"Jack Skellington! How wonderful of you to finally show up! And look, you brought some backup this time! Planning on making your kid carry your dust out of here, bone man?"
The taunt stoked the fire in Thorn's heart. But she was doing her best to maintain her composure. There was no sense in losing her cool, not just yet.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Oogie, but I'm not the one who you should be dealing with right now," Jack replied, his tone sarcastic and cold. "You have to answer to the holiday leader, and I believe she can handle this from here."
Thorn took that cue to step forward, staring the shadow figure down with an anger unlike anything she'd ever felt. It wasn't blind, however; it felt like a righteous fury, like that of a god punishing a horrible sinner.
Oogie only met her gaze and laughed. "This little doll thinks she can beat me?" he snarled. "This shrimp? She can't even keep her composure!"
Thorn stepped closer, and when she closed in, Oogie backed away.
She figured it out. His weakness. If she could get close enough, she could tear apart the shadows that kept Oogie together, and banish him once and for all. She could quell his angry spirit.
NO! Stop it!
"What?"
There wasn't much time between Thorn's startled response and the world fading around her. The only thing she could gather was the sound of her father's voice calling her name, and the sounds of a battle about to take place.
Okay, people. This fanfiction is coming to a close very soon, and I apologize for the short chapters. I'm trying to find motivation while trying to survive until spring break at university.
I will tie everything from this fanfiction together in the ending chapters, so don't worry. I hope the climax is enjoyable for you!
