Yeah, uh, sorry for not updating in a very very very long time—I died for a while, and then I came alive again. Actuallynonotreally. But I just learned that my boyfriend, whoisthemostawesomistsexiestguyintheworld, died for thirteen seconds after he was born. I almost lost my love before I even knew him D Oops, I'm rambling. Anyway, I hope I can keep all my readers satisfied for a while with this new chapter... I'll try to update at least once more before the end of the year comes along!!

Review Replies:

Biskuits: Yes... cliffhanger... P ... That's all I got to say. My brain ain't functioning x.X

Jessica: Ah, but are you so sure it will be a Grim/Mandy romance?? Eh?? EHH???? P

Velvet Panther: Ah, yes, little Grimmy has to have some feelings for the little girl he is forced to live with, right? And indeed, it seems as if no cage could hold the devilish Mandy... but perhaps she won't have to force herself out of this one.

Altenq: I am extremely flattered that you think my story to be one of the best! I would write more to reply to you as well as my other readers, but I have only a limited amount of time to type up this chapter... well, I hope you enjoy this one!! Thanks for reading!

Grim was slammed into solid rock after being sent through the portal. The skeleton clutched his head as he stumbled back from the hard wall, his skull throbbing. After a quick recovery, Grim looked around, observing the stone, red walls, the hunk of rock occupying the center, and the circle of fire in the corner. "Hm," He thought, his empty sockets still in search for Mandy.

"Grim?" Someone called out upon hearing his hum. Grim blinked, glancing around. That had definitely sounded like Mandy.

"Mandy, where are you?" Grim announced loudly in response.

"Didn't think you'd actually find me," Mandy smirked, holding her elbows as she walked to where Grim would be able to see her, at the clearer part of the fire, her shoes tapping noisily on the hard, rock floor.

"Mandy!" Grim said as he spotted her unmistakable form, a smile stretching across his jaws. He shook his head briefly as if to shake off the smile before walking towards her.

Mandy quickly made an obvious observation, "Where's Billy, bonehead?"

Grim blinked, glancing around, his gaze falling for a moment on the still wide open portal. "Hmm... he was supposed to come with me..." Grim shrugged, taking his scythe in both hands once again. "Well, I'm sure he's fine. Let's just get out of here."

Mandy nodded simply, stepping back. Just as Grim was about to free Mandy with a powerful whip at the wild fire, a tall black demon appeared with a wisp of curling dark smoke.

Nergal stood next to the fenced Mandy, his hands on his hips and an angry expression on his face. "So, you think you can spoil my plan, my fun?" He snapped, stepping towards Grim.

The Grim Reaper hesitated, although quickly returned Nergal's anger with a glare. "Well I supposed it's alright for you to kidnap dis girl, but it's not alright for me to rescue her??"

"I only did it because of Billy!" Nergal said immediately, "If he wouldn't have refused my offer, his girlfriend wouldn't be here!" Nergal growled, a few tentacles emerging from his back threateningly.

"Oh, please, I am not that idiot's girlfriend." Mandy cut in, rolling her eyes.

"Surrender da girl to me or ELSE!" Grim commanded, ignoring Mandy as he raised his scythe.

"I won't be giving up anything, however, YOU will!" Nergal grinned menacingly, a tentacle shooting towards Grim and wrapping around his weapon, yanking it out of his grip before anything could be done. Grim clenched his fists, glaring at Nergal who was holding the scythe far out of reach.

"Give dat back!" Grim said, his arm extending as if expecting Nergal to return his possession without further trickery.

"Oh, I wouldn't be thinking about your precious scythe right now." Nergal grinned even broader as Grim raised an eyebrow.

"Behind you, idiot!" Mandy informed Grim, pointing at the tentacle that had snuck behind the unsuspecting reaper. Grim barely had time to react before the limb had wrapped itself around the skeleton's thin waist, a numbing shock wave enveloping Nergal's victim.

Of course, Grim was more resistant and wasn't as easily paralyzed as Mandy. However he did groan from the pain coursing through his every nerve. Nergal plastered a satisfied smile cheek to cheek, his eyes remaining on the constricted form of Grim.

Mandy decided to remain silent. Leave it to Grim to screw up.

Nergal turned his head to Mandy. "You might want to scoot over a bit," He told her, gesturing with his cranium to the left as he lifted Grim just above the wall of flames.

Mandy ignored the warning, just glaring threateningly at her captor as he dropped Grim unceremoniously into the confinement. Grim landed in a heap, a layer of black ash covering his body where there used to be ghostly white bone. "That could have gone better..." He moaned.

Mandy rolled her eyes. "Duh. You could've gotten me out of here." She raised an eyebrow at the lively skeleton next to her.

Grim sat up, rubbing his head. "Well, what was I s'posed to do in my position?"

Mandy shook her head. "Forget about it. The question is; how do we get out of here! We surely can't rely on BILLY to help us."

Grim sighed, glancing at Mandy. "I tink dat's the only thing we can do..."

Mandy stood up. "I'm sure there's some way we can escape..." She clenched her fists at her sides.

Grim looked around, and noticed that Nergal had left the room. Continuing his search for something, anything to help them in their situation, he spied the portal he had used to get here.

"It's still open..." Grim mentioned, referring to the portal as he held his chin in his bony palm, "Which means Billy could come and save us if he jumped into the other end of the portal."

"Like he'll be smart enough to even realize what it is." Mandy rolled her eyes, sitting down.

Grim got to his feet. "It seems like out only hope." He walked over to the edge of the flames.

Catching his breath, Billy ceased running as he finally caught up to the ice cream truck. But his cried of joy were soon found to be in vain, for a very long line had accumulated in front of the vehicle.

"Awww..." Billy groaned, dragging himself to the back of the line. On his way, he was able to spot two familiar faces, belonging to his friends that went by the names of Irwin and Pud'n. Billy's façade brightened as he scuttled over to them.

"Hey guys! You gonna buy some ice cream?"

An African-American fellow replied in a pudgy, high-pitched voice, "Yeah, why?" He wore large, black rimmed blue tinted glasses perched on the bridge of his big nose. The boy was chubby, tucked in a yellow button-up shirt and green breeches. A mop of black hair adorned his cranium, a red bow tie pulling together his nerdy appearance.

"Oh, I was just wonderin', 'cause, you know, I like ice cream too!" Billy was trying to hint to them that he'd like a place in line with them to save time from waiting at the very end of the line.

The freckled, buck-toothed boy gestured to the back of the line, "Well then why don't you buy some!" His voice was that of a cute toddler, his cheeks as or even more chubby than Irwin's. Clothing him was a light blue hoodie and a pair of jeans, a tuff of curly red hair topping his elliptical head.

"Ooh yes, I am, but the line is so long..." Billy pointed out the obvious fact with a pathetic voice.

"Yeah, and?" Irwin crossed his arms, a bill clutched in his right hand.

Billy glanced at the ground, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Well... I really want some ice cream... and the ice cream guy could run out of ice cream soon..."

Pud'n sighed impatiently, "SO?"

"Can I PLEASE cut in front of you guys?" Billy pleaded, dropping to his knees, putting his hands together in front of him.

Irwin and Pud'n took no pity. "No, I don't think it's FAIR." Irwin put his hands on his hips, glaring down at Billy. Billy's beady eyes followed the dollar bill in his friend's hand enviously.

"Please please please please please please PLEASE?" Billy begged the two.

Pud'n answer this time. "No, we've waited long enough, so should you!" He wasn't very considerate in his reply.

Billy pouted, pulling himself up to stand. "Aww... you guys are no fun..."

Irwin and Pud'n ignored the insult, not being able to think of a smart comeback. Frowning, Billy walked towards the back of the line, shoulders sagging and hands thrust into his pockets.