Ellen Watkins stepped out from behind the tombstone to kneel beside the younger Hardy brother.  Receiving a weak smile, she laid a hand on Joe's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.  With a weary sigh she raised her eyes to meet Frank's.  "What happened?  I saw you two make it to the graveyard safely."  

"We did. I…I couldn't hold him."  Feeling his brother shudder again only drove the feeling of guilt deeper. "Elderbridge, or whatever that thing is, clawed him.  I need to get him out of here, Ellen."  

"No," she said, looking over her shoulder to where the old farm was still burning.  "They're still out there…"  

"I can make it," Frank interrupted. "If you can stay with Joe I'll bring the car up here." He watched the slow and lumbering shadow that paced back and forth just beyond the cemetery's fence.  Its large form was starkly silhouetted against the grey smoke that was still billowing from the house.  

"You heard what she said, Frank."  Joe's voice was strained, but strong enough to be heard over the constant moaning of Elderbridge. "You can't try it. We can wait it out. It'll be gone."   To prove that he was strong enough to make that wait, Joe shifted away from his brother and leaned back against the rough stone. He looked up at Ellen.  "That's what you told Frank, isn't it?"  

"I did, Joe," she said softly.  "They'll leave.  You just have to wait for that."  She turned to Frank when she heard him start to protest. "Trust me, Frank. Now, help an old woman up."  

"What?  You're going to leave? But what…" Eyes widening, Frank stood and reached a hand down.  

"It's not me they want." Ellen pulled the older Hardy a few steps away from his brother. "Just do as I told you, Frank. Stay here, wait them out. It's the only way the two of you can get out of here alive."  Pulling him into a strong hug, she whispered in his ear. "You've trusted me this far, trust me a little longer."  

"I will, Ellen," he sighed, too weary to fight.  "I will as long as Joe doesn't…" As if on cue, Frank heard his brother's stifled gasp.  Leaving the older woman, he went to kneel next to Joe.  "As long as Joe doesn't get any worse," he finished. Receiving no answer, he looked back to see empty space where Ellen had stood. "I wish she'd stop doing that."  

"Where'd she go, Frank?"  Joe strained to look around his brother.  "It's not safe out there!"  

"She'll be okay.  Don't worry about her. She's been right about everything else so far, so I'm sure she's okay."  He shifted to sit next to his brother again, taking some comfort in the pale streaks of light that were crossing the early morning sky.  "How're you feeling?"  He'd noticed that some of the strain had left Joe's voice.  

"Better."  Laughing softly at Frank's scowl, Joe reassured him. "Honest. It's not half as bad."  Sitting a little straighter, he looked at his brother, his eyes widening.  "Hey, it's getting quieter."  The wails seemed to be fading along with the darkness.  

Sagging against the tombstone, the older Hardy closed his eyes. "Maybe this'll all be over soon and we can get out of here.  We'll just give it time, like Ellen said."  

"Yeah, like Ellen said," Joe sighed and leaned back to rest against the cold granite. "You still haven't told me everything, Frank.  Like who she is, why she was here." Gentle snores were his only reply. 

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