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CHAPTER 7
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Sally walked down through Town Center, the jacket pulled tight around herself as a shiver ran down her spine. She didn't know why she'd fled the graveyard like that, and presently she felt like kicking herself for it. There had been something about the situation, the feelings she'd been feeling. A strange flutter had been in her chest, that seemed to come back whenever she thought of Jack. And then there had been the part of the jacket and him putting his arm around her....was it just the gentleman in him, or was it something more? She knew that she had enjoyed it, just thinking about it now thrilled her. But she didn't want to feel that way, over someone she hardly knew. How frustrating this was! How annoying, not understanding these things.
A sigh escaped her throat. Enough of this; she had to get to town hall, find some shelter before Dr. Finklestein sent Igor out to find her. Or else, all of her plans for freedom would be in utter vain.
*****
Jack stood before his bedroom window, hands shoved in his pockets as he gazed at Halloween Town below. A few lights burned still, even at this late hour. Town hall was dark and still; Sally had long ago turned out the one light she'd lit. Yet here he was, still up, thinking about what had happened that evening. He'd truly enjoyed meeting Sally, she was a wonderful woman. But why had she ran away from him like that? Was it something he'd done, something he'd said? Perhaps she hadn't liked the way he'd wrapped his arm around her, or the way he'd offered his jacket. He had just been acting the role of the gentleman, though. It would have been awful of him to let her go away cold.
He looked back down once more at Halloween, before something at town hall caught his eye. If he squinted just right it appeared that he could see an unknown figure, headed for the main door. A few seconds later the being disapeered, and a light inside flashed on. His breath caught in his throat as he turned from the window. Something had to be wrong down there, something at town hall wasn't right. Sally could be in serious danger, danger he himself had placed her in.
Without waiting Jack raced down the stairs and out of his house, racing as fast as he could towards town hall.
*****
As soon as she'd reached her destination and gotten inside Sally had turned on a light, glancing around the place. Things seemed to be chaotic here even without all the people; evidence of hard work on the holiday lay everywhere, in the form of everything from jack-o-lanterns to cauldrons of unidentified goo.
Yawning loudly, Sally began to take a bit of a tour of the place. She saw the many holiday projects, giving her a better idea of exactly how extensive Jack's job truly was. The stage was indeed a mess, the storage place for many miscellaneous nicknacks. Most of the rooms within the building were locked, but all of the open ones seemed were simply bathrooms and storage cupboards.
After satisfying her curiosity Sally turned out the lights, curling up on a bench in Jack's jacket and falling asleep.
*****
She didn't know exactly what time it was when the light suddenly flashed on. Quite startled she shot up, to find exactly who she'd feared she'd see.
"Igor," she gasped. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"To answer your first question, Miss Sally, I am looking for you. To answer your second one, the witches saw you enter town hall and informed me of your whereabouts."
"Stupid old hags..." was all she muttered.
He ignored her. "Our master insists that you return immediately. He is not pleased that you left home without permission."
She stood up, curling her upper lips. "Well he can bite me for all I care. I'm not going back."
"He says for me to tell you, if you shall not come back he shall only find you later. And when he does, he vows to disassemble so that you cannot play such tricks on him anymore."
Silence for a moment. "Would he...would he really do that?"
A nod. "Yes, miss. He would indeed."
"Oh, why must I be cursed like this?" she wailed. "Fine then, I'll come. I don't want to, but I don't suppose I have much of a choice." A sigh. "Lead the way."
*****
Jack knew he was too late when he got there; town hall was dark and quiet by now, no signs of any visitors. Quickly he headed up to the front door, trying the knob; Sally had locked it up before leaving. Obviously she must have gone willfully, as she'd spent the time to leave the place as she found it. Grabbing the key from under the matt now he let himself inside, turning on the light. No-one was here, just as he'd feared. All he found that indicated Sally had been here was the jacket he'd given her earlier, folded neatly on the back of a bench.
*****