After about a half an hour of running through the shadows and ducking to avoid discovery by the townsfolk, Barkis had finally managed to make it through the small town and back to the clearing in the woods where he had arrived. He fell to his knees and breathed heavily (though he knew perfectly well that it was unnecessary).

Now that all was quiet again, Barkis' mind couldn't help but wander back to the events that had just taken place…and how horribly wrong his plan had gone.

"No," he exclaimed out loud, knowing that those thoughts were libel to throw him off focus and drive him mad. "I can't think about it! I won't!"

Barkis desperately tried to rip his thoughts away from his failure and back to thoughts of revenge, but as he gazed around, his eyes landed on his cold, blue hands. Again, they did nothing but serve as a reminder of his second failure.

Treasonous appendages, he thought again, they shouldn't still be blue! I should be a living person by now! Why are they still blue!

Slowly but surely, his anger began to overwhelm him once more. Not able to take it any longer, Barkis jumped up from his knees and let out a growl of frustration.

"Curse you, Van Dorts," he cried through the still night air. Finally, he lost it. He began stalking through the forest and anything that he stepped on or came face to face with, insect, bush, flower, whatever it may be, he would beat to a pulp. He kicked and clawed away at the trees that surrounded him and any animal that dared to come near him, he would scream incoherent frustrations at until the creature would scurry away in fright.

After a few more minutes of ranting and raving, Barkis finally felt the better part of his rage release. He returned to the clearing he had arrived at and sat down on a stump calmly as if nothing had happened.

"Now," he said reasonably, "what to do next…" He stood up once more and slowly began to pace back in forth in the clearing. He knew that his original plan was no longer an option. The Van Dorts would more than likely be on high guard now. He had to find some alternative way to enter the house when Victoria was alone and vulnerable. But how?

In need of some inspiration, Barkis removed his satchel from its hiding place in the stump, pulled out the book of Dark Magic and placed it in his lap. He ran his fingers over the smooth cover once more and tried to get a feel of that power he had felt before. Suddenly, it came to him.

"The book," he cried out in excitement. He could use the book as a decoy. Slowly, a brilliantly evil plan began to take shape in his mind. As everything began to click, Barkis smiled a vile grin and let out sort of a cackle.

"It's fool proof," he concluded. "They'll never know what's coming!" With new found hope, he arose and bounded off toward his hiding place in the alley, anxiously anticipating his opportunity to carry out his new masterful plan.

The next couple of days in the Van Dort household were nothing if not unbearable. Anticipation of new attacks absolutely consumed the residents, leading to nothing to tension and misery. No one could enjoy the same things they used to as long as there was the possibility that Barkis would return once more.

But if everyone in the house was suffering that much, it was twice as worse for poor Victoria. Since the attack, she had become a nervous wreck. She refused to be left alone in the house and would spend hours on end locked in her and Victor's special room, the only place in the house where she felt safe. She hardly ate and only slept a restless, nightmare ridden sleep when given Dr. Wadsworth special sleeping potion, causing her to feel weak and listless the remainder of the day. And though she was usually a happy person, no one had seen her smile in days.

Now, as Victor stood in the threshold of their bedroom and watched her toss and turn in her sleep, he felt a pang of guilt stab at his heart.

This is my fault, he thought. If I hadn't run off like a coward to the woods that night, I would have never disappeared and she would have never married Barkis. None of this would be happening.

"I'm so sorry, my darling," he whispered to her as she slept. As if in response, Victoria calmed down for a brief moment before continuing her tossing and turning.

No, Victor suddenly thought. I mustn't think such things. I can't let guilt distract me. I must be there for Victoria. She needs me.

Victor sighed and leaned his head against the frame of the door. He couldn't bear to see his beloved wife suffer like she was, and all at the hands of that treacherous murderer.

That sick, treacherous murderer, he thought. How dare he do this to us? How dare he do this to her?

Suddenly, instead of feeling guilt, Victor began to feel anger rise within him, an anger that he had never felt before in his entire life. He could use this anger.

That's what I need, he slowly began to realize. Anger! Anger will help me stop this mad man. I need to get angrier.

Victor closed his eyes and began to picture all the moments he was his angriest. His thoughts began to drift back to that night at the church and the moment where Barkis kicked him down to the ground and was about to stab him with the sword. He remembered feeling intense anger towards the man for attempting to end his life and stealing him away from all that he cared about.

The bypassed that thought and began to recall another moment, where he and the rest of the church discovered that Barkis was none other than the man who had murdered a dear friend, Emily. He recalled feeling angry at him for snatching away the life of such a beautiful person.

But it was the next moment he remembered that filled him with the greatest rage, the moment when Barkis dared to put his hand on his sweet Victoria. Victor recollected how greatly he repulsed as he tightened his grasp on Victoria's arm and put the blade to her throat. The fear in Victoria's eyes as she pleaded with him to save her had been more than he could bear. Victor had never hated anyone before, but at that moment, Barkis had called up all the hatred Victor could muster.

Now, as Victor opened his eyes and gazed upon the bruise on Victoria's cheek that Barkis left, he could feel that same anger double over.

He can't get away with this, Victor thought with clenched fists. He simply cannot be running free after what he has done.

Filled with thoughts of vengeance and justice, Victor whirled around and made his way downstairs. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stop Barkis alone, so he began making plans to return to some friends who would be able to help him. He would have to go back…to the Land of the Dead.

As Victor entered the foyer and began putting on his hat and coat, he could feel his sense of determination rise within him. Barkis may cut a dear friends life short and scarred his beloved wife, but there was no way he was attaining his revenge.

There is no way he is taking my Victoria away from me, Victor thought, not if I have anything to say about it. He will be stopped!

Victor put his hand on the doorknob and was about to depart, but he realized that he was about to leave without leaving anyone any knowledge to where he was disappearing to. He thought it only fair that he told Victoria herself.

As quietly as possible, Victor returned upstairs to his bedroom and leaned over Victoria. He put his hand on her shoulder and gently began to shake her.

"Victoria," he called out softly. "Victoria?" After a few more shakes, Victoria's eyes finally fluttered and opened.

"Hmm," she asked drowsily.

"Darling, I realized I need to stop Barkis, but I can't do it alone. I'm going back…," he hesitated before saying the next part, "to the Land of the Dead."

"That's nice," Victoria responded groggily.

"I am leaving right now," he told her.

"Alright dear, I'll be here when you get home," she responded as she closed her eyes again. Victor was about to ask if she heard him, but he decided it was best not to push it. He leaned over and kissed her softly on her uninjured cheek.

"I'll return soon, my darling. I love you," he whispered. He was about to turn around and leave, but all of a sudden, Victoria shot up and sat straight up in bed.

"You're going where," she cried.

"Darling, I must return to the Land of the Dead! It's the only way I can protect you from Barkis," he explained.

"But Victor, you don't even know if it's safe to return!"

"But I must try!"

"How are you even going to get back there," Victoria demanded to know.

"I have a theory," Victor cried indignantly.

"And what theory would that be?"

"Well, when we came up from the Land of the Dead to this land to perform Emily's and my wedding ceremony, Elder Gutknecht cast a spell over all of us to where when we say a certain word, we would return to the Land of the Dead. After the ceremony was through, the residents from the other side said the word and returned, but I never did because I did not wish to return with them," Victor explained quickly.

"And," Victoria prodded.

"And…and well, I-I thought if I were to say the word now, it would s-still work and I would return to the L-Land of the Dead," Victor stuttered, faltering under Victoria's doubtful gaze. Victoria sighed.

"Darling, I don't feel comfortable having you go back there all alone. What if you can't return…or if Barkis finds out your plan and gets to you before you're able to reach your destination?"

"But Victoria, I have to try," Victor said as he sat down beside her and took her hand, "I can't just sit around and wait for Barkis to possibly return. I need to stop him…I can't lose you again." Victoria's gaze softened.

"Oh Victor," she said as she gently squeezed his hand and stared deep into his eyes. After a moment of silence she sighed.

"Alright Victor, you can go, but on one condition," she said.

"Anything," Victor promised. Victoria threw back her covers and began to scoot to the edge of the bed.

"That I go with you," she explained.

"But Victoria," Victor began to argue, but Victoria cut him off.

"I don't want to be left alone here," she explained as she got up from the bed. "And I can't sit here and just wonder when you're going to return either. I need to go with you." She looked pleadingly into his eyes and Victor sighed.

"Alright darling, we'll go together. But make haste, my dear. I want to leave as soon as possible," he told her.

"I'll be dressed and ready within the hour," Victoria promised. She kissed Victor quickly on the cheek and scurried off to the washroom to change.

About an hour later, Victor and Victoria were out of the house and made their way hand-in-hand to the church where the dead had congregated last, all the while praying that Victor's theory was correct.

Hey people! I just wanted to apologize for this chapter. I feel that it's definitely not my best work. I don't know, maybe I was just looking forward to writing the next parts too much, I just couldn't get inspired for this part. I feel that something's missing from it…oh well, better luck next time, I guess! Anyway, reviews are still greatly appreciated! Until we meet again!