For the second time in his reign as the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington felt helpless. The first time had occurred several years ago in what was know known among the Halloweentowners as the "Sandy Claws Fiasco," something rarely discussed among the townspeople, and only discussed between Jack and his wife Sally in the secret dark of night when no one else was around. He had proved to be the worst Santa in the universe, all his dreams of bringing joy shattering before his eyes. No one else in Halloweentown had understood his dreams, his desire to bring happiness and not terror. In a graveyard under the full moon he had lamented to no one, trying to make sense of everything. Shot from the sky, alone in the arms of a stone angel, Jack usually fiery spirit had died to a mere flicker.

And now again, that same feeling.

Alone again, hiding in a graveyard this time. But this time there was no angel to catch him, he had fallen and he feared he would never find the strength to get up again. He heard the screams and watched the red glow of Halloweentown burning…and knew there was nothing he could do.

He couldn't feel the tears that he knew were trailing down his skull face, but that ache in his spirit, that space in his soul that felt like sand disappearing in the top globe of an hourglass, let him know they were there. He beat his fist against the tombstone he was crouching behind.

'How, why did this happen? Why? Why, why, why?' he asked himself silently. He knew Sally was in Halloweentown, alive? Dead? He had no way of knowing. He had left in a rush, furious, trying to find…but that didn't matter. When he returned, shadows, shadows everywhere, swallowing the townspeople and setting fire to his beloved home. He had watched in horror before deciding he could do nothing, and being killed would not help his town, or those who had been carried away by the shadows. And so he hid, hid in fear and shame. His anger and desperation finally boiled over and he threw his head back and uttered the scream that had turned grown men into simpering babies, the scream that he was famous worldwide for, a scream now tinged blood-red and grey with his fury and helplessness.

Every shadow in Halloweentown stopped its work and raised its head to listen to that wail, shuddering as it sent shivers up their backs and made their blood run cold. One cast a glance at the smoking Town Hall.

'He better know what he's doing…'

A pair of amber eyes opened as the scream drifted into the burning Town Hall. A cruel smile crossed the cold features. He had Jack Skellington right where he wanted him. The evil figure turned and walked out of the building, not minding the bodies he stepped on, his back to the former Mayor, swinging by his neck from a rope a few feet above the stage. The figure admired the handiwork of his shadows as he stood on the Town Hall stairs. Oh yes, Jack Skellington was right where he wanted him.