It was almost midnight. The clouds had commandeered the sky, turning everything from dark grey to black. Ferb stood alone, surrounded only by the tall dense trees of the forest. A sheer mist had begun to settle as well, covering up the low plants and making the trees appear to rise up out of infinity. It was silent. Everything was still.

Ferb blinked.

After a moment he could see something approaching through the dense fog, just a shadow at first, but getting closer. As it came to a stop before him, he could make out Moon's lithe form, although he couldn't see her face clearly through the mist. She only stared, her eyes even. After a moment they began to glow a dark blood-red. When she spoke her voice was evil and cunning...

"For every night that comes to pass your sister's death draws near

For has been laid a venom curse on she you hold so dear

By nine tonight she'll lose her mind - in three days, lose her head

But by my hand or by her own, she soon will still be dead

Upon her broken bones I'll dance, upon her dark blood feed

And revel in my act macabre, what born of blackened greed

And when her body's all but rot, I'll on her brothers turn

To satisfy my hunger, and as well to see them burn

But I have not a heart so cold; you must these next words heed

For in them lies the key to life for which you seem to plead

The game of death is quid-pro-quo - she must her brother slay

And drink two quarts his blood so she once more can see the day."

Ferb bolted awake, shaking, his eyes wide. Bellidor's words echoed in his mind, and without hesitation he ran downstairs to find some paper to write them down. Having done that, he sat back and took a deep breath. The early morning darkness was still strong over the house, and he supposed the sun wouldn't show itself for at least another hour, possibly two. He didn't much care. He thought only of Phineas, whatever that monster was doing to him, wherever they had gone. He only hoped he was still alive.

"Ferb?"

Ferb jumped. Turning to the elaborate Victorian staircase, he was relieved to see it was only Isabella, her voice sleepy. "What are you doing up? It's three-thirty in the morning."

Ferb had no comment. He'd tell her about it later. He just folded the paper up and led Isabella back upstairs.

Isabella woke early the next morning. The sun hadn't yet risen, although the few clouds that she could see through the window had begun to take up just enough light to stand out against the black sky. For a few minutes she only lie there, nestled up against still-sleeping Marissa, but finally she forced herself to sit up. She was still tired; she hadn't been able to get back to full sleep after Ferb had woken her. The best she could manage was an uneasy doze. If it had been up to her she would have gone back to sleep, but she knew they had to find Phineas.

With a sleepy yawn she stretched, her neck giving a soft *crick!* as she did so, and glanced back at Marissa. She frowned. She seemed a little pale, and a gentle hand on her forehead confirmed that Marissa was burning-hot. Leaning carefully over her, she gave Ferb a nudge, hoping to wake him. "Ferb?" she whispered.

Ferb woke, a little startled, but then rubbed the sand out of one eye and yawned. Blinking a few times, he gave Isabella a quizzical look.

"Marissa's running a fever," she explained, her voice quiet and concerned, "What do we do?"

Ferb's eyes widened a little. He hesitated only a moment, but then reached into the pocket of his nightshirt and pulled out the note he'd written himself last night. He handed it to Isabella without a word.

Isabella took it equally silently. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know what this was about, but she didn't see that she had much of a say in the matter. She unfolded the note, her eyes tracing the paper. Her hands slowly began to shake. "Ferb," she stammered, having found her voice after a brief silence, "This can't be the only thing-?"

Ferb remained silent. Defeated, he nodded.

Isabella squeaked. "But - but there has to be another way," she protested as she felt hot tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "We can't..."

Ferb only put a hand on her shoulder, his eyes completely blank. He wasn't about to let Isabella se the hurt that was behind them. He knew he was the only solace she had, and he wouldn't take that from her; he wasn't cruel.

Isabella leaned into him, unable to hold in her tears any longer, and buried her head in the corner of his neck. Sobbing heavily, she wrapped both her arms around him.

After a minute Ferb did the same.