Authors note:

AHHHH! I've been gone so long! I'm so freaking sorry. I barely have anytime to do any writing while I'm in school, but I intended to update every day this week of Halloween. You can all see how great that turned out. I'll be honest, I've been banging my head against the next several chapters, trying to figure out the plot. I know where I need to go, but I'm really not sure how to get there and I'm worried I'm taking too long to get there. I feel like a terrible writer. Sorry in advance if parts of the story seems over complicated or weird. I'm plowing through a major writer's block right now so I feel like the quality of the next two or three chapters are a little tiring.

Some housekeeping notes: I took inspiration from Aria and made a Tumblr for this story! Technically, I made it ages ago but she inspired me actually be active on it. Just search skeletonanne on the website and you'll find it. Not skeletonannie. That's a different person and I didn't know they existed until I tried searching for my own blog. I post drawings of Annalise and her friends and I intend on a short comic series of this. I doodle Annalise a lot since I decided on a design for her. I post a lot in between updates so it's a great place to go if you're starving for content. There might be a few spoilers. You can also ask stuff about the story or ask the characters things if you want. I don't mind hearing headcanons or theories or whatever.

A reader, Numbervania, pointed out some mistakes I made in previous chapters, and I'm going to go back and correct them, because they were right. Don't get mad if you get a notification that I updated but there aren't new chapters. That was just me going back to chapter one, twelve, or something and fixing a little thing or two.

Itsone00: I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Where have I seen your username before?

To LockShockBarre: not to be critical, but it gives you credence if you contact someone for permission to use their character with an actual account. If you use a guest account, I can't get back to you easily and I'm not about to make a public authors note without posting a new chapter as well. This goes to anyone who wants to ask me something. I sometimes respond to reviews in PM. As for your story, Burlap Mazy sounds interesting. I'd love to read it. Anyone is welcome to use Annalise as a cameo character on four conditions: you send me a link to your story regardless of where you post it, you credit me and my story in every chapter she's in, you make it clear in your story from the get-go that your story has nothing to do with the canon/plot/storyline of my story (I don't want to confuse people), and you let me know what you'll do to Anna before you put her in your story. I'm currently rewriting Annalise as an original character in a book I'm working on and I don't want to accidentally get in trouble for "plagiarizing" my own character when I go to publish because someone didn't credit me properly.

To Anastasia: I'm terribly sorry that I didn't get back to you, but as I mentioned above, I can't easily get in contact with people who use guest accounts. My stories with Epsilon are very detailed and I have a lot of stories regarding that strange dimension, however, as I've gotten older some memories have been lost. It's really sad. You're probably a Keeper to be honest. The organization has grown a lot in the past couple centuries. There are several teams and I'm working on making a website for the story eventually. There are quite a few people here in the real world who are members, including that friend I mentioned. I really didn't mean to make you feel bad because I never got back to you. I've been struggling to update so I can respond but as I said, this chapter and the next few have been driving me crazy.

Sorry for the long notes everyone. On with the story, my little monsters! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Also, if you go to the Tumblr, I'll post a picture of me in my Halloween Costume later today. I think my face and identity are obscured enough so I'm chill with it. Also, there's something very important I need to mention but this author's note is already so long so I'll use the story I want to tell you guys as encouragement to update soon.

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Chapter 37

Thorns and Pitchforks

Little Braid was in the backyard of a family on the North side of a little town in Washington, United States as she bounced street to street looking for a couple of weird creatures while somehow managing to do her job.

She was running when she felt it. She tripped in shock, slamming her shin into a tree root.

The Thanksgiving Portal moved.

It happened sometimes. Originally, this year it was supposed to open in Maine, and it did. Then the whole deal with Anna showing up happened and the town council made the last-minute decision to open it in Washington on the other side of the country. It wasn't a huge deal to them. Plans wouldn't be too terribly disrupted. Little Braid knew they weren't a global Holiday like the others they knew about—like Halloween. She supposed moving their portal would be utter chaos. She suspected even Halloween citizens would spin on their heads in panic. Did they even use portals?

Little Braid couldn't for the life of her figure out why her Holiday would move it again as she cussed out in as many Native American languages as she could think of. Granted, for a few of them, the only words she knew were cusses.

She could still sense where the portal was. She was a glorified homing pigeon.

Her short laugh at her own joke through the pain in her leg didn't last long. What about the Halloween Citizens? Did they get through before it moved? Were they safe? The portal was still nearby, in another part of the woods surrounding the small town. But it was far from where it was last. The Halloween spirits didn't have a connection with Thanksgiving. They wouldn't be able to find it if they hadn't gone home already.

Braid dusted herself off and vaulted over a fence, wincing at her forming bruise as she ran across the street. She had to keep going toward the old portal location. If the monsters were still in the Real World, that's where they were going. She already checked Anna's family's house. The monsters weren't there. She left the Thanks necessary, but they were depressingly weak. However, the humans couldn't be blamed after everything Braid suspected had happened. Now if only she could find—

She screamed in fright as she attempted to cut around the backside of a random house and a pair of small hands grabbed her, pulling her into the shadows and holding a hand over her mouth. She tried to kick whoever was holding her but that was about as effective as kicking a pillow.

Sally didn't even seem to notice. She stared out toward the street as Little Braid struggled.

Little Braid managed to pull Sally's hand away. The monster lady smelt like apples, dust, and wet soil. "Miss Sally?! What are you…"

"Quiet," Sally whispered, purposely not telling the Thanksgiving Citizen to "shush." She remembered a lesson Jack and some of the other more experienced monsters had given her. The hissing "s" sounds of any language were the easiest to hear and traveled far through the air. If one was whispering and truly desired not to be heard, don't make any hissing noises. It reacted deep with human instinct, reminding them of danger and most likely snakes.

Sally wasn't convinced in the slightest that instinct applied to demons but that didn't change the fact that the sound of "s" would cut through the air and give them away.

Little Braid felt Sally tense as a human woman walked down the street and passed in front of their hiding place, the front yard the only distance between them.

The woman paused, and it was too late to duck around the back corner of the house.

Little Braid saw a flash of yellow eyes and Sally didn't dare wait to see if a demon could see them in the shadows.

"Run," Sally said.

The woman smiled creepily, and a bright red sword materialized in her hand as she ran at them straight on.

Sally yanked the teenaged spirit back behind her and pulled something from her pocket.

Little Braid's eyes widened at the tiny glass orb seconds before Sally threw it at the ground right in front of the demon.

The soft grass of the well-kept lawn cushioned the orb and it only cracked when the demon stepped on it. She ignored the stab of glass in her foot but paused at the crunch.

There was a purple glow underfoot for the briefest of seconds before a rumble caught their attention and a bush with black twisting branches and four-inch-long thorns erupted out of the ground and through the "human's" foot.

Little Braid screamed as blood splashed toward her and Sally.

The demon screamed in pain, unable to hold back their exclamation out of shock as the bush twisted around them, driving wicked thorns into the flesh of their host like thick nails. Human blood mixed with demonic goo soaked the ground and black and red roses blossomed from the branches, unaware of the pain their birth had caused.

Sally swallowed thickly, disturbed and dreadfully sorry at the human voice crying out before it was drowned out by a demonic screech of rage.

Little Braid took Sally's shaking hand and let herself dissolve into red dust and leaves. She wasn't expecting Sally to turn into an inky shadow beside her but ignored the monster's startled yelp.

They barely avoided the flash of searing red fire that scorched the side of the house they were hiding behind. A few branches of the bush were burnt, and roses wilted at the heat.

The demon screamed in rage and chased, freeing itself by turning into a black smoky cloud that relentlessly darted after the spirits.

They twisted and turned around houses and trees. They turned down a rural road that led out of town, Sally and Little Braid both wanting humans out of danger though neither said so.

The demon was gaining, just a little, as the wind picked up.

The trees wavered, the movement only on that empty tree-lined street strangely enough. The trees rocked back and forth precariously, leafless branches scratching against each other.

There was a harsh gust of wind that nearly sent all three of the dissolved spirits off course and a huge tree crashed in front of the demon. The smoke hit the tree and dissipated for a second before gathering itself and easily flowing over and under the obstacle. But that second was all that was needed. The holiday spirts were gone.

The smoke turned around in several circles before leaving, setting the tree that fell into the road on fire.

Sally and Little Braid waited in the wood by the road for several minutes in silence before Sally spoke, startling Little Braid. The tree on the road was an inferno now, its crackling reddish-orange glow hot and concerning. Little Braid hoped the wind would calm before the embers set the whole forest ablaze.

"Thank you, Wind," Sally's soft grateful voice uttered as she looked at the sky in appreciation.

The gusts settled to a soft breeze that curled around them.

"What?" Little Braid said breathlessly as leaves around them rustled.

Sally shushed her frantically. "I'm sorry. Could you say that again?"

Little Braid strained to hear what Sally apparently heard, and this time she could make out the faint words. Her eyes widened in shock and interest.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to help earlier. Or more."

"What's wrong? No one's heard from you in a while," Sally said, clearly concerned as Little Braid stared at her dumbstruck.

"The demons have been planning this for a while, just waiting for Annalise to leave Halloween. They caught my consciousness eavesdropping and had one of their own tie up my voice. It's hard to explain in words. I'm still around. It's too much energy for them to bother controlling me entirely, but I am weakened in this town and in Halloween and I can't speak to anyone." The wind spoke quickly, fearing its voice would be lost again any moment.

"Excuse me," Little Braid spoke up quietly, still straining to hear over the pounding of her heart in her ears. "Yes, hello. Are you the wind?"

"Yes, Little Braid of Thanksgiving. Pleasure to speak with you. I'm afraid I don't have time for niceties. I can only speak now because I think the demon holding my voice hostage is distracted, but whatever it is, he'll notice me soon."

"I understand. Is there any way to free you?" Sally said.

"Demons and angels have limited control over me, but my consciousness and my voice are usually mine to keep. The demon holding me is strained as I fight against him. He's busy…"

The voice cut off and Sally's heart sunk. "Wind?"

"I…ugh…don't…concern with me…Jack and the others…head west. West toward where you came into the Real World. Hurry."

Sally nodded and frowned, frustrated. She was just there. She glanced at Little Braid. Sally still didn't know why, but if Chakis was so adamant Sally find Little Braid, there had to be a reason.

That was it for the Wind. The Wind felt their voice wrangled back into the metaphorical jar and it banged against the lid. The demon shook the "jar" and the air took a chill at the wind's reaction to pain, or as close to pain as they could feel.

The Wind cursed themselves, they should have told Sally which demon was holding them. That was the first thing they should have said. But it was distracted, frantic to say as much as if could and forgetting the important things.

It curled around the two creatures weakly, trying to make its presence still known. It dearly hoped the others could get the demon out of that poor boy without hurting him.

Sally looked very worried for the Wind, but she swallowed.

"Thanks."

Sally looked at Little Braid in confusion.

Little Braid looked down, a little ashamed. "That demon was following me wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"I didn't even notice. Thanks for saving me."

"Oh, you're welcome," Sally said with a soft smile. She suddenly frowned again.

Little Braid didn't really like it. Sally's frown didn't seem to fit her face.

"What happened to your arm?"

Braid started and glanced where Sally pointed, straining her neck trying to see. Her dark skin lost color immediately in the orange glow of the fire still burning on the street. She felt her head swim and was ready to pass out.

The back of Braid's right arm was burnt from her shoulder and a small part of her back down to her elbow. Her leather clothing was probably what kept it from being so much worse, but her sleeve was still burnt through and charred. Her skin sported four massive blisters (that she could see) and was starting to ooze. The charred edges of her sleeve stuck to the wet wounds. As the pain hit, she smelled burnt hair and noticed her neck was tender and probably reddened.

She gasped and froze, tears springing to her eyes as the Wind brushing against the wounds made them sting more.

The new acquaintance noticed, retreating from the spirit and trying to make the air as still as possible, but that meant leaving. It struggled to stifle itself.

Sally tilted her head in curiosity. "Are you alright?"

Little Braid shook her head, crying out as her bag strap rubbed against the hot skin on her neck. She tried to wipe the tears but winced at the small movement, hurriedly removing her bag.

"Oh dear. Sit down. Sit down," Sally said suddenly realizing the other spirit was in a lot of pain. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize the demon had hit you."

"Me either," Little Braid hissed. "I can't sit down. We have to find your friends." She tried to move but Sally pushed her down to a dead tree by her other shoulder.

"We have to cover your wounds at least," Sally said quickly, frantically checking her pockets. She might have a salve. She sometimes carried something for some of the monster children if they got hurt. She could tear her dress for a bandage.

That's just what she did. She tore a strip from around the bottom, careful not to let the tear follow the patchwork too much. "You wouldn't happen to have anything we can use to clean it would you?" Sally said apologetic. "I'm not an expert when it comes to injuries but it's my understanding we don't want it to get infected."

"Well, I'm not human so I think I'll heal faster. I don't think I've ever gotten sick, so it's possible it can't get infected," Little Braid said.

"Should we risk it?" Sally said, honestly lost.

Little Braid muttered. "Probably not…Oh wait. We can clean it with this." She pulled out her jar of Holy Water.

"What's that?"

"We met your Citizens at a church and they asked us to collect Holy Water for them, but they left us with it so I think Jack decided we needed it for our defense."

"Ah," Sally said, well aware there was an equal chance Jack had merely forgotten it. "Do you know why they wanted it?"

"It repels demons I think," Little Braid said, passing off the jar.

"That's lovely to know," Sally mused, unscrewing the lid, "Let me see, miss."

Little Braid turned, wiping her tears and putting on a stern face through the pain. She accidently hit Sally's elbow with her shoulder and jostled the ragdoll's hand.

Sally screamed out in pain and shock, barely having the mind to set down the jar quickly rather than drop and shatter it. She jumped back, holding her hand and rubbing the blue cloth desperately.

Thin wisps of grey steam wafted around Sally's injured hand.

"What happened!?"

Sally continued to rub her hand in between inspecting it for damage. "Be careful!"

"Did it burn you?" Little Braid asked worriedly, eyeing the water cautiously.

The Wind twisted around, kicking a small bit of leaves next to Sally.

"Yessss. I've never felt something like that before. That's rather awful. Oh, it hurt. Is this what burns feel like? Poor Annalise."

"What do you mean?"

"She didn't say? Annalise burned to death," Sally said, still distracted by her hand, not quite trusting that her skin showed little damage besides a slight discoloring that would likely go away as the water dried up. The water was still there, having soaked into her fabric a bit, but the small splash was quickly losing its potency, thankfully. It was still uncomfortable warm (what a strange sensation) and her hand felt sore now.

Sally looked up to see the poor Thanksgiving Citizen pale and looking particularly sick at what she said, the tattered scrap of her sleeve hanging from her elbow and her arm still red and blistered.

"I didn't realize," Sally apologized, "If this is what a burn feels like, let's get your shoulder taken care of immediately. I'm sure Helgamine has something for the pain when we find them."

"I can handle it," Little Braid snapped stubbornly. Her eyes darted to jar Sally set down. Just to check, Little Braid bent down to stick her finger in the jar of Holy Water.

It was Sally's turn to look horrified.

But the Thanksgiving Citizen retreated her appendage with no effect on her.

"I think we can still use it on me. You should just be very careful, ma'am."

"I can do that," Sally agreed, taking the jar again, this time gingerly.

Once Little Braid's nasty injury was taken care of, she was on her feet. She was careful in her pained movements and her clothes uncomfortably soaked, but otherwise alright for now. She wasn't looking forward to the lecture she would receive from her parents for getting hurt by a demon, but at least she would have a story to brag about to her friends.

They hurriedly left as the sirens of human fire trucks approached. Apparently, the fire was noticed. Being seen by humans was not how this night needed to go.

Little Braid took the half-used jar and tightened the lid, slipping it into her bag, wincing at the clink of glass.

"Shoot," she said, checking something as she narrowly avoided running into a tree.

"Everything okay?"

Little Braid froze, suddenly embarrassed. "That…um…that thing you threw at the demon. What was that?"

Sally pulled out a couple glass orbs with different colored liquids inside. "Spells and potions I made. For defensive purposes, o-of course. You saw what that one did. Here's another," she held up one with a purple liquid. "The blue ones splash a liquid that ignites into fire. The orange ones make the gravity in a 2-meter radius pull anything in it to the ground."

"Ooh. Um…" Little Braid said as she jogged a little to walk alongside the woman, hopping over a small ditch in her way. "What…what does the green ones do?" She stared wide-eyed, not sure how to feel about Sally having such horrible weapons. Her first impressions of Sally were of a sweet and innocent lady who couldn't hurt a fly. It was a little disturbing having her so plainly explain these potions after torturing and trapping a human-resembling demon with a cursed thorn bush. Little Braid was worried about the answer as she glanced at her bag.

Sally looked at her hand, not seeing any of the green ones. "It releases foaming acid. Quite a lot of it actually." The ragdoll looked a little sheepish as she tucked the potions away.

Little Braid held out a hand in front of them as they walked, her head hung low, though she forced herself to stare ahead with raised eyes, unwilling to show too much weakness. A glass orb glinted in her hand.

It took Sally a moment. "Where did you find this?" She took the green potion from Little Braid's hand, quickly checking the glass for any cracks. She sighed, relieved it wasn't in danger of chemically injuring one of them. She looked at the other spirit quizzically.

Little Braid swallowed. "I found it…" she said quietly and harshly.

"Oh thank goodness you did!" Sally said, oblivious to Little Braid's pained tone. "I was so worried when I found I lost it. If someone had gotten hurt because of my carelessness…" she shook her head guiltily.

Little Braid winced, glancing up at the tall lady monster as they came to another street and headed West, picking up their walking pace without having to worry about stepping over rocks.

"Has it been in your bag long?" Sally fretted, "I'm so sorry. I should have realized…That was terribly irresponsible of me. You could have gotten hurt."

"It's not your fault," Little Braid said, grimacing as her shrug pulled at her burns.

"Of course it is! Oh dear, what will the others say?"

"You don't have to tell them," Little Braid said, now a little confused. Not that she condoned regularly lying, but there was no harm from her little lie. "You have it back now."

"You don't understand," Sally said gently. "I'm very young. Much younger than you think. But I do go out on Halloween with Jack and most of the rest of my town. It's rather unconventional having me participate when most of the children older than me wait decades before they're declared ready to join the others."

Decades? Just how old was Sally? She seemed to be in her twenties, but then again Little Braid looked fifteen or sixteen so it was always a guess.

"The council only agreed because I'm a fast learner with the mentality of an adult," Sally said, sounding a bit like she was quoting someone else as she explained. "Jack convinced them it was better for me to learn through experience and that the traditional training the children go through would slow me down too much." Sally sighed tiredly, "Perhaps the Doctor was right. Perhaps, I'm taking things too fast."

"You lost a little orb. You can't be faulted for that, even if it is a bunch of acid."

Sally shook her head, "A little mistake like that could put everyone in danger. There are so many things we monsters must be wary of. Cameras. Being seen by too many humans. Leaving things behind. Hurting humans on accident." Sally seemed horrified at the prospect, her mind turning toward that last demon. She hadn't expected the chillingly human reaction to pain. They were spirits, weren't they?

Little Braid swallowed. Perhaps it was arrogant of her, but she hadn't considered that monsters actively concerned themselves with not hurting humans.

"I should tell Jack that we should wait a few years before I go out again," Sally said softly to herself, heartbroken at disappointing Jack. She had promised him she could handle the Real World and Jack was more than willing to support her against Finklestein's complaints.

"Don't," Little Braid snapped, startling the monster. "It wasn't your fault."

Sally looked at her in confusion.

Little Braid winced and looked away. She couldn't imagine being banned from her own holiday, not allowed to participate for any number of years because of someone else's actions.

"It was me. I took it from you."

"I don't understand." Sally tilted her head and blinked.

"I…I stole it from you," Little Braid said, the word leaving a nasty taste on her tongue. Her father said she needed to call what she did by its name or else she was just denying it. "I stole it from you when you were in Thanksgiving." She closed her eyes and stopped walking. Sally seemed nice enough, but Braid's stomach twisted. She would be much more terrified if it was any of the other monsters she met, but she didn't know if Sally's kindness was a front for something much worse. What was she doing?! She should have kept her mouth shut.

"Did you take it from my pocket?" Sally asked.

Little Braid nodded, embarrassed. "I have a problem. I-I'm working on it. I promise."

"You stole it from my pocket without anyone noticing? That's extraordinary."

Little Braid stared. "Uh…what?"

"That takes a lot of skill," Sally said, not seeming to realize stealing probably wasn't something she should compliment someone on. But in her mind, she was complimenting Little Braid's sneaking, not the thievery.

Little Braid looked disturbed, not quite putting those two and two together. But she shook her head and automatically accepted the orb as Sally handed it back to her.

"You should keep it. Here's two more, unless you have a way to fight demons besides that water?"

Little Braid dumbly shook her head. Halloween Citizens were very strange.

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Jack had purposely kept his thoughts quiet, not daring to voice them or allow them to echo within his skull. He couldn't afford to let them distract him from what needed to be done. Hell knows he didn't have the brightest track record with distractions or good decisions.

What a mess.

He eyed Annalise's tense form out the corner of one eye, stiffening slightly when she jerkily turned her skull to meet his gaze. That was something he really must get used too, the mild privacy of where his attention was at any given moment lost now with someone else able to "see" his eyes. What a curiosity…

She frowned at him and looked away, sockets sweeping every tree they passed and every shadow that shifted at the slightest movement.

They were almost to the Thanksgiving gate and Jack knew Anna would soon have the safety to truly react to everything. He witnessed a taste as they spoke on the church roof, but even then, it felt forced, as if Anna had pushed herself to react as she did because she expected herself to feel something.

She was broken, only bare survival instinct holding her together now.

It was his fault. What fool could deny that? Him, of course. He tried to ignore that blasted deal for so long and by the time he realized what he had done he was left with mere damage control, racing a clock he couldn't see.

Frankly, as unhealthy as it was, he was glad she had kept herself in the presence of mind to worry about demons first and her righteous anger next.

They would get to Halloween Town. But what then? Anything he could do to protect his….his granddaughter…was only prevention. The damage was done. Her soul was marked as unclaimed by any afterlife, yet a demon had staked his claim under the table as if she was mere property to barter with. And Jack had done the bartering.

He sneered at the thought, not realizing he didn't hide the aggression from his face.

The witches glanced between themselves a little worried at the sudden twist in his skull and the flash of teeth. It was the most negative emotion he had shown all night. He had been intensely serious the whole time. Calm. Militaristic almost, like a commander with soldiers in his care.

There were days when Jack cursed that coward, his old self little else but a persistent memory. There were other days where despite his efforts to distance himself, Jack was still reminded that he was still one person. He couldn't run from what he had done.

SHE WAS A CHILD!

Jack winced at the thoughts that refused to leave him be in these brief and lacking moments where uncomfortable thoughts sprung up. Jack had his reasons for ignoring her. He had his reasons for confusing the hell out of his constituents. He had his reasons for not letting her become an official citizen.

Anna was right when she guessed his reasoning. If she signed her name into the book that held the name of each citizen within town gates, it would eventually be expected of her to join their celebration Halloween Night.

It was a temporary solution, of course. She would learn about the book eventually if the other monsters didn't notice first. But it was intended to give him more time to come up with something more permanent. All this was under the assumption he could keep their relation secret. For how long? He wasn't sure… Decades hopefully. Forever, ideally. His idealism hoped to keep her safe until…her years were used up…and Chakis could come through again…as death tended to do.

He had just settled into a plan last week.

He would take her as an apprentice, as everyone expected, and train her as planned. But he wouldn't let her leave Town, year after year claiming her skills weren't up to par yet. That was believable. It would be irresponsible for any mentor to allow their charges into the Real World without proper skills.

And then…that Reaper would come before Anna ever set one foot outside a portal. That moment of Anna's timeline when she was always supposed to meet her fate would come as always intended. Sixty… maybe seventy years from now.

Jack would grieve he supposed, in the way monsters did, if they became close over the years. Sally would too. Perhaps many citizens would, shocked at such a short afterlife compared to the rest of them. But he would let the questions drift away, the story finally come to a close with only him left to remember it even happened as he mockingly ignored the cheated demons for the rest of eternity.

It was meant to be, he would reason behind his mask. She didn't belong to Halloween.

Jack glanced at Anna with a defeated expression.

This damn child was definitely his blood relative.

No one else could so effectively screw his plans up with so little intention. He jested, but he dearly hoped having intended plans veering off into disaster wasn't a hereditary curse.

She made his plans impossible in many ways. For one, she learned about the deal and their connection, much to his chagrin. Secondly, part of him wondered if his assessment of her not belonging to Halloween was horrendously wrong.

He watched her carefully over the last few weeks. She wasn't skilled as a senior scarer, obviously, but she had a sharp eye, some skill, enthusiasm for scaring, and a love for Halloween she had developed for many of her living years. She walked silently, even now, wary of her still slightly unsteady legs, and wore her clothes tightly, minimizing the rustle of fabric as she walked. Her eyes were on constant watch for the slightest of danger and she kept to the shadows as well as the rest of them with little prompting. Whether she made these decisions consciously or not mattered little. It was small evidence that she would naturally excel in her training, and it frustrated Jack. If he attempted to deny her abilities for too many years, it would soon be clear to everyone something was not quite right.

Then there were the dreams! Why did that damn Reaper have to go…

Jack wished he could strangle the angel without being utterly smote. He might try, if she could be bothered to ever show herself. Unlikely.

His memories of Anna's appearances in days long by were vague and jumbled, partly faded by years, specific words and details lost to the ages, yet at the same time other pieces were clear and sharp. Like her constant agony as her raspy voice choked through smoke burned lungs and she smiled sarcastically through bloody, charring teeth.

Anna seemed fine at the very moment, no pieces of fire-decayed humanity surrounding her slender bones, but Jack knew the memory of torture wasn't too long ago for her, perhaps a mere few hours, though centuries ago for him.

Chakis promised. The Reaper had promised the girl would not remember those moments. That pain.

Jack knew there was some loophole he missed the moment he heard Anna's angry scream in the middle of the street days ago, demanding answers he didn't want to give. He never expected that.

Whatever the case, all hope Jack had of keeping their relation secret was gone then. It was only a matter of time before Anna got those answers she so demanded. He was right.

And here they w—

Jack had only a single moment to yank Anna back by the arm before something heavy and metallic shot toward him, tearing through his shirt and coat and pinning him to a tree by his torso. He grunted from the jolt, but not in pain.

A pitchfork of all things. A completely normal pitchfork with no etched runes of spell-work or monster specific poison of any kind….

He looked down at the thing for the briefest of second and couldn't help but laugh, though perhaps in relieved hysteria, and easily extricated himself with a few disconnected bones and enough strength to pull the thing out of the tree to save his clothing. It was a surprisingly strong throw. He ignored the burn of iron.

Anna blinked, clearly startled, fire alighting her hands as she turned around seconds before something flew at her face and knocked her down. Probably a rock.

"You idiot!" a voice screeched. "You weren't supposed to attack them!"

"I got excited!" Another voice defended.

"You threw a pitchfork you idiot. A PITCHFORK?! What would that do?! May Lucifer use your face as a dartboard. Why were you even carrying a pitchfork?!"

Jack stared into the darkness in confusion at the two male voices. Was there such a thing as demon amateurs?

Quickly he pulled Anna to her feet and gestured for the witches to follow as they faded away as shadows.

The voices rose in pitch as they realized the monsters were escaping and Jack could briefly hear one demand of his companion to "get the others!"

That wasn't good news.

They lost the demons easily, but that was far too close a call.

Jack was grateful Anna was being so hypervigilant, strangely even more so than him it seemed, when she abruptly stopped at the barest edge of a tiny clearing and pulled at his sleeve hard enough to tear it a bit. At the same time, she kicked out one leg, almost tripping Helgamine and Zeldabourne before they could go too far.

"Well this is a problem," Jack understated as he righted himself.

The monsters looked around at the area and realized they had gotten a little turned around running from the demons. This was where the portal was supposed to be.

"You don't say? Is this the right place?" Helgamine said. "It isn't here."

"Did they close the portal?!" Zeldabourne snapped angrily.

"No. It's too early," Jack said eerily calm, despite the attack that just happened.

Anna was quiet.

"Perhaps we're simply lost," Jasper purred.

Helgamine glared at the ghost cat heatedly and he wisely shut up as Trouble snickered.

"They left us!" Zeldabourne said.

"No," Jack replied quickly, turning to face the others. "Madame Hale and Chief Squanto wouldn't leave us stranded." He paced the area where the portal previously was, studying the leaves and feeling the air. "Not intentionally. Thanksgiving isn't over either I believe."

"That doesn't matter, Jack," Helgamine stressed. "What are we going to do?"

"I sense the demons nearby Jack," Zeldabourne said, her voice softer and tight. "They approach. They know we're here."

Jack continued to pace for a moment, his sockets moving across the ground thoughtfully.

Anna still hadn't said anything since the discovery. She watched the adults fret, genuine fear leaking into the air between them.

They watched Jack, waiting for his answer. He had a plan. He had too.

Jack bent down, fingers touching a yellow powder he found on a leaf. He sniffed it, smelling the pungent scent of rotten eggs.

"A demon was just here. Possibly one of those two idiots. I'm not sure, but I suspect the Thanksgiving portal reacted to it and moved away to protect its Citizens."

"Good for them," Helgamine said with tense sarcasm. "But what do we do now? How are we getting home?"

"I don't know."

That wasn't the answer the witches expected or wanted to hear.

"What?" they said.

Jack's face was unreadable. He stared out into the night, frowning as he thought hard. That answer wasn't good enough for him, but he couldn't think of anything. Why couldn't he!? He was usually bursting with ideas! He always had something, even when dealing with demons. Why couldn't he….

He glanced at Anna and the witches. Things were different. Back in those olden days, when he was young and human, he dealt with demons as a selfish fool. He could afford to be careless, or at least convince himself to be. It was only his own life he concerned with, not anyone else's. No one else's soul was in his care. He wasn't a king. He wasn't a leader. He had no one under his care, except his family when he was older and only a bit wiser, but then he died and was a fool all over again. And he was always selfish, refusing to concern himself with anyone else's well-being or future.

He couldn't do that anymore. He hadn't thought like that in centuries and it was sobering to remember how much he's changed. However, his slight betterment was no use now if those in his care were still in danger.

Where was Sally?

That was also in the forefront of his mind. She wasn't here. He could only hope she had gone through the portal before it disappeared, but the hope was feeble and the worry tore at his aching bones.

His roving eyes locked with Anna's and he wanted to curse when he saw her expression. He hated how she stared at him, guessing what was going through his mind. He tried his best to ignore the witches' worried chatter to stare Anna down instead.

Her silence was unpleasantly unnerving and critical, her chaotic fear taking a break from tormenting her psyche it seemed.

"What's wrong with you?"

Anna's soft words cut through their thoughts. She stared at them, even the cats, judgmentally. Terror danced in her eyes under the sternness, but she kept it under control and her sockets didn't even twitch.

The adults stilled, confused at her tone.

"Listen to yourselves," Anna whispered, "You're monsters. Creatures of the night. Shadows. Things just in the corner of the human eye. You're stories I grew up adoring."

They were quiet, staring at the skeleton.

Anna continued, glancing down at her shoes. "Do you know how excited I was to learn some of my favorite characters exist as real people? Don't tell Nevermore, but I've been dying to ask him if he knows how his writer died. I have to stop myself from running into the Creature's shop and asking what the world was like two-hundred years ago or what Mary Shelley was like. I've been driving myself nuts trying to be polite, trying to fit in because I want you to like me. I want the town to like me. You're my heroes." Anna suddenly looked angry. "Even you, Jack, as mad as I am at you."

Jack blinked, and the witches' eyes widened behind their hideous noses.

"You tricked demons like it was as simple as breathing. You adored your son, sacrificing everything for him. Even being someone caught in the crossfire, I can't deny that I respect that," Anna admitted, even though she spoke through gritted teeth. "Do something! I'm terrified out of my wits right now. I can't think. I can barely feel anything besides anger and fear. I don't know what to do and I'm with you all because I trust you. But what am I hearing? You're scared? Of demons?"

"Annalise," Helgamine said, cooing a little, "Demons are….demons aren't simple creatures. We can't frighten them away and they are generally more powerful than us." She spat like the humiliating words left a bad taste.

"There has to be something!" Anna demanded, eyes darting to Jack as her voice cracked. "I don't want to go to hell…"

Jack felt a pang as Anna stared at him, whispering those broken words.

She shook a little as she glared. She was frightened, of course. The terror at what could be waiting for her below ate away at her soul.

"Are we really so powerless against them?" Anna asked.

"No, Anna," Helgamine murmured. "But we can't risk you getting hurt."

"We n-need to fight them," Anna said.

"Now wait one moment…" Zeldabourne interrupted.

"No! We c-can't…we can't j-just keep running away. They h-have us trapped. If we let them come but prepare for them th-then we could…" Anna shuddered, aware she wasn't really making sense. "We might…we have to fight them. We can lure them with me. If we defeat the one who wants me then everything…"

"Annalise, that's out of the question," Jack said calmly, understanding her desperation to move away from the defensive. "We need to avoid a fight."

"WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO!?" Annalise snarled.

Jack frowned at her. "Annalise."

Anna shrunk back, wincing at his tone as the witches did the same.

"I'm not about to risk your second life so carelessly. Hate me all you wish, but your soul is in my care whether you like it or not, as are Helgamine, Zeldabourne and every other citizens'."

"But I'm not a citizen."

"Do I look like I care?" Jack growled, and Anna ducked, wide-eyed. His voice softened. "I will not pick and choose who is under my protection just because of the ink in a magic book."

Anna looked away.

She hated him as expected, but she didn't flinch away as he took her shoulders and looked her eye to eye. He didn't say anything for a minute as he studied her.

"Annalise, take a breath."

"I can't… I don't need to," she hiccupped.

"You need to calm down," Jack said softly. "Just breathe. Everything will be alright."

Helgamine and Zeldabourne looked on, refusing to comment on Jack and Anna's complicated relationship.

Anna shook her head weakly, sniffing. She breathed, her ribs shakily rattling as she stared at the new holes in Jack's shirt.

"There we go," Jack murmured. "Look at me. The first thing you need to do is calm down and think. We can't use you as bait for demons, Annalise. They outnumber us and the methods we would use to fight them would severely hurt you if you were in the way. There is an aura of protection that Halloween offers around citizens who have signed the book. We've developed specific spells and exorcisms that won't harm us. We teach them to everyone that goes out into the Real World. But you haven't signed because I am an idiot. Do you understand?"

Anna nodded, grateful for Jack's explanation.

"That can be avoided if we are careful, but the second issue is very important," Jack held up two fingers. "Some of the ways I must fight demons involve possibly hurting the humans they are possessing. I want to avoid that terrible thing and you don't need to see that if it comes to it."

Anna looked sick. "Are they alive?"

"The humans? Sometimes," Jack explained honestly. Anna wasn't a little child to hide such truths from. "Demons will sometimes possess empty shells or recently deceased, keeping the body alive for themselves for as long as possible. But they are rarely so considerate of their victims. Sometimes the body may be so damaged that the human soul just leaves if the demon doesn't care to trap and torture them. But the demon stays behind and the body may as well be theirs."

Anna nodded, trying not to think about her small town or the likelihood of recognizing a face.

"Now," Jack said, suddenly looking a little annoyed with himself, "I do believe I just had an idea. However, I most certainly don't like it for the very reasons I just gave. It goes against everything I just said."

Anna took a breath. "I can handle it," she said seriously.

"I dearly hope that's true."