AN: I'm back! Sorry I haven't updated recently. I'm 27 years old and I work full time so I feel like that's all I have time for. As always, disclaimer applies. Without further ado, here's the chapter!

Ace's POV:

I tried to listen to Bess. I spent the better part of the day trying to give Nancy space. Then I happened to drive past her house and saw her leaving. When I saw the time, I followed her. Now, I slowly walk up to Nancy as she looks around the graveyard. I can't focus on anything except her. I watch her for another minute before I make my presence known. "Nancy?"

She gasps and turns to face me. "Ace, what are you doing here?"

I walk past her and look around the graveyard. The coffins are all empty and the tombstones are broken. "I know why you pushed me away earlier today." I turn around and face Nancy. She looks like a deer in the headlights. "Nancy, you don't have to admit it. I know you're trying to protect me. I also know that this…" I motion between the two of us. "…is real. I know we love each other. That's good enough for me until we find a way to break the curse. I love you so much. I won't stop fighting for us if you won't. Again, don't say anything. I don't need you to because I know everything. Bess had a vision and-"

I'm interrupted by a deep voice from behind me. "I thought I told you to come alone, Nancy Drew."

I turn and face the mystery person as Nancy speaks up. "You did. Ace was just leaving."

I turn to her in shock. "What? Nancy, I'm not going to leave you alone with this guy. I love you too much to risk something happening to you." I look down at my shoes and kick the ground. "And I suddenly can't shut up about my feelings."

I hear a sigh from behind me. "Very well, young man. I can't be mad at someone trying to protect the woman he loves. I understand your hesitance to leave her with a stranger."

I wrap an arm around Nancy and pull her closer to me. "Thank you."

Nancy steps away from me and moves closer to the stranger. I grab her hand as she speaks up. "Do you know why there are empty graves here?"

Despite the shadows that surround the stranger, I can see him nod his head. He still hasn't shown his face. "Why don't you come out of the shadows so we can see who you are?" I feel Nancy tighten her grip on my hand as I speak.

The stranger is speechless and motionless for a moment before he steps into the moonlight. He has a large scar on his face. I hear Nancy gasp and her grip tightens even more. I squeeze back to reassure her. "I came in contact with Temperance a while back. You can thank her for the obvious scar on my face. Look at all the dates on the graves. They all date back to the Battle of Gettysburg."

I let go of Nancy's hand and begin inspecting the graves while the stranger talks. He's right. "I know Temperance is dead. The question is: who would benefit from digging up a bunch of old graves from the Civil War?" One grave catches my eye and I bend down to inspect it. My family's name is carved into the marble. Hardy.

AN: Ruh-roh! Cliffhanger. I'm going to end the chapter here. I feel like it's been too long since I posted an update. Read and review please!