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CHAPTER 3

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It was blurry when she opened her eyes for the first time. All she could see was some big creature, a type of odd beast looming over her. What was this? Where was she? The creature soon moved and she blinked a little, standing up and looking around.

Immediately her eyes caught sight of a most perculiar looking man, bald-headed and wearing tiny black glasses as he watched her with seeming surprise. "It worked," he said quietly. A chuckle. "It actually worked!" He received only an odd look. "My dear, can you speak at all?" Nothing as she tilted her head sideways. "Hm, I didn't forsee this. You can't speak yet." He waved his hand in the air nonchalantly. "But no matter, you'll learn." A smile. "Now my dear, allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Finklestein, your creator and master. You are Sally, my invention, whom I made with my very own hands." She just continued to stare at him, confused. He was slightly annoyed with this. "Okay, let's put it simply then." He pointed a finger at his chest. "Dr. Finklestein." A finger at hers. "Sally."

She was still for a moment, before a huge smile broke out over her face. "Dr. Finklestein," she said excitedly, her voice sounding out like that of angels as she mimicked his hand movements. "Sally!" A triumphant grin.

"Yes, that's right," he marvelled. "Exactly right." The scientist nodded, pleased. "You know, I can tell already that I made a great decision when I chose to make you." He wheeled his chair backwards a bit. "Come along now my dear, and hop off that table. We'll head outside for a bit and show you Halloween Town." A blank stare. He just rolled his eyes, waving for her to follow him. "Come, outdoors."

She paused, but soon smiled and began to climb down from her seat. She was successful in reaching the ground, but staying up wasn't exactly easy. Almost instantly her legs went flying from underneath her, sending her crashing into the ground. "Goodness," muttered the doctor. "Well, don't worry about that, dear. Here, use the table to help you." He caught himself before she eyed him again, pointing at where she had just been sitting. "Table, pull Sally up." He pushed his palms upwards through the air. "Up."

Once more, it took her a while. But when she did, she got the concept well. She managed to haul herself up, until she was standing upright. It was now time to learn how to walk.

"Master, shall I help her?" offered Igor, knowing that Dr. F was unable to do the job.

"Yes, that would be good."

Delighted to be of service the hunchback headed over to Sally, taking her hand. "Let me help you."

A little smile. "Help," she copied. "Help Sally."

"I shall try. Now, this is how you do it...just one foot in front of the other, miss..."



*****



In just a half hour she was carefully skipping around the room, her legs somewhat co-operating with her. Every now and again they'd give out, but that never broke her spirit. She'd always get right back up and try again, to get it right.

When he was confident of her skills the doctor told her to follow himself outdoors. Igor would stay behind, to clean up the lab somewhat. The newly formed woman nodded at this, allowing him to lead her from the room and downstairs towards a large steel door.

"Now," Dr. F told her, "I don't want you getting lost on me here. Stay with me, don't wander off. Go nowhere." She understood, waiting beside his wheelchair as he pushed open the door.

Her eyes instantly lit up as the light surrounded her, enveloping her. She lifted her arms, staring at the world beyond her in disbelief. She dashed from Dr. F's home, running around the yard as he came out behind her. She stopped before a large tree, gazing up at its leaves as she placed her hands on its trunk.

"Tree," the scientist told her.

"Tree..." she in turn said. She bent down, touching the ground beneath her.

"Grass," came the desired word.

"Grass." She pointed up to what seemed to be a burning ball in the sky.

"Sun."

"Sun..." she marvelled.

He smiled gently. "Bright, isn't it? Pretty."

A grin broke over her face. "Pretty. Sun pretty. Grass pretty. Doctor pretty."

"I don't know about that, my dear," came the chuckled reply. "But come, let's continue."

They went on doing this as they walked, Sally touching things at random as he told her the words for them. If he said a sentance she would repeat it, sounding out each syllable in turn. Houses, flowers, gravel..she wanted to know it all. She didn't stop until they arrived at Town Centre, where her eyes beheld a sight she could scarcely believe. Others like herself, walking and running around, talking and doing all sorts of things.

"People," piped the doctor. He spoke slowly. "They're working on the holiday...can you say that? Holiday?"

"Holiday...what a holiday?" she asked.

He was surprised at her ability to ask this. "Well my dear, let me explain it all for you. Our holiday is Halloween. Say that for me. Halloween."

"Halloween."

"Yes, that's our holiday. Everyone who works here works on the holiday. That means that they are helping to create it, to make sure everything gets done. For Halloween, we have to make sure that we make October 31st the scariest night of the year and terrify as many humans as possible. It's also our year-round duty to make sure the humans get their fair share of the...the paranormal, you might say."

"October?" she questioned. "Scary? Para...par..."

"Paranormal," he laughed. "You don't have to worry about this now, Sally, I'll teach everything to you later."

"Later?"

"Not now."

A nod. "Not now." They started walking again, towards the fountain in the center of the Square. Here she stopped, glancing inside. "What this?"

"Water," the quick answer came. "It's called water."

No reply as she stared at this substance. She could see another person in there, looking back at her, moving whenever she did. Confused she dipped her hand in, pulling it back quickly.

"Wet, isn't it?" Dr. Finklestein laughed.

His invention frowned. "Bad wet."

"Not a good first encounter, I suppose." He looked into the fountain. "Your reflection is in there," he told her. "See? That's you. That's Sally."

This truly shocked her. "Sally?"

"It surely is."

A broad smile now as she looked back in, studying herself carefully. She saw the light blue skin, the long brown hair, the stiches. She saw the brilliant violet eyes and the tiny mouth. Touching her cheek she couldn't help but sigh. "Me." Carefully she dipped a hand into the water, allowing the liquid to fall through her fingers as she lifted it up. This fascinated her, inspiring her to do it again to produce the same results.

"Having fun, my dear?"

She giggled. "Fun!"

"Well, who's this?" came another voice suddenly. They both spun around to see two little women there, wearing pointy hats as they grinned devilishly at them.

"Hello, witches," sighed Dr. F.

"Hello, yourself," sneered the larger one. "What's your name there, girl?"

"Her name's Sally," he told them. "She can't say much yet, she's just learning."

"Just learning?" squealed the little witch.

"Yes, she's my latest creation. She's coming along very well so far."

"Yeah, she's so talkative," muttered the larger of the two. She only received a glare.

"Now don't be like that. I think I did a very good job on her. And besides, she'll get the hang of things eventually."

"Sally can talk," declared the insulted invention. "Sally understand. Sally learn."

"The word is I, darling, no need to refer to yourself as Sally all the time." She gave him an odd look. "Trust me, dear, that's just the way things are."

The witches couldn't help but snicker. "Yes, vast improvements," chuckled the little witch. "Sure. Honestly, Dr. Finklestein, sometimes you get the strangest ideas."

"There's nothing strange about my ideas," he protested. "Making Sally was a fabulous concept, and I'm happy with her. I have a companion. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be off now." He turned his chair, hurrying away as Sally jogged along beside him.

"So long!" cried the larger witch with a cruel laugh. "See you round!"

"Stupid old hags," he simply muttered. "Ought to mind their own business..."

"What wrong?" asked the worried young woman.

An encouraging smile. "Nothing, dear. Let's go home."



*****