Author's Note: This is it! This is La Chapitre Finale! And, I want to thank everyone who's been reading this, you all make me feel happy inside. :D I just hope this is satisfactory to you all, but, if you don't like it, review and let me know, and I'll revise it. Or something. I'm feeling very unsure about it.

Now, I'm going to try and finish off "The Shadow Men", which is my Zelda fanfic. (Shameless Plug!) I believe it's older than this one and I've neglected it horribly.

---

The light was bright, and warm, and so wonderfully pure. He could see it, calling for him, wanting him to be there. He smiled, and tried to run toward it, but found he couldn't move. "What?" he whispered. "Why?"

The light was dying before him, dimming, slowly. "No, wait!" he cried, struggling to move. "Come back!" The light didn't listen. It drew into itself as the darkness rushed to fill the vacant space. "Please." He sobbed, unsure why. "No…" The light flickered, waved it seemed, and then, finally, winked out all together.

He was alone in the darkness.

---

It could be said that Dirge was superhuman. It could also be said that a man who lived and breathed brutal monsters had an inside connection when it came to avoiding death. It could be said Dirge had more blood than he had brains. It could be said that Dirge was just damn lucky.

Just about any of those could be true, because by some miracle, by some sheer force of will, Dirge survived. The hospital was close to his home, and also highly aware of the numerous amounts of accidents that occurred on his vast estate.

Dirge was comatose for exactly two days, twelve hours, thirty-seven minutes and two seconds. When he awoke, he was alone. Outside, it was dark, as dark as the blackness he had been in when the light left him behind. It was just as dark inside, and the only proof he had that he was still dreaming was the yellow light that snuck in through a window in the door.

Dirge did not celebrate his awakening. He did not attempt to leap up (he couldn't have if he tried- if he had, he would have ripped out the various tubes and needles stuck in him.), and he did not shriek with joy. Instead he sat quietly, staring blandly at the packet of blood slowly dripping into him. He thought quietly to himself. What now? What do you do when you've lost your soul?

He placed a hand on his thin stomach. It growled quietly.

---

The nurse sleeping a floor down was awoken by someone shouting and cursing. Why doesn't he ever use the call button? She thought.

---

Ele was livid.

By the time Dirge had arranged for her release, she had nearly been murdered by her roommate. It had started with a simple game of poker. Three of the other cellmates had invited her to join. Ele had replied eloquently.

"Hell no."

The thought running through her head was I swear to God if I never touch a pack of cards again it'll be too soon.

"Oh?" one of the women said, raising her eyebrow. "You got a problem?"

"Maybe." Ele replied moodily, ignoring the angry and accusing glares of the other two women.

The first lady stood up. She was tall, stretching to a solid 6' 9". She had dark hair, and was less then thrilled with the teenager sharing her cell. She flung her cards at Ele, which caused the girl to give a small shriek of terror and shrink against the wall. The women laughed.

Ele slid off the cot where she had been sitting. She took two steps and was met by the tall woman. "Well, chickie?" the lady grinned, and blew her own foul breath into Ele's face.

Ele was not known for her patience. In a single fluid motion her hand stretched out and slapped the woman, snapping her head to the side. The woman stumbled back, and looked at Ele, first with shock then with rage.

Hard, broken nails flew at Ele's eyes. Screaming with fury, she grabbed her opponent's neck and attempted with all her might to strangle the criminal. The other two began to scream for help, pressing them selves to the wall opposite the fighting women.

The police were there quickly to break up the fight, but not before Ele had two black eyes and a bleeding cut on her left cheek, and the other woman had two reddening marks around her neck.

She gasped for breath. "You're going to regret that chickie."

Ele opened her mouth to make a retort, but was stopped by the burly officer holding her shirt collar. "Eleanor Sprague?" Ele nodded. "Charges have been dropped. You're free to go."

"I'll get you, chickie." The woman hissed. "I'll get out and I'll get you."

Waiting for Ele outside the station was none other than Mr. Lunge. Short, rumpled and obviously annoyed, he told her to get into the car he had waiting. Tired, angry, and no less annoyed than Lunge, Ele obeyed. Mr. Lunge then placed himself behind the wheel and began to drive. The first half hour of countryside passed in silence. It was Ele who spoke first.

"Where are we going?"

Mr. Lunge cast a sideways glance at the battered teen. "Home."

"Home?"

"Your home."

"How do you know where-"

"I assume your address hasn't changed since you sent the toys?"

"Well, no… How do you-"

"Surely you didn't think Mr. Dirge wouldn't find out who was arrested on his own property?"

Ele was silent. She supposed it made sense. But that didn't mean she had to like it. Just knowing that people like Dirge and Lunge knew where she lived was enough to make her uneasy.

"How's your face?"

"What?"

"Your face. Is it still bleeding?"

Ele's hand carefully brushed her cheek. Splots of loose blood had dried there, and the cut itself had scabbed over. "No." she replied.

"Hmm." Lunge angled the rear-view mirror and briefly viewed the cut on Ele's face. "You're going to want to clean that."

"Yeah." Ele muttered, and gazed out the window.

The drive lasted for most of the day, interrupted by a stop for some band-aids and disinfectant and another for doughnuts. Conversation was killed by the plain dislike of each other, and it was with great relief the two of them arrived outside Ele's apartment building.

Ele threw a quick thanks over her shoulder as she scrambled to open the door. She was halfway out when Lunge grabbed her shoulder. "Wait," he said.

Ele stopped. "Listen. Tell the Skellington that Mr. Dirge has no intention of hunting him out, and he doesn't want any more trouble from him. Or from you." He glared at her for a moment. "Ever."

"Yeah, sure." Ele stumbled out of the door. After an awkward pause, she said "Happy New Year." And slammed the door shut.

Lunge drove off without a reply. Ele waited outside for a moment, then entered the building.

---

"Happy New Year!" Andy cried, grinning broadly.

"It's not New Year anymore, idiot!" Ele snapped.

"It's only the fourth, Ele."

"What is 'New Year'?" Jack asked curiously.

Ele rolled her eyes. Andy stifled a laugh. "It is what it's called."

"All right…" Jack said, fascinated. "But what is it about? How do you celebrate it? Is it a large holiday? What-"

Sally touched his arm. "Jack…"

Jack sighed. "Sorry Sally."

The group was quiet. Ele looked around. Her parents weren't due back until the seventh, and she had only given the police station her home number. She prayed that they hadn't found out about her arrest yet. As if he had read her thoughts, Andy threw an arm around Ele's shoulders. "How about," he said, pausing slyly. "We not tell them?"

Ele said nothing.

Sally shook her head. "I suppose we should be getting back then."

Jack slapped his forehead, his bony fingers making an unnerving clacking sound against it. "We should! My God, there's so much to do! We're so far behind!" He turned to Ele and Andy. "Thank you for your help. I am in your debt."

Ele opened her mouth, but Andy beat her to it. "Don't worry about it." The siblings glared at each other, and whatever Ele was going to say was lost there.

Instead, Ele said, "What happened to the toys?"

"I took them back to Halloweentown. I believe I found a… fitting place for them."

"Are you sure it was a good idea?" Sally asked, worried.

"Of course!" Jack said confidently.

---

In Halloweentown, Lock, Shock and Barrel had found something interesting outside their tree house. A sack, filled with… something. They hadn't opened it yet. They had spent the last hour poking it with sticks, giggling as whatever was inside wiggled with discomfort.

Now, this form of entertainment was becoming boring.

"Well, open it!" Barrel said.

"How about you open it?" Lock replied.

"I'll open it." Shock rolled her eyes and clambered up the sack and inspected the mouth of the sack, which was perched at the top like a floppy ponytail. Turning, she slid down the side. "I'm no good with knots. You open it."

"Chicken!" Shock cried, wiggling his elbows. Barrel followed suite.

"Am not!" Shock punched her brother in the shoulder.

"Hey!" Lock leapt atop of Shock and the two began to wrestle.

RIII-IIIP.

The three froze. Simultaneously they raised their eyes to the sack.

A single eye was watching them from the black hole.

They stared at each other, the three children and the single eye.

The thing in the sack giggled.

So did Lock, Shock and Barrel.

The giggling went on for hours, and when it ended, it was finally dark.

The children never found the note left by Jack. It read, Care for some toys?