Because The Return is so long, I'm only going to post five chapters at one time. The newest chapters will replace the oldest. Ch. 1- on a hot Summer night, Karen, unable to sleep, takes a walk on the beach, where she encounters a white figure

The Return by Butterscotch The Return: part two ~"I've Come For What's Mine" ~ By Butterscotch... The cool night air grew even colder and a mist swirled around Karen's ankles as she staggered backwards. A young woman with long dark hair was walking towards Karen. Her thin arms were outstreched and she was smiling. "Karen!" exclaimed the woman. "...Joannna?" Karen stared in disbelief. As she took a closer look she realized that it really was Joanna. Joanna was only a few years older than Karen and the two had played together as kids. Joanna had not aged well; she had lost weight, far too much, and her once-shiny black hair was scraggly and shot with gray. "Yes, Karen," Joanna smiled. It was the most horrible smile Karen had ever seen. It empathzied how much weight Joanna had lost; she looked like a grinning corpse. "I've come back for May. I want to take her with me," "Barley won't like that," Karen replied. "May is my daughter and I've come for what's mine." Part 3 ~ Joanna ~ by Butterscotch... Joanna moved past Karen, who quickly stepped back from her former playmate. Joanna's dress flutterd against Karen's legs and Karen jumped a little. Joanna did not notice, she just kept walking home. For a long time Karen just stood there breathing heavily. She could not decide between going home the short way and passing the graveyard, or going home the long way and passing the Yodel Farm. In the end, Karen stayed at the beach all night. Zack found her there the next morning, huddled near the stairs. "Joanna's back,"she told Zack as he lead her home."She's back but she's wrong,Zack. She's wrong." Zack shuddered as he looked into Karen's eyes. It was obvious that her encounter with Joanna had left her badly frightened. Zack decided to pay Barley a visit. The Return: part four ~ May ~ by Butterscotch... Karen was right. Joanna was wrong, horribly, strangly wrong. Barley was so glad to have her back that he did not seem to notice. Zack did not stay long, despite Barley's insistance that he stay for breakfast. Zack hurried outside and took a deep breath. In the warm summer sinshine he realized how cold it had been in Barley's kitchen. "Zack?" said a small female voice. Zack jumped and yelled. The speaker was only little May. Zack had heard that May took after her mother but, aside from the black hair, he saw little resemblence. "Y-yeah, May?"Zack said. May crept closer."I'm scared. Mommy scares me,"she whispered. Tears gliitered on her eyelashes. "Well, you just don't know her well that's all," Zack said in an oddly hearty voice. "No, I'm not scared of her like I'd be scared of a stanger. It's a different kind of scary, like a monster or something." "Joanna is your mother, May,"Zack said patting her on the head. "You have no reason to be afraid of her." As he hurried away Zack could feel May's dark eyes following him. The Return: Part Five ~ May Flees .... "Let's go for a walk, May," Joanna said, holding her bone-white hand out to her daughter, who quickly shoved her hands in her apron pockets. "I can't, Mommy," May said. Joanna frowned and May hastily added:"Today is church day, the day I play with Stu and Mr. Carter." "May, you play with your friends all the time," Joanna pouted. "All I want is just a little of your time." May bcaked away from her mother, her hands fumbling for the door knob. "I know," piped up Barley."Why don't you go with May, Joanna?" Both mother and daughter frowned at this suggestion. "I don't want to go to a church," Joanna snapped. May's hand reached the door knob and she flung open the door. She fled into the warm summer outdoors. "May!" Joanna shrieked. "Come back here!" May , of course, did not listen. Instead, she ran even harder. Joanna tore after her. The Return: part six ~ "Come out and Get Her" ~ .... Ordinally, May could not have outrun an adult, but Joanna's condition was weak and May had a headstart. She raced into the town-square, already breathing hard. The church was not far. May pushed her little body to it's limits and rushed into the church. "May? You're awfully early," Carter said. "Don't let her get me!" May wailed, flinging herself into Carter's arms. "What? Who's after you?" "Mommy!" May sobbed. "She came back, but she's wrong! Carter, she scares me!" May began to weep, her whole body trembling against Carter. She had left the church door open behind her and Carter saw a pale thin woman staggering towards the church. Joanna stood just outside the church grounds, swaying a little. "Give her to me," Joanna snarled. "No," May whimpered. "Give her to me!" Joanna shrieked. She did not move from her spot just outside the holy grounds. Carter had an idea. "Come here and get her," he told Joanna. to be continued oh look, it's carter, what could he possibly be doing in one of my fanfics?^_^ to be continued

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