Mike, Quentin, and Chip wallowed through the damp dungeon that the duo had emerged from just a short time before. Quentin had not been very happy about having to go back through. However for the trio, the ocean of blood had subsided and the once disturbing doll corpses were nowhere in sight. "Well, looks like Jack came and got them already. Best keep our heads up fellas." The purple rabbit tried to stay optimistic, although like his Toon companions, he was shaking inside. He had been over here a few times, but always as Mike Megatoon, Mayor of Funny Farms. This would be the first time he would be going as a defeated foe.

"Do you think this is going to work, Mike? I feel like Jack is pretty well aware of the Toons under his control." Chip argued as they continued through the blood dripping from the ceiling. "Plus, what if something goes wrong? We don't know what he'd do to you. Best case scenario is you get mind-controlled here like Quentin was. Who would protect Funny Farms at that rate?"

"Welp, what other choice do I have? Just keep sitting here like a damn fool while the rest of the town gets picked off? Soon it'll just be me... No, I need ta do something and you boys are our best chance. Now I ain't makin' you do this but I would really appreciate it. Maybe I can even throw some sort of reward yer way. Now, do you two wanna walk through the plan one more time?" Mike turned and shined his light on the pair of Toons walking behind him.

Quentin shielded his eyes and growled. "We're not idiots, rabbit. You told us twice, already. Plus don't think I'm doing this without some kind of reward. Chip here already gets a fat check when he brings these Toons home, and unless he plans on sharing with me then I want something from you guys. Actually, scratch that. I want something from both of you. I could have been long gone by now. If I didn't have to recover my foolish crew so I could finish my movie, then I wouldn't even be here. Also, just remember that if something bad happens I'm out of here in a heartbeat! I'm not dying for anybody. Especially not you guys."

"Glad to get the vote of confidence, Quentin." Chip remarked, sarcastically. "So should we go ahead and put the pumpkins on now or after we get out? I mean, Claws is still there in the hotel lobby. Or at least he better be. Do we want to risk somebody seeing us prematurely? Seems a bit risky."

"Yew two can do what in ever you feel best. If I was a gamblin' man though I'd bet that we'd be safe waiting. Gonna be hard ta see out of those things even with the slit holes. We're almost out of here, might as well give yourself the benefit of the daylight. Or the streetlight. Not really sure what time it is over there. My internal clocks been all messed up." The trio finally reached a long flight of stairs which had a faint light at the very top. "See, whattid I tell ya boys? I know my way through here like the back of my hand now. I'll scout up ahead. I'll give ya a holler if everything is a-okay. If'n ya don't hear from me in five minutes just assumed those pumpkin-headed bastards got ta me and that yer on yer own. No pressure now." The purple rabbit hopped up the stairs and out of sight. Time seemed to drag on as the pair awaited their new cohort.

Quentin pulled out the carved pumpkin Mike had given him and held it into the distant light. "Old coot really thinks this will fool anyone? These are the only pumpkins I've seen with holes in them. We're just walking into trouble now."

Sidling against a wall and crouching slightly, Chip shrugged. "We don't know that for sure. I mean if you saw a pumpkin head, would you stop to look for minute differences? I think we'll be fine. You can always cover yours and let us guide you if you don't trust the process though." The brown monkey chuckled and watched as Quentin struggled to slide the orange fruit over his head. "Need help?"

"No, the stupid thing is just super tight. How does he expect us to fit in these things. I guess when you have a smaller brain you have a smaller noggin." Quentin sneered. After some effort he was finally able to slide the pumpkin over his head. Immediately the overwhelming smell of the gourd overpowered his nose. His peripheral vision had all but vanished. The only thing he could see was the direct path immediately in front of him, and only that which had been illuminated by the light from the next floor. "There's no way this works. Help me get this stupid thing off. We're going to need to think of something else."

"Hey yew two! All is clear up here. Looks like our friend Claws had an accident, no need to worry about him!" The head of the purple rabbit had popped back into view for the pair around the wall of the staircase. "Come on up, looks like we still got some daylight to get our plan off."

Chip looked at Quentin and smiled smugly. "I guess we should get going. Come on, I'll help you up." Backing up towards the black cat, his comrade grabbed the back of his shirt as they slowly ascended the stairs towards the only safety they knew. Mike helped pull in Chip and Quentin past the final few stairs and into the familiar sights of the California Hotel. Chip looked over at Claws who now was not only missing his head, but both arms which had been torn off. "Accident... Yeah that was it."

"Whatever, I still can't see very well. Plus this smells like pumpkin. I hate pumpkin. Why don't we just swap? How about you two bring me into Jack as the prisoner. I mean, he already knows me apparently. Would it be too much of a surprise if I was dragged back after trying to escape?" Chip and Mike considered the idea, which was quite smart, but eventually shot it down.

"Well that might lead to more questions. Does he even know you're missing? For all he knows you're somewhere in that giant horde of zombie pumpkin things with the rest of them. It might be a giveaway." Kneeling to ensure his shoes were tied to avoid tripping later, Chip looked up at Quentin who had crossed his arms and scowled underneath his face shield.

Mike pinched his forehead as he thought deeply. "If he was under hypnosis, I guess he might be able to get away with it. Although do we really want to take that chance?"

"Whatever! I'll just deal with it. But I'm expecting a bigger reward for this. Although was this really the best weapon that we had?" Quentin held out a small knife that Mike had taken from Danny's. "Couldn't I get like a sword or something? I mean we could be potentially facing off against a crowd of these things. What am I going to do with this? We're basically asking to die!"

"This is a peaceful town, boy. We don't keep no swords around here. I don't know what things are like where you two come from but we don't need no killing enhancers. Besides, if things get that bad a sword ain't gonna do much. A knife between the ribs should be plenty enough to take down Jack I presume. Now don't worry, I won't ask you two to do such an evil deed. This is my burden. I just ask you two to get me there. If you two wanna run away after that, or stay and fight? That's none of my concern. That duck has caused too much suffering in this town, and someone needs to do something. Who knows what he does next? Will he be happy staying here? What if he gets too big for his britches and heads out for your town? Can't let that happen." Speaking passionately, Mike waited for the pair to settle down before continuing. "Now, we have once chance at this and we can't afford to mess it up. Because you two could be in my situation any day if we don't stop him."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Chip exhaled deeply. "I guess you're right. I can't say it isn't a bit difficult to face the possibility of your own death. I have a family at home and what happens to them if something happens to me? But what happens to them if I don't do anything? I'm walking a tightrope over a pool filled with ferocious Pool Sharks. I guess the best I can do is keep moving forward." Pulling out his pumpkin helmet, Chip swiftly shoved it over his head and nodded. "Let's take this ducker down!"

Chip pulled open the unlocked door to the California. Peering out of the slight gap, he breathed a sigh of relief as the empty streets provided a respite from the aggressive attackers from earlier. "Alright everyone, we're safe. Mike, you're going to have to go in front of us. We have to look like we've captured you or that you're surrendering."

"Yeah, yeah. I know how this goes. I've made plenty of arrests in my day as a sheriff." Stepping in front of the pair of pumpkin-head pretenders, the purple rabbit held his hands behind his back as if they were bound and slowly trudged out of the door. The Mayor's office was about ten blocks away from the hotel, and the Toons were going to feel every step.

Anxiously walking, the trio kept their eyes forward. They could not risk bringing any unnecessary attention to themselves. Funny Farms was a ghost town. As they stepped down the lowered curb into the street to begin their third block, a strange noise blared from the distance. It was like a large bell ringing. Chip had heard this earlier after he had escaped. What was that sound? Why was it happening? Prodding Mike, he leaned forward and whispered. "What's that ringing? Do we need to be worried?"

"I'm not sure. I ain't never heard anything like that before. However it is coming from where we're going so I presume we're 'bout to find out, ain't we?" Mike focused intently forward, blinking only when completely necessary. Quentin and Chip had a hold of one of each of Mike's arms as they continued to stride along. The ringing increased in frequency and intensity, as if it was alarming somebody of something. As they walked, the realization began to hit them. Pumpkin-heads, and other converted Toons began to pour out of their shops and homes. Many not bothering to take stake of their surroundings as they began to flood the street and continue the path that the three trekked.

"Mike, what the hell is going on?" Quentin swapped his bare hand for his knife which was not pointed sharply into the mayor's back. "Why are they all coming out here for?" The black cat quickly hushed himself as a store owner stepped out of a building and bypassed them, joining in the rest of the mob on their way.

Leaning over, the brown simian spoke to the others in a quiet tone. "It sounds like some kind of hypnosis thing. I was watching a movie once and they hypnotized this guy, and when they made a certain sound they could control him. I wonder if this bell is the same thing."

"If you told me that before all this, I'd call you a fool, but I guess I can't rule anythin' out now. Let's just follow 'em and see where they go. Maybe this'll be good fer us. We'll blend in a lot easier. Look, there's a few Toons without pumpkins. Old Gary, Herb Ree Mover, and..." Mike looked sadly as a red deer slowly trotted along the rest of the zombies. "There's The Apple. Real glad The Banana ain't here for this. Don't want her to ever have to know what happened to her sister."

Keeping pace with the horde, the three eventually made it the remainder of the way without gathering any attention. Mike's plan had worked to perfection, at least so far. Although they were not out of the woods. The three stared up at the gargantuan building in front of them. What had been a small office had been turned into a massive church topped with a bell to match. The golden instrument rang out gleefully, attracting hundreds of the Toons. "Didn't take Jack for such a glory hound. Look at this place. Must be made of solid gold. This is way taller than anything else around here. Guy must really fancy himself to be a God among Toons. Maybe his pumpkin head is getting a bit too big?" Chip snidely remarked.

"If we get out of here I'm taking that bell with me. That could easily fund my next project. I was thinking about turning this into a movie. I've never done a horror film! It will be brilliant, and I will be the star!" Quentin was too lost in thought to notice his friends leaving him behind. Running to catch up he held up his hand. "Hey, wait for me!"