May is frightened of her mother and flees to the safety of the church.

The Return parts 6-10

The Return: part six ~ "Come out and Get Her" ~ ....

Ordinarily, May could not have outrun an adult, but Joanna's condition was weak and May had a head start. 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?^_^

The Return: part seven ~ Joanna's Fury ~ ....

"Come here, Joanna" Carter said. He held May in one arm and beckoned to Joanna with the other."Come inside the church and get your daughter."

May stared up at Carter, eyes as huge as a full moon. She squirmed to get away but Carter held her fast.

"Come inside, Joanna,"he repeated.

Joanna did not budge.

"Give her to me!" she shrieked."She's mine!"

"Come get her. I won't stop you,"Carter replied. His voice was calm.

Joanna began to swear at him. She used words that no lady should ever use, especially when addressing a priest.

"It's all right, May," Carter murmured."She can't enter the church, or else she would've by now."

"Can't...enter?" May repeated.

"Hey there!" shouted a man. "Quit making all that racket!" Harris hurried towards Joanna, blowing his police-whistle. She took no notice of him; she continued to swear at Carter. Harris grabbed her pale, thin arm.

"Hey, lady, didn't you hear me?!" he yelled. Joanna turned to look at him.

"I want what is mine and you will not interfere!" she screamed.

Joanna wrenched away from Harris and with amazing swiftness raked her hands across his stomach. Harris's eyes grew wide as blood spurted out. He tried to back off but Joanna slashed him again. Her fingernails were very long. Had they been so long before? May could not remember. Displaying a strength she had not shown before Joanna continued to slash at Harris until her dress was drenched in his blood and he moved no more.

to be continued the tone of the story changes here. i hope no one is very upset that joanna killed harris:)

After she killed Harris, Joanna slumped down next to him. She was very still and carter thought perhaps she had died. He set May down,told her to stay where she was, and edged towards the church door. He had gone only a few feet when Joanna stirred. She raised her head and hissed at Carter like a feral cat.

She looked even paler, her cheeks looked gaunter and there were dark circles under her eyes.

"Joanna," Carter said. "I'm a priest. I can help you."

"I'm beyond your help," Joanna spat. She heaved her body up, wobbling wildly."I want to take May with me."

"Take her where, Joanna?"

"You will not stop me!" Joanna cried. Still wobbling, she turned and headed in the direction of her father's house.

Carter turned to May."You're safe in here. Don't leave whatever happens, just stay put." May nodded. She looked as if she might faint, she was so pale. For the first time, Carter noticed a slight resemblance between mother and daughter.

The Return: part nine ~ The Reanimation of Harris ~....Despite Carter's reassurances that Joanna would not enter the church, May hid herself in the small space under the organ. She squeezed her eyes shut, hugged her knees to her chest and began to rock back and forth. She heard a strange noise. Harris was pulling himself into a sitting position.

"no no no no no no no,"May whimpered. Harris lurched towards the church, but, like Joanna, stopped just short of the hallowed grounds.

"Come out, May," he called. "I have candy!"

"Go away!"May cried, putting her hands over her ears.

"Come out, May!" Harris called again."Be a good girl and come here!"

"No!" May yelled. "I won't! You can't make me!"

You can't stay there forever," Harris taunted. "You'll have to leave sooner or later."

"Carter won't let you hurt me!" May snapped. She was trying so hard not to cry. Harris laughed, a low, ugly spider-like laugh.

"When Carter returns, I'll kill him, May"

The Return: part 10 ~ Enter Doc and Elli ~ .... While Harris was taunting May, Carter was telling the doctor what had happened. Though the doctor was clearly skeptical of Carter's tale he agreed to go to the church and look at Harris's body. Elli followed the two men and when she saw Harris she screamed.

"I thought you said he was dead," Doc said, glaring at Carter."Can't you tell a dead man from a live one?"

"He was dead!" Carter insisted."He still is!" Doc rolled his eyes but Elli gasped.

"A zombie?" she cried, clutching Doc's arm.

Harris caught sight of them. he grinned nad with frightening cheetah-like speed, lunged himself at the group. His fingernails grew into long claws and he scratched Doc's cheek.

"Hurry, Elli!" Carter yelled."Get into the church!"

"No, doctor!" Elli sobbed. Harris had knocked Doc to the ground and was straddling his chest. Doc held Harris's arms by the wrists. As the two men struggled Carter seized a piece of wood and brought it down hard oh Harris's head. he slumped down and ceased to move. Doc felt for a pulse.

"He's dead," he announced.