It was circular, in a smooth and cold metal. Hal opened his eyes: it was an old watch.

Well, he would have all the time of the world to examine it when he would be outside. He was going to leave this place, quickly.

- You’re not already leaving me? a cracking voice said.

Unfortunately, the voice was real, and unfortunately again, it was not Jane’s. It came from a corner of the room so dark that it seemed torn off from the blackest night.

Halloween immediately knew that this voice was responsible for the scare he had had approaching the shelves.

- Who are you?

- I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours.

Halloween was intrigued. The voice wanted to prevent him taking the watch, and for this, he was suspicious. But after all, Miss Ives, Silas and Carlotta’s motivations were not that clear. And finally, the voice was old, strange and not completely human, but not frightening.

- It’s a deal. My name is Mr. October.

- You liar. But it’s OK. I have the whole eternity to find your name.

- You’re not like all the others.

- I’m their greatest enemy. But you... You’re with me, aren’t you? Give me that watch.

- I’d rather keep it.

And it was true. The watch fitted well in his hand, and in a way, he felt like he owned it.

- If you give it to me, you will put an end to all this. Oh, you probably liked what is above, for sure... Is there a nicer scene than these poor creatures for Margaret Whittaker’s son?

Halloween’s heart missed a beat.

- Did you know my mother?

- Do I! She never stopped escaping from me. But one day, one day, you’ll see, I’ll hold her in my arms for good.

- That’s impossible. My mother died years ago, just after I was born.

- Not at all, she died much before. Your mother is a ghost, son.

It was probably the weirdest revelation of this night, but Hal believed it straight away. It explained a lot: the mysteries of his dad, his access to demimonde, how he crossed the stone... And even, he suspected, why he was able to take this watch. Obviously, the thing in the corner couldn’t take it unless he gave it. He raised the lid to check this intuition, and discovered the initials M.W. carved.

So the watch was a gift from him mum... And it disturbed demimonde as well as the thing in the corner, why? This was interesting.

- Give me this, dear.

- What will happen, if I give it to you?

- You will do good. You’ll free them all. Oh, I know, I know, you found them very romantic, all those monsters, up there. But they are monsters. Willingly or not, they pushed me away, they rejected me, and now, now... This is how they are too living for the dead and too dead for the living, because life without death is not really life. There is not one single of them, up there, not even one who is happy. They are cursed to the bones, my absence is the worst of all the punishments ever and ever. What is worse, October Whittaker, what is worse than being an immortal? You watch your friends die, you don’t like anything anymore, you’re bored of everything, you have to bear yourself for eternity, and that for an unimaginable price. Give me this. Free them all.