Cobwebs Tend to Begin on Halloween
I don't own anything but my OC's.
Chapter 7
Shadow changed the sign on her door from CLOSED to OPEN. She smiled, turning to the mannequins, which were wearing the clothes she'd recently made. Shadow was about to get back to work, when she heard a voice.
"I know, Zero, I probably should get on with those plans. But it's such a lovely day outside, I thought we could go for a walk."
The voice made Shadow's heart skip a beat. Jack. She turned back to the window and saw Jack Skellington walking down the street, Zero at his heels. She bit her lip and felt her cheeks grow warm. She didn't deny how she felt about Jack. Ever since they were children, she felt…better in his presence.
Shadow turned away, walking back over to the counter.
"Oh, look, Zero! Shadow's shop is open!"
Shadow almost froze as the bell above the shop's door jingled and Jack Skellington walked in. "Shadow, hello!"
Shadow smiled and turned. "Hello, Jack. Are you here for some new clothes?"
"Nope. Just thought I'd say hi." Jack replied, grinning as he neared her. Zero zipped around Shadow's legs and the sorceress giggled and patted his head.
Jack's smile widened. He loved to hear her giggle. Such a sound was music to his nonexistent ears.
Shadow paused and looked to Jack, her smile falling from her face. "Jack…"
"Yes, Shadow? What is it?" Jack asked, beginning to worry.
"If you're not too busy, I'd, um, I'd like you to do me a favour…"
Jack smiled. "Of course, Shadow. Anything. You name it."
"Could you…go and check up on Oogie?"
Jack paused. His eye socket elongated in confusion. Check up on Oogie? What? Did she suddenly like Oogie? Could that be why? "What?"
"It's just that…he hasn't been showing up lately, and I'm worried that he's up to something." Shadow bit her lip. "If you can't, Jack, then I understand."
"Oh, no!" Jack exclaimed. He cleared his throat, trying to make up for the outburst, and smiled. "Of course I will, Shadow. If he's bothering you that much."
Shadow's face brightened and she grinned. "Oh, thank you, Jack. This feeling's been eating away at me for some time now."
"You're welcome, Shadow." Jack replied. He turned to his dog. "Come on, Zero. Let's go." The skeleton turned and left the shop, Zero trailing along after him.
Shadow waved to him, then placed her hands to her heart. "Please, Jack…I have a bad feeling about this…"
…
Jack stood outside the tree house, hands on his hips. He frowned up at the place. He'd gone there many times, just to fight Oogie. His ancestors had done the same thing. The Skellington family and the Boogie clan had fought for many years, without stopping. Jack huffed.
Meanwhile, Oogie sat on his couch, watching as Icky counted his fingers. The skeleton child always missed out seven. Oogie rolled his fictional eyes, then he heard it. The clanking as the cage made its way up to the tree house. "Oogie!"
Oogie's eye sockets widened. "Quick!" He called to Lock, Shock and Barrel. "Hide the kid!"
Lock and Shock grabbed Icky's arms and pulled him back, while Barrel opened a door. Lock and Shock tossed the skeleton child into the closet, slamming the door shut- just as Jack appeared, holding onto the rope with his foot on the cage. He placed his hands on his hips. "Oogie,"
"Jack!" Oogie exclaimed, like he was greeting an old friend. "How ya doin', Bone Man?"
"Fine." Jack replied. He looked around, his eye sockets narrowed. He scratched the top of his skull.
"Looking for something?" Oogie asked.
"Shadow told me you might be up to something," Jack said, rather distracted. "Just checking."
"Aw, she's a doll, ain't she?" Oogie chuckled.
Jack narrowed his eye sockets even more. "Quite." He turned and checked the bookshelf, wiping some dust off with his index finger and rubbing it between his finger and thumb. He turned around, wiping his hand on his thigh and spotted Lock and Shock protecting the door. "What's in there?"
"Nothing." Lock replied quickly.
Jack crossed his arms. "Oh, really? Like there was nothing in that bag you had the other day?"
"Uh-huh."
"Nice try. Let me see." Jack moved forward, but Shock blocked his path.
"Wait, Jack. Don't ya have any other kingly duties for today?" She asked, a little too curiously.
"This is my kingly duty for today." Jack said. "Now, move aside, you two."
Lock and Shock looked to Oogie, who waved a hand. Lock and Shock looked to each other and moved away from the door. Jack watched them, then stepped forward and took hold of the doorknob and twisted. Lock bit his lip, Shock held on to the hem of her dress tightly and Barrel squeezed his fists. Oogie just watched. If Jack were to see Icky, they could just bag him and knock him unconscious. Jack's eye sockets widened.
"We can explain, Jack!" Barrel blurted out.
"I should think so." Jack replied. "It's a mess in here! Honestly, don't you clean up?"
Everyone paused- except the skeleton- and stared as Jack entered the closet. He looked around as everyone gathered at the entrance to the room. Checking every space he could, Jack looked around with his eye sockets peeled. Suddenly, he stopped. Was that…a foot? Behind the bookshelf, a leather-clad foot poked out. Jack approached it with caution. Oogie lip moved and, if he had proper lips and teeth, this would've meant he was biting his lip. Jack bent down and Oogie's eye sockets narrowed. He was about to tell the three trick-or-treaters to get the bag, when Jack turned around. "Why is there a shoe back here?" He asked, holding up the piece of leather footwear.
"I dunno." Oogie shrugged.
Jack's head snapped up and he jumped, turning to look behind him.
"What's up, Jack?" Lock asked.
Jack turned back to them. "Nothing…Could've sworn I felt someone tap my shoulder…"
"Well," Oogie said. "As ya can see, we ain't doin' nothing. So, you can be on your way, Jack, ol' buddy, ol' pal."
Jack turned to him, frowning. "We are not 'buddies' nor 'pals'." He approached them. "If I find out any of you are up to anything that may harm Halloween Town or any of its citizens, I will be back here quicker then you can say 'Help'. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Oogie said.
"Good." Jack replied. He walked passed Oogie and took hold of the cage. It descended and Jack disappeared. The four ran over to the window and watched as Jack made his way back to town, hands on his hips.
"What a jerk," Oogie said and came away from the window.
Lock, Shock and Barrel opened their hands and pressed their thumbs to their temples; wriggling their fingers and blowing raspberries at the back of Jack's head. They followed their leader to the closet, just as Icky poked his head out from behind the bookshelf. "He took my shoe…" was the first thing Icky said, and he said it with grief.
"We'll get ya another." Oogie replied.
"Good thinking, Ick!" Barrel exclaimed.
Icky looked at him, his expression full of bewilderment. He tilted his head.
"C'mon," Oogie said. "Food's almost ready and we don't want Jack to ruin another evening."
Everyone followed him, except for Icky. Icky looked to the window and jogged over to it, watching Jack's retreating figure. "…Jack…Skellington…"
…
Jack sat in his study that night. After reporting his findings to Shadow, he'd gotten a thank you and a grateful hug; one of which he returned, blushing while doing so. He stared at the leather shoe he had placed on the desk in front of him; eye sockets narrowed in concentration. Zero nuzzled his master's arm. Jack sighed. "I know, Zero. I should be getting to bed. But…Zero, it's odd. This shoe…wouldn't fit Lock, Shock, Barrel or Oogie…"
…
Author's note:
Me: *Falls to knees* I'm so sorry for such a long wait! I've had a serious amount of writer's block, plus an obsession with Phineas and Ferb for quite awhile. So sorry! Now, Mav, will you- Wait, where's Mav?
Mav: *Walks in with a handkerchief and lip stick on his mouth* Alright, J, I'm here.
Me: *Stares*…Are you getting in touch with your feminine side?
Mav: What? Can't a man make kissy-face with 'is wife once in awhile? *Wipes at his mouth with the handkerchief*
Me: Oh, good. Just about to say that that colour clashes with your skin tone.
Mav: *Chuckles* Montarg would kill me if he saw me wearing make-up. And Ellie would kill me for using hers…
Me:…Right. So, Jack had another close encounter with Icky,
Mav: Will they ever meet?
Me: Will Oogie's plan ever come into action?
Me + Mav: Find out next time!
Me: By the way, guys. In case anyone doesn't know, I'm doing a countdown toward Christmas and the New Year with little drabbles about the Cobwebs Series. Go check it out!
Mav: Yes, MissBliss8527, I do have 'some girl'. After all, she's given me two lovely kids and stops me from knockin' Jack's teeth out when he nicks my newspaper. Which reminds me…*Walks off* Oi, Jack! Gimme back my newspaper!
