"What?" Evan cries out. "No, please tell me that's not true!"
Tears continue to fall down Evan's face. He doesn't know if he can live with his parents acting this way. He wonders how much truth is buried in their cruelty. Did they truly wish for him to be normal?
"It will be true," Amanda replies. "Unless you let me do my job."
"Huh?"
Amanda narrows her eyebrows. "You told us Dark hypnotized your parents using what, Jelly-something?"
"Jellyjam."
"Right. As long as Jellyjam has control of their minds, they'll be Dark's servants. And if you wouldn't have stopped me, I'd have squeezed the information out of this fucker to tell us how we can get them back to normal."
"I told you already!" The undead man wails. "Dark is the only one who can free them."
"Yeah, we know you said that, but see, we don't really believe you." Josh says, tightening his grip.
"Let him go," Evan. "I want to talk to him.
"Why should I?" Josh asks.
"Let him go."
Josh looks to Amanda, as if awaiting instructions.
"Do it. I don't think he'll be much of a threat anymore anyway." Amanda says.
Josh rolls his eyes and lets the zombie free from his gasp. The man looks at Evan with a look that seems an attempt at gratitude, though his eyes are lifeless and bloodshot.
"When I first came here with Lucy Dark, I heard one of you say that you wanted to talk with her father, something about "not wanting to do this anymore. Care to tell me what that was about?" Evan asks.
"We made a deal with Lawrence Dark, the people of Dark Falls did, yes. We signed over ownership to him. He promised us fresh blood in exchange for complete power over Dark Falls."
"And did he honor that deal?"
"No!" The ghoul snaps, "He treats us like servants, forcing us to hunt for any scraps we can get. Lawrence Dark has brought our town to ruin!"
"Good," Amanda says, "It's about time this damn place was destroyed."
"You say that with such malice, Ms. Benson," the man says, "But the people of Dark Falls, all we know is death. Frankly, there's hardly a person here who even remembers life before that cloud passed over our town, and most who do are lying. We do what we have to do to survive. It might seem gruesome, yes, but we've been doing this our entire existence. All we ask is to be fed. Nothing more."
Amanda scoffs. "You've killed entire families!"
"Almost killed ours," Josh adds, "But we got away, didn't we, Amanda? Bet that makes you really mad, doesn't it? See, these guys are pathetic, Evan. First, they kill your dog so he can't tell anyone, you know? Dogs can sense when somebody's dead. That's why they took Petey first. Then they take the kids, because kids are easy prey, aren't they? Easy to lure in so you can drink their blood."
"We ensure their deaths are as painless as possible," he says. "Then they get to join our peaceful existence."
"Peaceful?" Amanda asks. "From what I've seen, a lot of you seem to welcome death with open arms."
"That is true," the ghoul says, "The world of the undead requires a certain strain on the mind, but for many others, we've grown used to our lives as corpses. In fact, we're more happy now than we ever were as humans. Until Lawrence Dark came to town."
Evan stops to think. "What about Compton Dawes? Didn't he sell Dark the house?"
"Compton." The man growls with resentment. "Dark lined his pockets and he turns a blind eye to our suffering. He's never made as much money selling houses as he is now. Lawrence Dark has ensured Compton will remain loyal to him."
"You say he's selling houses," Evan says, "To our parents? Mine?"
"Of course," the undead man sneers, "Dark Falls has never been this.. populated. I fear there's so many more of you on the way here, all driving straight into the spider's web Lawrence Dark has so meticulously weaved for you."
There's so many more of you on the way. The words cause a chill to run down Evan's back. Mr. Dark told him he would get his revenge on everyone, all the kids who had seen monsters. Evan can only imagine how many others there are like him. They might even be driving to Dark Falls at that very moment, not a single clue what kind of town they're driving into.
"I told you, Evan, this town is nothing but a vicious cycle, a meat grinder for anyone who enters," Amanda tells him, "This is just going to keep happening again unless we do something. Some other kid, it might not be you, Evan, but it will be someone, and they're going to go through exactly what you did. They'll follow all the little breadcrumbs to figure out the dark secret behind this town, and what Dark is planning and it will all lead them here, to their demise. Rinse and repeat. Blood must be spilled. It doesn't matter who owns Dark Falls, that will always be the truth."
"I have no plans of dying anytime soon," Evan says,
"That's what everyone thinks," Josh laughs, "You don't even really have a plan to beat Dark, do you?"
"I have you guys, don't I?" Evan asks. "Nobody knows this place better than you two."
Amanda and Josh look at each other and laugh.
"None of us are making it out of here alive, Evan, We're just delaying the inevitable," Amanda says.
"Then help me prevent that from happening!" Evan pleads. He turns to face the undead man. "You, I need your help too. I know how crazy that must sound, but right now, it sounds like you guys are just as angry at Dark as we are."
"Your assumption wouldn't be incorrect,"
"Then help us take him down! Summon everyone in Dark Falls, you can overthrow him, take your revenge! Dark Falls can be yours again! That's what you want, isn't it?"
"I'd like nothing better than to see Dark Falls back in the right hands,"
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Josh says, "We can't trust these bastards. They want to eat us, for christ sake!"
"What choice do we have?" Evan asks, "Look, Dark is keeping Jellyjam locked up inside the Dead House. I say we pay one final visit to the place."
"And do what, exactly?" Amanda asks.
"We take down Dead House for good. If the house is destroyed, so is Jellyjam. Our parents will be freed, and Dark's empire collapses."
The ghoul's eyes bulge out. "But Dead House is the oldest home in Dark Falls! A relic! You can't destroy that!"
"You know, Evan. For once, I like your idea. Dead House has alway been their symbol of power. Their slaughterhouse to bring in fresh new lambs. Seeing it brought down would bring a smile to my face," Josh says.
"Are you willing to sacrifice one house to save your town?" Evan asks the undead man.
He looks deep in thought. "If that's what it takes to get my town back, then I'm willing to do anything."
"Good," Evan replies.
Evan holds out a hand, and the ghoul shakes it. His hand is freezing cold and stiff. If Evan had to shake hands with a corpse at a morgue, he imagines it would feel similar.
"You think everyone will be on our side?"
"Trust me, the people of Dark Falls are eager to sink their teeth into Lawrence Dark and his family. The only problem will be dealing with Compton Dawes."
"You don't think he'll betray Dark?"
"Not unless you have a billion dollars to offer him."
"I don't,"
"Didn't think so. Here, I'll give him a call. You do want a chance to talk with Compton, don't you?"
Evan glances at Amanda and Josh.
"If there's one person I'd like to have a reunion with, it's him," Josh says, "I've spent years thinking about how I'd get revenge on that bastard."
"The feeling is mutual," Amanda says, "Dawes deserves to suffer for what he did. So does Mr. Dark."
"Then it's settled," The undead man says.
Evan watches as the man picks up an old fashioned walkie talkie from across the room. With a decaying gray hand, he holds it to his dark lips. Evan can hear the faint static emanating from the device.
"Compton? It's Frank. I need to talk to you."
"Frankie? Now's not a really good time." a voice on the other end says. "I'm about to have a meeting with Larry Dark up at the Dead House. He's ready to enter phase one pretty soon. We'll be eating good soon enough."
The voice has a southern drawl to it. Evan figures this must be none other than Compton Dawes.
"Wait, Compton, listen. There's two people here who really want to talk to you. They say their names are Amanda and Josh Benson. Ring a bell?"
There's silence on the other end of the walkie talkie. It lasts a few seconds.
"Amanda and Josh? Well, as I live and breathe! I haven't seen those kids in such a long time. Say, there doesn't happen to be an Evan Ross with them, does there?"
"Indeed there is."
Silence again.
"Fascinating!" Dawes says. Evan can't see him, but he can tell the man is very pleased by this news. "See, Larry Dark was looking for an Evan Ross and a bunch of other kids. Too many names to remember. Said he expected them to show up at his house for a party, but never did. Frankly, he was bummed."
"Well, it's not too late to get the party started, is it, Compton?"
"'Course not. In fact, I think Larry would prefer a nighttime party. So much more exciting. And most important of all, I'll get to be there too. I'm looking forward to catching up with my old buddies Amanda and Josh!"
"Good, They're on their way to you now." The man tells Dawes.
Dawes laughs. "Oh, Frankie, one more thing. Did you give them the Dark Falls welcome?"
Frank laughs. "Oh, don't worry, I think they already know the people of this town will welcome them with open arms."
"Yes," Dawes laughs, "And with hungry mouths."
Dawes hangs up and the undead man turns to look at the three teens.
"Well, kids, you got what you wanted, now you better ensure we get what we want."
"I promise," Evan says.
"Good, now look alive! The party's about to begin!"