Slave to the Music
"Harassed Homicidal Hell Goat". By me. Don't hurt me (flinches)
Lead Singer Sid counted off, "One! Two! Three! METAL!"
Huge jets of fire poured from the stage, just missing the audience's heads. They screamed in both terror and delight as Deathplosion kept playing.
Free the hell beast deep inside!
Free it from your beaten hide!
From the depths of hate and scorn
Feel the blood run down your horn!
More fire from the fringes of the audience! It started with the band and traveled around the perimeter, taking vicious swipes at whoever was too close!
Hell! Goat! Hell!
The goat from hell!
The dancing flame reached the stage once again, igniting the backdrop into an enormous wall of fire. The band did the best they could to stay on-tempo.
Hell! Goat! Hell!
The goat from hell!
Jack Skellington's maniacal laughter rang from all corners of the arena, sending a cold shiver down the fan's spines. They screamed for more, devil horns jutting up towards the band.
See tormentor wield the blade.
See your blood, a reddish shade.
See his arm swinging around.
See his head fall to the ground!
Hell! Goat! Hell!
The goat from hell!
The last remaining shreds of the still-burning backdrop suddenly flew from their hangings. They twirled around in the center of the stage, flames whipping past the Sids. The smoldering canvas formed a glowing orange cocoon that sucked in the audience's attention.
Hell! Goat! Hell!
The goat from-
The cocoon burst into a giant goat's head that spewed the last of its embers into the crowd before disappearing.
HELL!
The cheers were indescribable. Fans rushed the stage within an instant, swarming around the Sids and pulling them all away from each other.
The concert was perfect. And Jack had barely exerted himself.
He knew it. It was pretty much the only thing keeping him awake at this point; the pride that he had both entertained and struck terror into the hearts of the tiny crowd with hardly a stretch of his nonexistent muscles.
But now the focus of their love and devotion was focused on those undeserving slobs who thought music was a business, not a passion.
"Jack!"
One tiny voice called out to him from the parking lot. Jack turned and faced Sally as she ran past the tiny collection of cars to meet him. He turned back with a sigh, continuing to ponder the moon as he was before.
"Jack, you were incredible!" Sally found herself gushing like the fangirls she was trying to avoid. "With the smoke, and the fire, and the dancing-"
"You saw me dancing?" he asked curiously.
Sally fluffed her hair and skipped next to Jack. "Well, I was standing behind you. You put on a very two-dimensional show."
He replied with no emotion, "The audience typically isn't behind the show."
There was a soft pause. Sally waited for some smart comment from Jack, fidgeting nervously when she heard nothing. She swallowed her fear and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Would you believe…"
Apparently, that was the key. Although the smile was sad and faked, Jack smiled back at her, face reflecting the moonlight so he glowed as well. "I'm homesick?"
Sally cocked her head curiously. "Did you do that often back home?"
"Oh-ho-ho, more than you'll ever know." He shifted his weight to the hip closest to Sally, making his pelvis bump into her arm. "There's music everywhere in Halloween Town. And real music, too, not that ear-shattering excuse for a melody."
"I keep telling them, they need to get a songwriter. But do they listen to me? Nooooo…"
Jack chuckled softly, but a lingering ache stifled his laugh. He must have still been hurting from the "pain" button.
No sooner than Jack put a hand to his chest, Sally grabbed him in a gentle hug. He twitched softly under her arms. "What are you doing?"
Sally tightened her grip, and implored him, "Didn't we figure out a system? You hurt, I hold you until you get better."
"I like that system," Jack replied with a real grin. "You should patent it. We could make millions. Either than or remind your brother there's another button on that remote."
The mention of the remote gave Sally a rather devious idea, but she tucked it away. Instead, she and Jack stood and stared at the moon for a while.
"Tell me more…" Sally finally whispered. "About music…"
"In Halloween Town, you mean?"
"Yeah…" She pulled away gently so she could see his face. "What's it like? Any heavy metal?"
"Yes, it's called lead." Jack tented his fingers and looked off into nowhere. "Anyway, I can't really describe the music back home. It's not given this much attention, I can tell you. Nothing is ever really planned, everything just… comes out."
Sally gasped, her eyes widening in excitement. "A musical!"
"Exactly!" Jack clapped his hands. "I knew I liked you for a reason!"
"How do you know what to sing about?" A nervous shudder ran down Sally's spine. "Oh, I've always wanted to know that!"
Jack didn't know what was a prettier sight at this point; the moon or the effect the moon was having on Sally. He took a second to think (he'd never been asked to question something that came so naturally to him before). "It's… I suppose it's just what's strongest in your heart at the moment." Another thought crossed his mind. "For example, I don't think 'Harassed Homicidal Hell Goat' came from your brother's heart."
He got a huff and a comical head-toss in return. "More like his wallet." Sally stepped closer to him, standing nose-to-base-of-neck with him. "Hey, is there anything in there right now?"
Suddenly, a million notes went through Jack's heart; a thousand words, a hundred verses, a dozen choruses, and the all filtered down into a little song…
And he choked. "Ah- no."
"You're lying." Sally began to poke Jack in the breastbone. "You-are-ly-ing-tell-me-now."
"Cut it out!"
Jack swooped out from Sally's hand and slid behind her. She spun around only to have him dodge her again. "I wanna hear!"
"No you don't," he cooed into her ear. "Because you'll hit me."
"No I won't," whispered Sally, not turning around. "Why do you think that?"
He waited a few seconds. Sally felt a little nervous, knowing that a bona fide monster was standing behind her, his mouth hovering over her ear.
"This is embarrassing. I feel like a teenager again."
"Come on, Ja-"
"It's a love song. Don't hit me!"
Jack jumped back and, in a weird sort-of flinch, balanced on one foot while holding his arms over his head. However, there was no impact, only the sound of Sally laughing. He made sure to uncurl himself as clumsily as possible, knowing it made Sally laugh. He finally made up the courage to look at the woman again-
She was kneeling right in front of him, right at eye level. She smiled at him, and for a second, Jack thought he recognized the smile as one of his own. "Why a love song?"
"Why not?" he echoed. "It's a clear night, it's a full moon, it's beautiful…"
The couple straightened themselves up in sync, never breaking eye contact with the other.
"Who's it for?"
"Some songs lose their impact if they don't hold a few secrets."
"Who's it for?"
Jack took her hand and dipped her, one arm flailing dramatically in the air. "I'd say it's for the woman who makes my heart beat like thunder, but I don't have a heart anymore."
Sally clasped her hands joyfully. "Yay! You're better now!"
The skeleton righted her and playfully "dusted" her hips. "Does that mean I don't have to sing it?"
"Oh, no." Sally grinned again. "I want to hear the song about the woman that makes your ex-heart beat like thunder."
"Ex-heart. I like that." Jack took a breath. "Oh well, you asked for it."
"I didn't ask for it," Sally corrected. "I demanded it."
"Whatever…" Jack took another breath-
"You know I have to sing to a face."
"JACK!"
"Okay, okay…"
I never have seen eyes
That are quite likes yours.
Let it be known
These words I speak are true;
For with all the places I have been,
The people I have met,
I have never met someone
Who was quite like you…
Jack's voice was… beautiful. Sally had never heard anyone… anything… that sang like him.
And now there were words fluttering in her mind, choruses and refrains and melodies all falling together…
Jack took her hand, pulling her towards him. "Feel anything?"
She tried to step away, but he gently teased her into the very beginnings of a waltz. They calmly, slowly, circled each other, still hand in hand. Sally swallowed a lump of nervousness collecting in her throat. "Does this happen every time?"
"Not every time…" Jack admitted. "Only when the singers connect…"
Sally felt the words coming out before she could stop them.
I've heard that voice;
I've heard it in my dreams.
I never would have dreamed
That voice was you.
And as you sing, I will hang on
To every word I hear,
Because I've never heard someone
Who sings like you…
"You've never heard Danny Elfman sing, then."
"Shut up, Jack," Sally giggled. "You're ruining the mood."
Jack held his head a little more proudly. "I can't help it, it's my job."
"No…"
Sally tugged on his arm, making him step closer and closer to her. "Your job is to obey every order my brother and I give you."
"'And I'. I don't remember 'and I' being in the original contract."
"You pledged you allegiance to me yourself, remember?"
"Like a brand new flag. So, master, what is your command?"
"Finish the song."
The two began singing at the song time, their voices somehow falling into the right places every time.
One perfect voice, one perfect song,
One perfect harmony.
We'll sing until the morning sky is blue.
They were so close their noses were touching. Sally gave Jack a soft nudge on the cheek.
I never thought that I would find-Jack returned the nudge, Sally's skin feeling warm against his cold bone.
A perfect match for me…The couple finally noticed just how close they were. Their bodies were pressed against each other, their joined hands sandwiched between their chests. Their noses were pressed together, side by side. Even their lips were gently brushing against each other at the very corners.
They looked at each other, and decided to forget it for the time being and finish the song.
But I've never met someone
Who was quite like you…
They stood in the moonlight, lost in the moment and feeling horrifyingly romantic and all the accompanying emotions…
But somewhere in the distance, five other sets of eyes were watching them. One said to the others of his pack. "Whatever that thing is… we need it."
HOLY CRAP, I can't believe I wrote that! I guess my romance tolerance has built a bit. I personally blame "Your Song" from Moulin Rouge. But anyway, you guys are treated to two original songs by me. "Harassed Homicidal Hell Goat" was written yesterday. "Quite Like You" was written some time in the Dark Ages (i.e. freshman year). Eugh! Giving myself the love-jibblies. I gotta get out of here before I puke. Laterness.