Was the death right? Probably. In his very own opinion, he completely agreed. Immortality should be the worst punishment, even if it was somehow tempting. He supposed it was somehow tempting for every human being.

But was that a reason for him to decide, alone, in the name of all these people, to destroy them? Certainly not. And even less while knowing that his mum was deliberately opposed to the death and offered him that gift. What for? He was already dreaming to resolve that mystery.

- No, he said, and he ran away as fast as he could.

He felt that the death was trying to retain him, she pursued him, encircle him, slowed down his steps, held him by the hair, begged in his ear, promised everything he wanted. But he gripped the watch strongly in his hand, thought about his mum, about the name of Mr. October, and managed to leave the room.

He didn’t forget to lower at the door, and climbed the stairs at full speed.

When he appeared in the cemetery and showed the watch, he felt a lot of relief. Miss Ives greeted him with one of her very rare smiles, Carlotta laughed, Silas vanished and the teenager insisted to shake hands – “Devon March, by the way!”

After all the congratulations and backslapping, very exaggerated according to Hal, Miss Ives proposed to go back to the clearing.

- I think we all deserved our party tonight.

Everyone followed her, and Hal managed to be just next to her.

- Do you think I’ll meet my mother, someday?

He was playing with the chain of the watch whilst talking.

- For now, it is too dangerous. She is hiding and I am pretty sure you understand why.

Hal clapped the lid of the watch.

- But I am sure you will meet at the end.

What end? He was not sure he wanted to know and nodded. They were at the clearing and the music was really lively.

He danced for a while, discussed with people who seemed to know him and others who didn’t at all. He tasted some of the specialities displayed on the old tables, but carefully avoided fingers’ pâté and virgin’s blood. A witch explained him how to cast a spell – it was much more complex than it looked – and a group of ghosts tried to teach him how to cross walls, training him on headstones. He managed correctly, even if it was much less easy than with the vault’s stone.

Then Halloween felt he was watched. He turned around and saw that Carlotta stared hungrily at him from the dancefloor.

He joined her and they danced together, then she declared:

- The first ray of dawn is coming, I have to go. It will be next time.

She glanced at him, leaving no doubt about what she meant by “next time”, and disappeared. Halloween sighed – he was blushing again. He didn’t even understand why, he was not that prude usually! He watched around him people hastily disappear. Some simply vanished, others used paths in the graves, which had opened onto varied landscapes. Varied in the very varied type.

- Mr. October! Miss Ives called, next to a stone. Come, I will take you home.

The grave was overlooked the same sewer as before. Very self-confident, Miss Ives guided him in this labyrinth. When they arrived on the surface, they were in front of the big house where took place a party, an eternity earlier.

- It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. October, and I have no doubt we will see each other again.