A/N: Some warnings in advance for major character death, some uncomfortable situations, slightly-inappropriate content, and whatnot. Take heed while reading. Long chapter ahead!
Ophelia wastes no time climbing the Skellington Manor's steps and clawing at the door. Without her owner, there's no way for the feline to get inside. She meows loudly several times in hopes of being noticed. The noise eventually attracts the attention of someone inside. Zero's head peers quizzically at the frantic guest scratching at the front door. His eyes widen when he recognizes Sally's pet. He flies out of the window to meet with her below. The black cat notices his presence and promptly swats at him with her paw.
"Meow!"
He tilts his head in confusion. She repeats herself with an even angrier swing. "Meow! Meow!"
Zero finally gets the message. His jaw hangs open. His master's woman , being taken by the trick-or-treaters? Even he knows this is not good news. He's been picked on by the trio before - his spiral tail yanked on by small hands and false promises of sticks that were never thrown. He wastes no time picking Ophelia up in his muzzle and flying through the nearby window, gently dropping the cat down on the floor. The two race to find their master - tripping over several household items as they carry on.
. . .
. . .
Jack Skellington hums to himself as he works on setting the dinner table for tonight. It's a more romantic scenery than usual - a lit candelabra sitting in the middle as rose petals are littered around empty plates. Clean glasses sit expectantly by the silverware as the skeleton carefully places down his bottle of aged wine. He plans to cook one of Sally's favorite meals to enjoy with a glass or two. He hesitates as his long fingers linger over her setting. He's never seen her drink before - surely it wouldn't hurt to just offer ...?
…!
The skeleton shoots up when he feels a strong chill climb his back. His mind begins to feel fuzzy as his hands grow numb. He looks outside and notes the few clouds littering the setting sky. Nowhere near an amount to cause a storm… why is he experiencing this feeling? It's similar to the unpleasant prickling when Sally first visited the old seamstress' shop…except this feels worse . He rubs his fingertips together, pondering this strange predicament.
Maybe he's just nervous. Yes, that's it. He's been planning this for months…and now the time has come. He wants to propose to his ragdoll tonight. He plans to have a lovely dinner with Sally and then take a romantic walk through the graveyard afterwards. It would eventually lead to sitting on the spiral hill…where they would gaze into the stars…and he would find the perfect moment to bring the ring out and pop the question…
Even thinking about it gives him jitters.
He's waiting for her return from her shop. He wants everything to be perfect in the meantime. He strolls over to the Manor's gramophone and ensures his favorite vinyl record is sitting in its place. A nice tune or two to set the scenery…he mentally pats himself on the back. Everything should be prepared. All he has to do is make sure the table is set and start cooking dinner…
He walks into the dining room and admires his work. Careful hours of planning and preparation…and he feels incredibly proud. This feeling is short-lived, however. Before his eye sockets, a black cat and his ghostly dog come tumbling in - jumping onto the table and knocking over the bottle and glasses. The spiderweb tablecloth is bunched together as rose petals are suddenly thrown to the floor. He can't do anything at that moment except exclaim in protest.
""OPHELIA! ZERO!" The two stop once their names are called. He motions angrily to the table they've ruined. " Down ! Get down this instant!"
He snaps his fingers and points downwards. They obey out of instinct, jumping from the table and landing on the floor right away. Ophelia realizes the situation and runs over to the skeleton - climbing his leg and mewing at him loudly. The Pumpkin King flinches when he feels her claws dig through his pants and into his femur.
"Meow! Meow!"
He grabs her by the scruff of her neck and places her down, only for the cat to jump on him again. He repeats this gesture in impatience. " What ? What is it?"
Zero whines and takes his suit in his mouth, tugging him the other way. He loses his temper - not appreciating how strange his pets are acting, and how they ruined the hard work he put together for tonight. He pushes them away before placing his hands on his hip with a scowl.
"There better be a good reason for this interruption!"
He looks between them both expectantly. But there's only so much they can do. Zero struggles before barking, flying through the doorway and returning afterwards. The cat copies his actions, meowing and pawing in the direction of the front door. He eventually puts two-and-two together: they want him to follow them .
He's hesitant to leave the dining room, knowing the mess he has to clean up in such little time…but the desperate looks on their little faces convinces him otherwise. He gives in and leaves the room. Zero does a flip in the air in triumph as Ophelia runs to the door, clawing at it and looking at her other master anxiously.
He gives her a strange look before twisting the knob and opening it. To his surprise, both animals rush outside - climbing down the steps and waiting for him at the fence. He takes his time closing the door and stepping down, only for Zero to tug at his sleeve and impatiently pull him forward. With how quickly they move, he understands he has to run. So that's what he does - matching their pace as the three race into town. He mutters apologies to the monsters he nearly bumps into and offers a smile to those watching him with confused looks on their faces.
He'd like to know what was going on, too!
Jack Skellington gets his answer when he finds they've led him to the residential hill. Worry starts to settle into his bones. They bring him to the place he was hoping not to be brought to. Sally's seamstress shop stands with its door wide open - which sways back and forth in the wind. It's unusually quiet here at this hour. He remembers the town hall is starting their movie night right now - that must be where everyone else is. He fidgets with his bat bow tie when the animals bring him to the entrance.
He peeks into the doorway and notices it's dark inside. "Sally..?"
After hearing no answer, he turns on the lights and finds the room completely empty. He notices the tossed chairs and tables on the floor. A few scratch marks on the wall nearby…as well as Sally's unattended basket currently laying on its side. He leans down to pick it up and notices it's been packed with her essentials - but missing the ragdoll herself. This is when something begins to beat anxiously in his rib cage. He throws the wicker basket down and rushes into the other room - worriedly looking in and calling his girlfriend's name.
"Sally? Sally ! Are you here?"
He's met with no reply. He rushes into every room and searches each crevice he can find. The fact becomes obvious - she's not here. Judging by the thrown items by the entrance, there was a struggle, too. The worst comes to his mind as he clutches at his skull in concern. He drops himself to the floor and holds his head in his hands. ' What could have happened to her? Why wasn't he there to stop it?'
Ophelia disrupts his thoughts when she jumps into his lap. Zero joins her side as they look at him with calm expressions on their faces. Compared to his , rather. The skeleton can't help lighting up at their reaction.
"-You know where she is?" He asks hopefully. They nod. He clenches his fists in determination. "Lead me to her..!"
The trio eventually reach their treehouse in the Hinterlands. It is a long and painful ride for Sally, constantly struggling against the rope and attempting to scream for help, all of which are muffled and she is thwacked with a small broom for even trying. She is hushed down to endure the rest of the trip in painful silence - the stream of tears from her eyes never drying. She tries to keep her spirits up by thinking of her beloved skeleton, hoping, deep down, that he is on his way to rescue her…
The trick-or-treaters jump out of the bathtub excitedly and begin prepping their small elevator. She is carried out and tossed around carelessly like a doll. The wind is knocked out of her when Barrel jumps onto the bag, and they're hoisted upwards into the treehouse. The small boy drags her body out and finally removes her blindfold and gag so she can see where she is now.
The inside of their treehouse is small and quaint. It's made entirely out of wood and nails, which seem to be long-rotting by this point. There is a small couch, its leather surface ripped to shreds, as well as a few snack machines laying around. She can't help looking at all the writing on the walls, targets drawn in chalk with unattended axes splintering the wood and various tic-tac-toe games scribbled in many places. The couple of windows in here are left unprotected, welcoming any gust of wind to come inside.
Shock and Lock come following in, leaving the elevator doors and snickering at her body on the floor. She still can't move. But she wants to express how angry she is. She narrows her eyes and bunches herself up, sneering at them in the most unkind tone she's ever managed. She's tried to be patient with them. Express kindness their way. But they've taken advantage of her long enough .
"I regret ever trusting you three. You're liars, and you don't care about the people you hurt!"
They laugh. "You're so stupid! Why would we ever want a parent to boss us around?"
These words make her feel foolish. For ever trying to be a parental figure to these delinquents. She hangs her head low thinking of what to refute. Before she can say anything, a wooden bat strikes her in the face roughly. So hard that she is knocked out cold. Darkness engulfs her sight, and all she can hear are the shuffling sounds of the kids moving her. Unbeknownst to Sally, they are stuffing her down the offering pipe leading to Oogie Boogie's Lair - giggling as they push her further in.
. . .
. . .
When she comes to, a multitude of noises welcomes her ears. The sound of something boiling, several mechanisms working in the background, and the skittering of bats. She blinks her eyes open and looks around - noticing she is in the dark confines of Oogie Boogie's casino. The rope remains tied around her limbs, limiting her movements completely. She attempts to squirm and loosen any of her stitches - in hopes that she can free a hand or two to help untie the knots. In her unsuccessful attempts, a shadow looms over her in the background.
"You're awake!"
Sally jumps at the voice. She's met with the hollow eyes of Boogeyman himself. He looks amused with her situation. He laughs to himself as he circles around her, fidgeting with the red dice in his hand. She's laying on a dissecting table of some sorts. It looks similar to the one in the Doctor's laboratory, where he would fasten her stitches and routinely perform check-ups on her. But this will not be used for such things. She notices the sharp instruments and saws laid out beside her. Panic settles in her leaves instantly.
"Wha-what do you want with me now!?" She spits at him, desperately. "Why am I here!?"
He notices her tone and whips around. She shrinks down, regretting being so bold so soon. A smile soon tugs on his burlap lips and he leans in closely to her. She shivers when she hears the bugs squirming in his mouth - how many can be inside of him? And do they control him ? Or does he …control the bugs? She fears thinking about either of these things.
"You may have won our lil' game, Doll-face, but I ain't finished with my fun just yet."
He leans down and grabs a large spoon, stirring something below her. She notices the steam coming from its angle - is he cooking something? He leans over and adds various ingredients to the large bowl, confirming her suspicions. This is when the smell reaches her nostrils. It's near impossible to describe - like he's cooking several things at once. In this time, she continues to wiggle around, desperate to get something free from her restraints. He notices her movement and returns to her side, slamming his hand on the table and startling the ragdoll.
"You're NOT leavin' me again!" His gaze moves down her encumbered body. He drags his bag's surface along her leg, relishing in the way she shudders. "Yknow, you feel so soft n' plush in my touch…the Doc' sure had fun making ya', huh? I bet he had his intentions. Old freak ."
'Nothing like what YOU are!' She mentally screams, whimpering when he touches her. She can't do a single thing to stop him. He's repeating his movements from last time, feeling her in long, slow strokes. He remains fascinated with her cloth skin and its texture. The tip of his 'hand' travels over her small curves with amused hums. Except now, his touch is getting closer to her dress by the second. He lifts up the end and begins crawling his arm up her thigh. She starts to cry out, her screams echoing back to her in the room:
"HELP! PLEASE! JACK!"
"SHUT UP!" He slams the table again. She cowers at his loud tone. "You think THAT bonehead knows you're' even here!?"
He begins to mutter, withdrawing his hand from her dress. She loudly sighs in relief. He notices her comfort and wastes no time invading her space again, moving his head inches from hers. Her lip wobbles as she's forced to face him. She remembers everything Jack Skellington told her about this creature - how he's fed on humans, and lures them in here to gamble on their fate…
"Why are you doing this!?" She chokes.
He licks his lips, rubbing his hands together. "I'm hungry. Obviously. Ya' know how hard it is to find something to eat 'round here? My henchman have ta' do all the work, gettin' food fer' me…and Dolly, you're my next course."
He moves around her, settling his face beside her ear. She can hear him clearly, now. His voice sends unpleasant goosebumps along her skin.
"I wanna' know what you taste like. Bet yer' delectable . I have a WIDE appetite, y'know - some of my bugs, they like cloth, n' some others…they feed on leaves. And you have BOTH! There's just so much to you - I want a taste of everything."
"Sh-shouldn't you offer me a game!? A bet we can place? So that any of this will be fair?"
" HAH ! One thing you should know 'bout me Doll-face - I don't play fair. 'Sides. We already had our game - n' you lost, if I remember right." He smiles smugly. "And I'm getting hungrier by the minute. Even more every time ya' scream."
She hushes down at this information, frowning uncomfortably. So he's…going to eat her? Judging by the way he eyes her figure on the table, he has something more on his mind as well. She cries again - feeling helpless in this situation. She can't even move. How can she possibly escape? He doesn't even want to play one of his gambling games. Can she appeal to the senses of a monster like him?
Oogie Boogie scoffs, turning to check the temperature of the stew. He starts grumbling again. "Honestly? I'm angry. Have been for a long, long time, now. It ain't with you , Doll. This entire thing…is to get back at Jack. Thinks he can walk away after banishing the BEST scarer in Halloween Town? The rightful Halloween King? All I had to do was find his weakness. N' that's you."
"Please! I'm sure I can talk with him to figure something out." She bites her ruby lip. "Maybe you two can make up-"
"-AHAHAHAHA!" He wipes a 'tear' away as he turns to her, guffawing. "No, no . This means more . There ain't no reconcilin'. I'm not here to be friends. I'm here to take everything he's got. Because that's what he did to ME."
To her surprise, the table begins to lower with a small hum. When it stops, she sees the pit of stew that's been cooking beneath her. It's at a rolling boil, filled with other ingredients she can't recognize. She feels a splash reach the end of her leg and audibly screams . It leaves a nasty burn on her cloth skin. She realizes how painful this entire process will be - and resumes to plead for her life, as the Boogeyman looks at the knives and saws sitting beside her.
He grins. "Time to have some fun ."
Jack Skellington feels his rib cage sink when the animals lead him into the Hinterlands. The feeling worsens the longer they run, filling him with intense anxiety. He's hoping Sally is just lost in the woods somewhere and they'll find her any minute. But then they're standing on the hill leading to Lock, Shock, and Barrel's treehouse. The skeleton can't help stopping in his tracks when the sight greets him. His jaw hangs open and his bones twist unpleasantly. He clenches his bony fists tightly.
"Oh, no. No, no , no… ."
With no effort, he rushes down the hill and his long legs bring them to the entrance instantly. Ophelia stops to catch her breath while Zero's pumpkin nose lights the abyss below. His first instinct is to look into the wooden structure - trying to catch sight of the trick-or-treaters, who are undoubtedly up to no-good again. To his surprise, he finds the windows empty and the place quiet. This is when he notices their elevator is currently lowered - hanging somewhere by the casino.
They start to hear voices. Zero wastes no time barking at them. "Arf! Arf!"
" Shh !" The skeleton shushes him down. His ears droop while Jack crouches and tries to listen.
"You wait 'til Jack hears about this! By the time he's through with YOU, you'll be lucky you-"
"Oh! But he ISN'T, is he, Doll-Face!? Now be a good girl and hold still-"
"AHH! SOMEONE! HELP!"
The three recognize Sally's voice. Ophelia hunches her back and hisses at the darkness while Zero emits a low growl. Jack's eye sockets narrow as he feels the anger bubbling inside of him. He has no doubt that the other voice belongs to Oogie Boogie…and he currently has his girlfriend in his clutches, if he's hearing this right. He advances on the small bridge, trying to catch sight of the metal elevator. The rope seems to disappear into the blackness of the abyss.
Against his better judgment, he reaches out and takes a hold of it. Zero and Ophelia look at him in worry. He tests his weight and finds little difference. He's light enough that he should be able to move himself downwards. After that….he isn't sure what will happen, but none of it will be good, that's for sure.
"Stay." He tells the pets firmly. They sit down obediently.
He helps himself down the rope, slowly and carefully…further into the coldness of the chasm. At this point, he can no longer see any light except the circular beam of neon colors leaving the pipe from below. There, he finally finds the top of the elevator accompanied with familiar giggles. There are sounds of someone currently munching on popcorn. He advances as quietly as he can, not wanting to give his appearance away so soon.
"Hahaha! How long until you think he eats her?" Lock's voice asks. Barrel's reply is muffled from a mouth stuffed with candy.
"Mmmyeah! Any moment now!"
"And when he's done, we'll get our stew! Oogie promised to share!" Shock exclaims excitedly.
The three rub their hands and resume their show. That is, until they're suddenly interrupted. The elevator around them starts to shake harshly, tossing them around in the small space and causing the three to lose their balance. Their popcorn and snacks are tossed into the emptiness below. They cling onto the metal bars before looking upwards, meeting with Jack Skellington's face. His skull is currently distorted, forked tongue flickering out to wiggle at them. Sharp teeth line every corner of his mouth as he shrieks inhumanely loud.
"EEEEK!"
The trick-or-treaters hastily jump and scramble elsewhere. Jack pays them no mind as he helps himself through the pipe - pushing them out of the way and crawling into Oogie Boogie's casino. He remains quiet enough for the noise to go unnoticed. It isn't long before he approaches the other end. Now he can get a look as to what is going on. What he sees makes his eye sockets widen in shock.
In the middle of a large platform is Boogie's pot he reserves for his snake & spider stew. It is currently open and boiling profusely, hot enough to burn an entire human being alive. Just above the liquid is Sally laying on the dissecting table - sobbing with her head turned away as Oogie follows her seams with the sharp tip of a knife. He is catching her leaves and tossing them into the stew, others he crumbles in his grip while he strokes the freeing cloth. From this angle, Jack can see the tears streaming down her face.
The moment Oogie begins ripping her dress and cutting the stitches, the skeleton makes his move. He crawls down while making little noise, eyes constantly scanning the room for a hiding place. He notices an unattended iron maiden and rushes over once his feet meet the ground, never moving his gaze from Oogie & Sally. His bones ache as he listens to her cries, while the rest of him is burning with a seething rage when he looks at his arch-nemesis.
"My, my..! You're the best thing that Doc's made by far !" The Boogeyman compliments, clearly amused with the hole he made in her clothing. She shoots him a look.
"Don't touch me!"
"Wait! I know the perfect thing. Ya' ever heard of a special dice, ragdoll?" She shakes her head with a scared look. "Well, I only save this for humans, but..I think ya' count plenty."
He moves from the table to go searching around for a new pair of… dice. Jack wastes no moment rushing to the scene and scooping Sally up. She makes a startled noise that is quickly muffled when he places his hand over her mouth. In a matter of seconds, he runs back to the iron maiden and gently places her inside - ensuring the spikes aren't poking her too deeply. This should be an ideal hiding spot for her in the meantime. He notices the rope tied on her figure and regrets not grabbing one of the knives in time.
She gasps. "J-"
He covers her mouth again, holding one finger to his lips. She gets the message and closes her lips. His frame momentarily relaxes seeing her…even though she's missing a few patches of her dress and a few of her limbs…Before anything can be done, the sound of Boogie moving catches Jack's attention. He motions for Sally to stay put as he runs back to the table - laying himself on it and facing his direction. When Oogie returns, he notices the skeleton waiting for him right away.
He drops the dice as his burlap mouth hangs open. Jack grins wickedly. "Hello, Boogie ."
"J-Jack!? But how!?"
He drops himself to the floor in slow motion. Boogie backs away while the skeleton approaches him. A crooked smile uncharacteristically lines the Pumpkin King's skull. "I warned you."
The fear on his face is replaced with amusement. He throws his hands in the air playfully. "C'mon, bone-man! We were just havin' fun. You n' I used to do this all the time, back in the good 'ol days!"
" You're . Dead." He repeats, gritting his teeth.
He challenges him with a grin of his own, narrowing his 'eyes'. "You don't have the guts ."
Jack Skellington charges at him and Oogie yelps. He races to the other side of the platform and hurriedly presses a skull-shaped button. The ground beneath them starts to move, revolving slowly. The skeleton is momentarily caught off-balance before he dodges a nearby knife, which is protruding from one of the large playing cards. Their hands are swinging small daggers in circular motions, moving closer to the King as the seconds go by.
"Well?" His enemy teases from the other side of the room.
He takes the challenge with ease, jumping and easing through the moving daggers like they're nothing. Boogie watches this with a scoff before pulling a lever. The cards around them lower back into their previous positions as the sound of something rolling interrupts them. Jack moves his skull to catch several robotic men holding guns pointed at him. Boogie tells them to 'fire !', and at the last second, he jumps to juggle himself on their arms, effectively dodging their bullets.
Oogie places his hands on his hips exasperatedly. "You're not playin' fair at ALL!"
"-You're one to talk!" Jack exclaims back, focusing on moving his feet at the right time.
Just then the boogeyman realizes he's still standing on the moving platform, getting closer to the firing robots by the second. He wails before running in the other direction, jumping and barely managing to press another button. This is when a large saw comes flying in the skeleton's direction from behind. Sally notices this just in time and outstretches her hand.
"Jack! Lookout!"
He turns around and sees the sharp blade hurling towards him. He jumps off and dodges it easily. It cuts the arms off of the robots, ceasing their fire. He lands right in front of Oogie with a satisfied smile. Boogie gasps and takes several steps back, shooting him a look as he goes. It's almost amusing with how slow he moves compared to the tall figure's long strides.
"You're barely fighting like a man." The skeleton comments, slithering right after him. "What's wrong, Oogie? All this time alone turned you into a coward?"
"You're just lucky I don't feel like letting my bugs loose!"
He eyes his several loose threads as he continues on. He doesn't want to lose any more insects after seeing several slipping through the small gaps in his burlack bag. He's getting lighter by the second, making it harder to move. To breathe. He huffs as he continues running. He stops in his tracks when his opponent lands right in front of him, making Boogie fall to the floor roughly.
He towers over him with a threatening glare. "How dare you touch her so shamefully!"
He smiles right back at him. "Mad cause I got to her first ?"
Something flickers in the back of Jack's eye sockets. A familiar flame…the anger he's felt during this entire exchange is immense. The audacity of his nemesis for kidnapping Sally and treating her this way…having the gall to touch her like he has, and act like this entire thing is nothing more but a game . The way he listened to her cry and scream for help…he's never seen her this scared before. To hear her voice so desperate, thinking she is going to die any second…
The heat overcomes him and his vision flashes. Something about his body feels heavier. He glances down and notices the stick arms and hands that replace his skeletal ones. His legs are now made of straw, adding to the light feeling on his feet. The heat is more apparent now. His pumpkin is burning with a steady flame as he advances on Boogie, who audibly shouts as he backs away on the floor. He pauses before connecting the dots in his head.
"That's right ." He comments, his voice changing. It's almost like a whisper - the sound barely coming through the flames in his mouth. "You're scared of me. Of it ."
Oogie's lip wobbles as he helps himself up, his knees shaking. He tries to shoot him a glare but cowers down when the flame reaches past his pumpkin. Jack can't help chuckling loudly. "-You fear the Pumpkin King."
…
…
…
It was one Halloween night, several centuries ago. Halloween Town's monsters and creatures were in the human world, wreaking terror on their victims. Screaming and laughter was all that could be heard in these ungodly hours of the night. Among them stood the Pumpkin King and infamous Boogeyman - carrying their successful scare streak as they did every year. They'd been frightening many humans that night. The count was kept by Jack Skellington, who boasted that he'd scare 100 humans within this first hour. So far, he is only 1 away from his goal. But the minutes were counting down. Oogie couldn't help rubbing this in his face.
"Think you can manage, Bone-Man?" He teases playfully. "Ya' only got 5 minutes."
"5 minutes is all I need." The skeleton replied breezily.
They found an unsuspecting girl counting her candy on the sidewalk, dressed as an angel. The tall man followed after her, tucking himself in and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Boogie watched from the sidelines, curious. Jack ended up doing something rather unexpected - transforming into Halloween Town's favorite Scarecrow, and sneaking up on her from behind. He unleashed a scream accompanied with a strong burst of fire, igniting the small halo sitting above her head.
The child ran away, screaming and rolling in the grass, desperate to control it before it lit her hair aflame. Oogie laughed at the scene, surfacing from the shadows and patting his friend proudly on the back. Jack was chuckling as he watched her go - proud of his work, and accomplishing his record for the year!
"Nice goin'! Kind of ironic, isn't it? Lightin' an angel on fire?"
"I am a demon of light." Jack replies. They move on. Boogie notices he hasn't returned to his skeletal self just yet.
"Y'know, I remember scarin' 200 humans last Halloween, if we're countin' all the nightmares I gave 'em. That means I doubled the King's record!"
"Is that so?"
"I was just thinkin'...I can scare twice the amount you can, through their heads. Their shadows. That's gotta' count for somethin', right? Gotta…say a lot 'bout what's happening here, I think."
Jack stops and turns sharply. "Are you saying…you'd make a better King than me?"
"Well. I'd get twice the work done, wouldn't I? Can't deny the numbers. I'm doin' better than you every year. Someone's gonna' notice. Don't be surprised if I'm elected the next Halloween King!"
He means this as a joke. To demonstrate, he lets out a loud laugh and slaps him on the back again. Except Jack Skellington doesn't join in with the noise. The sockets in his pumpkin have darkened and he notices the fiery pupils staring at him. Oogie looks down at him as they stand there awkwardly. Before he can say anything - crack a joke about not being that serious - the Scarecrow's hand takes him firmly by the burlap.
"Understand something." It spits at him, small flames burning the edges of his lips. Boogie flinches. His voice is unfamiliar; he's never heard anything like it before. " Do you know how many nightmares I am in? How many children have dreamt of me and woke up in cold sweats after I devoured their minds?"
His grip tightens, despite Oogie trying to get out of it. He moves them closer until their faces are inches apart. Then he opens his mouth and exhales large flames - burning his sack and causing the boogeyman to scream and jump away. He has to pat himself down before the flames spread and engulf his body. His bugs writhe and cry inside of him. Some are already burned. He spits out the insect's corpses before they can spread to the others, and watches in defeat as they fall to the ground.
He turns back to Jack with a glare. This is short-lived when the Scarecrow shoots another flame at him, and he has to step back to avoid it. He sends several more to his feet, making Boogie practically dance as he backs away. He feels the bugs moving around in him again, petrified of the flames. Jack laughs at the sight. He must look like an idiot .
"There is no being scarier than me. None who can defeat me. You, Boogie, are nothing." He looks at him with no emotion. No pity. Only dominance. "You will never replace me."
He has no choice except to nod weakly. The rest of that night is tense - until Jack returns to his normal, skeleton self. By then, they're back to cracking jokes and scaring humans alongside each other. Oogie feels weary as he does all of this, afraid of another flame finding its way to his bugs and burning him entirely.
He'd heard of the rumors. The names they called him. Why everyone feared the Pumpkin King. But he never thought his best friend would hurt him. That he would pose any threat whatsoever. But Jack Skellington made one thing clear that night - that he was the only Master of Fright.
It was the Scarecrow who defeated him in their last scaring competition. And it was the Scarecrow who has haunted the Boogeyman's dreams since.
…
…
…
"I do not ." Oogie spits at him, avoiding looking at his face.
Jack inches closer, filling the space between them. The panic is too much to bear - Boogie sprints away, climbing his traps and hastily jumping off the platform. He needs to make his escape now. The snake & spider stew can wait another time. Where is that evacuation ride the kids installed for him? He tries to remember while shuffling away, unaware of the figure advancing on him as the seconds go by.
"What's the matter? Can't handle the heat?" The boogeyman ducks when a flame comes his way. "Maybe you shouldn't cook your victims alive, then."
Oogie groans as he watches the scarecrow run and flip around him. Sending small bursts of fire his way as to taunt him. Like a hunter playing with its prey. This is what the master of fright often does with his victims - keeping them on edge before delivering the final scare…in this case, the final blow. By the time he finds his escape, Jack's already caught him in a corner. He faces him head-on as they stare each other down. Boogie gulps when he recognizes the pupils looking at him.
"C'mon, Jack… please! " He pleads for a moment. "Remember all the fun times we had? All the kids we scared? You n' I had the biggest streak compared to anybody!"
"I warned you not to touch Sally."
"Is one broad enough for ya' to kill me?" Jack flinches at his words. "We both know you ain't gonna-"
Without warning, he pounces on him and sends the biggest burst of fire he's ever released. In an instant, Boogie is trapped in the flames - screaming horrifically as he claws at his burlap sack. Various bugs shriek as they dance inside of him, some flying away only to burn to a crisp midair. He makes sure to stomp the escaping insects and light them on fire. Oogie's voice barely sounds from all the yelling.
"My bugs! My bugs! My bugs!"
He watches with little sympathy as his enemy burns alive before him, eventually turning into hot ash and dust in front of his feet. The sounds of screaming finally stop. There is no more movement of bugs. A shadow slithers from underneath the burnt burlap before disappearing completely from the walls. It leaves the casino entirely - never to be seen again. Jack slowly transforms back to his skeletal being as he gazes at the pile, feeling a slight ping of pity. He acted before thinking. It infuriated him to hear Oogie call Sally that word…And now he's faced with… this .
"...Jack!"
He's pulled from his thoughts when the ragdoll comes over, tumbling when she meets him. He grabs one of the knives from the table and properly cuts the rope off. The moment she's freed, she pulls him in close and lays a passionate kiss on his lips - which he happily returns. He holds her flush against him as they embrace for several minutes. The tears are now drying from her face. She sighs in relief. She's safe again.
"Sally? Are you alright?" He asks quietly, pulling away to look at her figure. She blushes and tries to cover the missing parts of her dress.
"I…I think I am. I'm still a little shaken." Her eyes move to the floor. "He…He's dead now, isn't he?"
He glances back at the ashes. He winces at the sight. "...Mostly. His shadow is still out there - but now it has nothing to return to."
She clings onto his arm. Her tone is quiet. "Jack? Did you… mean to do that?"
"...No. But I warned him it would happen. He knew what he was doing."
"Were you…was the Scarecrow-"
"-Let's not worry about it," He interrupts, taking her hand. He'll deal with his regretful thoughts later. Right now, he just wants her safe. "Do you know what he did with your arm? And the other parts of you?"
She looks at the unattended snake & spider stew, still boiling away. "He threw them all in there. I…I think they cooked away."
"That's fine. We'll…we'll just visit the Doctor and see what he can do." He looks at the burns and cuts on her body with a frown. His insides feel like ice. How could he possibly let this happen to her? Guilt fills his nonexistent stomach. "I'm so sorry, Sal."
"It's alright." She buries her head in his suit. "I...I love you."
"...I love you, too."
He leads her to the exit, offering her his jacket. She uses it to conceal her bare skin - thankful for the covering. It's dark by the time they get out and meet with the animals waiting for them. Zero yaps in delight at the sight of Sally and excitedly licks her face. Ophelia paws at her knee, and she picks the cat up to pet her, soothing the both of them. Jack pats Zero proudly on the head and smiles at their other pet.
"Thank you two for telling me where she was. I would've had a hard time otherwise." He tells them. They bow their heads in return.
"Really? Ophelia you… told him?" She blinks in surprise, meeting with her yellow eyes. The cat meows in return. "...Thank you."
A cup of warm tea is brought into the ragdoll's hands as she rests on their couch. Zero and Ophelia are right by her side, enjoying the security of their home. Jack Skellington lowers himself to sit by his beloved, sighing as he rubs his thumb on the top of her hand. There is a storm going on outside that they are listening to - repeated drops of the rain with momentary breaks of thunder and lightning. It is delightful weather for Halloween Town, but right now, it does nothing to soothe him after what happened.
The first thing they did was visit Dr. Finklestein's tower. He felt guilty for imposing at an hour like this, but Jewel and the Doctor were both reasonably concerned to see her in such a condition on their doorstep. Her missing limbs and burned cloth were promptly taken care of - replacements coming in handy. She was provided with new leaves and a change of clothing. Jewel and Igor took the liberty of comforting her while the Doctor demanded a private word with Jack.
The talk was uncomfortable. He didn't want to speak about what happened, but knowing this was Sally's concerned father seemed like a good enough reason to. Oogie Boogie was a notorious figure in Halloween Town - spoken mostly in hushed whispers and in long, forgotten rumors. The Doctor remembers him well-enough, when he took his poor ragdoll after creating her, and overrunning the town for his Bug Day. He forgives Jack and thanks him for saving her, shaken to learn that she was close to getting eaten.
He can't relate more.
He takes the empty cup when she hands it to him and refills it in the kitchen. When he returns, his gaze comes to a nearby window - watching the rain hit the glass surface. Now he understands why he was feeling that sensation earlier…a storm couldn't be more well-timed. He glances back at the mess that is the dining room and makes a note to clean that tonight. He's been busy making sure Sally is bathed, fed, and comfortable. Nothing can be more important to him right now.
"Can you tell me what exactly happened?" He asks, sitting close to her. She sets down her cup and frowns, curling her fingers in her lap.
"I came back from watching the movie in the Town Square. I was just working in my shop, and…Lock, Shock, and Barrel came. They had knives and all of these scary things…they threatened me and locked my door. Then they forced me down and tied me up. Gagged me. I couldn't move or talk and-"
She reaches out for him. He holds her close and soothes her shaking by holding his large hands on top of her own. She sighs to calm herself down.
"They brought me into their bathtub and led me to their treehouse. Then they knocked me out and put me in his casino. The rest…you can assume."
He makes a frustrated noise. "Just when those three start behaving, they go and pull that stunt…I should've known something was up. They didn't seem happy doing all of those chores for the town."
"It was their punishment. You didn't do anything wrong." She assures him.
"Sally…your safety is my responsibility. And what happened tonight-"
She stops him by placing her finger over his lips. His eye sockets widen in surprise. Then he relaxes as she withdraws, leaving a peck on his cheek. She holds his skull in her hands, looking at him seriously. He notices the moisture in them, like she's close to crying again…but she stops herself before she can. She nuzzles her nose against his bone.
"You saved me. I…didn't get to tell you 'thank you'. For rescuing me when I needed it."
"Just like when we met, huh?" He titters softly, closing his eyes. "'Thank you for rescuing me, Mr. Pumpkin King~ "
She giggles hearing him mimic her voice again. She moves into his lap and rests against his chest. She grabs his hand and travels her fingers along his palm, playing with his digits. He melts at the sight and holds her as close as possible, rocking the both of them. They're together now. And she's safe. Oogie Boogie perished. There is nothing more to worry about. He rests his jaw on her hair and thinks about the item sitting in his pocket right now.
"...Would you care to have dinner tomorrow? And take a stroll in the graveyard?" He asks quietly. "It's been awhile since we gazed at the stars together, hasn't it?"
She perks up at this invitation and nods enthusiastically, much to his surprise. "That sounds lovely..! It's just what I need, after all of this…"
He sighs into her scalp. He can't agree more.