8. Just Over the Garden Wall

1800's Jack meets Pitch for the first time. (OTGW crossover nod)


Jack hefted the lantern off the snowy ground, staring at it, curious where it had come from. Someone from a nearby town could've left it - there was one only five minutes away on horseback - but no one would venture this far into the woods on All Hallow's Eve, and there were no footprints in the snow, besides.

And someone had to light this lamp… Jack thought turning the lantern slowly, looking at the flame flickering inside, not noticing the way the shadows twisted in the trees behind him.

Until those shadows spoke.

"That would be mine," announced the Spirit, whom Jack would later come to know as Pitch Black, "…And I'd thank you kindly to give it back."