Snake looked over towards the clock, his hands warming by the little light the lantern provided. He grinned slowly as the clock began to chime seven time which was the correct time for him to head home to his family. Snake slapped his book shut, hopping down from the chair while Ace lifted his pocket watch to check it. "Two minutes fast."

"Erk..." The reptile like boy quickly moved back into his chair, opening the book as he began to write once more.

Ace pushed the watch back into his pocket, waving his hands towards the worker. "Ya can go now, Ingleberry, but be here early all the next morning!"

Snake twisted to face his boss, grabbing hold of the laundry bag as he stepped back towards the door. So close to leaving... "Iss willss! And a Bah... Merry Christmas to youss!" He corrected his mistake, before slamming the door shut. Ace glanced over at the door, before sticking out his tongue "Bah!"

At nine o' clock he finally closed up the counting house, reaching up to bang off snow that had gathered ontop of the sign once again. The wind blew through the air as he began the long walk towards his home. The streets were empty as everyone was inside with their familes or at a party.

Soon he arrived home where only a single street light was illuminated the area. Ace began to unlock the door as his eyes peered around the streets curiously. The lion shaped doorknocker slowly began to change as he unlocked the door, the head morphed into the image of a chimp's face with a scowl.

"AAAAAACCCCCCEEEEEEEEE!" The head began to speak in a ghostly tone as Ace jerked his head upward, eyes widening slowly.

"Mojo...? This ain't happen'!" He reached out though, pinching the chimp's nose. Mojo yelped. Ace stared slowly at the tiny figure before he let out a horrified girlish scream, then bolted into the house with the door slamming shut behind.

"That damned boy... My nose." Mojo winced, wrinkling his tiny face.

Inside Ace looked ready to have a stroke, gripping his chest where his heart was. It took a moment before he shook it off, shaking his head. "Bah!" He began to walk up the stairs, the steps creaking as he walked. Behind him Mojo's shadow began to follow his up the stairs. Ace whirled around only to see the shadow disappear.

"I'm workin' too hard.." He grumbled, pulling his coat closer as he made his way further up the stairs. The shadow began to follow him once more, causing the man to jerk around again. Nothing was there. He looked down over the staircase only to see that nothing was there.

For a third time he continued to walk up as Mojo's shadow jumped up, snatching his hat off his head. Ace stopped, slowly reaching back only to have his finger poke at the shadow. The hat dropped back down to his head. Ace screamed once more as soon as he saw the shadow, taking off quickly up the stairs and slamming the door shut. Mojo ran right into the shut door, letting out a yelp.

Ace locked the door in every possible way, before jumping into his chair as a knocking came on the door. "ACCCCEEE COOOPPUULLLAAR!"

"GO AWAY!" He screamed, pulling the hat down harder over his eyes. A ghostly mist floated through the door, an image forming of a short monkey. He had a large helmet on his head, a pair of white pants, a blue shirt and a long purple cape. Around his clothing were chains, one linked to a piggy bank, a steel box, an anchor and for some reason a bowling ball. The figure was Mojo Jojo, Ace's dead partner.

"ACCCCEEE COOOPULLLA!" He didn't get to finish his ghostly moan as he suddenly tripped over a spare shoe that had been laying in the way. The ghost groaned, rubbing his helmet as he stood to come towards the chair. Ace, once again screamed like a frightened little girl, while Mojo only rolled his eyes. "Stop that screaming! Don't you remember me? In my life I had been your partner Mojo Jojo!"

Ace quickly lit a candle, holding it up as he studied the ghost carefully. "It is you!" He reached out, moving his hand to pinch the ghost's nose. Mojo jerked his head back, putting a paw over his nose quickly.

Mojo moved to the side, dropping his hand as he looked to the little boy. "Do you remember what I was like in life? Stealing from those widows and pushing the poor!"

"Heh, you had class! Doing it all in one day!"

"Yes I did!" Mojo puffed out his chest for a moment, before he quickly shook his head. "No! I was wrong and as punishment I am forced to carry such heavy chains for eternity!... Perhaps longer!" He murmured to himself, dropping the chains down in front of Ace.

"That's a lot of chains!"

"Each little chain piece is a sign for every horrible deed I had done in the real world! It all links together and with my... small stature it is very hard to drag them around!" Ace isn't paying attention to the monkey's rambling as he lifted up the small piggy bank, beginning to shake it in hopes of getting some spare change. Neither of them had noticed the chain that fell around Ace's neck.

"I am doomed!" He flung around, the chain tightening around Ace's neck which began to choke him. "DOOMED!" Ace choked as the chain was yanked forward once more. Suddenly Mojo's face became very serious as he got into his partner's face. "And this horror will happen to you!!!"

"It can't... happen... not to me! Can't it be fixed?" Ace rubbed his throat as the chain finally came off. It was clear how frightened he was getting.

"Fortunately for you, you still have the chance to make things right. So I came here to warn you that tonight, you will be visited by three spirits!" Mojo held up three little fingers. "Listen to their words.... Do what they say!" He jabbed his finger into Ace's face, his tone slightly frightening "Or your chains will be heavier then mine!!!"

"FAREWELL ACCCCEEE!" His voice began ghostly once more as he backed away, only to stop as he came to the shoe. He carefully stepped over it, turning back into a mist as he headed out the door. "FAREWELLLLLL!"

"Mojo, look for fer the...!"

Clang! Bang!

"CURSES!"

"....Step."