They landed in Dan's bedroom as usual, however, this time Sam wasn't able to see anything. Unlike the previous entries, there was no sunlight. Instead, the room was pitch black. The only light came from the glow of Phantom Dan's fiery hair.

"August 24th, 1888," he said, helping her up.

Before he could say anything else, the door began to open slowly from behind them. At first, all Sam could see was a bright light. She blinked and shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness as a figure entered the room and slowly closed the door behind him as quietly as he possibly could. She heard his footsteps go past her and head towards the closet. Sam's eyes had finally adjusted to the new light and she lowered her hand. She watched as Dan set the lit candlestick he had been holding down onto the nightstand and pulled out a small suitcase from his closet. Judging by his grunting as he hauled it out, Sam guessed he had already packed it. He placed the suitcase onto the bed and took out a dark-colored overcoat. He dug into one of the pockets, pulled out what looked like two train tickets, smirked in triumph, and placed them back before putting the coat on.

"Where are you going?" Sam finally asked.

"Well," Phantom Dan replied, "The plan was to sneak out and head to Uncle Jack's in Wisconsin. Obviously, the plan went south."

She felt her face turn red, suddenly ashamed for having asked. Phantom Dan noticed and hugged her close to him in reassurance.

"Well, not completely south," he corrected himself, "At least one of us made it out."

"What?" Sam blinked in surprise, "There was more than just you? Who?"

Having fastened the last of his coat buttons, Dan grabbed the suitcase and candlestick and headed out. Sam and Phantom Dan followed him until he stopped at his sister's door.

"Oh," Sam said, finally realizing who the other one was.

Just as Dan was about to knock on the door, it opened. Like her brother, the teenager was dressed and ready to go with a small suitcase of her own. As usual, Sam was unable to see her face due to the darkness and the girl's bonnet covering her face.

"Got the tickets?" she whispered.

Dan nodded and peeked down the hallway. Seeing that everything was clear, he jerked his head towards the staircase. She followed him with Sam and Phantom Dan right behind them. Just then, they heard footsteps coming towards them. Dan blew out the candle, grabbed his sister, and hid themselves behind a nearby window curtain. Sam could hear Mrs. Masters' voice before she even arrived.

"I swear," she mumbled, "If it weren't for the fact that I don't want the police here more than they need to be, I'd call Walker down here to haul that girl out by the hair."

"Mrs. Sanchez certainly knows how to scream that's for sure," Bertrand replied, "I think I'm still half-deaf. I never thought she actually enjoyed working here."

"I'm sure she doesn't. She just wants bragging rights. At least we finally got one problem solved. Now, to deal with the other."

"Penelope-"

"Don't start with me, Bertrand. I'm in no mood."

"All I want to say is to think logically here. Killing off Vlad right after Mr. Foley was bad enough-"

At the mention of her father being killed by Mrs. Masters, the girl's eyes started to water as she held back a sob. Dan started to tremble in anger as he twisted his face into pure hatred towards his step-mother. Bertrand continued on with his sentence.

"But to stubbornly go on ahead with this plan right after Vlad's death? Do you have any idea what Walker will do to you if he's called out here for the third time in a row? We'll both be hanged!"

"How can you hang someone whose already dead?"

"You may be dead, but I'm not!"

"Wait," Sam asked, "She's dead? How can she be dead? I see her walking and talking right there! What am I, a medium or something?"

"Well," Phantom Dan chuckled, "You do seem attracted to dead things."

"Very funny."

"But in all seriousness, yes, she is dead. I don't know how she died or how she came back, but I do know how she's able to remain here. That necklace."

He pointed at the gem glowing green around her neck.

"Right," she remembered from Showenhower's book, "It drains a person's life force and the wearer absorbs it."

"Oh, Bertrand, stop being ridiculous," Penelope scolded, "You've lived for another two-hundred and fifty years past your time. I say you've lived a good life."

"Penelope!" the butler protested.

"I'm kidding. Nobody's getting hanged. Just do what I say and you'll be fine."

"But Walker-!"

"Is an idiot. You let me deal with him and just do as I say!"

Bertrand harrumphed, but made no further comment. As soon as the pair had passed, Dan grabbed his suitcase an his sister and hurried down the staircase, abandoning the candlestick at the windowsill. They were halfway down when Mrs. Masters cried out.

"He's gone!"

At that, the siblings ran down the stairs just as Bertrand announced the girl's disappearance. Sam and Phantom Dan followed them down just as she felt something rapidly blow past her with a whoosh! She looked back to find the source, but couldn't find it.

"What was that?"

"Going somewhere?" she heard Mrs. Masters ask at the bottom of the stairs.

"What?"

Sam ran past Phantom Dan down the stairs and gasped as she saw Mrs. Masters standing right in front of the front door, sneering down at the surprised pair before her.

"How-?" Sam stammered as Phantom Dan caught up, "How'd she do that?"

Dan and his sister turned to run, but again, Mrs. Masters whizzed past, dissolving into a black mist, and reappearing before them in solid form.

"My, my," she tsked, "You two are being very naughty children. I'm afraid I have no choice but to punish you."

Dan growled and raised a fist. He swung it at her face in an attempt to punch her, but his hand went completely through. Both he and his sister gasped. Instead of flesh, there was instead that black mist. He pulled his hand back and the mist became flesh once more.

"Trying to hit your mother?" Mrs. Masters grinned wickedly, "Very naughty indeed, Daniel. I'm going to have to punish you even more than her."

"Don't you dare," he growled, protectively standing in front of the girl, "If you even think about it-"

His sister suddenly let out a scream. Sam had been busy paying so much attention to the fight, she didn't notice Bertrand sneaking up from behind. He grabbed the girl and held her tight in a bear hug as she struggled to break free.

"Let me go!" she screamed.

"Hey!" Dan shouted, "Let her go!"

He reached for Bertrand, but Mrs. Masters lunged at him and grabbed his legs, making him fall. She climbed on top of him, her necklace glowing brighter than before. Sam ran to try to force the woman off of him, but fell through when she tried to grab Mrs. Masters' shoulders. She turned herself onto her back and attempted to push Mrs. Masters off, but again her hands went past Mrs. Masters. Phantom Dan grabbed Sam's shoulders and got her back up on her feet.

"I appreciate the thought," he said, "But you can't touch memories, remember. Besides, I'm already dead."

Sam looked on helplessly as Mrs. Masters continued on as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, don't fret too much, Daniel," she sneered, pinning him down as he attempted to get up, "Think of it this way, at least you'll be with your dear mother and father again real soon."

He turned his head towards her and looked on in terror as the amulet became brighter and brighter.

"Yeowch!"

All eyes turned to Bertrand as he yelped in pain and toppled to the floor with his hands to his crotch. His captive had managed to give him a hard, swift kick to the groin, forcing him to let her go. Taking advantage of the distraction, Dan used all of his might to turn over to his side, making Mrs. Masters release her hold on him and topple beside him. He jumped up to his feet and grabbed his sister, abandoning their luggage. Sam and Phantom Dan ran right behind them.

"After them!" she heard Mrs. Masters shriek from behind, "Get up, you pathetic loaf! After them now! Must I do everything myself!"

This time, Sam saw Mrs. Masters' mist fly past her as she raced to catch up. They arrived at the back door. Dan reached for the knob, but a hand appeared from the black mist suddenly in front of them and grabbed his wrist.

"I don't think so," Mrs. Masters growled menacingly as she solidified once more.

He yanked his arm from her grasp and ran down another hallway. Growling, Mrs. Masters' misty form followed them.

"If you think you can get out through the kitchen's side door, think again, Daniel!" she shouted.

Sam heard him curse under his breath. Apparently, that was his plan until now.

"What now?" his sister asked.

Dan looked around wildly for an escape when a thought came to him.

"I have an idea," he answered.

He led her into the kitchen as he had orginally planned. Mrs. Masters flew past them, anticipating that he would try the side door anyway. Upon seeing her fly past, Dan grabbed his sister's hand and quickly turned around and ran in the opposite direction.

"What the-?" Mrs. Masters' voice rang down the hall as she realized she had been tricked, "Why you little-! Bertrand! Bertrand, find them now!"

As Sam and Phantom Dan followed the siblings, Bertrand shuffled past still clutching his groin. He groaned and grimaced as he made a feeble attempt to look for Dan and his sister. Ignoring him, Sam and Phantom Dan ran by him and arrived just in time to see Dan and the girl stop in a nearby hallway, trying to catch their breath.

"Oh, Daniel," Mrs. Masters sang in her false, sugary voice, "Where are you?"

He and the girl ran towards a linen closet and dove inside, slamming the door shut behind them. Phantom Dan went through the solid door with ease, poked his head out, and urged Sam to follow. A little bit unsure, Sam reached out in front of her and watched in surprise as she went through it just like she did with Mrs. Masters. The closet was a bit cramped with four people inside, not to mention dark, but the light of Phantom Dan's hair allowed her to see what was happening. Dan and his sister huddled together, with Dan holding her in a protective embrace. They both watched the door's slits in silent terror as a figure in red slowly approached them.

"You two can't hide from me forever!" Mrs. Masters called out, "I'll find you!"

Her figure stepped away from the door and headed towards another direction. When they could no longer hear her footsteps, Dan and the girl sighed in relief.

"Now what?" she whispered, turning her head towards him.

"We're going to have to go through the servants' quarters and use that entrance," he whispered, "It just might be our only way out."

"But what if it's locked?"

He shook his head, "Bertrand never locks it 'just in case.' Whatever that means."

He let go of her and peeked out through the slits. Not seeing or hearing anyone approaching, Dan slowly opened the door as quietly as he could and peeked out into the hall.

"Come on," he said and stood up.

Everyone followed him as he led his sister towards the servants' quarters. Just when they were almost there, Bertrand spotted them.

"Hey!" he shouted, hobbling after them, "Stop right there! I've got you right where I want you!"

Dan suddenly turned around and shoved the shorter man to the ground. Bertrand let out an "Oof!" as he tumbled down, allowing Dan and the girl to run past him.

"Hey!" the butler shouted angrily as he fell, "Get back here, you brats! Penelope!"

Sam followed the pair as they raced for the front door. Mrs. Masters flew by them again to stop them. They suddenly turned around and headed back for the servants' quarters. As Dan stepped over Bertrand, he made sure to stomp on the butler's crotch, sending him back down to the ground.

"YEOWCH!"

Ignoring him, the two siblings followed by Sam and Phantom Dan continued on. Mrs. Masters followed the sound of her servant's cry and appeared in front of them again. Dan and his sister turned and ran down an adjacent hallway and ducked behind a pedestal.

"We're going to have to split up,' Sam heard Dan say as she caught up with him, "It's the only way."

"There's two of them!" his sister pointed out.

"Yeah, and one of them's injured. I don't think he'll be able to follow you for long. Plus you're stronger than him."

"Me? What do you mean me?"

"I'm going to get Penelope to follow me, and when she does, Bertrand'll go after you. You just run as fast as you can out through the servant's entrance. Keep running. Just run. Don't turn back. Don't ever turn back. Just run to the train station."

"What about you? You'll be right behind me, right?"

Dan didn't reply at first. He dug into his pocket and took out the train tickets.

"Here," he gave them to her, "As soon as you get to the train station, you head straight for Wisconsin. Don't wait for me! Just go!"

"What about you?" she repeated, "The train'll leave without you!"

"Don't worry about me. Just do as I say! Promise me you'll keep going without me."

"But Dan-!"

"Promise me! Promise me you'll head straight for the train station and go to Wisconsin without me! Don't wait for me! Don't come back for me! Just go! Promise me!"

"But-" tears started to run down her cheeks.

"Please!" Dan grabbed her and gently shook her in desperation, "Promise me! Please!"

She gulped and choked back a sob, "Okay. I promise."

Sam could feel tears running down her own cheeks as the girl stuffed the tickets into her coat pocket.

"Good," he sighed in relief, "Now come on."

They crawled out of their hiding spot and got up to their feet.

"Come on!" Dan shouted rather loudly, "We'll get out through the kitchen's side door!"

His sister looked at him confused, but followed him anyway as he raced towards the kitchen. Mrs. Masters' misty figure flew by them once again.

"Bertrand!" she called out.

Sam saw Bertrand's slumped figure limp down the hallway after them. They had all reached the kitchen with Bertrand right behind them.

"Now!" Dan cried out, "Go!"

Realizing her brother had once again tricked Mrs. Masters, the girl turned around and shoved Bertrand aside, running past him.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot!" Mrs. Masters snarled, "After her!"

With a groan, the butler turned and limped after the girl. Dan turned to follow, but Mrs. Masters tackled him back down to the ground.

"As for you," she sneered, climbing back on top of him with her necklace glowing brighter, "I've had enough of your meddling! It's time to end this now!"

Dan struggled to get back up, but she was too strong for him.

"Good-bye, Daniel. And good riddance."

Sam watched in horror as the gem glowed brighter and brighter. Dan's expression was nothing but pure bitter hatred. Suddenly, the gem let out a ray of green energy, hitting him square in the chest. Dan screamed as it hit him and struggled again to get away. Sam watched as a blurry, white wisp appeared from his body, as if it were being sucked away into the gemstone. The wisp struggled against its grip, trying to desperately go back into Dan's heaving chest. Mrs. Masters' wicked smile became wider as she watched in anticipation.

"That's it, dear," she crooned, "Give in. It'll be much easier on you if you give in."

But both Dan and his wisp continued their struggle. Finally, with one last agonizing scream, the wisp was sucked inside the necklace. Dan suddenly stopped screaming and fell back lifelessly with that horrified expression on his face that Tucker had once described.

The green energy then surrounded Mrs. Masters in a vapor and trailed itself down her body. Though Sam thought Mrs. Masters looked rather young for a middle-aged woman, she saw in astonishment that the slight wrinkles and crow's feet on her face suddenly vanished as the green aura began to die down.

"Now," she snarled, getting back up onto her feet, "For the girl."

Sam stood there stupified and stared at Dan's body with tears streaming down her face.

"Oh my god," she whispered.

She jumped at Phantom Dan's touch, forgetting that he was there for a moment. He ushered her towards him and held her tight as she cried.

"And now you know," he whispered.

"What about your sister?" she looked up at him, "Did she make it?"

"Thankfully, yes, she did. But unfortunately, she's back."

"What?" she stopped crying and looked at him surprised.

"I sense her presence here in this house. She came just after you disappeared."

"But, but how? I mean, why? I mean, how did she hear about me?"

"That, I don't know. She promised me she wouldn't come back for me," a smirk went across his face, "Then again, she never really liked being told what to do."

Sam felt something blow past her cheek. She looked up expecting to see Mrs. Masters again, but the woman wasn't there. As the blowing grew stronger, she realized it was the mysterious wind.

"Now what's happening?" she asked.

"Now," Phantom Dan sighed, "You go back home."

"What!"

She turned around and watched as the wind swirled together and formed into the same green tornado that had brought her inside the journal.

She turned back, "But I can't! What about you?"

"What about me? I'm dead, remember?"

"But I don't want to leave you! Let me stay! Please! Don't make me go back to Dashiel! Don't make me go back to my mother!"

"Do you trust me?" he lifted up her chin to look at him straight in the eyes.

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she eagerly nodded as the twister grew stronger, "Yes, of course I trust you!"

Phantom Dan smiled and stroked her hair, "Then we will be together again soon. I'll make it happen."

The twister grew louder. Sam watched as it headed towards her. Phantom Dan took her chin again and faced her towards him. He bent his head down and kissed her. Sam relaxed and let him. She reached behind his head and pulled him closer as she returned the favor. After a few seconds, Phantom Dan pulled back and let her go. He stroked her cheek and smiled. Sam reached for his hand and allowed him to guide it up and down as she smiled back.

"Good-bye, Sam."

The tornado finally reached her and began to violently suck her inside as it pulled her back to reality.

"Good-bye, Dan."