Author's note: I apologize once again, for taking way too long to post a new chapter, but... aw, just read it.

Chapter 17

X X X

"...I know this plan is a long shot," Father Vittorio read aloud to Zeke and Julie, "but it's probably the best chance at defeating Count Eveer for good. And furthermore, I've left the coordinates to the castle on the back of this message."

"Hmm... so that's your friend's plan, huh?" Harry responded.

"I like it." Zeke said, "Surrender ourselves and make him think he's won, then bam! Just kidding! You lose!"

Harry took a moment to think about it.

"Well... I don't feel right about it, but if everything you've told me is true, then it might be the best way to get those people back."

"Indeed." Vittorio added, "Oh, but if you do wish to go, let me get you something. I'll be right back."

Vittorio left the office and, a few minutes later, returned with a gold crucifix.

"Take this with you." he said, handing it to Julie, "It should help to protect you, if you should find yourselves overwhelmed. Go with the blessing of the lord, my children."

"Thanks, Father." Julie said, slipping the crucifix into her jacket pocket.

As she did so, she suddenly felt a folded piece of paper and remembered the breakup letter that she'd given to Zeke. At the same time, Zeke thought about Trevor and how he'd found him missing and knew that he had to be one of the victims that had been kidnapped. As he vowed to bring his best friend back, he remembered the advice that Trevor had given him back at the toy store.

"Be careful out there." Harry added, with a salute, "And do not hesitate to contact me, if anything goes wrong."

Zeke and Julie saluted back in response and Zeke stuffed the music box into his back pocket as best as he could, while Julie punched in the coordinates to the castle and activated the door.

'This can't wait any longer.' he and Julie both thought, as they headed through it.

X X X

"At latht! At latht!" Dr. Tongue cried in excitement, "I have done it!"

He chuckled madly, as he lorded over his new creation.

"With thethe new body parth and DNA thampleth, I now have even more thtrong and durable thervanth to therve me! And even better, I will thoon have created the ultimate thombie to lead them in the thity's invathion! Laugh at ME, will they? Call MY ecthperimenth inthane, will they? Well, I'll thow them!"

("With these new body parts and DNA samples, I now have even more strong and durable servants to serve me! And even better, I will soon have created the ultimate zombie to lead them in the city's invasion! Laugh at ME, will they? Call MY experiments insane, will they? Well, I'll show them!")

As Dr. Tongue continued laughing madly to himself, he failed to notice Mr. Y sneaking into the room and swiping a glowing glass sphere from Dr. Tongue's labcoat pocket. Covering it up in his arms, he hastily made his retreat.

X X X

"There, now..." Count Eveer uttered, as he wiped some blood off his fangs and then licked it off his finger, "that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Trevor remained motionless on the floor for a moment. Then he opened his eyes; which were now jet black, and stood up. He turned to face the Count and bowed, as Emily looked on in utter horror.

"I am at your service, master." he said.

"Very good." the Count replied, "Now let us prepare this other one, as a sacrifice, for the ritual."

Emily shivered with fear, as Count Eveer unlocked her shackles. Then she fainted dead away.

X X X

Zeke glanced at his watch, as he and Julie stood outside the castle doors. It was 11:45 PM, just fifteen minutes before Count Eveer's ritual would commence. But Zeke had a heavy weight to get off his chest, before he was ready to ultimately save the world. He took a deep breath and turned to face her.

"Julie," he said, "there's something important I've been wanting to tell you. Something I was going to tell you, back at that dungeon."

Before continuing, Zeke removed his 3D glasses and looked her right in the eye.

"Trevor told me about what your friends have been saying about me." he went on, "And... well, they're right. I've been... selfish and neglectful of you. I should've spent more time with you. And... I'm real sorry. If there's ever any way I can make it all up to you, after this whole thing is all over, don't hesitate to let me know."

Julie smiled as she took all that in, then reached into her jacket pocket.

"I have something I've been wanting to tell you too." she said, taking out the letter.

She took a brief moment to skim over the letter in disgust, then folded it in half and handed it to him.

"Don't read it." she said, "I want you to tear it up."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

Zeke shrugged and began to tear the paper into pieces.

"That letter was going to be my way of breaking up with you." Julie told him, as he did so, "But ever since you saved my life, back at Burgerland, I'd been debating whether or not to go through with it. And I finally made up my mind, back at the dungeon, when you told me about how you fought that... super zombie or whatever it was... to save me and Mom. I've decided that I don't care what my friends say anymore. I'm staying with you, Zeke. I love you!"

She then held out her arms and the two of them embraced. Zeke smiled and took a moment to figure out how to respond, but then shook his head.

"You know what? I don't care how awkward it sounds to me. I'll just go ahead and say it. I love you too, Julie."

Julie smiled.

"See? I knew you could do it."

With that, they shared a brief, but passionate kiss.

"Oh..." Julie said, as they pulled away, "but there is one thing I'd like to ask, in return for ripping that letter."

"Regular afternoon foot massages?" Zeke offered.

Julie started to reply, but then thought about that and smiled.

"Okay, maybe two things."

"Get myself a haircut?"

She thought about that as well.

"What's the third thing?" Zeke asked, with a light sigh.

"Well, I'd just like- once this whole thing is all over- for us to go out somewhere. Somewhere other than Burgerland, that is. I mean... I don't want to sound demanding or anything, but... I just think it'd be nice if we could have some better food, maybe play some games or something, you know... the kind of date where we'd really have a good-"

Zeke cut her off with a kiss to the cheek.

"You talk too much, lady." he remarked, with a smile, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about your birthday. I'll make sure it's your best birthday ever. But first..."

He took another glance at his watch, then put his 3D glasses back on.

"Let's make sure we'll be around to see it." he finished.

Julie smiled and nodded.

X X X

Emily gradually awoke, hoping her whole ordeal was just a bad dream. But it wasn't long, before she realized that it was in fact a living nightmare. She was now lying on an altar, with her wrists and ankles tied down.

"Ah, the sacrifice awakens!" the Count mused, "Let us begin the ritual."

He handed Trevor a dagger and took out a parchment. Emily continued trembling with fear, as she watched the Count stand in front of what looked like a portal. The Count unrolled the scroll, but just as he was about to start reading it...

"Hold up there, Count!" shouted a young male voice.

Trevor, the Count, and Emily all looked and were surprised to see Zeke and Julie approaching.

"You two again!" Count Eveer snapped.

Emily let out a sigh of relief.

"I knew you'd come!" she cried, "Save me, please!"

"Now, now!" Zeke responded, "We're not here to fight you, Count."

To the Count's amazement, Zeke and Julie set their water guns down on the floor.

"Quite the contrary," Julie added, "we've come to surrender."

"Really?" Eveer and Trevor said together.

"WHAT?!" Emily cried out.

"Yep." Zeke went on, as he and Julie slowly walked towards them, "You see, we've been doing some thinking and we've decided that we've been doing this for way too long."

"Yeah," Julie added, "there's just no point in keeping this up any longer. Eventually, all the monsters will overrun this whole town and even the Military base. So really, what's the point in trying to save a bunch of people who will just end up dying anyway?"

"I see." the Count replied, with a sinister smile, "Well then, since you've finally come to your senses, why don't you come over here and let me make you two members of my cabinet?"

"That would be an honor, master." Zeke responded.

As Zeke and Julie got closer to the Count; who gazed at their necks and licked his lips in excitement, Emily stared at the teens in disbelief.

"You can't be serious!" she cried, "How could you do this?! What's wrong with you?!"

Finally, they stopped and Zeke whispered to Julie, "Now?"

Julie whispered back, "Now!"

"Oh yes, and there is one other important thing we forgot to mention." Zeke told the Count.

"Yes? What is it?"

Wasting no time, Zeke whipped out the music box and shouted, "Sucker!", as he placed it on the floor and opened the lid. He and Julie then closed their eyes and covered their ears, as a burst of light emerged from the box and an ear-shattering musical tune began to play. Trevor and Count Eveer soon began to scream in pain.

"What?! NO!" Eveer cried, "That cursed box! It can't be!"

As the screams died down, Julie pushed the music box closed, with her foot, and slowly opened her eyes. Then she nudged Zeke's shoulder.

"We did it!" she told him, "It worked!"

Zeke looked. Indeed, the portal was now a pile of rubble, with flickering bolts of electricity going through it, though there was now no sign of the Count. And while Emily was still very much alive, though incredibly shaken, the same couldn't be said for Trevor; who was now lying deathly still nearby. Upon suddenly noticing this, Zeke and Julie ran up to him.

"Trevor!" Zeke cried.

He stopped and stared at his friend, then hung his head in shame. Brushing a tear from her eye, Julie placed a hand on his shoulder. Zeke then turned around, to seek comfort in Julie's arms. Little did either of them notice Trevor stirring, opening his eyes, and slowly sitting up.

"It wasn't your fault, Zeke." Julie told him, "There wasn't anything we could do."

"Yeah, man." Trevor added with a smile, "Don't beat yourself up. You did the right thing."

"Well, I appreciate the reassurance, Trevor," Zeke responded, as Julie and Emily stared at Trevor, "but I- WHAAAAT?! You're... you're alive again? But... how?"

"Because your friend was only recently deceased." a voice responded.

Everyone looked and saw Mr. Y approaching Emily's altar.

"Thus, the music box's power was able to nullify his undeath and restore him to life." he continued, as he began untying Emily's bonds.

"What about the Count?" Julie asked.

"Oh, you'll no longer need to worry about him. The box took care of him as well. What matters now, is getting your friends here back to safety."

Julie and Zeke nodded to each other, and Julie promptly activated Lil' Sparky's exit door.

"Hey, uh... sorry if we scared you back there, pretending to give ourselves up and all." Zeke told Emily, as she slowly picked herself up and walked towards the door.

"You gonna be okay?" Julie asked.

Emily hesitated, then replied, "Maybe. As long as I never see another monster again."

With that, she went through the door. Trevor went to the door after her.

"Hey, thanks a lot for saving me again." he told Zeke and Julie.

"No, Trevor," Zeke responded, putting his arm around Julie, "I'm the one who owes you a thank you."

Trevor watched Julie stroke Zeke's hand, then smiled and gave him a thumbs up, before walking through the door; which Julie then deactivated.

"Okay, there isn't much time!" Mr. Y said to the teens, "You've gotta stop the Count!"

"Wait, what?!" Zeke replied, "I thought... you said..."

"That he was taken care of," Julie cut him off, "...so as to calm Trevor and Emily down."

"Exactly. You may have foiled his plans, but even that artifact you recovered isn't powerful enough to destroy him. That's why you'll need this."

Mr. Y then took out the glass orb that he'd stolen from Dr. Tongue.

"This is the other artifact, that Dr. Tongue stole from the tomb." he said, "The one that was originally used to-"

Suddenly, he stumbled on the floor and the orb slipped from his hand. It fell onto the hard stone floor and shattered into pieces. Mr. Y stared back in horror and uttered a soft "Uh-oh..."

X X X

To be Continued