She had been wondering the town for days, mostly trying to avoid the..strange people. It wasn't that they scared her. Not at all. They were new and strange and she wasn't ready to socialize. She mostly kept to the forest, exploring, keeping to herself, watching the towns people and gathering information. It was a full week before the Mayor made his way to Jacks house, pulling the doorbell and waiting while the doorbell stopped screaming. It was a few moments before the door opened, reveling Sally. She smiled. "Oh, Mayor how kind of you to visit." The mayor had his frown face turned, fidgeting with his tall hat in his hands. "Is jack around? It's important I speak with him." She nodded, letting him inside. "I'l get home for you. Make your self at home."
The Mayor waited while Sally walked up the stairs. It was moments later Jack came down. "Mayor! What an honor to have you in my hom-whats wrong?" He said once he saw the scared face of the mayor. Becoming concerned right away. "Oh Jack! It's awful! Theres this girl thats been wondering the town like a ghost, not talking to anyone. Everybody's saying shes been keeping to the woods but the townsfolk are starting to become nervous, all she does is wander and stare." Jack looked like he was thinking, tapping a bony finger on his skull. "Shes been in the woods you say?" Sally spoke up, becoming worried about this wandering girl. "Are you going to find her? She sounds like shes lost. A newcomer?" Jack nodded. "Possibly. I'l go searching for her Mayor, tell everyone that theres nothing to worry about! What trouble could a little girl be?"
Later when night hit and the jack-o-lantern moon hung high, Jack and Zero went out to the woods. Zero lighting the way. But not well enough. As he got deeper into the forest he caught his foot in a makeshift bear trap, making him fall with a grunt. "ouch! That could really harm someone." He looked at it, inspecting it. If it were anybody else, that would have really hurt them. Luckily him being a skeleton, theres nearly nothing to hurt but the bone. He'l have a few gauges on his ankle. It took a bit to open it, rolling his foot before looking to Zero. "That was different. Make sure to keep a look out for anymore traps Zero." Zero barked before resuming walking with Jack. It wasn't long after that he stepped on another trap, this time a large net tangled Jack up. "Whoa!" Zero barked in shock and worry, whining. Jack wiggled his best to look down at Zero. "I'm ok Zero! I think I can get out of this!" He managed to wiggle, finding an open spot he could slip his slim frame thru.
Once he managed to get out of the net and fall to the ground he sighed, shaking his head. He and Zero walked further, looking around when Zero stopped him, flying in front of him as a very large, pointed log flew from the side, swinging from rope. Jack glared into the woods. "Ok now I have had just about enough of these traps! I mean no harm, I just want to help you, whoever you are! Please show yourself!" "How did you get past my traps?" Jack jumped, not expecting the deadpan, young voice behind him.
He looked down, seeing a girl, no older than eight years old with a black dress and black braids and pale face. He recovered. "Had I been anyone else in the town, I wouldn't be standing here. You really could have hurt someone." "Thats the point." He kneeled down, coming face to face with her. For her Gothic attire and anti-social attitude, she had very innocent face. "Whats your name?" "Wednesday." Jack smiled,holding out a bony hand. "My name is Jack and I have to say for such a Little girl you can cause quite the ruckus." "I have that effect." Jack stood, his hand still out. "Now instead of wondering and scaring the townspeople, we could introduce you to them." Wednesday backed away. "No." Jack frowned. "Why? Is something the matter?"
He could tell that she was a very strong willed girl and incredibly smart and one that probably is more shy then she would ever let one. And was actually scared, not that she would ever admit that. Jack smiled softly. "How about we go to my house and Sally can make you some hot cocoa and we can talk." "Talk about what?" "Anything you like. But wondering the woods is no place for a little girl. Your dress is already ripped." Wednesday. was quiet a moment before looking down at her dress, seeing a few tears. Then started speaking. "Sure. I am thirsty." "Thats the spirit!" He held out his bony hand once more. She decided to humor him and held his hand, letting him lead the way.
He reminds her of her father and that thought made her chest hurt and she didn't know why.
They made there way through the town. Luckily it was evening and all but the vampires were asleep. They walked up the large staircase to Jacks tower, walking inside. She felt like she was home. Why was her chest hurting again? She pressed her hand to her heart, rubbing it, wanting the painful feeling to go away. Jack saw this, becoming concerned. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She almost glared, dropping her hand as if it was burned. "Fine." Jack nodded before smiling. "Make yourself at home while I get Sally then after were done with our hot cocoa I can give you the tour." Wednesday gave a silent acknowledgment before sitting on the large, black couch. She almost forgot about his ghost dog Zero who was now sitting on the couch with her...well floating above the cushion.
It was a few minutes before Jack came back down the stairs, a second set of footsteps behind him. Jack was in front of her and with a woman with blueish skin and stitches and red hair that seemed to be yarn. Sally smiled. Jack smiled as well. "Wednesday this is Sally." Sally smiled softer. "Hello Wednesday. I hope you like it here until we an get you home." Sally was just about to walk away when she Wednesday spoke up. "I can't go home. I'm dead." Jack smiled. "So you are a new comer!"
"Pneumatic plague. Seems fitting that the plague that ravaged Europe would take an Adams" Jack looked to her. "Your an Adams! We've heard so much about your family! As a matter of fact I think some of your distant family may be here in Halloween town with us." Wednesday nodded at that. Jack continued. "Before then lets get some hot coca and have a nice talk."
Sally made there hot coca, bringing in three mugs for each of them. Then they talked. Jack and Wednesday did the most talking, sally speaking up every once in a while. The first conversation was her death and how she died. She suspects it was from one of the local kids who managed to cough on her as a joke. "When I was getting worse I told my parents the kid who coughed on me. I can only imagine there wrath on that family." Jack nodded. "I don't blame them one bit. Someone messes with my own, there have the pumpkin king to deal with." Wednesday almost smiled at that. Almost. Then that conversation went into the history of the plague, sickness and what brought Jack to Halloween town and how the town works. Some come here, like Wednesday and Jack while others are made here like Sally and a few others. Sally became sleepy after a few hours and said her good nights while they continued to talk and talk and before they knew it the sun was rising and Wednesday was trying to stifle a yawn.
This is the first conversation outside of her family that was actually intelligent and interesting. Jack was very smart and passionate and sweet but Jack saw her yawn bringing his own yawn before chuckling. "My, we have been talking all night. I bet your just exhausted." "How can I be exhausted if I'm dead? I had to take naps in the woods as well." He helped her off the couch. "Well even though were technically dead this is somewhat of an afterlife. You can't die thru other means like starvation or sicknesses but it would be unpleasant if you don't eat or sleep and you can die if your body is somehow destroyed." "So if I stop eating I'l just be constantly hungry but I won't die." "Exactly. And you need rest. We have an extra bedroom you can rest in." She nodded. He held out his hand once more and she took a hold without question, letting him lead the way.
The bed was fairly tall and he had to pick her up to help her into it. Once her head hit the pillow Jack brought the blanket over her. He was about to wish her sweet dreams when he saw she was fast asleep. He tucked her in, smiling as he walked out of the room.
An: to keep this from being a super long one shot I'm going to do this in chapters.