Everyone is looking at Evan, as if expecting him to have a plan, but he doesn't. They can't exactly just run back to the car and drive away, as much as he wishes they could. No. They've made it this far and now all of them are face-to-face with Mr. Dark, who seems to sense their fear and revel in it, as evidenced by the triumphant smirk on his face.

Don't smile yet, you bastard, Evan thinks, you haven't won anything yet.

"Oh, come in, please. I've been expecting you, sooner or later." Mr. Dark says, motioning them in his direction, up the rotting steps of Dead House.

Evan pulls them together for something resembling a group huddle. "We can still do this, guys. We just have to rethink our plan. I've been here before. I can get to Dark's antique room while he's distracted." he whispers.

"Are you sure?" Andy asks. "What if this is a trap?"

"Yeah. I don't like this." Carly Beth says. "What did he mean when he said he was expecting us?"

"It IS a trap. I think Dark wanted us to show up." Ricky says. "But I'm with Evan. We've got this."

"I am too." Amy says. "It's the only way."

"We'd better." Andy mutters bitterly.

"Well then. Let's go, team." Jerry says with sarcastic enthusiasm.

"Let's crack some skulls!" Conan cheers.

He's the first to start walking towards Mr. Dark. who looks all too pleased, and the rest follow not far behind.

"I'm glad you've decided to join me. It gets cold out here at night so I'd hate for you to freeze out here, and certainly wouldn't want you to be bitten by any of the… nocturnal animals that live around Dark Falls." Mr. Dark says, chuckling at the last part.

With a soft blow of air, Mr. Dark extinguishes the candle's flame, reducing it to thin gray mist easily carried off in the cold air around them. He opens the door, allowing Evan and the others to enter the hostile house.

Inside, Evan finds Dead House has once again changed. Now, it's covered in purple balloons and black streamers, as if the Darks are about to host a party. Maybe they are, Evan thinks with a chill. Only it's one he'd rather not attend. The rest of the group seem unnerved too. Faintly on a radio in another room, the song Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo plays for all to hear.

"Sorry. I love that song." Mr. Dark says, shutting it off. "Brings back good memories."

Evan's about to say something when Andy steps in front of him, walking right over to Mr. Dark.

"You don't scare me, you know that?" Andy says, getting up in Mr. Dark's face. "You're just some rich asshole with too much time on his hands. What kind of guy hangs a portrait that big of himself?" she asks, pointing at the one above the staircase.

Mr. Dark's smirk doesn't fade. He just shakes his head. "Ah, Andy. Always the rebel, aren't you?"

"You don't know anything about me." Andy snaps.

"Of course not. I assume all of you must be very angry with me. I think we should try talking peacefully for a change."

"We're not here for peace. We want the Monster Blood back." Evan says.

"Yeah. We know you have it. So give it back." Ricky adds.

"All in due time, All in due time. You're a pushy bunch, aren't you? I'm hosting a party tonight, and all of you are my very special guests. As your host, I think it's only right that I invite you to dinner. I am a gracious host, after all. Then we can talk about everything from werewolves to flying monkeys." Mr. Dark says. "Say, you like cherry pie? My wife made one special just for this occasion."

Nobody answers. Evan's not sure what they're supposed to say.

"Well, you'll have to try it." Mr. Dark says. "Then you'll see. It's totally mind-blowing."

"We really don't want dinner, Mr. Dark." Carly Beth says.

Mr. Dark glares at Carly Beth with a dark expression. "Oh, but I insist. Don't worry, Miss Caldwell, I promise there won't be anything TOO scary. Then again, it takes a lot to scare you now, doesn't it?"

"Lay off her." Amy says, coming to Carly Beth's defense. "We'll join you for dinner, whatever. Right, guys?"

Nobody can really argue with her and quickly, they're being led down the hall by Mr. Dark. He makes a sudden stop in the living room. Evan sees a large piano. It's a shiny black, so shiny any light in the room is currently bouncing off it, attracting all eyes to the instrument. It's currently uncovered so as to show all the various keys, which are in similarly pristine condition.

"Look familiar, Jerry?" Mr. Dark asks with a snide grin.

Evan turns to look at him, and sees that Jerry is in a state of disbelief. He's shaking his head and mouthing something that's hard to make out.

"No.. no way." Jerry mutters.

"What is it, Jerry?" Carly Beth asks.

Jerry struggles to speak. "It's.. it's the same piano from when I was a kid. How the hell did you get it?" he asks Mr. Dark, seemingly genuinely angry for the very first time. Maybe he's afraid too.

"I have my ways." Mr. Dark replies. It's not much of an answer. "I had it restored and now, look at it, it looks practically brand-new!"

It takes Evan a moment to realize he's not just imagining that soft melody. There really is a song coming from the piano as he looks down, he sees an invisible force somehow pressing down each key. Jerry looks even more frightened now, and even the others aren't quite sure what the hell is going on,

"H-how is it doing that?" Jerry asks. "There shouldn't be a ghost here anymore."

"That's my secret, Jerry. Now go on, why don't you play us a song?" Mr. Dark says, goading him towards the piano.

"What?" Jerry asks in sudden confusion.

"Play the piano, Jerry. You still remember how, don't you?"

"I haven't done it in years." Jerry replies.

"You don't have to do it, Jerry." Carly Beth says. "What's the meaning of this, anyway?"

"The meaning, Miss Caldwell, is that tonight is all about facing your fears. I want to see firsthand that you've truly changed from what happened to you all those years ago. To see if it was worth it." Mr. Dark replies gruffly.

"I can do it." Evan says. "I'm not afraid of a piano."

"That's exactly my point, Evan!" Mr. Dark snarls. "This isn't your test, it's Mr. Hawkin's. Now, Jerry, put those beautiful hands on the piano and show me you're no longer afraid of the ghosts that reside within."

"I-I don't know if I can." Jerry says shakily.

"Don't do it, Jerry. You have nothing to prove." Carly Beth tells him.

"Yeah, this is stupid." Andy says.

"Play. It." Mr. Dark orders, slamming his large hairy fist onto the keys.

The noise they make produces a horrible off-key melody. It makes Evan jump.

"Okay." Jerry replies, exhaling a breath of cold air.

Evan and the others watch as he takes a seat at the piano bench. His whole body is shaking, but he plants his hands on the keys anyway.

"I-I think I remember this one." Jerry says softly.

Pausing just another second, Jerry begins to play a rendition of Chopsticks. It's definitely rusty, and Jerry misses more than a few notes along the way but it seems to satisfy Mr. Dark, who cuts the song early.

"Very good, Jerry. See? That wasn't hard, was it? I always love to listen to some music before I eat. And by that, I mean food, of course." Mr. Dark says with sinister amusement.

Jerry leaves the bench, running over to Carly Beth. She begins to comfort him, and Evan sees his hands are still shaking. He feels awful. Like he should have stopped this from happening.

Then, In a blur of motion and intensity, so quick Evan doesn't even realize what's happening, Andy races over to Mr. Dark and hits him with a fist colliding right into his nose. It's a quick strike, but a powerful one. Made even more impressive by how short Andy is in comparison to Mr. Dark. And when she recoils, even he seems to be in a state of shock, especially as a small trickle of blood comes down from both nostrils. Evan is amazed. Andy actually drew blood. He's damn proud of her for that. Conan seems to be too, looking like he's about to burst out laughing and Ricky is silently cheering her . Dark uses a handkerchief in his pocket to wipe up the crimson liquid. Most of everyone else has their mouths open wide, especially Amy, who's looking like she can't even believe what she's just witnessed. But she doesn't exactly disapprove either.

"Note to self," Mr. Dark mutters, "watch out for that one."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Andy asks, anger in her voice. "Just what are you trying to prove?"

Mr. Dark regains his composure. "I'm trying to prove a lot of things. About fear. About humans and monsters, but I can't do that if you keep up this violent behavior. Do you attack everyone who's nice to you?"

Evan already knows the answer to that question is yes, but Mr. Dark is hardly what one would call "nice".

"Now let's forget about this.. Incident, and eat, shall we?" Mr. Dark says.

The seven of them follow him into the dining room, which is every bit as gothic as Evan imagined. It's exactly where you'd imagine a wealthy vampire to eat, completely black with lit candles everywhere- from the large polished wood table to right above the fireplace, which has yet another large family portrait of the dark resting above it. There's even a chandelier hanging overhead, ready to crash down, and one of those large treasure cabinets full of fine China worth who knows how much. The only thing out of place is an old newspaper on top of it, currently open to an advertisement for Dawes' Real Estate.

Evan hates it already. Hates just how unnerved it makes him feel and how even the sound of chairs scraping the floor as they all sit down, sound like the screams of tortured souls, or the faint roar of monsters unknown. He remembers his dream just the night before. How everyone was seated around a table like this. Once again Evan's nightmares have come true and he fears that maybe the green, oozing Monster Blood is hidden underneath the silver trays that currently cover the table, standing out on top of the red oblong tablecloth.

Evan looks to his friends. It feels like they're still expecting him to have some solution for this, but he just doesn't, and he hates this too because of how much it terrifies him. Somehow he's become the leader and is the least qualified person ever for that role. The seven of them are between the table- three on one side, four on the other, while Mr. Dark sits on the very end. He instructs them to sit exactly where he's assigned them, as apparently each seat has a name tag for all seven of the guests. Evan takes a moment to read them all, trying to figure out what they all mean.

EVAN: THE PROTAGONIST

ANDY: THE REBEL

CONAN: THE BULLY

CARLY BETH: THE SCAREDY-CAT

RICKY: THE WEIRDO

AMY: THE MIDDLE CHILD

JERRY: THE PRANKSTER

Why did Mr. Dark feel the need to give us all nicknames? Evan can't find a proper answer, and he doesn't like the idea he's somehow the protagonist. While each seat has a plate already down, only Carly Beth's has a gift box, currently wrapped so as not to reveal whatever's inside. Right now, she's eyeing it curiously.

"Don't open that just yet, Miss. Caldwell. It's a surprise." Mr. Dark says with a smirk.

Lucy's there too, still avoiding him. Evan wants so badly to say something to her but he doesn't know the right thing to say. Things had become too weird between them. Too tense. But he senses somewhere in there that Lucy isn't completely for her father's plan. If only that part would come out soon. It would be very helpful.

"Hello Evan. Long time no see." Lucy says.

Evan awkwardly says hi back and sitting beside him, Andy leans over to whisper in his ear.

"That's Lucy Dark?" Andy asks in a hushed voice only Evan can hear.

Evan nods. "Yeah. Why?"

"She IS cute. Shame she's on the dark side. No pun intended." Andy says.

"I really don't want to talk about this right now, Andy. You think there's a chance we bring her to the light?" Evan asks.

Andy takes another glance. Perhaps one that lasts a little too long, and now she's caught the attention of Lucy.

"Hey. I'm Andy." she says to Lucy, reaching out a hand to shake. "If you hurt Evan, you die, okay? That's my job." Andy tells her.

Lucy looks like she isn't sure what to reply to that, and chooses nothing at all. Evan just feels a flush of hot embarrassment.

From the kitchen, a woman Evan recognized as Mrs. Dark walks in and plants a brief kiss on Mr. Dark, leaving a black lipstick mark on his face. She proceeds to pour what looks like a thick purple liquid into Mr. Dark's goblet, and one into her own. He takes a sip. Refreshing.

"Thank you, darling." Mr. Dark says. "I can't do without my Brain Juice for too long!"

"Trust me, I know." Mrs. Dark replies.

Just like the portrait, Mrs. Dark looks a lot like an older Lucy but her cat-like eyes are even more piercing in person. Evan wonders what her monster form may look like. Surely she and Mr. Dark make an interesting pair. How exactly does finding a monster mate even work? Dating apps? Are there places he doesn't know about reserved only for monsters? Evan has a lot of questions he can't exactly ask right now.

The two begin to lift the shiny silver trays to reveal the food beneath. Evan waits in suspense, expecting them to be full of raw human guts or other disturbing things monsters probably thought of as food, but no, it's surprisingly normal. No different than what his family eats at Thanksgiving. Conan looks eager to dig in, but Evan and the others are still hesitant to try it.

"Randy! Time for dinner!" Mr. Dark shouts, peering out of the room. "We have guests over, don't be rude."

A few moments later, in walks a younger boy who looks like a mini version of Mr. Dark, suit and all, and his slick-backed hair is somehow even more greasy. He really has no expression of all and Evan is so focused on trying to read Randy he doesn't notice the boy is carrying another child in his arms. Wait, no. Evan's heart stops. It's not a kid at all, but someone all too familiar.

"Well, well, well. The gang's all here! Finally!" Slappy rasps.

"Oh my god!" Amy shrieks.

"Slappy!" Carly Beth cries in surprise.

"Not this guy again." Andy groans.

"I hate dummies!" Conan screams.

"Why are you guys so upset? The kid's just throwing his voice!" Jerry says.

"Because he's not." Ricky replies. "The dummy's doing the talking."

"Oh." Jerry says. "I guess that makes sense now."

"Yuck, you smell like sewage, Slappy!" Randy tells the dummy, plucking a rotten banana peel off of him, which he throws on the floor.

"Well that's what happens when SOMEONE drops you in a sewer." Slappy snaps, looking at Evan as he says this and furrowing his wooden eyebrows in anger. "I had to crawl my way out, but I did it."

Evan sees Slappy now has a small crack on his cheek, probably from the impact of the fall. Evan knew he'd be back. He just didn't think it would be this soon. He watches as Randy sits down at the only open seat, placing Slappy in his lap.

Evan looks at Amy, seeing how she's reacting to all of this, and she looks almost frozen in fear at just the sight of Slappy."

"Randy, honey, do you really have to bring him to the dinner table?" Mrs. Dark asks.

"Ugh, he smells HORRIBLE!" Lucy gags.

"Excuse me? I have a RIGHT to be here. Heck, I'm the guest of honor! You're just lucky your husband hasn't tossed you out yet!" Slappy cackles. "And as for you Lucy, at least I SMELL better than you LOOK."

Evan sees Ricky cover his mouth to stifle a laugh. Lucy just rolls her eyes but Mrs. Dark is clearly offended over the comment. Mr. Dark seems upset at Slappy's joke too. Now he looks as if he has to get control of the situation back. Evan isn't used to seeing him like this, without all his power. It's almost funny.

"Now Slappy, you know I value your help, but when you're in my home, you respect my family." He orders.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Larry. But if you value my help so badly, WHY DON'T I GET MY OWN SEAT AT THE TABLE?" Slappy asks with a snarl.

Mr. Dark is even more agitated now. "You're right. I shouldn't treat you like a dummy, but I only have so many chairs."

Slappy giggles. "I'm only joking, Larry. I know you need me. Say, YOU look familiar." he says, looking at Amy.

She's finally broken out of her state of panic, and looks at Slappy angrily.

"You almost ruined my life when I was a kid." Amy says. "My parents all thought I was crazy."

"That sounds about right." Slappy says, amused. "Doesn't narrow things down very much though."

Amy looks even angrier now. "You mean you don't remember me?" she asks.

Slappy just stares at her with those eerie blue eyes. "Of course. You're Lindy. Or is it Kris?"

"My name is Amy Kramer." she tells Slappy.

Now she's leaning over the table to look the dummy in the face. "Ring a bell?" Amy asks.

Slappy again laughs menacingly. "Amy. Lindy. Trina. Jillian. Britney. You're all the same to me, just failed slaves who couldn't even beat me!"

His painted red grin widens at the sight of Amy's anger. "I'm afraid there's nothing particularly memorable about you at all. Your brother was the funny one. Your sister was the talented. And what were you, Amy? A wannabe ventriloquist? You always were the family disappointment!"

"Shut up!" Amy snaps, nearly in tears.

Slappy cackles some more, enjoying Amy's pain. "Hell, and you weren't even a good ventriloquist to begin with! Everybody could see your lips moving! Your parents only let you do your little puppet show because they felt bad for you. I don't blame them for liking Sara better! There's really not much to like about Amy Kramer. When I came into the picture, Amy, let me tell ya', your family would have been HAPPY to get rid of you!"

"Don't listen to him, Amy. He's trying to get in your head!" Carly Beth tells her.

Amy doesn't listen. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" she shouts.

Then the second violent act of the night happens as Amy dives right for Slappy, knocking over her own chair and Randy's, as well as Randy himself in the process. Things get messy real fast, especially as Amy grabs a plateful of green beans and mashed potatoes and shoves them in Slappy's face. This is a complete disaster, Evan thinks. Mr. Dark is just going to forget the plan and kill us all right here, isn't he?

"Here's something to remember me by!" Amy shouts, and she starts wrapping her hands Slappy's tiny wooden throat and chokes him."

"GET HER OFF ME!" Slappy cries.

"You do realize the dummy doesn't have lungs, right?" Ricky asks.

"Oh, I know. It just feels really good!" Amy says, squeezing harder.

"You're living my dream, Amy!" Andy says. "Choke him even harder!"

Finally, she lets go.

"Maybe you really are crazy, Amy! I was only joking. How could I forget a face as pretty as yours?" Slappy asks menacingly.

Evan feels disgusted and Amy looks about ready to fight him again, before she's stopped by Mr. Dark, who looks about on his last nerve.

"STOP THIS NOW, MISS KRAMER!" he shouts. "I can't have you wrecking a nice dinner like this! From now on, we keep things peaceful."

"Oh, screw your dinner." Amy says. "Why did you even bring him here if you wanted peace and quiet?"

"I'd ask you the same question! YOU'RE the one who almost destroyed the table!" Slappy states.

Mr. Dark sighs. "I had hoped seeing Slappy would generate a response and help you face your fears. Clearly, you passed that test, just not as I expected."

"So you wanted to traumatize me?" Amy asks. "Too bad."

Mr. Dark doesn't respond to the question.

"Randy, please keep Slappy with you. I need things to actually be quiet." Mr. Dark orders.

Randy complies as he sits back in his seat with Slappy on his lap.

"My lips are sealed, Larry. We just gotta worry about Amy having another crazy outburst!" Slappy laughs.

"You're evil." Amy snarls at Slappy. "Evil incarnate."

"Aww, you know me so well." Slappy replies.

"Enough, Slappy! Apologies for my friend's behavior. He has a bad sense of humor." Mr. Dark chuckles. "We're here tonight to celebrate."

"Why don't we get back to that topic at hand." Evan interrupts. "The Monster Blood."

He's tired of all the games. All the nonsense. Hell, he probably could have ran off and found it by now, just looking at how much chaos is going on in this room.

Mr. Dark rolls his eyes. "Is that all you think about? We're here to celebrate, aren't we?"

"Hardly a party. Haven't we done enough? Just tell us." Evan says.

"I just want to know why you hate us so much, Mr. Dark. We've never even met." Carly Beth says.

Mr. Dark's eyes soften a bit. "Hate you? Ha. The truth is a bit more complicated than that, Miss Caldwell. For years, monsters like me have been at odds with the ones who control reality itself. They've forced us into the shadows so we can never reveal ourselves. From time to time, there are instances when monsters defy these rules, but they're taken care of just as quickly by the ones who put the rules in place. I'm talking about cases like yours- they happen and then all of a sudden, it's like they never happened at all. As far as the world knows, monsters don't exist. But soon, all that's about to change, I promise you that."

"I'm sorry." Carly Beth tells him. "But you can still do the right thing."

Mr. Dark laughs in response. Not an evil cackle, but an actual laugh, and Slappy joins.

"Geez, you really do think the world's problems can be solved with hugs and kisses, don't you?" Slappy giggles. "You think a symbol of love can stop ME?"

"Love can help anybody. I'm sorry you can't see that. It's obvious no one's ever showed you any." Carly Beth says.

"It's better to be feared than loved." Slappy replies.

Everyone rolls their eyes at that.

"I'm sorry, Miss Caldwell, but it's too late for me to change my mind. This is a plan that's been DECADES in the making. If you really want to prove that love conquers all, why don't you open your gift?" Mr. Dark asks.

"Huh?" Carly Beth says, before she remembers the box left for her.

Without much hesitation, she begins to tear at the paper, slowly revealing a large white box with a lid on it, the kind you'd use for office supplies or whatever else.

"I think you forgot to pack this when you moved to Dark Falls." Mr. Dark says.

Evan doesn't know what he's talking about before he watches Carly Beth remove the lid. Instantly, she lets out a scream and jumps back.

"Oh god." she utters.

"Is that what I think it is?" Slappy asks with evil intrigue. "COULD IT BE?"

Slowly, Carly Beth pulls a rubbery green mask from out of the box. The Haunted Mask. The very same one Carly Beth had worn that Halloween. It's the most terrifying mask Evan has ever seen. The skin looks surprisingly realistic, like he could touch it and it'd probably feel hot. Two pointy ears stick out from the sides and it has a bulging, bald forehead. Evan can't tell if he's imagining it, but it's as if the mask is moving in Carly Beth's hands, but she reacts in discomfort just holding. Right now, its lips are curled back into an evil smile, showing off a set of jagged, animalistic fangs. Then there's the eyes. A fiery shade of orange that seem to glow from the eye sockets without any light source.

Suddenly, the mask's lips begin to move, making a wet smacking sound as they rub together. Evan sees a red tongue inside the mouth. It's wet too, covered in thick drool that's dripping down.

"Hello Carly Beth." The mask rasps. "Been a long time."