Alfie springs into action even as Fang jumps on his head. He squirts a tube of caustic toothpaste in the direction of the witch. The substance hits her face and eyes, and she drops the drill in pain. Fang jumps to Winnie’s head as Winnie tries to free Gabz of her restraints, but Alfie grabs Fang and swings the cat by its tail, letting go in time for Fang to wipe out the instrument cart. Alfie frees Gabz with the release lever on the chair (Gabz points it out) and tries to lift her to her feet, but Gabz jumps up independently. The witch, however, grabs a sharp dental tool and uses it as a weapon, grabbing Gabz and holding it to her neck: “One step forward and your girlfriend dies” (324). After a suspenseful pause, Alfie mentions that Gabz is not his girlfriend, and Gabz agrees that she would never go out with Alfie. The frustrated witch interrupts their squabbling, forces Gabz aboard the gas cylinder, and escapes by flying through the window.

Winnie and Alfie follow the witch by speeding through town on the moped. Once on the outskirts of town, Alfie sees the smoke trail descend into the old, abandoned coal mine where Dad used to work.