The fireworks were amazing. The best in Emily's memory. Or maybe it was just the company, which was infinitely better than last time.

The last sparks and clouds of smoke faded from the sky, and Emily and Jesse were still lying on the ground, inside hands clasped, fingers intertwined. Sighing, Jesse got to his feet, and then helped Emily to hers. Neither of them felt the need to say anything.

But apparently, someone else did.

As they started to head back to Emily's family, the old man that had been watching the fireworks next to them the whole show stepped in front of them, along with an old woman with wispy white hair and shocking blue eyes.

"You're still here, eh, boy?" growled the old man, shaking his cane angrily.

It was the old man from outside the movie theatre, Emily realized. He'd changed his red sweater to a dark blue cardigan, but it was him nonetheless. A light bulb went on in her head, and she finally realized what he'd been saying about Jesse the first time they'd seen him.

"Good Lord, it's really him," said the old woman, amazement and a touch of anger on her face. "You were serious, Herbert!"

Emily squeezed Jesse's hand. "We should probably leave," she whispered into his ear.

"What're you whispering about, then?" demanded the old man, Herbert, turning and shaking his cane at Emily this time.

"You're one of them, ain't you?" growled the old woman. "You're a demon, just like them! Demon child!"

Under any other circumstances, Emily might have found this extremely comical. But as it was, it was just frightening.

"Come on, Emily, let's get out of here," said Jesse, maintaining his composure much better than he had during the first encounter with this Herbert. He started to pull Emily around the old couple.

"Demons!"

Herbert grabbed Emily's arm, preventing her from moving.

"You shouldn't have thrown in your lot with them!" said the old woman, her blue eyes blazing.

"Jesse! Emily!"

The odd party of four turned to look in the direction of the deep voice that had just wrung out across the green.

"Miles!" said Emily and Jesse at the same time, as Emily pulled her arm out of Herbert's grip.

"What's going on here?" asked Miles. His tone was deceivingly casual, but his eyes were deadly serious. "Mae wants you back at the house, Jesse," he went on slowly.

"Another one!" said the old woman. "You and the rest of your evil people better pack up and leave, smartish! This town won't stand for it!"

"Ma'am," said Miles, his tone slightly more hostile, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Then Herbert's cane came up, and he swung it wildly in front of him like a saber.

"Out!" he near-howled, advancing on them. "Out, I tell ya!"

"Emily, I think you should go," whispered Jesse, pushing her gently in the direction her family had been.

"Don't let her go!" said the old woman, and suddenly Herbert's attention was directed toward Emily again, who was suddenly paralyzed by an odd fear.

"Hey!" said Jesse, angrily, stepping in front of Emily. "Leave her alone!"

"Out!" howled Herbert, lashing out with his cane.

The cane caught Jesse upside the head. Emily gasped, and grabbed Jesse's shoulders, which he had hunched over in pain.

Miles, meanwhile, had grabbed the cane, and, which what might be called a certain calm, had wrenched it out of Herbert's grip.

"Jesse, Emily, come on," he said, his voice steady but dangerous. "We're going."

And with that, he turned and started walking the other way, leaving the cane lying in the grass. Emily and Jesse scrambled after him, leaving the old couple staring after them in shock.

"Miles!" said Jesse, jogging to catch up with his brother. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"I brought the truck, idiot," said Miles, not slowing down. "Mae and Tuck didn't want you walking back to the hotel alone. One of those old geezers showed up at the hotel. Here," he added, throwing a cell phone at Emily, who'd jogged up next to them.

"Call your family," he said. "Tell them I'll take you home."

No one spoke as Emily made the call, although Jesse and Miles did try to give her as much privacy as possible under the circumstance, just to be polite. After she hung up, and threw the phone back to Miles, they were already at the truck. Miles had parked it out back behind the field, so they'd have to take the long way around. But it would still be quicker than waiting for the cars to get out of the fairgrounds. Emily would probably get home before her family.

She and Jesse climbed in first, and then Miles got in and started the car.

"Damn," said Miles, pulling his hand back from the ignition once the car was started, as if he'd been burned.

"What?" asked Jesse, concerned.

"Nothing," said Miles, starting to back up and turn the truck. "That guy just hit my hand with his cane, that's all. I forgot how much little stuff actually hurts."

"Are you both okay?" asked Emily, directing her question more towards Jesse.

"Yeah," the brother's said at the same time.

"Fine," said Jesse, a moment later. "It was just the shock. No actual pain. You all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Emily quietly, resting her head against the back of the truck.

They drove mostly in silence, each thinking their own thoughts. Emily vaguely noted how often that happened when she was around the Tucks.

Her house finally appeared out of the dark, scaring her a bit with it's suddenness.

"So what's going to happen now?" she asked as she climbed out of the truck. "I mean… all those old people… I mean, the ones who know about you…"

There was silence for a moment, and then Miles said, almost tiredly.

"It means we've been found out," he said. "We'll have to leave. Night, Emily."

"Wait," said Jesse, getting out, and running around the pick-up to where Emily was waiting to go into her house.

"I'm going to come see you tomorrow," he said, taking her softly by the arms. "I promise. I won't leave until I do, all right?"

"Jesse—"

"I won't leave until I see you," Jesse repeated. "But now I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Emily."

"Good night," said Emily softly.

They kissed once, briefly, and then Jesse got back into the truck.

As they drove off, Jesse leaned out the window, and waved.

"I promise!" he said, his voice fading as the pick-up truck drove off up the road back into town.

A/N: Yes, yes, faithful (and not-so-faithful) readers, I've continued. Not going on was a bit of a joke. . I have too much planned.

It's almost done, I will tell you that… hehe…

LE GASP

what will HAPPEN!?!? insert evil smirk

P.S. the "company is infinitely better than last time" line was obviously stolen from Captain Jack, from Pirates one. NOT MINE. hehe.