Part III, Chapter 18 Summary

Robert wakes up in the middle of the night shouting Virginia's name. Then he discovers Ruth, fully dressed, standing in the living room, and he asks her if she was planning to leave. She replies that she can't leave because of the vampires. Outside, he hears the vampires yelling, and Ben calling him to come out. Robert wants Ruth to stay with him. He tells her in anguish how three years earlier his wife had come back from the dead to drink his blood, and he had to kill her with a stake. Ruth asks Robert why they are being punished like this, and he draws her to him in a passionate embrace. Ruth whispers that it would be better if they were all dead. He assures her everything will be all right, although he doesn't really believe it...