Well, this is it, the last chapter. Wow. I started this story on February 27, of last year. OO

I hope you enjoy this final installment. Thank you for all of the reviews.

Chapter 20:

Part One

The Shadows Grow Long

(Don't worry…I just separated this chapter into two parts
because the first part doesn't feel like the same chapter as the second part…

There were still things I needed rap up…I guess. This IS my last submission. It's just going to be a VERY long chapter.)

It had been a sweet slumber. It's only fault being that it had gone by so quickly.

Sally had risen early, which she knew was most certainly a terrible mistake. She could have had all day with him, for once, sleeping into ungodly hours without interruption. Instead, when the first of the sun' rays rose over the town's crooked horizon and hit her pale and sorrow stricken face, she had awakened and rather then even trying to go back to sleep, had quietly left the bed.

For an hour or so she had stared out the window, wondering what things would be like at this time the next day. Would the town be rejoicing? No. That wasn't likely. As far as she could see, even if Jack's plan did work, there was not much to rejoice over. Their king would be gone…and things, though slightly improved, would not be as well as they could be.

Or Murdock could win and the town would be his…and who knows how long it would take till someone comes. He would destroy Halloween forever…and I…I would be his…

Sally shivered and forced these thoughts out of her head. Jack's plan had to work. It HAD to. Everything would be wrong if it did not.

She stood and made her way over to her sewing machine, figuring that putting herself to work would ease her mind.

She set the machine up in silence and began to sew. With every stitch the time passed by. It went slowly…but not slowly enough.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The hearse was parked in front of a large and sinister looking tower. The Reaper left it and headed towards the gates in a fast paced walk, forcing Arthur to jog at his heels to keep up. (Sigh, Arthur, apparently is the head of the boards name…I named him earlier on in the story and forgot ;)

"Er…sir…is visiting this place really necessary?" The Reaper, choosing to ignore him, had grabbed at a large rope with a skull at the end and had pulled it. A wretched bell began to ring. Arthur halted behind him and looked upwards towards the small tower at the edge of the grounds. Inside, a zombie in uniform appeared to have been sleeping, for he awoke abruptly and fell backwards in his chair.

The reaper stopped ringing the bell and crossed his arms, waiting for the corpse to regain his composer. When he did, he came to the pointed window and looked down in a half confused, half irritated manner.

"Open the gate!" The reaper yelled up to him. The corpse looked about and leaned out further.

"Who's asking?" He asked stupidly. (For apparently the black robe, skeletal arms and scythe had not given it away.)

"Death! Now open the gate!" He yelled. The cadaver blinked and hurried to the controls. (You don't argue with death…it doesn't work.)

After a few moments the large black gates swung open, yielding to death and the head of board. Death stepped in and headed towards the gardens towards the front door as though he had been there many times before. Arthur followed, occasionally looking about and watching the plants suspiciously.

"Charles, why are we here?" Arthur whispered furiously. "This is a prison…Murdock wouldn't have run away from exile to go to a prison!" The reaper reached the heavy metal doors and slammed the knocker onto their surface three times before stepping back and fixing Arthur with an impatient look.

"I'm not here for Murdock!" He said icily. Arthur opened his mouth to question this but was cut off as the doors opened. A very large creature appeared on the other side. His façade…far to wretched to describe. He was like a man…if a man had somehow been born inside out and…perhaps in some cases…upside down. Arthur shivered and tried his best to bow behind Death.

"Daenizvk, I presume. I must speak to your master." Death said, apparently immune the creatures immense unsightliness. The creature nodded (At least…it…sort of looked like he nodded…I guess.) and motioned for them to follow him.

Arthur followed after the reaper as he followed Daenizvk.

"What is he?" He asked in hushed tones.

"He's the doorman." The reaper responded nonchalantly.

The Crimson Eye Reformatory was serious punishment number 66 for wayward souls. It was run by Garish Pandemonium, who, depending on whom he was speaking to, could look like a kindly old man or that thing with the hellish face that children sometimes saw in their dreams.

The door man held the door to his office open, making sure to shut it loudly behind them (Because, in the afterlife…that's just the sort of thing that happens.)

"Ah, Charles." The kindly looking elder said as he watched the Reaper enter. Charles nodded to him and pulled up a seat, not waiting to be invited to sit down.

"I apologize for barging in, Garish. I'm in a hurry." He said, as Arthur tried to find a seat that wasn't too close to the man behind the desk. (The nicer something looked in a place such as this, the more horrible it would most certainly turn out to be.)

"Yes, I heard your…previous assistant did not quite reach the place of his émigré." He said, smiling. The reaper nodded darkly.

"Murdock is why I am here. He spent fifty years in this prison for numerous charges compiled against him several years ago. It was in his file." The reaper threw Murdock's file down on the desk. Garish watched it wearily.

"Yes? That was a long time ago."

"I know." The reaper said quickly. "He was released a hundred years before his sentence was filled and was sent to work in an office in the building where new souls are received. His superior assigned him to me there." Garish laughed, a thing, which slightly annoyed the reaper.

"Are you here to send his supervisor to me? It would appear he deserves it." The reaper shook his head impatiently.

"No, I'm here for the information you have on Murdock. Where he was before…what he did. You have it…Bruno didn't…at least…not to any significant extent."

Garish' smile faded a little as he began to root through his desk. He pulled out a cigar and lit it. Charles frowned as Garish offered him the silver cigar box. The reaper brushed it away.

"Please, Garish, I'm in a hurry."

"Calm down Charles. I have the paperwork, but it won't do you any good. It could take hours to find it…and there's too much to come across anything of use to you anyway." Charles gripped onto his scythe angrily.

"I have to hurry! He could be anywhere!" He yelled to the world-weary man in front of him. Garish sighed and leaned forward.

"He was the king of a town in the holiday forest, Charles. That's all I know. He was banished from there because he didn't follow the rules. From there he came to me…because at the time, that's where his people wanted him." He looked sideways towards the clock hanging on the wall.

"It's almost one now. I believe, since it's the 21st, that the busses are running tonight. You should be able to make the bus stop if you go now." He took the cigar from his mouth and sat back in his chair. The reaper shared a look with Arthur before he spoke.

"Halloween Town? But he couldn't…" He stopped and then, suddenly looking tired, he stood. "Yes…yes he could. They didn't take my "key" from him. And the holiday forest is on the way towards the land of Limbo…he could have very easily." He motioned for Arthur to stand and started to head out the door.

"Sorry, Garish…for wasting your time…I should have guessed." Garish grinned.

"Nonsense. Come by anytime."

At the door, Daenizvk was waiting, holding it open as the two passed through again.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Sally removed her sewing from the machine at half past three. She cast a brief look towards Jack, who was still asleep, before leaving the room and heading down the ramp towards the doctor's kitchen.

She hung her sewing on the counter by a smoking pot. (No doubt the doctor's lunch…it smelled awful.) And went to the table to sit and think.

Thankfully, her thoughts did not run so deep before they were interrupted by Lock Shock and Barrel who were (Surprisingly enough…yea.) Arguing with one another. As usual, it appeared as though Barrel was at the losing side of the argument.

Barrel frowned after the other two trick or treaters who were carrying a large pot with a lid on it by the two giant handles at the side.

"How come I have to be the one to distract Murdock?" He asked, annoyed.

"Because." Shock said as she dropped her end of the pot, nearly spilling its contents and knocking over Lock in the process.

"Because why?" Barrel snapped back, while glancing over at the bundle of fabric sitting on the counter.

"Because we said so." Lock said while brushing himself off. Shock grabbed the fabric from the counter and flung it over Lock's should, nearly knocking him down a second time.

"Come one, Lock. Jack said early afternoon." She said, kicking him in the shin and starting to pick up her side of the pot.

"Ow, fine!" Lock snapped back. He grabbed his side and they both started towards the door. Shock paid Sally a quick glance before kicking open the door.

"Tell bonehead that he better be on time, tonight." She said before heading out towards the tree house, nearly dragging Lock behind her.

Barrel kicked at something in aggravation before sitting at the table that Sally was sitting at and stuffing his chin into his fists impatiently.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A few residents wondered out into the square, their eyes refusing to meet with the eyes of others. (Or the garments of others. Purple was NOT a popular color in Halloween Town…but one wouldn't know it if they saw the town now.) It was the sixteenth big meeting of that year. They were always scheduled at the same time before Halloween Town. That was one thing that Murdock did not choose to change.

It was still early, but a few residents decided to get their early (Which was not uncommon.) so that they could ensure seats as far away from Murdock as possibly. (Mostly to avoid his disturbing eyes.)

Among these few people were the four vampire brothers and the band from in front of Jack's gate…(who had recently been told that they had to participate with the rest of the town, or they would be locked in an iron maiden, together, for several hundred years.)

"This doesn't feel right." One of them said briefly as he watched the stage where their Pumpkin King would be standing. The other members of the band nodded quietly.

"Best to be silent about it though." Said another.

If some of the residents would have been a bit cleverer, they might have thought of speaking out against their new tyrant of a leader. Unfortunately, all brain cells remaining, and not under the weight of decay was dedicated to Halloween and Halloween only. They were lost without a leader…with no Jack…following this mad man seemed like the only other option. This, of course, did not mean that they had to like it.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Jack awoke feeling worse then he did before he fell asleep. He lifted his arm to find, disturbingly, that it felt much heavier then bone should. Sighing, he lowered it and stared at the ceiling for a long moment.

Hours now. He thought to himself. I wish I had more time.

He felt a weighty depression come upon him as he sat up and forced himself to his feet. In the corner, he saw a tray with a number of small vials on it. The doctor had obviously brought it up while he was sleeping.

Jack crossed over to them and picked one up in his bony fingers, wondering whether or not he should take one so that he wouldn't start falling apart before he had to leave that evening.

As he examined it, Sally entered the room inaudibly and stood behind him in silence, watching as he set the vial down with a sigh. She approached him; touching his shoulder to make him aware of her presence.

Jack started slightly and turned.

"Your awake." She said in a very tiny voice. She suspected that she was trying to smile…but did not feel it working very well. Jack nodded.

"What time is it?" He asked, a tremor of dismay entering his voice.

"It must be nearing five. You should take one now Jack." She said, while motioning towards the vials. "…You look…" She stammered off slightly. Jack smiled a little.

"Horrible, I know." He said warmly. "I will. Have two of the trick or treaters left yet?" He asked.

"Yes…a little over an hour ago." Jack nodded.

"Good. Barrel's left, I imagine?"

"Yes." Sally said sadly. She had begun playing with the stitches on her hand.

"Would you mind going down and telling him to set off as well, while I get ready?" Jack asked kindly. Sally was aware that he was watching her with some concern. She nodded and left the room, meeting his eye sockets for a moment. It was enough to have her fighting back tears as she descended the ramp.

XXXXX

Jack watched the place where she had been standing for a moment, before turning and taking one of the vials from the tray. He emptied it's contents and felt slightly better…but it did nothing for his mood.

He grabbed his pinstripe jacket and bat tie from the old wooden chair and put them on over distraught white dress shirt. The whole time, he thought, rather painfully of ways to say goodbye. In his own bed, Zero watched his master sorrowfully as he straightened out his outfit and grabbed the braided rope that he had hung on the side of Sally's bed.

Outside the shadows began to grow long, and in the square, the meeting began.

Part Two

The Last Gamble

Jack entered the kitchen, as it grew dark. He had taken half of the vials, the other half were stored in his pocket. The rope was strung over his shoulder. Sally had been sitting at the table. She looked up only when he approached her.

"Where's the doctor?" Jack asked. His voice was steady, a thing which both heartened Sally and dismayed her. She longed to be as certain as he was.

"He's down in his lab." She said softly. "I think he's hiding." She added, with a little guilt. Jack smiled.

"I don't blame him." He said, slightly amused.

For a moment, there was a very loud silence, where both of them were putting off saying words that had not yet come to them. Jack gazed at the clock briefly before sighing gloomily.

"If this is going to work, I have to go now." He said softly. Sally held back her tears as best as she could by avoiding his gaze. She felt that no matter what she said…it would still sound like goodbye to both of them…so she might as well just get it out of the way.

"Goodbye Jack." She said. It came out as half a sob. Before her, Jack had set the rope aside. She felt his arms around her and his kiss on her forehead. Vaguely she thought that if she just closed her eyes and pretended it wasn't going to end like this…that it would spare her feelings a little. But she didn't. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, and looked into his face because it WAS the last time…and she wanted to remember it for what it was. For now, the hardest part was letting him go.

"I love you, Sally." Jack said, his own voice teeming with grief.

"I'll always love you, Jack." She said softly. Then, he kissed her again and with much difficulty, they both parted. For a moment, his long fingers were still around hers, and then they left too.

Without another word, Jack took the rope and left. That was when Sally began to cry.

XXXXXXX

The night air hit Jack with force. In the distance, the autumn wind blew over the trees in the Hinterlands, sending them off into a chorus of agonized whistling and moaning. Jack tried to stay to the shadows. Unlike the last time, he was not veiled in disguise.

He spotted the gallows at the head of the square, looking oddly bare without it's noose. He looked around uncertainly for a moment before removing the rope from his shoulder and tying it up onto the gibbet. He was aware of voices in the Town Hall.

After he tied a second knot at the end of the rope, making a noose, he slowly pushed the scaffold towards the door of the Hall, moving it slightly out of the way in case some other resident went to investigate before Murdock.

Then, after taking the equivalent of deep breath for a dead man, he stepped onto the wooden platform where the mayor sometimes stood and paced towards an odd statue of a cat with it's hair standing on end. He grabbed the tail and began to wind it. The alarm sounded.

XXXXXXX

Hidden on the side of Town Hall, in a dead bush, Barrel sat up abruptly when he heard the alarm. He grabbed at the doctors machine and began pulling levers. After everything was in place his hand hovered over the switch that would start it up.

"Jack said five minutes…wait five minutes." He began counting under his breath.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Inside the Town Hall everyone looked about hysterically.

"Vat is it?" The youngest vampire brother asked.

"It's that alarm." The tall witch said, flabbergasted. "But who's sounding it? We're all in here."

On stage, Murdock's eyes were gazing wildly in the directing of the square. He jumped down and tore through the center of the room furiously. On both sides, eyes followed his progress. He didn't notice…nor did he notice when others stood up behind him and followed. He had only one mindset.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jack was waiting for him on the other side of the door and was pleased to see that it was him who came out first and not another resident of the town. He was, however, even more pleased to see Murdock walk right into the rope, not seeing it at all, for his gaze was directed toward the alarm. When he did notice it, it was too late.

Jack came up behind him and pulled the noose over his head. Then, grabbing the part that was lying off to the side, he tugged. The noose tightened and hauled a shocked Murdock off of his feet. After the moment of surprise subsided, instead of lapsing into anger…as he might have with any other form of defiance, he began to panic.

It appeared as though the simple knowledge and logic of being dead AND a phantom was outrun by the sheer terror of being back on the gallows. He struggled, he clawed at his throat and he kicked desperately so as not to suffocate. The fact that this was impossible did not enter his mind at all.

So far, so good. Now, Jack needed to let Murdock see him and see the direction in which he departed, so that he would follow him. He stepped in front of the terror stricken phantom with a wicked smile across his features. It was important to keep up a strong visage. As long as he did, Murdock would be wary of him.

Jack saw a hint of surprise and hatred in the man's eyes. Surprise at finding Jack standing in front of him, looking a bit too whole for his own liking and hatred because he had used his worst weakness against him.

Jack leaned towards the man and gave him a dark look.

"You have taken my town, you have harmed my friends and have stolen my love against her will. How dare you!" The last part was barely above a whisper. Murdock, who was beginning to regain some sense, had begun to fumble with the rope.

Jack took a step back as the man finally remembered himself. There was a flash and the threads of the rope twisted apart. Jack had known that he wouldn't be able to simply go through it. Certainly in logic he could…but in his own mind it was not an option.

Murdock stood, rubbing at his neck and staring at Jack with a look soaked in venom. Some of the residents in town had come to the door and were watching in excitement and disbelief. Jack was alive!

Jack did his best to stand up straight. He glared at Murdock in what he hoped was a convincing Pumpkin King glower, all the while counting down in his head.

"You'll DIE Jacky!" Murdock screamed when he finally got his voice back.

"Now." Jack whispered. Murdock raised his brow, and then was taken off guard when Jack suddenly darted off to his right. He was about to scream something after him when he was knocked off of his feet. He hit the ground hard enough so that he felt some of the stitches on the back of his head split. He screamed in agony, which was only worsened when various things of unknown origin began crowding around him. Snakes and spiders and strange snapping toys, which, to the town members looked a lot like the ones used in the Christmas incident the year before.

Murdock blew a wheeled ducks head off with a flash of fire and began knocking the other things off of him. He kicked and swiped at other objects as they surrounded him after the first wave was destroyed. This happened several times.

Finally, he was able to break free. When he did, he hurried after Jack, now driven by rage and the desire to be rid of him once and for all.

XXXXX

Jack had stopped briefly only to take the rest of the vials. When he reached the tree house his nerves attacked him with ferocity. This was it. If this didn't work, it was over.

Behind him he heard Murdock, who had apparently decided that following in silence was a waste of time. Jack reached the bridge and quickly dropped under it, into the darkness. He was glad to see the cage was there. He quickly pulled open the barred doors and shut himself in. It began to descend.

It was dark. When the cage reached the floor of Oogie's Game room, Jack stepped out and fumbled in the darkness, trying to find the center of the room where the giant revolving wheel was. Behind him, he was not surprised to hear that Murdock had not bothered with something so trivial as the stairs or elevator.

"Jack!" Murdock said, in the darkness. When Jack spun around to face him, he felt his heel knock against the edge of the wheel. He backed up carefully. "It's over now Jack!" Murdock said, approaching him as though darkness was an obstacle he had easily overcome many times.

"I don't know how you've survived this long…but I certainly will not make the mistake of leaving you without being sure of your death again." He was but feet away now. Jack backed up a little more.

Murdock's eyes were inches from his own now. In the darkness they flashed and glowed. They widened a bit. Then, to Jack's dismay, he smiled.

"Your bluffing…you have no strength at all." Jack took another step back. Murdock watched him, pleased.

"So what's your plan? Using the Boogie Man's room against me? Ha! Here, I'll help you. HEY!" He began to yell. "WHOEVER'S THERE! GO AHEAD! START HER UP! Let's have a game, then Jack…shall we?" He seemed to grow more serious, then.

"It's over Jack. I win." He said in a whisper. At this point, jack did began to panic a little. Lock and Shock should have been ready to start the room up when they saw the cage lower. They were far past their cue by now. He began to think quickly. Murdock grabbed at him, Causing jack to take a hurried step backwards. Then, out of no where, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"How many aces in a deck?" He asked quickly. Murdock rose his brow and then grinned.

"Haha. Surely your not trying to distract me with such an easy question! Nearly everyone know there are four aces in a deck." Said Murdock amusedly. He thought for a moment and then gave Jack a wicked smile.

"Or perhaps you trying to be clever and the answer is only three…because the other is up your sleeve? Is that it? Am I right?" Murdock asked.

That was when the lights came on. It was not this, however which wiped the smile off of Murdock's face, but that the voice which answered his question was not Jack's.

"Wrong, Ghost BOY! Because the answer is…" Out of the shadows, at the top of HIS game room, Oogie Boogie was grinning down at the phantom, who was at this point wearing a mask of terror. "This aint your game."

As the wheel began to spin, Jack attempted to stagger off of it as best he could. He felt some relief mixed with an immense amount of doubt. On the one hand, he was done. He could lie down…and maybe…not have get up again. On the other, he had entrusted the fate of his town into the cruel hands of the Boogie Man.

As he took his last step he tripped and fell to the ground, his feet tangled together. He almost didn't try to get back up…and might not have if two arms hadn't wrapped around him and pulled him to his feet. He looked up.

"Sally. What are you doing here?" He asked in astonishment. She pulled him out of the way of the wheel and then gave him a faint smile.

"Did you really think I'd stay away, Jack?" She asked softly. He returned her smile and put his arms around her.

"I'm glad you came." He said softly, before turning his attention back on Murdock.

Murdock had forgotten all about him. He was staring up in wretched fear as Oogie Boogie swung himself down and landed in front of him.

"But your…your…" Murdock stammered.

"Aww…you thought I was dead? I wouldn't have missed your return for ANYTHING, especially after what you did the last time we met. Ahaha, remember that, old friend?" Oogie's face twisted into something like anger.

Murdock clawed at his charms.

"You can't beat me this time! I have power!" It did not have the desired effect. The boogie man burst into laughter and then breathed in, sucking in massive gales of wind. Murdock grabbed at the chains around his neck, but to no avail, the snapped and went into the gaping black hole that was the Boogie man's throat.

He spat them out and grinned at Murdock with gums of worms.

"You pilfering skin bag. Without your charms…you don't have anything." Murdock…mostly in shock that things weren't going his way, took a step back. That was a mistake.

"This is for taking my skin, ghost boy." He stepped forward threateningly, making Murdock step back…only to realize that there was no back. Murdock flailed his arms for a moment in almost comedic surprise and then fell into the giant pot of boiling lava. And just like that…he was gone.

The wheel stopped and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Jack braced himself for what would most surely come next.

Oogie Boogie, having gotten rid of the opponent he hated the most, turned to the one he hated almost as much and began to approach him.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Jack? Completely vulnerable? It must be my lucky day."

Jack felt Sally's grip tighten. It occurred to him that she wanted to protect HIM. Although, Jack didn't think that it would make any difference either way. Oogie Boogie may get the best of him…or…he'd wait another couple hours to turn to dust. At this point his only concern was her.

She might be able to defend herself…but he had a feeling that she would not hold for long. He couldn't do anything…and…yes, it appeared as though Lock and Shock had dashed off ages ago. He didn't think they'd help him fend off their old master anyway.

"I'm going to enjoy this!" Oogie said, his shadow falling over Jack and Sally. This was, unfortunately for him…as far as things went, for at that moment there was a very soft noise to his right. He turned and then was surprised to have a scythe pointed at his throat.

"Take a step back, please, sir." The reaper said softly. (Yet in a voice still managing to send chills down one's spine.) Oogie Boogie, looking upset and nervous, moved away smartly from the blade.

"I know who you are (The reaper has met everyone at least once…and does not forget a face too easily.) I also know that you should be gone...so that if I were to be rid of you right now it would only mean that we wouldn't have to pull out the paperwork saying that you don't exist anymore."

Oogie Boogie grumbled to himself and moved back further. His eyes fell on Lock and Shock, who had apparently let the two men in. He motioned for them to follow him, and after sharing a weary look with each other, they did as they were told.

Behind Charles, Arthur walked up and looked down at Jack and Sally with something that…sort of passed off as an authoritative glance.

"Alright, where's the phantom!" He asked, as though both of them had been in league with Murdock or something. The Grim Reaper sighed and with one skeletal hand, pushed Arthur behind him.

"I apologize." He said kindly. "We are looking for Mr. Murdock Manifesto. We think he might be here…and these two…children, said that you would know Mr. Skellington." The reaper grew uncomfortable when Jack didn't answer, but rather, was looking at him as though he could barely see him at all. Finally, Jack sighed and lowered his head.

"Your terribly late." He said softly, before falling either into a state of unconsciousness…or a light sleep. Sally was watching both men a little warily. They were like no one she had ever seen. The one called Arthur was broad in the shoulders and was wearing an all white suite. The other one was quite possibly taller then Jack, and was cloaked in black. What she could see of him was made of bone.

"He's gone." She said softly, speaking to the tall hooded one.

"Gone?" The reaper asked, turning a surprised gaze onto the fragile looking girl made mostly of stitches and fabric.

She pointed to the large pot in the center of the room. The Reaper followed her finger, then, upon seeing the pot, deflated out of both relief and shame. He turned back to her, but she was no longer looking at him.

"I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience." He said and then reveled at how pathetic it sounded. Still, he turned towards Arthur and motioned towards the chains lying on the wheel a little ways from the pot.

"Grab the charms…and for your job, you'd better hope my key is still there." He turned back towards Sally and was dismayed to find her looking at him. He nodded towards Jack…because he knew she would ask.

"I know. He's done it before. He was suppose to be in exile…that…probably wasn't enough though." He said softly. Then came the question he dreaded.

"Can't…can't it be stopped somehow?" Sally asked, forgetting that she was talking to a complete stranger. The reaper shook his head.

"I know him. He follows the law. It's against the rules." Behind him Arthur chose that moment to call over towards him in triumphant and cheered tones.

"Got em! Good! Now let's go get a drink!" He started out. The Reaper tore his eyes away from the rag doll's sorrowed and by now accusing gaze and started to follow him. Before he got far the girl stood.

"This isn't fair. We've waited all this time for someone to come…and now you haven't done anything at all." The reaper froze, flinching slightly.

Arthur seemed to feel no guilt.

"Listen miss, those are the rules. The Law Of Anarchic Demise states that those who follow it must care for their own souls. It's their fault if they lose em." He said. He started walking again but was stopped by the Reapers voice.

"No…it's our fault." He said softly…then…on second thought. "Really it's mostly your fault." He added. Arthur turned and stared at him in stunned silence.

"Charles, you can't go against the rules, so don't even THINK about it." The reaper crossed his arms and gave Arthur a REAL authoritative look.

"Really…the rules huh? And I suppose it wasn't at all against the rules to assign me that maniac in the first place? I could still refer you to that prison you know." Arthur looked uncomfortable.

"Well…I suppose this once…" Charles nodded and spun around to face Sally.

"You may have your wish, miss." He offered her his hand. On the other side of it, Sally looked up at him in surprise and doubt.

"Can…you…"

"Of course." Charles said, while pulling her to her feet. "I'm the Grim Reaper."

Arthur selected a charm out of the many necklaces Murdock had worn and handed it over to the Reaper carefully. He took it and then, to Arthur's astonishment and horror he threw it to the ground and stepped on it.

Only the Reaper can select the right soul of one individual out of dozens. Unlike many people in the world of the after life, The Reaper is generally very good at what he does. He has to be.

Next page my darlings!