End: Chapter One:

The Land of the Living:

11:50pm.

The Van Dort house was completely silent, except for the ticking of the grandfather clock. Everyone was comfortable and asleep in their beds. Except for Patricia the maid. After what happened the night of Christopher's disappearance, she felt she owed it to the Van Dort's to stay working for the household. Plus, she had nowhere else to go. No immediate family, no husband – not anymore – and not a huge income to sustain an independent living on. Thankfully, Victor and Emily were kind enough to allow her to stay, so long as she joined Harriet and Alfred in the duties of the house.

Tonight, she couldn't sleep. Why, she had no idea. She sat upright in bed, hoping she would nod off. It was nearly midnight now, and Patricia knew if she didn't get a proper nights rest, she'd be like the living dead in the morning, moping around the house with bags under her eyes. She needed a book, and now! She'd finished all of hers, so the only option was to visit the Van Dort's library. They wouldn't mind, she'd put it back in the morning before they had breakfast. Simple!

Climbing out of bed, grabbing the lit candle stick from her bedside table and carefully making her way to the library, she tip-toed across the marble floor so her footsteps were inaudible. Her bedroom, alongside Alfred and Harriett's, was on the ground floor and only a small corridor away from the main hall of the house where the library was.

The fire had died an hour ago but its heat still radiated as Patricia found one of the bookshelves and decided on a random book.

"Great Expectations" she whispered to herself, seeing the title illuminated by the single candle flame she held in her hand.

"Hmm, hopefully a chapter will do" she added, heading back to her room.

Then there came a knocking at the front door.

"What?" Patricia said to herself. Though the knocking was more like a banging! A very loud, urgent banging! Patricia wasn't sure what to do – wake the Van Dort's up? Call Albert or Harriett? Or leave it?

"Victor! Emily!" a female voice from behind the door shouted.

"Ssh, be quiet. Everyone's asleep. It's gone midnight" came another voice. That was a man's voice. A man and a woman, seeking the Van Dort's at this hour? This was strange. Patricia didn't need to think any more about the issue of answering the door.

Just a moment later, the main bedroom door opened on the upstairs landing and out stormed Victor, tying his dark blue dressing gown round his waist and squinting his eyes. Emily followed him just seconds later, her wavy hair and pale blue silk dressing gown flowing beautifully behind her.

"What on earth?" she moaned, watching Victor descend the stairs, as she rubbed her eyes.

"Patricia?" Victor asked, pointing at the front door, waiting for an answer.

"It just started, sir. It's a man and a woman. They know your names" she answered.

"Alright" Victor said, rubbing his eye as he undid the locks around the door.

"Victor? Are you there?" said the man's voice from the other side of the door.

Victor halted. He knew that voice anywhere.

"Mayhew?!" he said. Victor looked back at Emily, who was now at the foot of the stairs, eyes wide in wonder and confusion.

"Yes! Open up! We need to get in! Someone might see us!" the woman's voice cried.

"Miss Plum?" Emily said, walking to the front door.

"Emily?" Miss Plum cried. "Let us in! It's very urgent!"

"Oh no" Victor sighed, looking at Emily. She obviously knew what he was thinking because she followed his gaze over to Patricia.

"Patricia, would you mind going in to the kitchen please?" Emily tried to get her away.

"Why?" she wondered.

"Um…our friends…I think they would appreciate some privacy with us…they're…rather different. Their appearance, I mean…it might shock you" Emily warned.

"I don't mind. I won't judge" Patricia said.

"Emily, if we don't let them in soon, our neighbours might get suspicious, look out their window and…uh…see" Victor warned, his eyes raging with urgency.

"Let them in" Patricia insisted. Emily sighed. She turned back to Victor and nodded.

"But don't say we didn't warn you" she turned back to Patricia.

Now Patricia was intrigued. What was so 'different' about these friends?

Victor unlocked and opened the door, and in came two figures. One tall man with a hunchback and a short plump woman. He was wearing a tattered navy blue winter coat, a small top hat, and faded black trousers and shoes. The woman was wearing a cooks uniform, a floor-length brown skirt, with a short-sleeved white blouse on top and a dirty kitchen apron. Her hair was black, like thin curls of wire protruding from her scalp. That's not what shocked Patricia.

The woman's ribs were showing through her blouse, her eyes were sunken and yellow. The mans coat had huge thick dents in them…how? Their skin was…blue?! And he man was holding something wrapped in a white blanket. Patricia could've sworn she saw it move!

They rushed inside and Victor immediately slammed the door behind them, locking a few bolts and securing them. The woman approached Emily and embraced her in a loving hug.

"Oh my dear!" she cried, grinning a smile that stretched for ear to ear.

"Thank goodness" the man sighed, turning to Victor and shaking his hand. Victor smiled in return, glancing over at Patricia. The man caught his eyes and followed his gaze.

"Patricia?" Victor asked.

"How…they're…um…" Patricia stumbled over her words, not sure how to form them.

"I know what it looks like, but these are our friends. We've known them since before we were married."

"We like to think we brought you two together" Miss Plum smiled and joked. Patricia could hardly believe this.

"If you'll excuse me…I'm just…uh…" then Patricia fainted. Slowly falling and landing on the carpet with a soft thud. Everyone was silent for a moment.

"I knew this would happen" Victor sighed.

"Let's just put her in the chair" Emily said, calmly walking over to Patricia and scooping her up and dragging her across the carpet to the nearest armchair by the fire. Victor ran closely behind her, helping her place Patricia in a comfortable position.

"She'll be fine" Victor said. They walked back to Mayhew and Miss Plum.

"Now…what are you doing here? And this time of the night" Victor asked.

"We couldn't wait til morning. We had to visit you tonight, we knew what this would mean to you" Mayhew explained.

"A surprise visit in the middle of the night?" Victor wondered.

"It's more than that" Miss Plum said, a small eager smile appearing on her face.

"This was important. Everyone downstairs agreed. They send their love by the way" Mayhew said.

"I don't understand. I am thrilled to see you both here, truly I am. But it's the middle of the night and…well…someone could've seen you. Patricia will be fine, she's seen worst things and she won't tell a soul" Emily said.

"On the other hand, it's not the first time this village has seen the living dead" Victor noted, smiling at the memory. Emily joined him in a cheeky smile.

"We knew it was a risk, but we came anyway. We've got some good news." Mayhew smiled.

"Good news?" Emily asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Very good news" he added.

"It couldn't wait til morning" Miss Plum smiled.

"What? What is it?" Emily wondered.

"Something very special happened tonight. Scraps found…" Miss Plum began.

"Scraps?" Victor smiled. "How is he?"

"Ecstatic, especially now. He found something that belongs to you. Or rather…someone."

Emily's eager smile dropped. At the sound of 'someone', she immediately knew what they meant. Her heart dropped in excitement and anticipation, tears slowly forming in her eyes. Her heart began racing, as she turned round to Victor who shared the same expression as her. He approached her slowly, placing an arm around her shoulder.

And that was when they noticed the bundled white blanket in Mayhew's arms. They saw its shape, its form…and the fact it was moving. Very slowly, and it made a gurgling noise.

"Victor" she whispered.

"I know" he replied, barely whispering.

Emily pulled away from her husband, her arms now by her side as she walked towards Mayhew. He approached her too, bringing forward the bundle in his arms. Emily wasn't sure what to do next, she felt numb all over. She tried to control her breathing, before she passed out like Patricia. She took a deep breath, and lifted a hand to the blanket. She lightly tugged on the blanket, pulling it towards her…to reveal a head! A baby's head. The baby was sleeping peacefully, its breathing light and airy. He looked so peaceful, his beautiful long, dark eyelashes fluttering ever so gently in his sleep, and his little fingers flexing and curling as he dreamed.

Emily moaned in shock, her hands racing to her face as tears gently streamed down her cheeks, as a wide-eyed Victor embraced her again, just in case she fainted.

"We knew who he was. He has your eyes, Victor." Mayhew said.

"My baby" Emily said.

"Christopher" Victor whispered. Mayhew took a step forward, extending his arms to Emily. She quickly wiped away her tears and extended her arms, slowly taking the baby in to her arms. She gasped with delight as the little boy fell in to his rightful place, in his mother's hold. He gently stirred in his sleep before his eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings and immediately laying his eyes on Emily.

She waited to see what would happen next, if the baby would cry or smile or…she didn't know. To her relief and delight, the little boy stared at her with his big dark eyes and smiled, reaching forward a hand in an attempt to touch Emily. She leaned her head down and let his little fingers graze her cheek and nose, like he was recalling his first memories of her.

It worked! Christopher smiled and giggled at Emily, like he had realised he was now home in his rightful place. With his Mum and Dad.

"My boy" Victor gasped from behind Emily, looking down at him and reaching forward to his hand. Christopher saw his Dad and giggled, trying to reach him too. When Christopher reached Victor, he grabbed hold of his little finger of his outstretched hand and held on tight, gripping it strongly, willing to never let go.

"Our baby…He's come home" Emily said, amongst the tears of joy. She looked up at Victor, before bursting in to tears and uncontrollable sobs. Victor joined with her, breaking down in to tears and kissing her deeply. She returned the kiss and they both looked down at their son, who watched his parents with cheeky and eager eyes.

"This can't be a dream…this feels too real" Emily said to Mayhew and Miss Plum.

"It's not a dream, my dear. Scraps found him last night" Miss Plum explained.

"Found him? Where was he found?" Victor asked urgently, wiping away a single tear.

"We don't know. Scraps has a daily ritual of running off with his ball when it's busy at the pub. Saves him getting under our feet. When we shut the pub tonight and called him in, we found him with Christopher by his side…and he had this, in his hand."

Miss Plum reached in to her apron pocket and retrieved the small dog toy that Christopher had held on to. She handed it over to Victor, whose jaw dropped in astonishment.

"We wondered where that got to. It's his favourite toy, he never went to bed without it near him. He would always cry and scream until we found it." Victor was on the brink of tears once more.

"Thank god he had a piece of us with him when he was gone" he sighed.

"I still don't understand. The search parties were always looking for him, why…" Emily asked.

"I wish we could answer that, darling" Miss Plum sighed. "We have no idea where he has been or how long for. We're just thankful that he's alive and well."

"How? If he was on his own, how did he not starve? He was only a few months old when he was…" Emily held back the horrific memory of the night he disappeared, took a deep breath and carried on.

"…someone or something must have been feeding him. Someone must have kept him alive, without telling anyone where he was" she finished.

"Patricia said he was snatched by a dark shadowy figure. Whoever or whatever that thing was, obviously had a heart to keep him fed and alive. There's not a single scratch, cut or bruise on him. He was obviously taken care of" Victor added.

"Which is what baffles us" Miss Plum said.

"I've always had an idea about who took him. We both though it. But that person doesn't possess a heart, a soul or any good intentions. If he was the one who snatched him, he would've done the worst and…" Victor imagined it all happening. His little boy, alone and scared down in the Land of the Dead, his life being snatched from him by the madman he envisaged. How mad it made him! He swallowed his raging emotions and took a deep breath.

"If it was him that took our boy, why is he still alive?"

"Unless he had a change of heart?" Emily suggested.

"No!" Victor immediately interrupted, shaking his head. "That man never has a change of heart. Once he knows what he wants, he does everything in his power to take it, no matter what the cost. He's done it once before" Victor looked down at his wife.

"He'd easily do it again."

"As revenge?" Mayhew thought aloud.

"Possibly" Miss Plum shrugged. "But Lord Barkis hasn't been spotted in the near regions of the Land of the Dead. No one truly knows if he's alive or not. In the years since he arrived downstairs, no one has laid eyes on him."

"Maybe he's hiding?" Victor said. Then Emily spoke up, gently rocking Christopher in her arms, her natural motherly instincts kicking in.

"You know what…right now, I don't care."

Everyone was silent. Emily had thousands of questions and thoughts running wildly in her head…but somehow she ignored them, and looked down at her son. He was looking around, taking in his surroundings. The house, the people, the sights, the smells – everything was new for him. But he didn't cry, or squeal or argue. He simply lay back in mother's arms, comfortable and peaceful.

"I couldn't give a single care in this world if Lord Barkis took him or not. If it was revenge, that's understandable. A life for a life. But let's forget about him, please. At least for tonight, or until we know more. I'm just happy that our baby's home and here, with us. That's all that I care about, Victor. Family reunited."

Victor smiled softly. She was right. Regardless of what had happened, what was important was the here and now. Their son was home, safe and sound, and back where he rightfully belonged. His thoughts of Lord Barkis instantly vanished, and his growing anger was replaced with relaxing bliss.

"Of course" he smiled, leaning in for another kiss. He drew his attention back to Miss Plum and Mayhew.

"Will you stay a bit longer? For some tea, and a bite to eat? I don't know how we could ever repay you for what you've done." He invited them towards the kitchen.

"I can't say no to that, love" Miss Plum grinned.

"I'll get Patricia to boil some water" Emily smiled, then turning to see Patricia still slumped in her chair, fast asleep and breathing softly.

"Oh yes" Emily sighed. "I'd forgotten."

Meanwhile, downstairs:

Lord Barkis was returning from his errands, bags in arms as his wound through the streets of the underworld. He hated having to hide; no one appreciated seeing his face now, not since the wedding, the night his past had been revealed and he had paid for his sins – in death. He was turning round a corner by the main square, just feet away from the Ball and Socket Pub…when his ears turned to a curious conversation. He caught sight of the postman skeleton by the front door of the pub with some letters and a parcel in his hand, talking to one of the kitchen staff, who was still wearing their stained white uniform.

"Did she say where she was going?" the postman asked.

"The Land of the Living" the kitchen skeleton answered.

"Why at this time of the night?"

"Urgent business. Couldn't wait til morning. I might as well tell you – they found a baby."

Lord Barkis froze on the spot, his arms nearly dropping the bags of shopping. He acted casually, finding a nearby street corner where he concealed himself and listened carefully.

"A living baby!"

"No! Where?"

"They don't know. The dog Scraps found him, brought him back here at closing time. But, do you remember our corpse bride?"

"Yes, Emily…" at that moment, the postman seemed to piece it all together.

"No! You don't think it's their baby? What was his name? Christopher?"

"They're sure of it. He's got dark hair and eyes just like his father, and Emily's nose. And he was alive! It's too much of a coincidence."

"So Miss Plum has gone up there now, with the baby?"

"Yes. To reunite him with his mother and father. Her and Mayhew. Isn't it marvellous? Do you want me to take her deliveries?"

"I'll return later when she gets back. That way I can hear the good news" the postman said. "But until then, I won't tell a soul." With that the postman departed and the kitchen staff walked inside the pub, locking the door behind them.

Lord Barkis dropped his bags of shopping, a rage burning inside him that he hadn't felt since that Everglot girl said her family had no money.

He was fuming. Never had he been more furious in his life. That wretched dog had found the boy and lead him away. And now he was back upstairs, with the Van Dort's by now.

Oh, they must be overjoyed to see their baby, he thought. But supposedly, this was what he had been waiting for. A chance to strike back at the Van Dort's for all they did to him. They had suffered, now they had hope. And this was the perfect time to snatch their glory away from them.

He always believed in the saying of 'revenge is a dish best served cold'. Well, time had passed, pain had been felt, and the 'dish' was now stone cold. It seemed appropriate to exact his revenge.

And this time, there would be no holding back.