Cobwebs Tend to Make Friends on Halloween
I don't own anything but my OC's.
Chapter 10
Jack stared at the statue of his friend. Or relative, as he had just found out.
Maverick was related to him?
"Jack?" Shadow questioned. "Jack, perhaps this Maverick isn't our Maverick-"
"Look at him, Shadow!" Jack exclaimed. "He's wearing Maverick's clothes! He looks exactly like the picture of Maverick in that book you showed me! Face it, this is our Maverick!"
The statue was of Maverick with skin. His hair was shaggy and long, some of it tied back into a pony tail. He had a serious look on his face. In his right hand, he held a large staff with a big sphere on the top.
"But a man called Xavier was Maverick's father. Not Arachnid." Jack continued. "I need to find Maverick. He's been keeping too many secrets from me."
Shadow nodded. "He's kept secrets from everyone, Jack."
Jack nodded. "C'mon, let's go back to my house."
Shadow watched Jack as he walked back to the entrance of the tower. She turned back to the statue of Maverick and sighed before following the skeleton out.
…
Jack sat in an armchair in his study, head in his hand. Shadow sat in a chair in the corner.
Maverick would have to come home soon, due to Cobweb having his limbs. And when he did, Jack would confront him. Maverick was a Skellington.
Jack sighed. He stood and began pacing.
Shadow watched him, singing quietly to herself.
Then Jack began singing out loud:
My finding is buzzing in my skull,
Will it let me be? I cannot tell.
There's so many things I want to ask,
I never get the chance, the time does pass.
He sat down in his chair.
Through my bony fingers he does slip,
Like a snowflake in a fiery grip.
With a quick swipe from his arm, Jack knocked over the small tower of books that sat on his desk.
Something here, he's not telling,
Though I try, he's not revealing,
Jack pushed himself away from the desk.
Like he doesn't want his past,
Here in an instant, gone in a flash.
Where is he?
Where is he?
Jack observed the spell books and records of the previous years scattered around the room.
In these little brick-a-brack,
A secret's waiting to be cracked.
These books and spells confuse me so,
Despite it all, I'll find him now.
Simple memories, nothing more,
But something's hidden through a door,
Jack picked up the book on Maverick Shadow had brought with them.
Yet only Maverick has the key,
There's something here I cannot see,
He shook the book slightly, as if it was going to give him answers.
Where is he?
Where is he?
Where is he?
Jack tossed the book aside and Zero had to move to avoid it going through him.
Hmm…
Jack sat on top of the ladder that led to the top of his bookcases and flicked through the pages of a hard backed spell book.
I've read these magic books so many times,
I know the poems and I know the rhymes,
I know his hiding places, all by heart,
He fell down the ladder, landing and sitting on the bottom step.
My skull's so full, it's tearing me apart!
As long as I've known him, something's been wrong,
So hard to put my bony finger on,
Or perhaps it's really not as deep as I've been led to think.
He looked up at Shadow and Zero and asked them:
Am I trying much too hard?
Zero came over to him, holding out the picture of Jack with the pumpkin in his hand. The image changed into a picture of Maverick when he was alive.
Of course, I've been too close to see!
The answer's right in front of me!
Right in front of me!
Jack climbed onto the ladder and pushed it so that it moved to the other end of the bookcase.
It's simple really, very clear!
Like music drifting in the air.
Invisible but everywhere!
He jumped off of the ladder, in front of Shadow.
Just because I don't believe it,
Doesn't mean I won't find Maverick!
Jack took hold of one of Shadow's hands, pulling her up and placing the other hand on her waist; twirling around with her. Shadow blushed.
You know, I think this Maverick thing,
Is not as tricky as it seems!
And though he knew all along!
It doesn't mean he's completely gone!
Jack let Shadow go, causing her to twirl around on her own. She fell back, but Jack caught her by placing a hand on her back.
He should've, at least, told me!
And then I would have seen,
He helped Shadow to her feet before turning to the window.
There is no mistaking my find!
Of what happened in his time!
I bet I could confront him too,
And that's exactly what I'll do!
Jack cackled madly. "Eureka!"
Shadow stared at him. "Jack?"
"Shadow, we must hurry! I think I know where he is!" Jack exclaimed, taking hold of her hand and running out of Skellington manor.
"What? How?"
"I just know!"
…
Jack ran out of Halloween Town, running towards the Hinterlands. As he ran, he didn't notice the lump of grass.
As he stepped down on it, it collapsed and he fell beneath the earth; vanishing down the hole that was created.
"Jack!" Shadow shouted in concern and knelt in front of the hole, peering in to try and spot her dearest friend. "Jack?"
"It's alright." She heard him say. "The stairs broke my fall."
"Stairs?"
"Yes." Suddenly, Jack's hand popped out of the hole. "Here. Watch your step."
Carefully, Shadow squeezed into the hole, taking hold of Jack's hand.
Jack stood on a flight of stairs, the stairs leading downwards.
"Where do these lead?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know. It's too dark to see." Jack replied.
Shadow thought about this before cupping her hands and blowing into them. A small flame appeared in her hands and she held it out.
Jack blinked.
"I'm not as good as Maverick," Shadow said. "But at least I can shine some light on the situation."
Jack smiled. "Come on."
They made their way down the stairs. The stairs were large and made of stone, as were the walls around them.
Suddenly, they were in front of two, large doors. Jack held out his hand to open them, but they slowly opened by themselves.
Jack looked at Shadow, who shrugged.
Jack led them inside.
The room was large and the corners of the place were covered in spider webs. A coffin sat in the middle of the room, a few candles surrounding it.
Jack walked forward and Shadow put out the flame she'd created. "What is this place?"
"I think it's-"
Before Jack could finished, there was an eerie creak and a loud slam. They turned. The doors had closed themselves.
"Perhaps it's the wind?" Shadow questioned.
Jack shrugged. He looked at the coffin. "There's something familiar about this place…"
He walked forward and climbed the two steps. He lifted the lid.
Inside, a skeleton laid on padding, its one hand pressed to its chest. Its leg was missing.
"This is-"
"Um…Jack?"
"Hm?"
Jack turned and his eye sockets widened in horror.
A large spider climbed down. Its body was purple and large, its green eyes narrowed.
Jack gulped and, before he could do anything, the spider hissed and made its way toward the Pumpkin King.
"Jack!" Shadow called out.
Jack jumped to the side and rolled as the spider lashed out with one of its legs. He knelt and looked over his shoulder at the large arachnid. "What the-"
The spider screeched and lashed out again. Jack dodged its attack.
Shadow held out her arm and clicked her fingers, attempting to start a flame. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still, nothing happened. "Jack! My magic's not working!"
"What do you mean it's not working?" Jack shouted, running from the spider as it launched attacks at him.
"I don't know!"
The spider shot out a web that caught Jack's ankle and tripped him up. Jack landed on his stomach. He attempted to cling on to the floor as the spider pulled him.
"Jack!" Shadow screamed and ran forward, taking one of the candles and throwing it. "Leave him alone!"
The candle landed beside the spider's foot, burning it. The arachnid screeched in pain and let Jack go. It turned and focused on the sorceress. Then it began to scuttle toward her.
Shadow attempted to run, but tripped. She rolled onto her back and began moving away.
"Shadow!" Jack shouted. He ripped the web off of himself. "No!" He sat on his backside and, as he leaned back, he hit his head on something. He turned.
Behind him was a large staff, a black sphere on top. Patterns of flames were wrapped around the staff.
Jack narrowed his eye sockets and took hold of the staff in one hand. "You can't keep us here." He snarled. "You can't keep anyone here! His body is not a treasure!"
He turned to the spider as it neared Shadow. "Now give us back his body!"
The spider turned to him. It gave him a look that asked: "Why?"
And Jack replied to it: "Because he's my best friend! And you killed him!" He pointed the sphere at the spider.
A large bolt of lightning shot out and the spider screeched as it hit it. A flash of light blinded Jack and Shadow.
When the smoke and light cleared, Jack removed his arm from in front of his eye sockets. He opened one eye socket.
A large pile of smoking ash was in front of Shadow, right where the spider had been. It sizzled.
Shadow breathed heavily.
Jack threw the staff to the ground and ran towards her. "Are you ok?"
Shadow nodded, unable to find her voice.
"This is Maverick's crypt." Jack said seriously. "We've found Maverick's crypt."
Shadow looked at him. She smiled and he smiled back. They began laughing and Jack placed his hands on her waist, picking her up and spinning around with her. He put her back down.
"Jack," Shadow spoke. "This is amazing!"
"This is the same place that was in Cobweb's vision, when he first ate a pumpkin."
Shadow nodded.
Jack turned back to the pile of sizzling ash. "I killed it."
"It killed Maverick. He'd be grateful."
Jack nodded and walked forward He knelt down and picked up some of the ash, allowing it to fall through his fingers. "Yes, he would."
Jack looked up. He stood and walked over to the staff, lifting it up and holding it in both hands; examining it. "I used this. This is Maverick's." He looked at her. "You couldn't use magic and you're a sorceress. I'm not, yet I used magic. How does that work?"
"It's a Skellington thing."
Jack quickly turned.
"I thought someone was using my staff." Maverick said, his arms crossed.
"Maverick!" Shadow exclaimed.
"There I was, walking through the Hinterlands, thinking: "Might as well go and visit Jack". Then I see a gaping hole in the ground and decide I should check it out. Then I'm blinded by a light and find you messing around with a weapon that was especially for me! That hurts, you know. Breaks my fictional heart."
"How did you get passed the doors?" Shadow asked.
"I'm a ghost. I go through stuff."
Jack's eye sockets narrowed. "You!"
"Me! Sorry, I'm confused, what game are we playing here?"
"We're not playing any sort of game! Or perhaps you're the one playing the game! It's called the let's-keep-things-from-Jack game!"
"That's a rather long title for a game. Is it fun?"
"Stop that!" Jack pointed the staff at him.
"You realize that won't hurt nor scare me, right?" Maverick asked, his head tilting.
"I know. I'm just so incredibly angry at you right now."
"That's nice. What does anger feel like?"
"It's not very pleasant."
"Cool." Maverick walked through him and then through Shadow, sending shivers down both their spines. "We'd best go. The spider will get u- well, you."
"It's dead, Maverick."
Maverick turned to Shadow, who stepped aside; showing him the spider's remains.
"Huh. That's nice."
"Jack killed it."
"Ah, I see." He turned again and began walking back.
"Maverick!"
Maverick paused.
"Jack killed the thing that killed you! Aren't you going to thank him?"
"The real question is: Does he want to hear a thank you? He seems quite angry right now."
"Gee, I can't imagine why."
"Sarcasm, my dear, will get you no where."
Jack stormed up to him and sent the staff through his head, the sphere going through his cheek.
"You aren't hurting me, you know." Maverick reminded him as Jack repeatedly attempted to whack Maverick around the head with his own weapon.
Jack ignored him and continued hitting him until he grew tired. He breathed heavily. "When did you plan on telling me we're related? And that you're partly human?"
"When you asked."
"Stop that. Explain yourself, Maverick."
Maverick yawned. "Don't really feel like it, to be honest."
"I don't care."
"Kind, you are. There's nothing to explain."
Jack growled as Maverick turned. "Oh." The sorcerer said and clicked his fingers.
The doors swung open.
"Sorry. This room doesn't like magic that doesn't come from me. And since that staff is mine and you're related to me, Jack, I'd imagine it would allow you to use it." With that, the ghost vanished.
Jack yelled in frustration and slammed the staff onto the ground.
…
Cobweb clutched his head.
"Cob? You ok?" Alistair asked as Sally placed another log in the fireplace.
"Fine. Just a slight headache." Cobweb rubbed his head.
"It's not usual that you'd visit me twice in one day." Alistair noted.
Cobweb nodded. "Dr. Finkelstein dropped by earlier. He accused me of taking some chemicals. I was scared that he found out about Sally."
Alistair breathed a sigh of relief. "At least he'd not suspicious."
Cobweb nodded. "Why do I get the feeling Father found Maverick?"
Alistair shrugged. "I dunno."
…
Jack stormed into his home, Maverick's staff in his hand. Shadow ran after him, shutting the door. "Jack-"
"If he wasn't already dead, I'd kill him! He always does this! I want answers and he vanishes!" Jack shouted.
"Jack, calm down. Maverick needs time."
Jack turned to her. "Why're you always protecting him?"
"Because he lived in a time where sorcerers were hated. He needs time to get used to you all."
Jack growled and collapsed onto the sofa, still holding the staff in his hand.
Shadow sat beside him. "When Maverick's ready, he'll explain everything."
Jack sighed. "I know. I just wished he trusted me more."
…
Maverick appeared beside Cobweb, making all three kids jump. "Hi, kids."
"Maverick!" Cobweb exclaimed, resulting in him flying through his guardian when he attempted to hug him. He landed with thud! as he hit the ground.
"Careful there, Cob." Maverick said.
"You're back." Alistair smiled.
Maverick turned to him. "Indeed I am." He looked at Cobweb. "I've had a word with your daddy, and he's not very pleased with me. So, let's keep it on the down low that I'm back, ok?"
Cobweb nodded. "I should be getting home soon. I'd imagine Father wouldn't be happy with me as well if I returned home late." He stood and made his way towards the door, saying his goodbyes.
…
That night, Dr. Finkelstein wheeled up to the door to Sally's room. He held up a lantern so that he could see in the dark. After a little bit of struggle, he pushed the door open.
Sally hadn't been heard by him for a long time now. Not that he was worried or anything.
The doctor held up the lantern. "Sally?"
Inside, the room was empty and cold. No signs of Sally.
"Sally?"
A cool breeze came from the open window.
Dr. Finkelstein quickly worked out what had happened and almost turned red with anger. "SALLY!"
…
Author's note:
I had fun writing the bit with Jack and Maverick's staff. And Maverick's back with Cobweb! Yay! But, uh oh! The doctor's noticed Sally's disappearance! And Jack's furious with Maverick! What will become of our heroes? (Now I sound like a cheap cartoon) Find out next time…