yet again that ghosts couldn't cry.

"You have an attachment to the Town," Ciaran rasped, his shadow looming over the pair, "but a far stronger one to him. He must be removed if you're to be saved."

Ivy's shoulders shook, whether from grief or anger she wasn't sure. "You're worse than any of them."

"I know." His face tightened, gazing into the distance. "I have killed my own kind, just as they have. There is no hope for me. But perhaps I can still make things right. If I can send you to your proper afterlife and prevent this stain of a Town from harming anyone ever again, then I will gladly accept my eternal punishment." One giant hand stretched down, halting at Ivy's hiss.

"You're not going to do anything else to him," she snarled, her eyes burning with rage, hands clutching tight to Jack.

"Don't tell me you truly love him," Ciaran asked, a genuine shock on his face. Ivy felt him scanning her form - the tension in her shoulders, the pain in her voice, the way she still hadn't let go of Jack. "Oh, leanbh. He killed you as much as I did."

"That's not true!" It was both insistent and desperate.

"Don't be naïve!" Ciaran slammed his hand into the ground, and Ivy had to clutch at Jack to keep the few bones held together by his suit from scattering away and falling into the newly formed crater. "He sealed your fate the moment you were taken into Halloween. All of this - this caring façade that he puts on is just that - a falsity! A lie! He is no better than you or I!"

"Maybe not," Ivy admitted, thinking again of Light's anger, the burns and betrayal fresh on her face. "But he makes me want to be better. He doesn't let me wallow in anger." She spared a scornful glance to Ciaran. "Look what anger's done to us."

Clear pity etched itself onto Ciaran's face. "It has to be done. Neither of us would be like this if not for the Town. He is a foul, spineless, murderous coward, and deserves to be ground to dust."

Ivy's hands began to shake, a red film coating her eyes. The noises of the outside world - the trees cracking and burning, the Wind whistling around pushing Jack back together, Ciaran's lilting, soothing voice - all of it faded, replaced with a distant ringing. A strange sense of calm rose in her chest, despite every particle in her body quivering in rage and anticipation. She slowly looked up at Ciaran, who reached down with one ghostly hand alright, a hard determination in his mad gaze. His lips moved soundlessly as he wound up, bright flashes sparking at his fingertips, before he punched his fist forward, every part of his body leaning into the killing blow. Ivy felt the heat of the incoming blast - far, far cooler than the heat of her fury - and moving on an instinct she didn't quite understand, she snapped her own fists upward. The weight of Jack's unmoving rubs pressed against her legs as she screamed, red fire erupting from her clenched fists, blocking Ciaran's hit and knocking the ghost backwards.

Ciaran's back dug into the tops of the trees, branches alternating between sticking into his back and passing cleanly through. He gasped in shock, trying to twist upright, but Ivy was faster. With a final squeeze of Jack's hand she spread her arms out, eyes narrowed as she called, "Wind, blast me!"

There was no hesitation from the formless entity - Ivy felt a strong gust on her back and under her arms, sending her high above the trees. Surrendering control to the Wind, she drove her fist forward again, forcing Ciaran to dodge another red plume. He tossed back a half-hearted strike, but the Wind easily moved Ivy out of the way, propelling her downward and forcing Ciaran to turn his back on Jack to keep her in sight.

Ivy tried to send another wave, punching her fists in frustration when nothing came out. Her head snapped up as the Wind pushed her to the side, narrowly evading the trail of steaming air where she had floated. She took an unnecessary breath, focusing the heat flowing through her and swung once more, this time smiling viciously as ropes of red streaked out, lashing against the ghost.

Ciaran's face was twisted in conflict, Jack's earlier hesitation visible. His attacks were weaker, seeking to incapacitate rather than kill, but Ivy held no such reservations. She dodged and fired, acting on that deep instinct she didn't quite understand, her pure fury making up for what she lacked in technique.

As the earth was scorched and illuminated with explosions of red and green, looking for all the world like a deadly Christmas party, Ivy caught a glimpse of movement. Jack was stirring, pulling his body back together, and the joy that surged through her made her next onslaught explode with power. Determined to keep Ciaran distracted, she jutted her chin to his head and the Wind responded, sending her spiraling around him like a particularly irritating fly. Then, without warning, thick ropes of black wrapped themselves around Ciaran's upper arms, binding them tightly against him. He swung back around, a clear surprise on his face as he stared at Jack, but was forced to focus his attention on Ivy, still swooping at his face. When Ciaran could thrash without coming free, she pushed herself backwards, the Wind settling her down next to a fiercely focused Jack, his sockets narrowed on his newly reattached head. He managed to spare her both a glance and a smile at the energy circling her hands and arms. "I wondered when you'd experiment with what you were capable of."

"Well, you know," Ivy shrugged, a strange embarrassment causing her to duck her head. "Can't let you have all the fun."

Jack visibly restrained himself from continuing the banter, his hands straining as he tried to restrict Ciaran's movements. "Got any other ideas?"

Ivy glanced down at her hand, seeing the strange pink glow pulse gently. She nodded, squaring her shoulders and stepping forward. "Hold him for me, ok?"

"Ivy, no. You -" he cut himself off, staring at the swirls of energy surrounding Ivy, a new look creeping onto his face, one Ivy couldn't identify. "Very well. But be careful."

She nodded, closing her eyes and focusing on the phantom buzz of Rosalyn. She carefully walked closer to Ciaran, noting with an ache in her chest that his colors had diminished considerably. She put her hand forward, letting her fingers flutter open as the glow of her hand strengthened, catching the attention of Ciaran. He stared in suspicion as Ivy sank to her knees, all her strength devoted to holding herself steady. A pink mist rose from her palm, ribbons of gold circling as it slowly drifted into the air and consolidated on the ground before Ivy. The glow faded away, mist falling as a figure solidified.

The witch stood there, though undoubtedly changed. Her clothes and skin were unburned, dropping skin reattached. Her smock of dusty pink hung around her frame, accenting her sepia skin, and when she looked back at Ivy she couldn't help gasping at the witch's beauty. Gone were the streaks of white and leaking fluid, and instead dark eyes framed by full lashes stared at Jack and Ivy. Jack gasped, immediately dropping into a bow, his expression overcome with surprise and respect. But it was nothing compared to the effect on Ciaran.

The ghost froze, his entire form flickering out of existence for a moment as he stared down at her. Green steam rose from where Jack had him bound and his jaw hung open, disbelief chasing the madness from his eyes.

The witch stepped forward, her dark curls bouncing as she gazed sadly up at him. "Hello, Ciaran," she said, the musical lilt of her voice soft on the Wind.

Ciaran shuddered and his form shrank, the black bands melting away. Jack made no effort to restrain him again, instead reaching out to gently pull Ivy back, one arm circling protectively around her shoulders. Back to his regular size, Ciaran gingerly stepped forward, his accent thicker than Ivy had ever heard as he said in a choked voice, "Rosie?"

"It's me, grá go Deo." She moved closer to Ciaran, her bare feet barely brushing the grass. Ciaran dropped to his knees, eyes fluttering close in reverence as she laid a hand on her cheek. His face clouded with shame, eyes burning with an emotion Ivy was all too familiar with.

"Rose… why do you appear to me?" He asked, eyes fixed only on the witch. "Is my hour so close at hand?"

"'Tis," she replied. "I see it has been centuries for you. I see now what a mistake it was to take you to Halloween."

Ciaran frowned, some of the spell-bound expressions slipping from his face. "No, lovely Rose. T'wasn't you, but a witch in your form."

Rosalyn sighed, kneeling before Ciaran and holding his arms fast. "That witch and I are one in the same." Ciaran opened his mouth to argue, but Rosalyn held him fast. "You let me burn for being a witch, Ciaran. What did you think would happen in my afterlife?"

"It cannot be," Ciaran said, sounding strangled. "That thing wasn't -"

Burns crept across her arms, the smooth perfection fading back into the twisted and scarred monstrosity that Ivy had seen before. "The buns we would share at the baker's stand," she said as the transformation crept across her skin. Her hair dried and frizzed, raising off her head as she continued. "The way you tried to color roses and leave them for me. Watching the sunset at the coastline. Dancing at Aofie and Oisin's wedding. I am the woman you loved, and the witch you burned."

Ciaran stared in horror, trying to pull away, but Rosalyn's growing and yellowing nails dug into his arms. "I didn't - I didn't let you burn -"

"Oh?" Rosalyn said, a dark amusement in her voice. "I trusted you to save me, Ciaran, and you didn't. The word of the priest would have exonerated me, and you remained silent." Gold mist rose from her face, eyes clouding over as fluid dripped down her cheek in an imitation of tears.

"Because it was sin!" Ciaran shouted, now frantically trying to escape. Ivy glanced up at Jack, who gazed at the pair with open pity and….understanding. "I had my vows, and you were -" he paused to stammer and gasp. "We were a sin, whether you were a witch or not! You had to burn, and now it is my time to die to make it right!"

Rosalyn's head dropped, a strange sigh shaking her form. "Do you truly believe it is such a sin to love me?"

"I - it must be," he sputtered. "I, I can't love a witch, I can't feel so much for someone, I couldn't!" His aura flared wide, the blend of white and green cowering away from the soft reach of Rosalyn's own aura. "If you were a witch when we lived, then… was it all a lie? Did you force me to fall in love with you?"

"No," Rosalyn responded, her voice raw with honesty. "You were the one part of my life that needed no enchantment."

Ciaran appeared to have no response for that, moaning as he ducked his head. Ivy watched in muted fascination as Rosalyn carefully pressed a hand to his forehead, her shoulders set with expectancy. A dart of green jumped into her hand, and Ivy watched as the nearly translucent part of Ciaran's soul sped through the witch's form, nestling close near her heart. The image sparked an idea in Ivy's mind, one that made her stomach swoop and had her press closer to Jack. Rosalyn then set both hands on Ciaran's face, raising him to meet her eyes.

"I do forgive you, Ciaran Doherty," she whispered. "You lied to our Town and to yourself, and I forgive you. I should never have taken you to Halloween, beloved. I never meant for you to die or be harmed... I only missed you, and longed for the life we might have led together."

Ciaran's eyes were closed, and though he swallowed thickly at Rosalyn's speech, his jaw clenched. He pulled away, head turning roughly to the side to escape Rosalyn's hands and words.

"I do not deserve forgiveness," he admitted, and Ivy heard the note of rare honesty. God, she hoped it wasn't that obvious when she did that. "Our paths never could have become one, and… you were the one that damned us both." As he finished, he swung his hands towards Rosalyn, a blast of rage sending her backwards. Rosalyn skidded and for one moment Ivy's hair stood on end at the expression on her face. Her eyes were narrowed, a new bitterness carving itself onto her face, and Ivy knew with a sinking certainty that the witch would carry this moment to her second grave. For an instant it seemed as though she would fight back: a crackle of energy swarmed around her, gold fireballs erupted from her palms, but as Ciaran screamed in confusion and heartbreak, sinking back to his knees, she lowered her hands and sat, seeming to accept her fate as another bolt of green streaked towards her.

Ivy yelled, lunging forward and urging the Wind to speed her up. Jack quickly drew up a protective wall, blocking the sparks shooting off Ciaran as Ivy grasped Rosalyn's upper arm. The witch spared her half a glance, then melted back into mist, golden strand inserting itself back into her arm like an IV.

"Oh, come on!" Ivy screeched in frustration, flapping her hand as though to shake the stubborn witch out. But the glow faded until barely visible, and Ivy wanted to bury her head into the earth and scream in frustration. They were out of aces - what now?

The Wind pushed Ivy behind Jack, who was hopping around frantically. Wearily, Ivy floated up once more, blinking in astonishment at the tornado of wind and earth whirling around a stationary Ciaran. Jack grabbed Ivy, one black strand wrapping itself around her upper arm and tugging her along.

"He's too unstable!" Jack shouted.

"Understatement of the fucking century!" Ivy yelled back.

Jack threw up a shield, grunting as green burned against the other side. "If I land a killing blow," he said through gritted teeth, "I worry it'll be like a bomb going off. This amount of energy and anger - do you want it ripping through your town, with all those people still there?"

Shit, she'd forgotten about the parade. How long had they been fighting Ciaran? Would they have to stall until it was safe to blow him up? But no, there were people that lived here, she couldn't just take that chance.

But the battle was wearing out Jack, too. Ivy realized with a flash of guilt that this was the third fight Jack had been involved with in - what, a day? Less? He spent more time breaking up fights than engaging in them himself. He was holding up a strong front and face, but Ivy knew him too well. She could see the exhaustion in the cracks of his face and bones, could hear the slight shaking of his limbs, could feel as the warmth of his aura faded from white-hot to a gentle lukewarm as his energy was sapped.

Wait.

Ivy's head shot over to Ciaran, ducking out from Jack's shielding stance. His colors were bleeding into the ground and staining the air, and Ivy could smell sea salt as the Wind whipped through the newly formed clearing. She cast a glance over her shoulder at a fatigued Jack, who still managed to shoot her a look of concern.

She had to fix this. She'd been the one to give him information on the Town and make Ciaran stronger. But perhaps…she looked down at her own form, seeing the faintest sparks of green darting around.

She thought back to the ivy strands that had dug into her skin, the name that Madam Leota and the Entity had called her. Practiced lies and powerful truths swarmed her mind and she realized what she had to do.

And she knew, with a sickening sureness, that it would work.

Stepping forward, ignoring Jack's frantic hisses, she called out. "Ciaran!"

The ghost lifted his head, the white and black of his eyes drowned beneath glowing green, trickles of the same color leaking down his cheeks as burning tears. He lifted an arm defensibly and Ivy quickly raised her own hands, making sure he saw the flames on them fade away. There was exhaustion in the other ghost, but one that extended beyond this battle: one that had begun, she thought, the day Rosalyn had died.

"If I let you destroy the Gateway," she said, eyes flickering to the trees surrounding them, "will you let Jack live?"

"Ivy, what are you doing?" Jack shouted. Ciaran gazed at him, the glowing glare increasing.

"Why should I?" He asked sullenly.

"Your hell has been forced to be alone," Ivy explained, spreading her hands. "If you destroy the Gateway, the Town, then he has nowhere to go. He'll be forced to wander the earth all over again. Allowing him to live is something I want that also makes him suffer."

"And what of you?" He asked in suspicion.

Ivy ducked her head down, shoulders slumping and form floating to the ground, weighed down by her words. "Kill me too. For good, this time."

"Ivy, no!"

Ivy heard Jack approaching and carefully held in her wince. She saw Ciaran move but forced herself to act faster. She drew herself around, pulling up a blast of red and shooting it at Jack. The skeleton was caught completely off guard, crumbling at the base of another tree. Remembering what he'd done for Ciaran, Ivy pinched her fingers to trap him against the ground, pressure exploding in her mind as Jack pressed back.

"Trust me, Jack." Ivy said coldly, her face curdled in disgust. "This is what's best."

Jack stared at her, face open in bewilderment, before his sockets narrowed. He lowered his head down, refusing to look her in the face. The pressure increased for one moment, then slowly backed off. Jack laid still, no longer attempting to escape. Ivy breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned back to Ciaran, holding in a laugh at the surprise on his features. She faced him fully, gesturing at herself. "I've been a ghost less than a day, and it sucks. I don't want to even think about going through this for the rest of eternity, and it's not like he'll kill me to put me out of my misery." She gazed at Ciaran with pleading eyes. "You're the only one who understands what this is going to be like! He's a monster, they deal with this differently than us."

Ciaran blinked rapidly, rising to his feet and taking a single step towards her. "But - you were upset I killed you the first time."

"Oh believe me, I'm still pissed about that," she warned, pointing a finger in his direction and watching as the familiar gesture caused his shoulders to soften. "But you didn't do it to curse me to be a ghost for the rest of eternity, right?"

Ciaran shook his head so quickly Ivy was amazed his hair didn't fly off. "Never, leanbh. I truly thought you would go immediately to Heaven."

Ivy snorted, shaking her bangs. "There's too much of Halloween in me, now. I don't think there's any other afterlife for me. But the second grave…" she went quiet, looking through the dark mass of trees. "At least then I don't have to be among humanity without ever connecting with them. I won't have to watch my family die and know I can't join them. I mean, I won't have the Town, or... anyone, really."

"But you might have… him," Ciaran managed to say, glancing at Jack in open contempt. Ivy didn't dare look back, but she'd wager Jack was shooting him an identical look.

"I like him," Ivy said. "But let's be honest. I've only known him for a few months, and I've been part of why his Town is destroyed. It's only a matter of time before he's sick of me, and then I'll be alone again."

The pressure returned and Ivy fought through the pain to look Ciaran in the eye. "What you've gone through is my worst nightmare. I don't ever want to be alone or abandoned. It's always been easier to leave first. And besides," she said, with a disdainful laugh, "you told me that ghosts can't kill themselves. So, here I am."

Ciaran swallowed, taking another step. "You're not going to attack me?"

Ivy scoffed, gesturing at the sorry state of them both. "I came at you with everything I had, and it didn't do shit. I'm not gonna win this without people getting hurt. And… you're my friend. I don't want to hurt you."

Ciaran's eyes softened as he walked closer, the scattered bits of his aura pulling back to the source. "If you are sincere - if you leave the skeleton here and show me the entrance, I'll - I'll release you. Before I even destroy it, if you'd like."

"How do I know you won't hurt Jack when I'm gone?" She challenged.

Ciaran hummed, drawing one hand across his chest and bowing. "I give you my word. I took your life, I'll spare his, no matter how much it pains me to do so."

Ivy looked into the eyes of her friend. The glow had faded, leaving his usual warm gaze. The mist had dissipated, and Ciaran looked more human by the second, solidifying before her eyes. He was almost within reach of her, and Ivy trembled, shoulders hitching.

Ciaran froze, a look of self-loathing filling his face. "Oh, leanbh. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, please know that."

Ivy swallowed, looking at his earnest and open expression. Her chest burned at the sincerity, almost marveling at how Ciaran was able to be honest with such ease.

She supposed she'd never get to ask.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, sinking to her knees and slinging her arms around herself. "I - I never wanted to hurt you either."

She felt Ciaran kneel before her, tensing as he gently let a hand fall to her hair. "It's alright, Ivy." His energy wrapped around her and Ivy fought down her panic at the familiarity of the situation. It had to be familiar. Everything depended on it.

Ciaran hugged her, pressing her into the same embrace she'd been in dozens of times. For an instant her eyes fluttered closed, taking in the cool mist and comforting presence that Ciaran seemed to emulate. Apologies and thankfulness rolled off him in waves, and Ivy felt her eyes burn in spite of it all. She reached for him as well, digging her fingers into the back of her shirt, and let their auras mingle.

Then, drawing upon every ounce of willpower in her body, she breathed in.

For a moment, nothing happened. The smell of sea salt singed the inside of her soul, and Ciaran seemed to falter, but little else. She took in the first wave of energy, then the second, and Ciaran finally went rigid, his ghostly form shaking with shock.

"Ivy, what - ugh." He blinked as he pulled away, then gasped as Ivy's grasp on his arm didn't loosen, his eyes darting to where Ivy's colors bled into his, red overtaking the green. "Stop!"

He tried to pull away, but Ivy and Jack were quicker. Jack sprang to his feet, no longer laying meekly on the ground as he sent up new ropes to trap Ciaran on the earth, and Ivy held onto him with all her might. She dug a hand into his curls, focusing once more even as part of her screamed with grief.

Ciaran made up for it. He let out a piercing cry in her ear, twisting madly. He wrestled one hand free and tried to pull himself back, but his solidity had faded and he sank through the ground. His form warped, the color bleeding from him as the red of Ivy's glow crept up to his eyes. He gasped, trying to speak but Ivy, throat burning, pushed harder, causing his strength to fail. The ghost's energy settled itself inside her chest - wailing, screaming, fighting for control, and Ivy almost spared a moment to wonder if her own energy had put up as much of a fight when he'd killed her.

It was a good thing that the pair was already kneeling, for they toppled to their sides, Ciaran making every effort to pull away while Ivy held her head high, pulling back with a strength she didn't know she'd had. It was a determination she'd never felt: to not let him win, to save Jack's life and that of the Town. To not let Ciaran fall into further self-destruction. For the first time, she truly understood why he'd felt the need to kill her.

"LET ME GO!" Ciaran yelled, along with several shouts in his native language. His eyes were wide, and Ivy swallowed back her discomfort at all-too familiar look of betrayal in his eyes. She forced herself to focus, to push her energy through Ciaran's body. The ghost kept trying to fight, but his already weakened state only worsened the longer Ivy concentrated.

In a burst of life, Ciaran dove forward, knocking Ivy onto her back. The transfer reversed, Ciaran's influence creeping into her veins. Her own form flickered and for a moment they were both in purgatory, in a state of simultaneously existing and not. Ivy fought to not close her eyes, head lolling back to catch sight of Jack sprinting towards them.

Jack. Ciaran's thoughts were floating in her head, and she shuddered at the resentment that he held for Jack. But while Ciaran was distracted, Ivy felt her eyes glow, a new resolve streaming through her. Like hell he was going to hurt Jack.

Heat began in her eyes - not the burn of misery or pain, but the gleam of a renewed willpower. She fixed her eyes on Ciaran and looked down at her hand. Instead of focusing on the physical, she tried to think of the two of them as light - two clumps of disorganized molecules. His skin and shirt weren't blocking her any more than another object would. She could push her influence through him.

Ciaran's thoughts immediately switched from Jack as a new burn began in his chest. He glanced down, curls flopping in horror, as his arms became translucent, only a strong cord of ruby creeping through him. Jack's black bands melted and Ivy pushed on, feeling a surge of strength and Ciaran's energy flowed into her. She dug in, feeling a jolt as she brushed up against her own energy - energy that Ciaran had stolen. A hazel strand shot from her chest to Ciaran's, connecting the two sources, and Ivy felt her teeth buzz. She slowly stood, each phantom limb twitching with vigor.

Ciaran twisted - once, twice - then his form flickered and changed, the sight nearly causing Ivy to drop him.

It was Ciaran's mauled form, the one she'd first caught a glimpse of upon their first meeting. His eyes, though still green, were bloodshot, a deep scratch causing the left to swell, the right dangling halfway down his cheek, the strand it was attached to dripping with greyish fluid. His cheeks were gouged, showing each layer of skin, some scratches going through to expose the inside of his mouth. Clear claw marks could be seen across what remained of his throat, which had been flayed, the vocal cords shredded and frayed. What remained of his skin was a dull yellow-grey color, the skull dented inward, with half his curls ripped from his head, and what little he still had was (much like the rest of his clothing) decorated in heaps of blood and acid. Unlike the last two times she'd seen his corpse, Ivy knew she couldn't look away. She took in the sight of him, watching as his legs slowly faded from view, erasing him from the bottom up. He was no longer fighting her, moving sluggishly. Somehow, despite the mangled form, Ciaran's expression managed to remain the same: wide-eyed betrayal and hurt.

Ivy knew exactly how he felt.

"I was only doing what I thought was best," Ciaran whispered, his voice struggling to be heard, and Ivy watched in sick fascination as his vocal cords snapped and bent. He went limp, a heartbreaking acceptance in his eyes. "I wanted to save everyone…"

"I know," Ivy whispered back, not letting up. The bottom of Ciaran's chest disappeared, and his grip changed to clutch her closer.

"Please don't let me die alone again," he begged, closing his eyes. "Not again."

Ciaran's arms turned to mist, only his shoulders and head remaining. In the distance, Ivy heard the sound of a body collapsing - too soft to be Jack's, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Ciaran, who kept his eyes closed as best he could, slumping fully into her. His energy flowed through her body, a whirl of dreams and passions and hurts. Black spots danced before her eyes, but she managed to smooth a hand across the back of Ciaran's already disappearing head. His eyes opened for the briefest moment, and despite the horrid face and situation, she thought she saw a hint of peace and thankfulness.

"I'm sorry," Ivy choked out, watching as the faintest flicker of her friend cried out. "Rest easy now, Keer."

And with that, Ciaran was gone.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jack was going to kill her.

He thought about it, in vivid detail, as she approached the ghost, his bonds loose but strangely hard to unravel wrapped around him - almost as though he were breaking free from taffy. Everything in him was screaming for him to dive forward, pull Ivy away from this maniac, and send him to his second grave, town be damned. He'd listened, in horror, at her words: as she seemed to offer up herself and the Town on a silver platter. She'd looked back at him, disdain on her face but panic in her eyes.

"Trust me, Jack," she'd said, and damn it all, he did.

That didn't make it easier to hear her dismiss their connection. He'd thought they'd resolved how he felt about her but clearly there was more to say. He forced himself to remain still as she'd drawn closer and closer, and the open relief on the ghost's face made his ribs tighten.

Then the glowing had begun and Jack could hold back no longer.

Frantically, he'd drawn up shields around them all, not allowing anywhere for Ciaran or his essence to escape to. He kept a close eye on Ivy, sprinting forward when she'd fallen, and felt a strange mix of admiration and concern when she'd forced herself up, glowing as brightly as a dying star.

There had been one final, pitiful flash of green, and without warning the other ghost simply… vanished. Ivy floated in mid-air, limbs slack. Jack reached up to pull her down, recoiling at the intense heat of her corporal form. Her eyes were rolled back, a twisting ball of red and green thrashing in her chest.

"Ivy?" Jack yelled, careful not to touch either color. "Ivy! Can you hear me?" He frantically patted her cheek, feeling queasy when her head simply lolled to one side. "Ivy, please, please don't be dead again," he pleaded. "You promised me I wouldn't have to watch you die, please -"

The air in the destroyed clearing shifted, a sense of foreboding and doom creeping across the ground. The grass curled up and died altogether, the Wind vanishing, and Jack's instincts begging for him to act. Not fighting, he knew immediately he couldn't. But perhaps run, flee as he always had, though one could never truly run from -

"Hello, Jack." Chakis said pleasantly, standing still as a statue behind the skeleton. "Step aside, if you will."

Logically, Jack understood the futility of his actions, but he still threw Chakis a warning glance, aura blanketing over Ivy as his hands tightened on her. "You cannot Reap her."

The Angel of Death swirled her scythe around, one faint eyebrow lifting to study Jack. "Do you suggest she be left in torment, two beings fighting for control?" She gestured to Ivy's body, laying forgotten on the cold ground. "Dropping this off to the humans nearby?"

"Of course not," Jack snapped, anger rushing to cover his fear. "But that ghost ought to be Reaped, not her."

Chakis never blinked, and her cold grey eyes had never felt so removed from reality. "They have each tied themselves to the essence of the other. It is a connection that cannot be broken easily." Ciaran pulled an hourglass from her pocket, cracked with age, the bottom filled with black sand. Only a few grains remained, floating down with aching slowness. "Step aside."

Jack peered at her, centuries of caution and distrust battling it out in his mind. Then, with great reluctance, he stepped back, pulling his aura away from the convulsing and glitching soul. It no longer held a human form: instead, the ball of energy in the chest had expanded (or had the body collapsed?), green and red turning over each other, resembling a particularly colorful (if violent) yin and yang. Chakis opened her hand, skeletal and topped with sharp nails, and the soul(s) obediently floated to the palm, never halting their fight. Chakis walked over to Ivy's body, tilting her head curiously at the light show dancing across her palm. Then, before Jack had time to turn away, she twisted the scythe in her other hand and brought it down, sliding the soul. One half was poured into her pocket, the other surging back into the body. It was red, but Jack's keen gaze still caught traces of green that slid in as well.

The body heaved, each muscle jerking, and then went still.

Jack quickly knelt beside her, one hand on her neck to feel for a pulse, the other stroking over her face. No air came from her nose, no blood pounded beneath his fingertips. There was not a single movement below him.

"What's wrong?" Jack demanded, giving her as firm a shake as he dared. "Why isn't she alive again?"

Chakis stared at him with open pity. "Jack, she's been dead for nearly a day. It isn't that easy to just… pop a soul back in. It was worth a try, certainly, but there was almost no chance it would work."

"No," Jack whispered. "Then - pull her out! Let her be a ghost again; I'll take her back to Halloween!"

"Is that what you want?" Chakis asked, lips thinning even more than Jack could have thought possible.

Jack nearly said yes, but something in Chakis' face gave him pause. There was an answer hidden in those deep eyes, a riddle chiseled into her hollow cheekbones, and it was up to him to figure it out.

He glanced down at the cold body, which was now growing stiff with rigor mortis. He gently traced her face, fingertips dancing over the slit of her eyebrow and scar on her hairline. The answer was there, he realized, and not as elusive as he might have thought.

Of course, he almost laughed. It's always the same.

He glanced up, exhaustion and resignation on his face. "I'd need to trade time." It wasn't a question. "A life for a life. Years for years."

Chakis dipped her head. "The same choice you faced long ago."

"Yes." Jack closed his sockets. The face of the girl who haunted him was constantly in his mind, and now it helpfully supplied a look of betrayal when she'd realized who he was. "But… I cannot doom another innocent. Ivy would never forgive me for that." He swallowed, pain catching in his throat. "If the choice is to bring her to life but kill another, or have her come as a Spirit to Halloween and keep another safe -"

"And what if I take her soul to the second grave?" Chakis asked mildly. "Would that change your answer then?"

Yes, he wanted to say. Scream, really. Yes, he wanted her with him, no matter the form. He hadn't told her everything she needed to hear, hadn't gotten to impart to her how much she'd saved him. But as he opened his mouth to say so, a memory of Ivy popped into his mind.

"When your descendant comes," Ivy said, tucking her knees against her chest and resting her chin on them, "do you want her to see the same skeleton that condemned her all those years ago?" She blinked at Jack's flinch, thought her eyes were open with understanding. "Or, do you want to show her that you've spent the centuries benign better?"

His face clenched, and he ground out, "no. I am not a God, it is not my place to decide who lives and dies for my benefit."

Chakis seemed to smile at that, lips curving upward into a smile that made one want to laugh along in self-defense. "Only took you… what, 500 years?"

"And still looking young," he scoffed, if only to push down the lump in his throat.

"It is a hard lesson to learn," Chakis granted. "To understand that what is best for ourselves, or even what appears to be best for another, is not often without consequence. It would not do you well to trade the years of another, yes. But…" she tapped the scythe against Ivy's lips, almost thoughtfully. "What of your own?"

"Beg pardon?"

"Why not trade your own years?" repeated Chakis. "Off your second grave. Throw in enough, it might equate to living years."

Jack felt a chill run up his spine. He had no idea what awaited him after the second grave: more cycles of loss and torment? Or would he simply cease to exist altogether? He'd set up the Town and was now finally able to rule it. It was his duty: to the Citizens, to Halloween, to all who felt they didn't belong in the world. He had his descendant to anticipate, a dog to look after, a Town to wrangle and perhaps… perhaps a woman to love, even if he didn't want to admit it to himself.

But he looked down at his other responsibility, one that sometimes felt like every conceivable burden at once and at others like none at all. He remembered holding James long ago, a fierce desire to defend him from anything and everything leaving him trembling even as he'd rocked the boy. He hadn't been able to keep James safe. He hadn't been able to keep Ivy safe.

But they were his children. What kind of a father would he be if he didn't do all he could to save them?

"Deal," he said firmly, extending a hand to Chakis. He let go of Ivy, bracing himself for the draining of his years.

"Are you sure?" Chakis asked, because the inability to give or accept a straight answer seemed to be hardwired into her. "You have quite the afterlife ahead of you."

"And she has quite the life ahead of her," Jack retorted. "I'm sure. Ivy has made changes within herself, and I - it's time I did, too." He shook out his hands. "If I do this, will you be able to save her?"

"Perhaps. It's a delicate matter, a soul. They lose a little bit of themselves the more they're passed about. There's only a chance of it succeeding."

"A chance is better than nothing. I don't want to lose her, or for her to lose herself."

Chakis dipped her head, beaming at him with clear pride, no matter how reserved her expression. "It shall be as you say, Jack." She reached out to clasp his hand, eyes glowing white as she breathed in.

Jack felt his years drain through the transfer, almost marveling at the number. Finally, Chakis broke the connection, sweeping her hand down and passing the black smog through her chest.

"This has been attempted before," Chakis admitted, staring down at the body. "Monsters giving parts of themselves to humans. It's a tiresome task, one not commonly done. But then…" she smiled, and for a moment the weight of her position seemed to lift from them both. "You always did like to stretch the rules."

"If this doesn't work," Jack said, voice raspy from the transfer, "you'll guide her to whatever comes next?"

"I will," promised the Angel. "But I don't think I'll need to quite yet."

Jack's soul flipped. "Oh?"

Instead of answering, Chakis lifted her scythe, then without warning dropped it, the butt of it landing on Ivy's chest with a dull crack.

For half an instant, Ivy's eyes flew open, gasping, but just as quickly she sank back out of reality. But this time, Jack noticed the light rise and fall of her chest. He took her head in his hands, pressing his forehead firmly to hers, feeling the soft puffs of air escaping from her lips, each one giving him more hope than the last.

"Should I leave her in her village?" Jack suggested reluctantly. "If she lives once more, perhaps the best thing to do is leave her with her own kind."

Chakis raised her other eyebrow. "Perhaps she has two kinds, Jack." She glanced down at Ivy, as though there was something only she could see. "It would be best for you to take her back to Halloween." She turned and, with one mighty swing of the scythe, cut through the fabric of reality, leaving a small opening.

"What of the Gateway?" Jack asked, even as he knelt before Ivy once more. "The one that the ghost wanted to destroy. Will it be safe?"

Chakis' eyes twinkled with hidden knowledge, and Jack got the strangest sense of foreboding. "Oh, it will be fine," she said airily. "There's been enough spiritual activity in here to ward the humans away, and I'll put a few protections around it in case, but you needn't worry about it yet."

Jack didn't much care for that. "But what was it? How did Ivy and Bezata get in?"

"Oh, I think you'll discover that soon enough." Chakis gave the grin of a predator, the silver of her eyes flashing. "Until next time, Jack."

He dipped his head respectfully, waiting until the Reaper disappeared to fully let the stale air escape his lungs. For a long moment he let his fingers rest on Ivy's pulse, relishing in the slow, sluggish beat of her heart. But he knew she needed repairing, so he rolled himself onto his feet. He folded her arms on her chest then tucked his arms under her back and behind her knees, easily lifting her. His ribs tightened at the chill her body still held, and he paused to let his nose chin rest against the soft, hopelessly mussed mop of hair on her head.

He didn't notice the small patch of dead ivy leaves she'd been lying on, their strands snapped and lifeless.

Her head rolled onto his shoulder, and the tension that had been building inside Jack ever since she went missing was alleviated somewhat at the familiar sensation of her breath fanning across the vertebrae of his neck. Against all odds, he had her again. Nothing could possibly -

His aura prickled with awareness, and Jack whirled around as a figure crashed into the clearing.

"Take that!" Nicholas screamed, digging his claws into the ground and yanking upwards, sending a shockwave through the already-battered earth, dropping into a ridiculous stance. "You cowardly, murderous - oh, hi Jack."

Nicholas had the decency to look ashamed (dropping his arms and standing straight once more) as the Creature stepped out of the trees, his own defenses relaxing at the sight of Jack alone.

"The ghost?" He asked, voice low and uncertain.

"No longer a problem," Jack answered as honestly (and calmly) as he could. "Unlike the Classics of Literature roaming the Human World in broad daylight."

"Ok, but hear us out, Jack:" Nicholas lifted his paws placatingly. "We left Vlad in charge!"

Jack dropped his head back. "Oh, wonderful."

"A threat of this kind ought to not be faced alone." The Creature gazed pointedly around the clearing. The trees that weren't on fire were toppled over, roots dangling in the air, while the grass was either completely uprooted or dead. Scorch marks and soot decorated anything green or brown, and a plume of smoke still stretched up to the sky.

"Then where were you?" Jack snapped, grasp tightening on Ivy.

The Creature's eyes shifted. "We, ah, became a bit preoccupied. But no matter, it will serve us well in the end."

Part of Jack wanted to press the matter (knew he should press it) but the part that had been fighting and grieving for the past twenty-four hours simply wanted to go back to Halloween, hide himself away in the Manor, and not let Ivy go until she awoke.

Perhaps not even then.

"Very well," he sighed instead, head shaking. "Do you have Marvel? We'd best be getting back to Halloween before the humans notice something is amiss."

"Yeah, funny thing about that," Marvel piped up, expertly ducking the blasts of aura that were instantly sent his way. "Good & Insane Creature, that dude you killed may have been a murderer, but he also was found in, like, five seconds."

"Can't even hide a body nowadays," the Creature muttered as Jack cried out, "you did what?"

"Oh, it's alright, Jack," Nicholas rushed to explain. "Not only was he a real piece of shit, but the humans saw the ghost using her body, and so -"

"I -" Jack cut them both off, taking a moment to count to five. "We'll discuss this back in Halloween," he said, a warning in his voice. "Nicholas, find a Gateway."

For once picking up on the subtleties of speech, Nicholas nodded, darting away before running back, bowing awkwardly, and skidding off once more.

"Is she alright?" The Creature asked, yellow eyes looking critically at the limp body in Jack's arms.

"She will be," Jack said firmly, holding her closer as though it would make his words true. Nicholas came scampering back, claw pointing through a thicket.

"Found one," he panted. "Should be strong enough for us all to get through, if we're quick."

Jack nodded. "Let's hurry, then. I've no desire to face the other humans."

"Better run. That much smoke means you've given this place a spotlight that can be seen from miles around."

As if on cue, the wail of sirens sounded in the distance, and each monster turned to glare at the space where Marvel should be.

"What? Why do you always look at me like that when I tell the truth?"

Jack bit back an argument, urging his monsters forward as he carried Ivy towards the Gateway, the untied laces of her sneakers gently swinging. "Come on," he ordered.

When the humans arrived on the scene, the monsters were long gone, and theories were tossed around. They picked their way through the destroyed underbrush, a few hoses half-heartedly sprayed at the trees, theories thrown around ranging from a terrorist attack to yet another unofficial exercise conducted by the Americans. But even as they clumsily stomped around the clearing, they each, unknowingly, avoided a spot just a few yards away, where the moss grew thick, the earth was strangely colored, and the trees clustered in a secretive, conspiratory circle.


Chapter 45 will be uploaded on January 23rd.

-Aria