Well, it's just about may sweeps time for all my favorite TV shows and I think its fitting that I am into the last couple of episodes of my story. And like all the shows the next few weeks are going to be action packed and full of unexpected surprises. Happy reading.

Thursday October 31

"How did I let you convince me to agree to bring the neighbor's rug rats with us?" John asked in exasperation as he tried to keep up with the three giggling girls in front of him.

"It was a nice thing to do." Journey admonished him. "Their mom is a single mother and she had to work tonight. They had no one to take them. Besides," She said as she treaded her arm through his. "They have become good friends with your daughter and it's always more fun when you do things with your friends."

"But it's just not cool. I'm the Dr. of Thuganomics and I'm trick or treating with a bunch of kids." He whined.

"Well I think the devil horns fit you very well." She said tying for a straight face.

"Watch it or I'll fed you to Frankenstein over there." He stopped to grin at her. "Randy did say you were afraid of monsters."

She glared at him before hurrying to catch up the girls. "What are you all waiting for? Did you ring the doorbell?" She asked.

Ari shook her head. "We were waiting for you. We figured he would give us more candy if you asked because you live here."

Journey shook her head gravely. "I don't think it's going to work. He doesn't even let me have food. Bread and water, that's it." She lowered her voice to a whisper, keeping the girls' attention on her as she saw the door inch open behind them.

"He keeps me chained up in the basement and I have to figure out ways to escape. One time I had to almost chew my arm off." The girls leaned in close as she held out her arm. Their piercing screams cut through the darkening sky as Dave flung the door wide and jumped out with a loud roar.

John rolled his eyes he tried to pry the giggling girls away. "Thanks."

Dave narrowed his eyes at Journey. "Bread and water?" He asked. "Just for that you don't get any candy." He decided.

"See didn't I tell you? He has to be the meanest monster alive." She announced

The big man paused in the act of filling the bags with candy. "I'm not even dressed as a monster."

Journey pretended to frown. "You aren't dressed up at all. The least you could have done was put on the bunny suit I got for you."

Dave growled as John burst out laughing. "Go away." He said before slamming the door.

"Did you make him mad?" Amanda asked as she adjusted her crown.

"No, he's always like that." Journey answered. "Did he give you enough candy or do I have to go in an get some more." She asked looking at the three girls.

"He gave us tons." Ari answered as they started on the route back to their house.

John waited until they were a couple paces ahead. "How long has he been like that?" He asked in confusion.

She shrugged. "A couple days now. I'm not sure what happened."

"You didn't really get him a bunny suit did you?"

Thursday October 31 after dark

Jayden slipped open the gate of the old cemetery, wincing at the screech of metal on pavement. Leaving it cracked open she ventured inside, glancing uneasily at the shadows. She shivered as one gnarled tree twisted in the breeze as if it were reaching for her. Tugging her coat closed she walked down the overgrown path quickly, her eyes roving over the cracked and crumbling headstones as she passed them.

"Center, I need to find the center." She muttered to herself as she continued to walk. "Damn how big is this place?"

She slowed as she noticed four paths converging ahead. Coming to a halt she turned right and began counting headstones. On the thirteenth marker she bent down to peer at the name. "Okay, this is the place." Looking around she assessed the area before picking out a large monument peering out from behind a large oak tree. She walked over and examined the base for spiders.

"What the hell are you doing out here alone?" Paul whispered angrily as he came up behind her.

"Paul." She whirled around holding a hand to her beating heart. "Give me a heart attack why don't you. How'd you find me?"

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her behind the monument. "I though we agreed to do this together." He said giving her a little shake.

"No you decided." She answered jerking her am out of his tight grip. "I think you're too out of control to handle the situation."

"Oh so you think it's better to come out here on a dark night alone?"" He gestured to the sky angrily. "There's not even a moon for a little light."

She waved his comments away. "It's not like he's extremely dangerous." She protested.

"Oh yeah? Who's idea was it to meet in a cemetery?" He asked putting his hands on his hips.

She sneered back at him. "He's juvenile and it plainly shows." She peered around the tombstone. "Here's the deal. I set up a meet. With me and only me. He'll probably rabbit if he sees you here."

Paul gave her an incredulous look. "I'm not leaving."

Jayden gave a frustrated sigh as she turned to look at him. "You are just determined to ruin all my hard work."

"No, you take care of that all by yourself. Tell me, does Dave know you planned to put yourself at risk by coming out here all by yourself?"

"Dave and I no longer have a relationship. It's none of his business what I do." She answered stiffly.

Paul grinned at her. "Do you really think that's going to stop him from chewing you up one side and down the other?"

She growled at him. "What about Steph?" Did you leave her alone so you could come play hero?"

"Steph is the reason we're here. Her safety is the most important thing right now and I would not leave her alone. Randy was with her when I left and Journey was coming when she got done taking Ari trick or treating."

Jayden frowned in sudden worry. "They went trick or treating? Do you know how many children are snatched on Halloween? Everybody running around half wild, all the kids dressed the same. Parents more concerned about the candy than who's standing next to their kid."

Paul laid his hand on her arm to get her attention. "John and Journey were both with her. They aren't going to let anything to wrong." He looked at her thoughtfully. "You can't stop living because of what might happen."

She sighed. "I know but it's hard not to wrap them all in a tight cocoon and keep them safe."

"I wasn't talking about kids." Paul said softly.

Jayden looked up at him. "I can admit that I made a mistake with Dave." She answered. She sighed. "Though sometimes I don't know if the mistake was going out with him in the first place or breaking up with him."

"You miss him." He observed.

She shrugged. "I'm miserable and I'm sad because I know he's miserable too."

"Then why put yourself through this?"

She blew out a frustrated breath. "I can't…Paul look out behind you!"

Hospital

"Okay, fess up. You've been here for over a half hour and you've barely said two words." Steph observed. "What's causing that long face?

Journey shrugged. "I'm just worried I guess. Dave's been acting weird the last couple of days."

Steph remained silent as the young girl continued. "Like Tues night he slammed into the house. He was throwing stuff. I've never seen him that mad. Since then he's been quiet, way too quiet. And tonight I was joking with him while we were trick or treating and he slammed the door in our faces."

Steph bit her lip. "I think he had a fight with Jayden." She admitted.

"About what?" Journey asked shocked.

"It's really none of our business." She laughed at the look on the other girl's face. "I think Jayden told him she wanted to break up."

Journey frowned. "That wouldn't stop him. He'd just mow down all her objections."

"Knowing Jayden she didn't phrase it very will." She shook her head. "And she's got some valid objections."

"Then why did she hook up with him in the first place?" Journey asked jumping up. "She should have just left him alone."

Steph sighed. "I have to admit that I encouraged her. He's the first person she's been attracted to in the last several years. I just thought it would be good for her. And for him." She added.

"So you encouraged her to use him?" The young girl accused.

Steph rubbed her belly as she felt herself tightening up. "I didn't expect it to end this way or for them to get so close in such a short amount of time."

"Oh well that makes everything better." Journey murmured sarcastically as she paced around the room. She came to a stop as one of the monitors beeped. Turning around she observed the paleness of the other girls face. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I just hate to see him hurting like this."

"He's not the only one hurting." Steph informed her as she breathed through a cramping like pain. "Jayden's too stubborn to admit it but I think she regret's what she did to him."

"Do I need to go get the doctor?" Journey asked in concern as the monitors beeped again.

The pregnant girl shook her head. "No, it'll go away in a minute" She tried for a smile. "It's been a long couple of days."

"Are you and Paul okay?" Journey asked as she sat back down.

"Oh I'm mad at him but that's nothing new. What do you know about this stalker?" Steph asked.

The younger girl shrugged. "Just tidbits that Randy's relayed. Paul's been keeping it pretty close." She narrowed her eyes. "How did you find out?"

"Paul was forced to tell me when I accused him of cheating on me with Jayden." Steph answered.

Journey's jaw dropped. "Paul and Jayden? Is that why she broke up with Dave?"

The pregnant girl laughed. "No it was a mistake on my part. But at least it forced them to finally tell me what's been going on." She said almost bitterly.

"I don't know, I think I would rather be oblivious." Journey replied.

"I just hate the thought of him keeping something like this from me, and for weeks. I'm not some weak female that needs a strong man to protect me." She ranted.

Journey looked up as the monitor beeped again. "I think he was just trying to make things easier for you, so you wouldn't have to worry about that on top of everything."

"It might have have been better than all the absences and lies and secrets."

"I think you need to face facts. They're men and that's what they do." Journey said trying to elicit a smile out of her friend.

Steph complied with a small grin. "So what are you doing here on Halloween night? Don't you have something more exciting to do that hang out with a grumpy pregnant lady?"

Journey shrugged. "John and I took Are and two of her friends trick or treating earlier. They make the times earlier and earlier every year. It wasn't even dark out yet." She complained.

"I think it's safer for the kids this way." The older girl explained.

"I know but it kind of takes the fun out of it." Journey grinned.

"So who was Ari? Did you get pictures?" Steph asked.

Journey rolled her eyes. "She just had to be an elf queen, you know from the lord of the Rings? We searched everywhere. We found Frodo and Aragon and even the dwarf. We found the ears but we could not find a dress that worked." She grimaced. "So I said I would make her one."

"How did it turn out?"

"Oh, it was beautiful. But it took a lot of work. Yards of this pale blue velvet and she just had to have a clock so we had to get the silver too."

Steph smiled. "I bet she had a lot of fun."

Journey grinned. "Oh yeah. And now John's stuck with her and her two hyper friends."

"You never said why you're here instead of being with them." She questioned once they had finished laughing.

The younger girl bit her lip. "Randy didn't tell you why he was here earlier?"

"All he could talk about was the situation between Jayden and Dave."

"Well what did Paul tell you about where he is?" Journey asked cautiously.

"Just that he and Jayden were going to follow a lead. So he arranged babysitters." She said answering her own question.

"He's just worried about you." Journey responded sympathetically.

Before Steph could reply the nurse walked in. "A young girl dropped this off for you." She said holding out an envelope.

"Why didn't she bring it in herself?" Journey asked before Steph could respond.

The nurse shrugged. "She said she was in a hurry. Dressed like she was going to a party." She answered before walking out.

"I don't think you should open it." Journey advised in a worried tone.

"It from my cousin." Steph answered pointing to the front of the envelope. "Her mom probably made her drop it off." Opening the card she studied the picture that fell out.

"Steph what's wrong?" Journey asked in alarm.

"It's Paul." She answered hoarsely turning the picture around. "He's dead." She said as her breath started coming in gasps.

The younger girl's eyes opened in alarm. "Its just computer generated. It's not real." She rushed to assure her friend.

Steph shook her head frantically. "It's him. It's the clothes he was wearing when he left tonight. And there's so much blood." She screamed hysterically.

"Steph you need to calm down." Journey pleaded frantically as the monitors began alarming. "Steph? STEPH!" Rushing to the door she yelled down the hall. "I NEED A DOCTOR."