"Yes, Jack," said Raven, "I did. People called me Phoenix, becuase of that power. We," she hesitated. "We should take him to the Doctor's, just to make sure." Jack nodded, and with Raven in tow, he took Barrel to see Doctor Finklestein. But on the way, Jack had a question in his head that he just had to ask. "Raven, you said that you had a sister, didn't you?" Raven stopped, sadness in her eyes. "Yeah, I did," she said gloomily, "but she was taken away from me by my father. I'll... I'll tell you more later," she said, "after we take him to the Doctor's."
They were quiet for the rest of their jouney. But unbeknownst to them, they weren't alone. Behind them, hiding in the shadows, Lock and Shock listened in on their conversation. "Huh, so the new girl's Raven?" Said Shock. "Yeah, and she looks really cute," added Lock. "Oh, please!" Cried Shock, bonking him on the head with her broom. "We should rustle up some more information on her." And so, they began to follow the two.
Raven and Jack waited for news from Doctor Finklestein on Barrel's condition. "So, what happened to your sister, Raven? You promised to tell me once we got here," Jack said intently. "I can't tell you... it's too painful," said Raven, trying not to lose herself in tears. "But I can show you." Raven place her hand on Jack's head and closed her eyes, concentrating hard. Jack began to feel dizzy, and very slowly, he closed his eyes. When he did, he saw a fragment of Raven's memory appear in front of him.
In a blur, he saw a young Raven sitting next to a Christmas tree. Then, he saw another girl, appearently the same age, walked inside the room and sat down next to Raven. The girl had firey red hair and green eyes. She also had pale skin like Raven, almost to the point that they looked identicle were their hair the same. They began to sing. Just then, their mother came out, holding a tray of cookies. Raven and the girl stood up and rushed up to her and grabbed the cookies as quickly as possible. The three of them began to laugh, enjoying the mirth. But then, Raven's father walked in to the room, and they immediately stopped. He smiled wickedly, a gleam in his eyes. Behind him, he held something in his arms. "Raven, may I see you a minute? I have a surprise for you." Raven looked terrified, but walked forward. Whatever he had planned, she thought, disobaying him would be worse. She placed herself infront of him, waiting for the worst. When he pulled out a butcher knife, sharpened to a point, their mother screamed. "Harold!" She cried. "What are you doing?"
"Shut up, Anna!" He spit. "Raven's a freak, and you know it! She must die."
"Father, don't!" yelled the little girl. He turned to look at her, and moved forward, ignoring Raven for the moment. "Holly, you mind your own business. She is a freak of nature! She ruins this perfect family, and for that, we must be rid of her! Wouldn't you like to be on your own? Without anyone taking away your hard earned love and affection?" Holly looked straight into his eyes, her expression filled with pure rage. "Father," she said, her voice trembling, "I've got something to tell you." She stepped back, and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the plants next to her father errupted, and wrapped themselves around him. "What? You too?" He cried, struggling against the plants. "You wench! You -" Immediately he slashed the plants, freeing himself. "You will die!" He brought down the knife with a sickening slash, killing her instantly. "Holly!" Raven screamed. She ran over to her and held her close.
"You monster!" Screamed their mother, her hands clasped to her mouth. "I said shut up, Anna!" replied Harold, bringing the knife down upon her. And there she fell, cold and dead beside her daughters. "Now, Raven," he said, in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Go down to the basement like a good little girl, and stay there until I call for you." Without another word, Raven ran down to the basement and locked the door.
Jack opened his eyes once more to see Raven tearing up. "Raven," Jack said, shook by his visions. "My goodness. I'm so sorry about your sister... and she had powers as well, I see." Raven nodded. "Yeah. We also had a sort of psychic powers, as well - we could communicate with each other without speaking. I could even control things; she could see visions of what was yet to come." After that, Doctor Finklestein came out with good news. "Barrel's fine," he annonced. "His leg is broken, but it will heal."
"Jack, can Barrel stay with us?" Raven asked. "Whoever did this to him will surely come back... and I just can't let that happen!" Jack smiled, looking down at her. "Yes, Raven. But I have a feeling that I already know who did this to him, and believe me, they will be punished for this. So, Barrel," he turned, calling towards the door, "could you please come with us?" Barrel came out with crutches, a cast on his leg. "Oh, hey Jack. Thanks for saving me, you know. And uh," he said, looking over at Raven shyly, "who's this?" Jack pushed Raven to him. "This is Raven, our town's newcomer. She's living with Sally and I right now. So, let's go home, shall we?"
And so, the three of them began their walk home. But then, Jack noticed that Raven looked exausted. It must be from when she showed me that vision, he thought to himself. "Raven," he called. Raven looked up at him with tired eyes. "Yes, dad?" she murmered. He looked at her, affectionately. "Here, let me carry you home, you look exausted." She nodded sleepily, her arms outstretched. He picked her up and began to hum a lullabye as they walked home.
Lock and Shock ran toward the treehouse with evil smiles on their faces. "Just wait 'til Oogie hears this!" exclaimed Shock, happily. They ran into an elevator, and went down. When the elevator came to a stop, they ran down the stairs until the reached a door shaped like an ace with a skull on it. Shock knocked on the door, and a voice rang out. It was a southern voice, cold hearted and upset. "Who is it?" it boomed. "and what do you want?" Lock and Shock gathered to eachother in fear. "It - it's us! Lock and Shock! We got some information for 'ya!" Said Lock, still cowering. "Well come on in! I'm gettin' old, here! Time's a wastin'!" it yelled. Shock opened the door, and the two stumbled inside. Inside there was a room, filled to the brim with casino-themed torture devices. And in the middle of the rulette floor, was a gaint neon green sack with black eyes. "Well? What'dya gonna tell me?" He said impaitently, crossing his arms.
Shock stepped forward, shivering. "Well, Oogie, we just found out that there's a new girl in town!" Oogie scoffed. "Oh, really? And what's that gotta do with me, anyway? And where is Barrel? You know that boy's nothin' but trouble - and that's the way I like it!" Lock grinned his devilish grin. "This girl's name is Raven, and she's with Jack. She found Barrel in the graveyard after we beat the snot outa him, 'cuz he'd ran off like a little chicken! Anyway, she has these weird power that lets her control people! I dunno how, but if we can kidnap her, we can surely use her to take over again!" Oogie smiled an unsettling smile. "Well, well, well! Now that's an idea! But why would you beat up Barrel? Don't you know that boy's the smartest of all 'a you? But never you mind. Now, all we need to do now is to let Barrel spy on her."
"But Oogie! No offense for interpting or anything, but, he said he's sick and tired 'a doin' this! And he's with Jack right now, with a broken leg!" Oogie snickered, and took out his favorite dice. "Well, I'm gonna see him tonight, and we'll see just how sick an' tired he really is!" He rolled the dice on the table smack in the middle of the room. "And this Raven," he said, "is gonna be mine. And with her, I'll control her and Halloween town! In fact, I'll control all the other holidays as well!" He laughed an evil laugh that echoed all around the room.
A/N: Oh, crap! Whole lot of evil goin' on in here, huh? Now what's Oogie planning? Stick around and find out! R & R! P.S, Gamegirl 27, thanks so much for all the help! *hands over a cookie for all her troubles* And, here's a cupcake, too!
And for good measure:
Gir: "Tacos!"