DISCLAIMER: Wow, this is the next to last disclaimer that I'll have to write. I should really write something profound and uplifting. Or I should just get to the point and tell you that all "Shaun of the Dead" characters are the property of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright.

"If anyone's got a plan, now would be a really good time to share it," Shaun suggested, with a hint of desperation in his voice.

"I defer to the senior slayer here," Sara replied.

"I'm workin' on it, I'm workin' on it!" Grayson said.

"Well, whatever you're working on, do it faster," Shaun implored.

"Grayson, the torch is going out!" Sara cried. She desperately willed the last embers of the torch to keep burning before the darkness enveloped them.

"Wait, wait, something's happening," Shaun said. He'd noticed a faint glow of light near the seal that was getting brighter and brighter. Sara and Grayson strained to see. A strong burst of white light rose from the seal and shot toward the large cross on the wall. "That can't be good."

The restless sea of vampires suddenly grew still, enthralled by the light. The walls and floor around them began to shake.

"All right, who opened the seal?" Grayson demanded, looking at Sara.

"Don't look at me, I didn't do it," she protested.

"You're sure you didn't get any of your blood on that seal?"

"I'm positive. Maybe it was one of you guys. Any open wounds you conveniently forgot about?"

"Look, let's not bicker and argue about who opened the seal," Grayson said. "The important thing is it's open."

"So now what we do?" Shaun implored.

"Well…what did we learn from Raiders of the Lost Ark?" Grayson asked.

"That the gun is more powerful than the scimitar?" Shaun offered.

"No. Well, apart from that."

"Don't look at the light," Sara said.

"Exactly. Shut your eyes and don't look at it, no matter what."

"Are you sure about this?" Shaun asked.

"Just go with it. If we die, you have permission to torment me for eternity."

"Nice."

The light continued to grow brighter and spread around the room. Though their eyes were shut tightly, the three humans still sensed the increasing brightness and heat around them. Suddenly, a burst of energy knocked them to the ground, and they tumbled on top of one another. Moments later, they were surrounded by complete silence and darkness.

Grayson opened his eyes first to survey the room. He tapped Shaun on the shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. Open your eyes."

Grimacing in pain, Shaun tried to sit up. He couldn't believe his eyes. He leaned over to Sara and nudged her gently. "Get a load of this."

All around them, the floor was covered in ashes.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Beats me," Shaun remarked.

"Maybe since Davrok's blood opened the seal, this cleansing burst of light went after the vampires instead," Grayson reasoned.

"You've gotta' be fucking kidding me."

"Well, how else do you explain the fact that there are now piles of dust where hundreds of vampires used to be? Just go with it."

They slowly rose to their feet and made their way out of the chapel and into the open. They were met with a fleet of headlights advancing onto the field.

"Bloody hell, it's the cavalry," Shaun observed.

"Impeccable timing, those guys," Grayson groaned.

One of the cars stopped in front of them, and Michael jumped out, followed by two other men in black SWAT-type uniforms. "Major Corbett, I need you to cordone off this estate. Make sure the perimeter is secure," he said to the first man. "Sergeant Thomas, take your men and make a thorough sweep of the chapel interior. Stake anything without a heartbeat." The uniformed men saluted and headed off to perform their designated tasks. Michael finally turned his attention to the tired trio. "Are you three all right?" he asked.

"Surviving," Sara said wearily.

"What about Davrok?"

"He lost his head," Grayson quipped.

"Shaun cut it off," Sara said proudly. "We think his blood opened the seal, big burst of light, and all the vampires went poof."

"I think we caught a lucky break," Shaun remarked.

"Well, actually, it turns out Alexandra made another mistake in the translation," Michael explained hesitantly. "The seal was always an instrument of good. No matter whose blood opened it, its purpose was to cleanse the world of demons. Within a one-mile radius at least."

The three slayers exchanged glances.

"What about Professor Ryland?" Michael inquired.

"He escaped before the grand opening," Sara replied. "We didn't see which way he went."

"We'll circulate his picture, make sure all the European branches are on the lookout for him. He won't get far. Very well done, all of you," Michael praised, proceeding on to the chapel behind them.

Grayson sighed. "I'm gonna' go get the car." He took off walking across the lawn.

Sara and Shaun were left standing alone. "Well, this has been an interesting night," she sighed.

"Very interesting," he agreed.

"Anyone ever tell you you really know how to show a girl a good time?"

He laughed. "Uh…no. I don't think that's ever been mentioned."

"Well," she said, glancing back at the chapel, "looks like my schedule suddenly cleared up. What do you want to do now?"

He checked his watch. "I think we might have time to get in a couple of pints and a round of pool at the Shepherd's."

"Sounds like a plan."

Grayson came running up to them, a panicked look in his eyes. "Sorry, Sara, Shaun will have to give you a raincheck."

"What? Why?"

"Shaun and I have to take the car back to the Council. Remember, we need to return that equipment that we borrowed," he said emphatically.

Shaun didn't quite follow but Grayson seemed insistent. "Yeah, alright. I'll, uh…I'll call you later."

"Okay," she muttered as the two men raced back to the Range Rover.

Michael approached Sara. "Where are they off to?" he inquired.

"Oh, leaving without an explanation. Again."

"I'm very glad that all of you are safe and sound."

There was a loud, girlish scream from behind them.

"What was that?" Michael gasped.

"I don't know, it sounded kinda' like Shaun. Anyway, things were looking very bleak at one point. We were completely surrounded, the situation looked entirely hopeless. But somehow we came out of it relatively unscathed. And…" She smacked her forehead as a realization hit her. "Oh my God, Mister Barnaby!"

"Barnaby?"

"This guy that was giving me a tour of the place. I had to knock him unconscious so I could sneak into the chapel. He's still locked up in a storage closet somewhere."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure he gets home safely. After signing a waiver not to sue you for aggravated assault."

"It wasn't necessarily aggravated…"

"Wait, why was he giving you a tour of the place?"

"Because you fed the headmaster that stupid cover story about me being Misses Davenport, a barrister's wife with a son called Jordan."

"I didn't give him any cover story. I told him that you would arrive at the school to investigate a gas leak, and that would be their cue to start evacuation procedures."

"Oh." Her gaze fell to the ground, heavy with guilt.

"What is it?"

"I think I might have just ruined young Jordan Davenport's educational prospects."

"Don't worry, we'll get it sorted. In the meantime, how's your Hungarian?"

"Nonexistent."

"Good. The Vatican received an urgent distress call yesterday. They need immediate assistance," he explained, handing her an envelope. "Here are your plane tickets. You're expected in Budapest tomorrow evening."

"Right, because heaven forbid I should have some time to actually enjoy averting the apocalypse."

"Sara, I know you're tired. But evil doesn't sleep, and neither should we."

"One of these days, I'm slipping Nyquil into evil's tea," she remarked, reluctantly taking the tickets from Michael.

"Oh, and one more thing. If you feel the need to say farewell to anyone, I'd do it sooner rather than later."