I sense there's something in the wind
That seems like tragedy's at hand
And though I'd like to stand by him
Can't shake this feeling that I have
The worst is just around the bend

And does he notice my feelings for him?
And will he see how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be

- Sally's song, Nightmare before Christmas

Chapter 10: Things get worse

The four had just discovered Victor's big secret, no thanks to Edgar inattentively blurting it out. Nonnie was silent watching the exchange, and the idea sounded far-fetched. Until she recalled her younger siblings' claims about seeing Victor tinkering with something up on his roof in a thunderstorm four nights ago. Could it be they'd have glimpsed him resurrecting Sparky?

Then Toshiaki's words started to sink in. Wait a minute, are they going to sabotage Victor's experiment or worse?

She looked round at them with genuine worry, then said in the most sarcastic tone she could muster, "Oh come on, you guys." They all looked at her as she spoke, "That fish might've been the real deal but there's no actual guarantee that Victor brought Sparky back to life. Even I know that's inconceivable."

"Then he won't mind if we look around." Nassor answered curtly.

Acting cynical about the whole thing wasn't working; Time to try the more honest approach.

Nonnie stood up and walked down from the bleachers to their eye level, "But isn't it - well you know, underhanded? Spying on his private stuff would be almost as bad cheating."

Nassor suddenly loomed over her. "If you are not with us, then you are against us." He said flatly, "And those who are against us have no place in this conversation." His dark eyes narrowed dangerously, "Are you in, or out?"

Nonnie's gaze fluttered over to the others: Toshiaki looked blank. While for a fleeting second, Bob and Edgar seemed a bit uncomfortable. She felt as though her heart and stomach dropped down from their respective areas through a trap door. How could they make her choose?

She dropped her gaze sadly, "Out."

They all had the 'I thought so' look on their faces but Nonnie wasn't done talking.

"But not because of what you said." She raised her head and stared them down determinedly, "This is cheating, and you guys know it!"

"It's not stealing if no one knows who started it." Toshiaki replied to her, "Then it's just a coincidence."

"That's not the point!" Nonnie shook her head, "You guys are all really smart, and you're going to steal Victor's, just to win a trophy? So what if he's better at science?!" She turned to her crush with passionate eyes, trying to show him what she felt. "Toshiaki, you're an amazing baseball player, the star on the team!" She looked to Bob, "Bob, you're sweet and really care about your friends! Edgar, you're... a little creepy, I'll admit, but enthusiastic! And Nassor-" she faltered a little, "...you're really tall and spooky yet also independent! You're all good at your own thing, so just leave Victor's experiments alone please!"

While her words had plenty of emotion in them, they fell on somewhat deaf ears.

Toshiaki looked unamused. "Nevertheless, I'm going to see what this experiment is."

He picked up his backpack and left. The others silently followed him - presently, their curiosity and fierce intentions to win the science fair was greater then their moral sense.

Nonnie watched them leave quietly - feeling as if she'd been hit in the stomach. Behind her, Weird girl had listened to the whole thing and made to follow them, Nonnie stopped her briefly.

"Please don't stoop to their level!" Nonnie said to her friend worriedly, hands on her shoulders.

Weird girl blinked once and said serenely, "I only want to see, that's all..."

Once she left, Nonnie fitfully paced left and right for the next fifteen minutes trying to think on what she should do next. Well, she can't tell the teachers or other grown ups - nobody would believe that story. Why, she wouldn't be surprised if they locked her in the loony bin. She could follow them… no that's not good either. But she had to do something - time's running out.

Then it occurred to her: Victor. She had to find him and tell him - but wouldn't that be as bad as tattling?

However, different sorts of dreadful scenarios start forming in her mind's eye - most likely consequences if she didn't tell.

And it was all the motivation she needed. So she snatches up her bag and runs off in near panic looking for Victor.

Finally after some time of searching -making her more worried by the minute - she spotted. Yet since she was still agitated - her words came out rather rapidly: "Victor! You've got to listen because there's something important I need to tell you right away!"

The boy was momentarily caught by surprise at her sudden appearance and a little bewildered from her frantic rambling. He tried to compose as best as he could. "Nonnie, calm down! You're gonna have to talk slower - it's hard to understand what you're saying!"

Heaving, the tomboy complied. "Okay - okay… Right. This is going sound crazy, but work with me please. You see about four nights ago, my little brother and sister were watching the night sky - it's a hobby of theirs looking for UFOS and stuff. But then they're saying that they saw you tinkering with something up in your attic during the storm -"

Victor became visibly alarmed - Nonnie could easily guess why.

"...and they just bullied Edgar into telling. I tried to stop them but they wouldn't listen to me. So now they're probably going to your house to spy on your experiment!"

"I got to get home!" Victor said almost to himself and he took off running in direction of his house.

"Good luck…" A concerned Nonnie said meekly as she watched him leave.

The sun had just set by the time Nonnie got home. She'd just walked up to the front door when a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. She jumped and spun around to face her irritated mother. "There you are! Where have you been?"

"Sorry I'm late," Nonnie said distractedly, "But there's something I have to-"

However, her mother pulled her back. "You're not going anywhere, young lady. You are already in trouble: You disobeyed your father, leaving us worried sick about you! And now, we're all going to the Dutch day fair together as a family, your father will meet us there soon."

"But I have to find-"

Her mother shoved her into the front seat, "Whatever it is will have to wait afterwards!"

Exasperated, Nonnie places her forehead on the front part. "My life is falling apart…"

And here she was, at the Dutch fair sipping on soda sulkily. Her mother was watching the festivities going on stage while Jaime and Willow had gone to get some snacks. But Nonnie knew full well that they wanted to get on the Ferris wheel to get a good view of the sky for UFOs.

She glanced around - if it were up to her, she'd have gone looking for her misguided schoolmates or for Victor. Her thoughts were interrupted by the mayor's announcement.

"And now, it's my pleasure to present this year's little Dutch girl: my niece, Elsa Van Helsing."

Nonnie almost choked on her drink. "Elsa?!"

She sees her level-headed friend walk out tentatively wearing a traditional Dutch outfit complete with the hat and lit candles on it!

Oh man, poor Elsa. She thought sympathetically, I'd hate to be the one up there all dolled up for the occasion. Might as well watch and give her some moral support.

Meanwhile, a little more than a few feet away - Jaime and Willow (carrying both binoculars and camera) had grown bored with the proceedings so they went exploring. The Ferris wheel was just starting when something in the skies got Jaime's attention.

He squinted. In the distance to where the neighborhood is located and floating in the sky were what looked to be three different kites - it was happening again just like the other night!

The five year old gasped, "Willow, gimme the binoculars quick!"

"Huh?" The seven year old girl passed them to her brother in puzzlement. Did he see something?

Jaime snatched them up and looked through the binoculars excitedly. Through the field glasses, the little boy could see only one of the three objects was a kite - with the face of a dragon. The others were three balloons tied together and what appeared to be a sort of butterfly decoration. Strangely enough only the kite and butterfly's end was in the direction of the New Holland neighborhood while the balloon streamed from the Pet cemetery.

"Look it willow! Look-it!" He cried handing them to his sister.

Willow took them to see, "Wow, but what're they doing with those things?"

Then the two children jumped again when the lightning struck. But to their great amazement it hot not just three, but FIVE locations at once!

They wondered what was going on. Little did they know, was they were going to find out much sooner than they thought.

To be continued…