A/N: Hello everyone, I am so sorry for the huge delay… Midterms were this week and they were especially needy this semester. But here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy!! Review if you liked it, or didn't like it, or if you didn't even read it =D

Disclaimer: As always, I do not own WOWP. I cry myself to sleep at night :[

-----------------

Alex whimpered at the stinging pain in her scalp. The hand over her mouth was humongous, and grubby. She was forced to inhale the scent of tobacco and dirt and… blood? A wave of nausea swept through Alex's stomach.

"Now girlie, you're gonna hand me what's in your pocket. I would gladly do it myself, but my hands are busy…" the man chuckled in her ear, hot smoky-smelling breath stung her nose.

The grip on her hair and the pressure on her mouth slackened a fraction as the man shifted to give Alex's arms some room to move. She leapt at the opportunity and pried her mouth open, sinking her teeth into the man's flesh. He threw his head back and howled in pain. Releasing Alex's mouth, his arm instead slipped to her neck and clenched in agony. Alex used his arm as leverage as she jumped up and landed hard on the man's feet.

He toppled backwards and Alex wrenched herself from his hands. She tore open the door and sprinted down the hall. "JUSTIN!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Alex practically flew down the stairs; she didn't even feel her feet touch the steps. Justin had met her halfway up them and Alex crashed into his arms.

"Alex, what's wrong? What happened?" he asked frantically, searching her face and arms for signs of injury. She tried to tell him about what was going on, but her mind was just screaming at her Get out, get out! Get your brothers and get OUT!

"Have to go- now- Move!" was all she managed to articulate. Justin's feet finally gave and allowed Alex's arms to push and shove him down the stairs. Max leapt back from the bottom of the steps, narrowly avoiding being crushed. His eyes were wide and full of fear as Justin grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the door.

But before they had taken two steps, a crashing sound came from the top of the stairs as the man came tumbling after them. Alex only caught a glimpse of him before turning and sprinting towards the door, but she saw that he was donning a muddy brown trench coat and a mask, grotesque and distorted, covered his face. Justin had his wand out and was shouting spells, but Alex couldn't make sense of them. She grabbed Max's hand and ran for the door and was shouting for Justin. She could feel things breaking and flying around her, everything was chaos. Alex reached for the handle but before she could touch it, her hands flew to the small of her back, and she could feel something wrapping around them.

Alex lost her balance and collapsed to the floor. Gasping, she struggled like a turtle on its back to get a better look at what was going on. She managed to flip over to her knees, and she saw that Max too had his hands bound behind his back. He was squirming on the floor, looking frightened as ever. She reeled her eyes to where Justin had been fighting. His hands weren't bound, because he was laying facedown on the ground. His arms and legs were sprawled everywhere and there were bits of the ceiling that had fallen on him. His wand was still in his limp fingers.

"Justin! JUSTIN!" Alex shrieked her brother's name over and over, trying to get him to stir. Oh my god, please no. No, please. He can't be…

At the sound of his sister's screams, Max squirmed and struggled more to get right side up. "What happened? Where's Justin? What's going on?!" he shouted.

Alex saw the masked man cowering behind one of the overturned chairs and Alex followed his line of sight. Standing casually on the last step, twirling a wand in his hand was another man. She was thrown off when she saw that he too was wearing a gruesome mask that twisted the human facial features, but he also had on a very nice three-piece suit.

"Well, now that this is under control," he spoke slowly through the mask in a dangerous velvety voice. "We will be taking care of our other business."

Alex didn't really pay attention to what he was saying, she was staring at Justin's body and desperately trying to inch towards it.

"Pick up the children, and set them down on the chairs." The man flicked his wand and three of their chairs righted themselves and sat in a row. Trench-coat man moved swiftly over to Max and grabbed him up by his shirt, despite his and Alex's simultaneous, "HEY!"

Max toes were dragging across the ground and over Justin's legs. He still didn't wake up. Trench-coat man shoved Max into the chair roughly, causing it to tilt a little. The suited man moved to hover over Justin and passed his wand over the entire length of his body.

"What are you doing to him?" Max asked in the bravest voice he could muster. "Stop that!"

Suit-man paid him no attention, but started to mutter under his breath. Trench-coat man started back to grab Alex. She struggled desperately with her bonds, but he lengthened his stride and grabbed the front of her shirt. He leaned in close and inhaled the scent of her hair, "Mm, peachy. That's the stuff that can get you into trouble with a man…" he whispered menacingly. Alex steeled her gaze and refused to look away. She would not be intimidated by this disgusting excuse for a man, although inside she was absolutely terrified.

A twisted leer that would usually creep Alex out was plastered on the mask he wore, but she was looking right at his hungry and sinister eyes. When she didn't answer him with a whimper or a lip quiver, he grunted and lifted her to her feet by her hair. A sharp intake of breath was all she would allow herself to give as the man practically dragged her like a rag-doll over to the chair. She tried to get a better look at Justin, but Trench-coat man was blocking her view. She felt her feet stumble over his legs and she resisted the urge to break down and sob.

Like Max, Alex was also thrown into the chair violently. She felt a sharp pain against her elbows as they slammed against the back of the chair and she breathed, "Ow." He searched Alex for her wand, and took his sweet time doing it. He smirked as he swept his fingers around her ankle where she had stashed her wand and pulled it out from underneath her jeans. She was about to say something along the lines of, "keep your hands to yourself" when she heard a tiny groan from the ground. Both Max and Alex started to writhe, trying to see Justin.

"He is awake, you almost killed him." Suit-man said with an eerie placidness that unnerved Alex.

"Put him with the others, but be gentle. He is still weak."

Trench-coat man did as he was commanded. He picked Justin up swiftly underneath his arms and half-walked, half-lugged him to his chair. The man took out some rope that was stashed in his inside coat pocket and tied Justin's hands behind his back. He was seated in the chair on Alex's left and she could finally see his face. He had a tiny gash on his left cheekbone, and a small trail of blood leaked from his brunette hair to the bottom of his tanned jaw. His eyes were half-open and he was breathing heavily.

"Justin, are you okay?" Max whispered from Alex's right.

"Silence, little child," Suit-man ordered softly. Alex didn't know what it was about his voice, but it shut Max up in a hurry.

He spoke again, but it was to the Trench-coat man. "Are you aware, Jack, that you almost allowed them to escape without procuring the crystal for the second time?"

Trench-coat man, or Jack, Alex thought was in serious trouble. She could feel the tension in the air. Jack took Suit-man's place on the last stair while Suit-man paced in front of the Russo's chairs. Alex looked straight ahead, but she could see out of the corner of her eye that Jack was shifting uncomfortably.

"S-sorry, Ghost. The older kid knew some spells he shouldn't," Jack spoke in a shaky but rough voice. What kind of a name is Ghost? Alex thought.

"That is your excuse? The older boy knew spells that exceed his level?" Ghost asked in his almost indifferent voice. He sounded bored, but there was a certain threat behind it that Alex felt.

"I apologize. I was under the impression that you were a full wizard, no?" Ghost dropped his voice to a deadly whisper. "You waste your time taunting the girl and underestimating your opponent. If you had just done your job," his voice started to raise in octave, "then I would have no need to step in and waste my efforts on such trivial matters!"

"But… boss.." Jack started in defense.

"They are CHILDREN for God's sakes!" Ghost turned to Jack and spat through his mask. Jack recoiled an inch, but otherwise did not move or speak.

"Now," Ghost turned to the Russo children, who all just sat frozen in their seats. Alex wondered how this man could make his voice change in inflection so easily. A second before he had shouted at Jack with a certain venom. Now he was talking to them with a very believable pleasantry. He focused on Alex when he addressed them.

"I believe you have found something that belongs to me, and you have something else that I need. Would you kindly hand them over?" Alex was dumbfounded. Her mouth was slacked open, but she didn't say anything, and she had stopped moving. Her breath caught in her chest. All she could do was stare into the man's icy blue eyes, which mirrored his tone. He flicked his wand and Alex's hands were free.

She remained rooted in her seat. Justin was swaying slightly in his, trying to keep conscious. And Max seemed as mesmerized as Alex. Ghost held out a hand for Alex to stand from the chair, and she… took it? What am I doing? she asked herself hysterically.

She rose from the seat and marveled at how tall Ghost was. Her head only reached his chest. Without thinking, Alex went to take the strange star-shaped coin from her pocket. But defiant-Alex rose up and put her metaphorical foot down. She snapped her jaw shut and tore her hand away from Ghost.

"Ah, a little hesitant I see. Well no matter, I am a stranger to you, I would not expect you to completely trust me," he chuckled mirthlessly, "but let me explain something to you."

He bent down uncomfortably close to Alex's face. "You will give me your utmost cooperation. You will hand over the coin and crystal without fuss, and you will do so immediately."

Alex had no idea what possessed her to do it, because just moments ago she had decided she'd never experienced anyone as terrifying as this man, but she rolled her eyes and scoffed simultaneously. She did not expect the backhanded blow to her face not one second afterwards. The force of the slap caused her to stumble a little. She heard Max yell out, "Alex!" as Justin flailed his legs, trying to lunge at Ghost.

Alex lifted a hand to her stinging cheek and gasped. "Jeez, what is it with guys and hitting girls?" she muttered more to herself than anyone.

"Oh it's not something I particularly pride myself on," Ghost moved once again unnervingly close to Alex's face, now pink from the slap. "But I do not tolerate insolence. Especially from little girls whom I could crush with my bare hands." His eyes narrowed and the ice blue was now menacing instead of amiable.

Alex bit back her retort and just stared him down. "Now, the coin and crystal, if you will." Ghost held out a gloved hand for the items, Alex didn't even move.

"Alex, I have a coin in my back pocket… it's a dime, just give it to him!" Max pleaded with his sister. She could feel his fear for her. She shushed her brother soothingly and answered Ghost with as much bravery as she could gather, "I have no idea what you're talking about…"

Ghost took a step back and breathed deeply, "That is unfortunate. I suppose I'll have to provide some incentive for you to oblige me then." Alex closed her eyes, waiting for him to strike her again, but Ghost had moved swiftly over to Jack and whispered something she could not hear. He nodded once and with a swish of his wand, Jack had vanished.

"Take your seat, Miss Russo," Ghost hissed at Alex. She obeyed and sat on the edge of the chair. She groped for her wand, but remembered that Jack had taken it. Ghost chuckled slightly and said attentively, "I do enjoy brave children. They never give up…" he stepped around their house, observing the cracked pictures and broken vases. Justin leaned over in his seat and asked Alex, "Are you okay?" Alex only nodded, and hushed him before he could ask her about the coin.

Crack! Jack had popped back on the stairs, causing all three of the Russos to jump. "They're on their way boss, Spider has them in tow," he reported.

Ghost tapped his fingers together before replying absently, "Good, good. I suppose they'll need somewhere to be put… ah, this should do." He had stationed the two remaining chairs facing Alex, Justin, and Max. Alex felt her heart skip a beat.

"I think it best this be a silent exchange," Ghost told them. He slashed his wand and Alex felt duct tape on her mouth, appearing out of nowhere. She looked sideways at her brothers and saw that they too had the tape over their lips. Justin looked murderous, but remained silent. Alex heard Max's muffled, "Hey!" and some other words she couldn't make sense of.

"Look ahead now, children. I have a surprise for you." Ghost whispered to them in mock excitement.

Alex saw the figures of two people fading into the chairs. Before they had completely materialized, she heard Justin's stifled, "No!"

There in the chairs before them sat Jerry and Theresa, also bound and gagged. Mom…Dad…Alex thought, tears springing to her eyes. The second they saw their children they immediately began to shout and struggle against their bonds.

Ghost strode over to Theresa and caressed her hair, looking at Alex. "Let's see if we can make some progress, shall we?"

--------------

A/N #2: So just a side note about the names of the "bad guys". I am feeling very spirited for Halloween, it's my favorite holiday. So these code names are just Halloween-y stuff! "Jack" is for jack-o-lantern, or the Pumpkin King =D (and I don't own Nightmare Before Christmas either, what point is there in life?! Lol)