Everything was black.
Her father was gone. Oogie was gone. There was nothing to be seen for miles. Everything was empty, silent.
"Papa...?" she called out. Her voice echoed endlessly.
"PAPA?"
"He can't come here. No one can but you."
An unfamiliar voice, soft yet broken. Almost like a terrified child.
"Who's there?" Thorn called, her hands darkening slowly as she prepared an attack. However, for some reason, this did not last, and the darkness dissipated immediately. This shocked her as immediately as her powers went away.
"What...?"
"You can't do that here. Not against me, anyway. Remember, I'm the reason you have that power in the first place."
Finally, Thorn could see who she was with, who she was talking to.
It was a girl, younger than she was, but not by much. Her hair was black and her eyes had a sunken, sorrowful look. All over her, there were cuts and scars, and permanent tear stains coated her once innocent face. It was obvious that the poor girl had been murdered.
"Who are you?" Thorn whispered.
"I don't remember my name," the girl replied. "But I've been with you for the last eighteen years. I know who you are, Thorn. I'm your soul, the reason you came to life."
Thorn nodded. "Dr. Finklestein told me a few years ago that he used the soul of a child to give me my life."
"Yes, but he didn't intend for that to happen. I was crossing over at the time. I had just died. And something went wrong. I was sucked into a machine of sorts, and I could see a baby. I thought they were trying to kill you, maybe, but I couldn't have known. Next thing I knew, something happened, and I was inside your body giving you life. I was relieved, but the more you grew, the more agitated I became. I was jealous of you, for getting my life to live your own. Why did I have to die and give up my life and soul for you? And so, I snapped, causing your powers to surface and go out of control.
"But now, I don't think the same way. Over the past couple of weeks, I'd noticed you can't accept yourself or control your powers anymore, even with my help. You'd gotten to a point where you kind of could, but not anymore. I felt bad, because I knew it was my fault.
"So, I want to apologize to you, and come to an agreement with you. I will completely mold with you, and my existence will disappear. The soul I have will be completely and totally yours, and you will have the power you need to beat him. All I ask is for you to accept who you are. You're a wonderful person, Thorn, and everyone else can see that but you."
The girl outstretched her hand to Thorn, and the sunken look in her eyes started to fade. "Take my hand, Thorn. Accept what I'm offering."
Thorn shook her head. "I don't understand. Why would you give up your very existence for me?"
"My life is over. But you... You still have a long life to live, Thorn. I'm okay with this; I'm at peace. I'll never be able to see my mom or brother again, but I've accepted that fact. You still have family, friends, a future, and if I don't do this now, if I fade away, you die as well. This is for the best.
"There's no time now. Accept my offer, and be free."
Thorn could only hesitate. She didn't want this poor girl to cease existing for her, but she knew that the girl wasn't lying, either. So, with a heavy heart, she grasped the girl's hand.
There was a blinding light, and before Thorn could fully register what happened, she was back home, and her full power had been unleashed.
