Ed left the palace at night once more and waited in the trees for Ara to come out. His parents let him out of his punishment because he was more at peace now. He and Ara had met for weeks now, and they hadn't been caught yet by Shock or Lock. Barrel had even spent time with them. He thought Barrel was strange, but he liked him none the less. Ara came out and ran toward the forest. "Barrel is sick…we think Shock tried to poison him for an experiment but she hasn't confessed yet." She said and they walked through the forest. Ed nodded and smiled slightly.

"We've seen what that kid can eat…he can stomach anything. He'll be up in no time." Ed said and smiled.

She laughed and said, "We all know he eats nothing but candy. Candy, candy, candy. That kid lives off of it like it's a drug."

Ed smiled and thought for a moment. "I've been thinking…" Ara looked at him curiously. "I think…I think I would like you to meet my parents." Ara gaped at him.

"Your parents?" she asked. She gulped. If she was going to meet his parents, perhaps she would have to tell him. 'No, you met his father…you don't have to worry. He doesn't know you're his daughter. What could be easier?' she thought to herself. "When would we do this?"

"Dunno. Unfortunately, it would have to be during daytime. My mom isn't fond of night." He answered. "How about two days from now? I'll let my parents know so they don't worry…"

Ara suddenly threw her arms around him. "This will be great!" she cried. His eyes widened, but he hugged her none the less. He had never really hugged someone. He smiled. "Two days from now then?" Ara nodded. "Great. Are there any kinds of food that you don't like?" he asked. "My mom will probably want to have you come to dinner. Oh! Make sure you dress up, because if we have guests over it's usually formal…"

Ara smiled, "Will do Ed! You can count on me" she said and gave a thumbs up. He smiled and they continued to walk. "Has a vampire asked you for your blood yet?" she asked.

"More than I can count," he smiled and sat down. She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Can I tell you something?" he asked. She looked at him. "I really like being—" a twig snapped. He stopped talking. Ara looked up alarmed. She stood up and backed away from Ed. He looked at her, his mind working too slow at the moment.

"Lock!" she cried. The devil boy came from out of the trees. 'Damn. I got her in trouble again.' He thought and watched the devil boy begin to size him up again.

"I thought it was curious that Barrel didn't want me to spend time with you at night. I see why now." He smiled his wicked smiled and grabbed her wrist and without saying another word she was dragged away. Ed stood up and ran after them. He grabbed Lock's shoulder and yanked. Lock spun and stared at him in disbelief. "What's this?" he smirked. "Are you trying to fight me?" he asked.

Ed looked at Lock, almost surprised at his own actions. "Leave her alone." said he. "You have no right to take her away. You can't make her do anything she doesn't want to."

Ara looked at him, she almost smiled but then looked fearfully at Lock who smiled. "Oh she wants to go. Can't you tell?" he mocked. "Besides… she knows what's good for her." He smirked and pulled her away.

.

Ara was slammed against the tree again. "Look at me." He demanded and forced her to look at him. "What the hell were you thinking? Didn't you think of the consequences?" he asked angrily and looked at her for a moment. "I will not hesitate now. Shock will find out."

Arachne looked at him, "I don't care. You can't do anything to me!" she said angrily.

"Do you know what responsibility you have to fulfill? What position you have to step up to? Of course not. Believe it or not, a lot of people are depending on you Ara. If you don't do what was laid out for you, you might as well spin yourself a noose and hang yourself."

"I'm not going to do it. You can't make me." She said angrily. "Nobody once has asked me what I wanted to do. I've had every decision lined up for me. And what would happen should I fail?" she demanded angrily.

"You can't Ara. It's in your blood. That's why you were born as a human-spider. Your webs cause nightmares Ara." He smiled his wicked smile and dragged her back.

.

"You did what?" Shock demanded angrily. "How could you keep this a secret from me?" she asked Lock. He didn't respond and she continued. "Ara, we have wasted our years on you. If you mean to tell me that we clearly wasted our years of hard work on an ungrateful girl, I have no problem telling you this." She slammed her fist on the table. "I would have never agreed to let you stay with us since you gambled away our safety so you could have your kicks with his son."

"I didn't have my 'kicks'." Arachne spat. "You're twisting the truth." She folded her arms. Shock angrily looked at her. She hit her across the face.

"Let that be a lesson Ara to never talk back to me."

Ara stared at her in disbelief. She wiped the blood from her lip. "I hate you." She cried. Shock angrily pulled her hair and threw her into her room. "You will never see your boyfriend again." She screamed. Shock locked the trap door and left her in darkness.

.

Ed went back to his room and sat down. His mother and father agreed whole heartedly. They were delighted to find that there could be at least one girl that he had interest in. He just hoped that Ara was not punished. He closed his eyes and slept.

.

Ed awoke in the middle of the night, a rock being thrown at the window. He got up and looked out. There was Barrel, concern on his face. He opened his window and walked out onto the balcony. "What's wrong?" he climbed down and ran to Barrel. "Did they do anything to her? Is Ara safe?" he demanded.

Barrel shrugged. "There's little that can be said at the moment. She's fine, you don't have to worry about that. They have her locked up as punishment."

"You've got to help me get her out of there! I'll get her out of there!" Ed cried ready to run.

"Don't be thick. They would know it was you…that's why it'll be an inside job.." he smiled slightly. "I always like you two together…Ara deserves to be happy. I won't be able to let her escape until you meet."

"What?"

"She told me about your plans to meet your parents…it may not be wise but I can get her out of there and help her escape. But I cannot guarantee it…" he said. "If something should happen…I hope you are ready to accept all consequences…" Barrel said.

Ed nodded, "I will." He said. Barrel nodded then quickly ran back into the shadows and disappeared.

.

Barrel waited two days, exactly the time that dinner was. He unlocked the door an hour before, and helped her out of her hole. "Are you ready?" he asked. She nodded. She wore a plain black dress. He sighed and smiled. "Good luck Ara Long Legs."

Ara smiled and she silently crept out of the house. Barrel locked the board up and hid the key once more. He watched her go, and smiled. She was the only one here who had a choice. He walked to his room and closed his eyes. It was daytime, and he never liked to be awake during such an ungodly hour of four o'clock.

.

Ara looked at herself in a mirror in town. She fixed her hair and then waited at the street corner. Barrel had told Ed to wait for her there. Ed came walking down the street. He smiled. "I didn't know you would be able to make it!" he cried and hugged her. She smiled.

"Barrel really helped out…if it wasn't for him…I don't know what I would do." She smiled and he brought her to the castle. Servants bowed to Ed as they walked past and he brought them to the dining hall. Queen Sally smiled and King Jack gaped. She curtsied and smiled, "Thank you for letting me come."

"Ah!" cried Jack smiling. "It's the nameless girl! May I finally find out what your name is?" Ed looked at Ara curiously.

"Arachne, sir." She answered. He nodded.

"It's a pretty name, may I asked who named you?"

"My father, your highness." She answered. Queen Sally nodded. 'Her manners are good…what about her breeding?' Queen Sally thought.

"Shall we go to the throne room for now?" asked Jack. Queen Sally nodded and took his arm. Ed walked solemnly next to Ara as they followed behind them.

.

Jack laughed at dinner and told stories of Halloweens long ago. Dinner was comical and not as tense as she thought it would be. Once more they were in the throne room and Sally and Jack sat on the thrones. Ed talked to Ara. "Your majesty," said a servant waking into the room. "There are two people who demanded that you see them."

"Yes, I will see them in an hour." Said Jack.

"Your majesty, it is the Boogie Boys." Said the servant. Jack looked up and nodded for them to be let in. Ara looked at Ed. She stared at him, her eyes wide in fear. Sally tensed up and grabbed for Jack's arms. The throne room that was once filled with laughter suddenly became silent. Shock and Lock came into the room. Immediately they sought out Ara.

"Your Majesty," they bowed mockingly. "I believe you have something that belongs to us."

"I do not believe so." Said Jack. He looked calm.

"Arachne." Said Shock, her voice stern. They all looked at Shock, then at Arachne. Ed stood in front of Ara, ready to defend her.

"Boogie Boys, you have no right to come in here and take what is not yours. Leave now." Said Queen Sally.

"No, Sally." Lock said.

She looked furious, "How dare you—"

"We take care of her, Jack. We took an oath."

"Your allegiance lies with the dead." Said Jack.

"No, not dead. Never dead Jack." Said Lock laughing his teeth sharp. "You can't kill Oogie Boogie…you don't have the knowledge."

"Stop it!" cried Ara. Lock and Shock laughed.

"Oh! They don't know! They don't know!" they began to laugh even harder. "Perhaps…shall we tell them Shock?"

"Why not, Lock?" giggled Shock.

"Boogie Boys!" shouted Jack rising up angrily. "You try my patience."

"Calm down. Calm down." Said Lock angrily.

Shock walked over to Ara and began to pull her away. She squirmed but could not do much. "Arachne here, is no other than the Oogie Boogie's daughter. His pride and joy,"

Jack sat back down on the throne is disbelief, Sally fainted, and Ed felt his heart drop. Ara stopped squirming and she looked at Ed. He took a step back, his face horrified. Jack bowed his head, and then stood up. "Get out of my sight." He said. "If I see you ever again, I'll—I'll…" Shock and Lock began to laugh and pulled Ara away. Ed stared at Ara, her beautiful face torn into pieces in his brain. 'She lied to you the entire time…' he thought. He blinked his eyes, a single tear falling from one of them.

"I'm so sorry Ed…" she whispered but they pulled her out of the throne room.