Author's note: Well, I promised that I'd update after one review, so here it is! And to my one reviewer...

HAPPY 16BIRTHDAY JACK'S SWEETIE! throws confetti

Chapter Thirteen

She must have fallen asleep, because she was awakened by excited barking and a cool nose pressed against her arm. She opened her eyes groggily and Zero jumped onto her, yapping loudly and licking her face.

She laughed and sat up, gently picking up the small ghost dog. He had no weight, and her injured wrist took on no pressure that would turn into pain. He nuzzled her cheek affectionately.

"Yes," she said softly. "I'm up."

With one last bark and lick, he zoomed off down the stairs.

She smiled and got to her feet, looking down at her clothes and making a face. They were wrinkled and, on the back, bloodstained, but there was nothing she could do about it.

She slowly made her way down the stairs, her good hand clutching the rail. Sally and Jack were sitting at a table, discussing something in quiet voices. When Zero flew up to them they stopped and looked up, and Sally got to her feet as Tera stepped off the staircase.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Sally said, embracing her tightly. Tera smiled, and Sally stepped back. "Did… Did Jack tell you?" Sally said after a moment. Tera nodded.

"D'you…" Tera swallowed hard. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay, and escape all the problems of the real world, everything. But if she stayed, what would happen to Evelyn? Her father? Her brother? She cleared her throat and said, "D'you think you can show me?"

Sally nodded, glancing at Jack. He got to his feet, smiling sadly. "Follow me," he said.

He led them from the house, Sally and Tera walking quickly to keep up with his long strides. Only a few of the Halloweentown citizens were about; many more would appear at sunset. Luckily, they didn't see the over-happy or over-depressed Mayor anywhere.

Jack led them through the gate, and Tera glanced over at the place where she had huddled for a day the first few hours she had found herself in this strangely familiar place.

Jack motioned her forward, and said, "Look at that." A spark of curiosity had lightened his expression, and Tera hid a smile, thinking, He looks like he's discovered Christmastown.

She turned and looked, and her eyes widened. It was seemingly a black hole in the stone wall. She tentatively moved closer, reaching out to put a hand near it. It gave off a slightly cooler temperature than the air around them.

She felt an invisible force pulling on her hand. She gasped and pulled back.

"What?" Jack said, his face still curious.

"It started to pull me in," she said. She turned to face them, a sudden lump in her throat. "Guys…"

Sally pulled her into a hug. "You're ready to go home," she said. She looked at Jack, keeping an arm around Tera's shoulders. "We knew it was coming," she said softly. "We just didn't want it to happen."

"Here," Jack said, pulling something from a pocket in his pants. He handed it to Tera, and she took it, bringing it close to her face to examine it. It was a ring, made of a smooth, black metal that glimmered with streaks of orange at different angles. On the front of it was a small jack-o-lantern.

"To remember us," Jack said. She threw herself at him, hugging his thin frame tightly. He smiled and put his long arms around her.

She slid it onto her middle finger on her good hand, wiping her eyes. "Thanks," she said.

"Remember," he said. "If you ever want to come back, you'll be welcome."

She smiled, looking up at him. "I know."

She turned and stepped towards the black hole. She felt its gentle tug and turned to wave to Sally and Jack, hearing them call goodbye as she disappeared into the hole.

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She landed with a thump on solid ground. She had kept her eyes squeezed shut during the whole "ride", and now gently felt around her with her good hand. Leaves. Crinkly, autumn leaves.

She opened her eyes and let out a whoop of joy. She was home, in the forest!

She got to her feet and ran, grabbing her discarded bicycle. She rode home as fast as she could, her legs barely tiring at the thought of her father and her brother.

She dropped the bike on her front lawn and ran up to the house, opening the front door.

"Dad?" she called. "Alan?"

For a moment there was no answer. Then she heard the creaking of the upstairs floorboards, as if someone walked slowly across them.

Her father appeared at the top of the stairs, and when he saw her, he drew in a sharp breath as his eyes filled with grateful tears.

"I'm home," she whispered.

Author's Note: Yes, it's nearly over. cries But there still is one more chapter! Don't leave me now!