Author's Note: Hello, I have finished chapter seven. It is shorter; but nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for your reviews. I hope i continue to please you! Review with your thoughts! Thanks!

~Ray-Ray~

The week passed by slowly, and uneventfully. Bug was glad there had been no more people reported missing or murders. He had a feeble hope that it would just disappear, never to be spoken of again. He knew it was foolish.

"Are you ready to go?" Leah asked Bug; she was returning to normal but at times he watched her slip into that depressing mood. Bug nodded.

There first stop was Haley's house. Once they had picked her up they made their way over to Officer Jeanne's home. Her grandmother lived with her in a small quaint place across town. When they arrived it was obvious that those living in the household were very religious. On the door hung a strange symbol; Hayley shot a glance back at Bug. He shrugged. He took a step forward and knocked.

After a long moment Officer Jeanne came to the door. She got a look at Bug and Leah and opened the door wider.

"Welcome, I just finished lunch. Come on inside all of you." The scar across her neck was prominent. The Ripper had left his mark upon her. Bug looked away.

"Don't worry boy, I understand your unease and it doesn't offend me." Then she spoke to an older woman who was sitting in a rocking chair. Her dark hair was streaked with grey, and it was pulled into a tight bun held by a pencil. "Grandma, the children are here." Bug frowned at the word 'children' but shrugged it off.

"My grand-baby tells me you have questions about the murders that have been occurring." She said not looking from where she had been staring off moments before. Jeanne leaned forward and whispered.

"She is blind," Hayley nodded and Leah made an inaudible 'ah'.

"Yes ma'am, your granddaughter said that we could visit and discuss it over lunch." Bug said in a faint voice.

"You are the boy, aren't you?" Bug scowled at her words, not understanding. "You are the one who killed the first reincarnation." She stated.

Bug nodded, but then realized that she couldn't see him and he began to fumble with his words.

"Ye-yes," he stuttered. The woman smiled at his stammering and stood; walking towards the kitchen.

"Who are the others that are with you?" She asked as she made her way with her walking stick securing her way the kitchen table.

"My sister, Leah; and my friend, Hayley," Bug whispered. He hesitated before following the woman into the small kitchen; Leah and Hayley close behind them.

"Would you like some lemonade my dears?" She asked as she poured her own glass. Bug watched her with his eyes wide with amazement as she filled all the glasses. Jeanne handed the three of them their glasses and a plate with sandwiches.

"Go on and eat." She said kindly. Bug glanced at Leah and saw that she was becoming impatient. Hayley on the other hand looked bewildered. Bug to a hesitant sip of the lemonade; it was very sweet. He finished his sandwich quickly. It was scrumptious.

"So what do you have to ask me, younglings?" Leah, Bug and Hayley looked from one another. Leah finally took the initiative and asked the first question.

"Do you believe that the Ripper is back?" She said bluntly. Her voice quivered at the mention of his name.

"I believe that he has repossessed a body." She said between sips of lemonade. Her daughter sat nearby listening to the conversation.

"What do you mean by that?" Hayley asked. She leaned forward in her seat and leaned her elbows on the table.

"Sweetheart, leaning your elbows on the table shows poor manners." She said in a light tone. Hayley lifted her arms from the table and set them in her lap quietly, her eyes wide with shock. "I simply mean the soul of the Ripper never left the earth. He feels that he has something left to do."

Bug leaned back in his chair taking in a deep breath; this was something that he should have expected. The first time the Ripper had been reincarnated was into a new born child, Alex. He couldn't think about his poor friend now.

"But he couldn't have reincarnated into another infant, not enough time has passed for that." He said, trying to make sense of what the woman was saying.

"That is true, so he had to take the body of a grown person. But he can't do that if the soul still inhabits the body, or is strong enough to keep control." The woman said between bites of food.

"Then how would his soul reenter the human world?" Hayley asked.

"He invaded the body of one who had a weak soul, or whose soul had fled the mortal body."

"If he were to die again, would there be no way of knowing if he would actually leave the mortal world?" Hayley said.

"No," she said in a flat tone. "That is the worst news, I am afraid." She stood and began to walk into the back hall.

The three sat there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. The old woman called from the distance. They scrambled from their chairs and followed Jeanne, who was opening a glass door. The backyard was vast. A large willow was set at the center of the yard, and it had grown well. Its wispy branches were thick and strong. Jeanne's mother was sitting in a chair placed next to the tree. A dog ran freely in the yard. When it saw Bug, Leah, and Hayley; it ran up sniffing the three of them curiously.

"Harold, come over here." The woman said. The chocolate lab trotted to the woman and sat at her feet, laying his head in her lap. "That is a good boy." She said scratching behind his ears.

With Jeanne leading the way, they walked over to the woman and pulled up some chairs.

"How would we find him?" Leah asked hesitantly.

"I think you already know that answer. The two of you know the Ripper better than anyone who is alive. I don't think it is wise to go looking for the reincarnation, especially you my son." She said to Leah and me.

"Then what are you going to do?" Leah countered.

"Pray." She said softly. "I suspect that that is all you wanted to know. I am growing tired. I am sorry, but I must say goodbye." She stood and walked in, the dog guiding her by leaning his body against her as she walked.

They left the house quietly, saying goodbye to Jeanne and then walking out to Leah's car.

"Well, that only made me more scared." Hayley said.

Leah nodded as she put the car into reverses. Bug only stared off into the woods and swore he saw a cloaked figure once more. He began to fear for the old woman's life.