Emily thrashed around inside her prison, wishing she could do something. Victor, however, could do something. Barkis was so distracted by the creeper, his grip had loosened on the knife. Victor snatched it from his hand and stabbed him in the leg. Barkis howled in agony as the blood begun to spill from his leg. He cradled it, still screaming. In all the commotion Andrew managed to struggle free of the creeper. He dashed to a nearby shelf and grabbed a murky bottle. He smashed the bottle on the ground and held it up as protection. Suddenly a swirl of blue mist floated up into the air. Barkis limped over to it in panic and tried to grab it. But if you have ever tried grabbing mist you will understand how hopelessly impossible it is. The mist swirled once more, and dived into the sack. Out of the sack rose Emily, in her true form and all her beauty. She pushed Barkis aside and strode forward. A roar of fury came from the creeper. A thick black smoke drifted through the air and dived for the body of 'Eleanor'. The body jerked and twitched, and sat up. It climbed off the table and snatched the knife from Victor's sweaty hands. Eleanor pointed the knife to Emily. Emily slowly began backing away, panic growing inside her. Eleanor cackled.
"Be afraid little girl, oh yes, be afraid." The voice was a cross between the bird song of Eleanor, and the harsh croak of the creeper. It was an ear splitting sound, the sound of a scratched record, of sharp nails running down a blackboard. Emily gasped at the painful noise.
"You thought you had one, you thought it was over, but believe me, you are far from the end." Eleanor cackled once more. "Do you actually think they will stand by you? You are dead. They are the living. They will abandon you, they will suck away your dreams in a way even I could. You will be alone forever, just like me." Emily shook her head and felt the wall against her back. She raised her head defiantly.
"What can you do to hurt me, creeper. I am already dead." Eleanor smirked devilishly, and thrust her hand into Emily's chest. Emily wriggled and twisted, but it was no use. Emily's heart was pulled from her, still glowing slightly with the purple flame. Eleanor grinned and began to squeeze it. Emily cried out in pain and collapsed the the floor. She rolled and twisted in agony. It felt as if her insides were being stretched and twisted. She thought she could see blood in her eyes. She screamed in terror. Eleanor laughed mockingly, but was cut short. Her eyes widened, and she dropped the heart. She collapsed to the ground, and stood over her was Andrew, holding a glass bottle. The pain stopped, and Emily lay still, panting. Eleanor began to shake and twitch. Black smoke poured from her mouth, nose, ears and eyes. it wrapped itself around Andrew like a snake would its prey, slowly crushing him. Victor grabbed a bottle and caught the smoke in it. He sealed the bottle and the smoke was gone. The bottle consumed it. For a moment no one said a word. Andrew pulled on his shirt and buttoned it up. He staggered over to Emily and helped her up. She smiled weakly at him.
"Are you hurt?" he asked her. She shook her head.
"You were very brave, Andrew."
"I-I was?"
"Oh yes," Emily said. "You risked your life to save me. I would say that makes you a hero."
"M-me? A hero." He went a little pink, but the pleasure in his eyes was all to obvious. Victor turned to them, still grasping the bottle.
"Do you think this will hold him?"
"It will, don't you worry." Barkis limped over to them. Emily scowled, and marched over to him.
"You are a coward" she said as he backed away. "Nothing but a snivelling cowardly low-life. Now we need to get out of her. You may be dead, but I can still tear off your fingers, pull out your eyes and chop you into tiny bits."
"Wait!" he whimpered. "I will show you, then I will lock it forever." He crept over to the wall, and traced a circle with his hand. A round hole in the wall appeared. Andrew stepped out first, then Emily, then Victor. Barkis stepped out last. Just as the door was closing, Victor had an idea. He shoved with all his might and Barkis fell into the hole. But he dragged Andrew with him.
"Andrew!" Emily tried to reach for him, but it was too late. The door was sealed. Forever.
