It was dark. No light was visible, there at the tunnel's other end, and though he did indeed have a few matches in one coat-pocket, Victor found himself unwilling to strike them. This same feeling of caution caused him to not reply when he dimly heard Emily calling him as she stood somewhere above. Yes, something was definitely wrong, he felt; he was simply unaware of what it was.

Emily seemed content to scream his name, much to Victor's annoyance, and as he began to relax he finally gained the courage needed to draw forth a match and discover his new surroundings. They were not at all attractive; he seemed to be in some sort of barren room. There was a small, wooden door to one side, and what seemed to be a coffin at another. Stepping near the coffin as a sudden thought struck him, he abruptly froze and found himself unable to move further.

Victoria was awake. In fact, she had just begun to rise from her sorry bed when Victor spied her. Her eyes were attracted to the match's light; with a sort of strangled cry, she leaped from the coffin and then stood awkwardly, watching him with the blankest of expressions.

To Victor's overwrought nerves, this was pure torture. First he quailed, pressing his lips firmly together; then he tapped one foot and twisted the buttons of his coat with the utmost rapidity. Just as he seemed ready to collapse, he pulled himself together for the briefest moment and croaked,

"Vi—Vi—Vi—"

He never did manage to say her name, partly because he gave it up and partly on account of Victoria's sudden change in bearing. It rather amazed him that she could move so quickly, for he was hardly aware of it when she flung her arms about him and silenced him with a more than affectionate kiss. The match had, by this time, all but burned out; the flame burned his already hurt fingertips and he dropped it hurriedly. Darkness closed about them, yet for once Victor found that he couldn't have cared less. Why, of course Victoria would make certain that nothing would dare come near him. He was safer there in the dark than he had been above ground, when he could still see—and after all, he did have another match.

Victoria, however, was not content to remain without light. No sooner had the match fallen than she whispered in his ear,

"Come; I have a candle here. Only I—I haven't a match to light it with. Surely you have, Victor."

Victor nodded; then, realizing that she could not see him, said meekly, "Yes...yes, I do, Vi...Vi..."

"Victoria," she said, moving her hand down his arm as he held the match towards her and she searched for his outstretched hand, "I'm afraid that you'll have to get used to saying my name, dear Victor, if we're ever to...oh, never mind."

The candle lit, Victor gazed at her with a troubled, almost frightened expression.

"What is it?" Victoria asked, wishing that she had a mirror. "Is there something wrong with me? Oh, what's happened? Is it..."

"There's nothing wrong with you," Victor hastened to say. "Only...were you not dead?"

Victoria did not meet his gaze. "No, I was not," she said with some hesitation. "I was drugged, Victor."

"Who would..."

"You must leave. Go, Victor, I beg you! You haven't a chance down here...oh, please go!"

Victor would not budge; as harshly as she berated him for remaining, he could not make himself depart. Instead he whispered, "You don't know what it was like for me...up there." At her questioning glance, he continued, "I knew you were alive; everything pointed against it, I know, yet in my heart I...I felt that you still lived. When you were buried against my will, I tried to unearth you once more; I convinced Emily to help me. Yes, that Emily, Victoria. I owe her my very life. Oh, but you weren't there and I was so...I felt so...

"I was never utterly broken; I knew I would see you again, of course, whether or not you had died. Yet I had never known such pain..."

Tears were spilling from Victoria's round eyes and Victor found her sympathy more than welcome. Lifting one of his hands, she said,

"What's happened to your hands, Victor? Someone's hurt you? Oh...was it Emily?"

"No, no," Victor said quickly, "it was my fault. I tried to dig you up without a spade; and believe me, that's not exactly a wise way of setting about such an affair."

"Oh, how—oh, my poor love!" Victoria breathed, throwing her arms around his neck.

It was at that pleasant moment that none other than Lord Barkis Bitturn himself threw open the room's single door and entered with a triumphant cackle, and it was also during that eventful time that Emily fell from the tunnel with a heavy thud.

"Victor?" the corpse bride said, adjusting her veil and dusting herself off.

"Emily!" cried Barkis, taken aback. "Why, not again...oh, well, my dear. Welcome home once more!"

Emily shot him a withering glance and came near Victor and Victoria. "Yes," she hissed, "I've looked forward to seeing you."

Barkis's smile never faded. "I fear that you three have played straight into my hands," he said. "My revenge will soon be complete." He turned on his heel and called, "Bring rope!"

Victoria clung to Victor desperately. "What are you going to do?" she cried.

"He won't do," said Emily, "anything."

Barkis laughed. "Why, my dear," he said, "you're wrong, of course. Would you like to meet Detrikzin? I believe Victoria has already made his acquaintance."

Even as he spoke, a monster of gigantic size eased its way passed him and gazed at the three in a plainly threatening manner. It was bulky in size, with soft, slime-coated skin; its eyes were large and shone with intelligence, its teeth long and exquisitely white. Flabby claws with sharp nails dangled from short, muscular arms, and a stumpy tail twitched restlessly behind it. This foul beast was Detrikzin, a creature which had once been no more than a nightmare and which had been called forth with the aid of spells that are far too wicked to be explained. Barkis had found a book which had taught him how to summon it, and he had done so with the aid of his new allies; yet something was lacking for one final enchantment, the last spell which would make it possible for the monster to remain with him forever.

"Has he any interest in us?" asked Emily warily, her eyes narrowing considerably.

"Any interest!" Barkis could hardly contain his delight. He approached his prisoners and, standing beside them, gestured towards them eagerly. "Detrikzin!" he called, "I offer you the choicest persons you will ever lay eyes on! You may have them all, of course; but only one may be used for the sacrifice." "Sacrifice!" Emily gasped.

Victoria's face was very pale. "Sacrifice?" she said quietly.

Victor's mouth fell open but he could make no sound. And there was no time for him to; the monster came near them and, in a way which seemed to suggest that it had already thought the matter through, pointed one flabby paw towards Victor.

"This one," it rasped, forked tongue running over awful gray lips.