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CHAPTER 9

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The days passed by slowly. Sally did exactly as she was told to, quickly and without complaint. She knew this time that there was no escaping her punishment; Dr. F meant serious business, and he wasn't goiong to let her pull anymore pranks. So she acted as she would instructed to, remaining silent, and playing the role of the obedient little soon-to-be wife. Inside she was slowly becoming more and more weak, losing what little independance and confidence she had. Daily her creator tossed at her insults and critisisms, dousing her dreams and aspiritions a little bit further. Yet despite all this she tried to hold on, tried to maintain hope, her sanity. In a small corner of her mind she knew things would get better, that one day they would change. Maybe not soon, but one day.

Around four days after the night she'd attempted to run away, a knock came at the door. Sally, Dr. Finklestein, and Igor were just dining on a late lunch of Scorpion Claws and Rat Ears when they heard it.

"Count on people to come right when you're trying to eat," grumbled the scientist. "Sally, go get that."

She just nodded, rising and heading over to answer the knock. Unlocking the huge cast iron door she pulled it open, nearly gasing out loud when she saw the visitor.

"Good day, Sally," Jack told her with a smile. "I've come to see how things are doing here. Might I speak with Dr. F?"

She nodded, surprised he hadn't forgotten her. "Excuse me, doctor? Jack Skellington is here."

Immediately he plastered on a smile, dropping his fork and wheeling over. "Ah, hello Jack!" he beamed. "So nice to see you, please come in!"

He did so. "I've come to see how things are doing here, to make sure they're all coming along well. You know, the project and all...."

"Ah yes, the project. It comes along quite well, the Frankenstein should be ready within a couple of days."

"Superb. Might I see it?"

"Certainly," he grinned. "Just follow me to the lab."



*****



"Very impressive," Jack nodded as he inspected the monster. "Very large size, all the better. You're positive it will work?"

The doctor frowned for a second, annoyed at the king's doubt. He recovered quickly though, smiling once more. "Of course it will!"

"Well, I should hope so at least." He glanced at Sally, who said nothing. "And you, my dear. How are you?"

"Fine thank you," she said quietly.

"I had an assignment for you, you know. One of your very own."

A smile formed on her face as her eyes lit up. "Really? What is it?"

"It's down at Town Hall, we'll have to go get it." He glanced over at the scientist. "I'm certain the doctor would never be enough of an on ogre to forbid you to go down and get it. Such a thing would certainly set him down a level or two in my books."

Inside Dr. F was secretly fuming, but he knew he couldn't say anything now to keep Sally home. "Indeed," he said through his teeth. "A nice little trip for her it'll be."

"Great," Jack smiled. "Come then, Sally, let's head off."



*****



"I thought it might be nice to get you out of the confines of that horrible place Dr. Finklestein calls home," Jack said as they walked. "Allow you to breath easily for a moment."

"Thank you very much," she told him gently. "It's been really hard over the past couple of days..."

He gave a look of confusion. "How so?"

"Well, he's been very strict. I've been working very hard, and I have so many rules to follow now...I can't even speak unless I'm instructed to, Jack. He insults me, tells me I'm nothing, says no-one will ever care about me or love me..." She folded her arms as she blinked away tears. "I can't take any more of this."

Jack stopped walking, turning towards Sally as he graped her arms tightly. "You musn't believe him for a second," he told her. "Because he's wrong, and inside you know it. As for no-one caring about you, that's wrong as well." A little smile. "I care about you."

"But the doctor said..."

"The doctor is wrong, Sally!" he cried as he tightened his hold on her a bit. "Sally, that man is only telling you lies. He doesn't truly care about you, and chances are he never will. If he did, then he wouldn't be saying these horrid things to you." He paused, loosening his fingers. "I want to help you. I want to get you into a safe spot, away from that monster. I can do that, you know, and if you want I will. If you want you can stay in my very own mansion, nobody can harm you there."

She gave a little sigh. "Well Jack, I....I'd love to, but I'm afraid. Afraid of the doctor, of him finding me and then taking me apart. Because he would, I know it...he's threatened to do so before. No, I can't risk it. I thank you a million times over but....I'm sorry."

Though he was angered inside by her stubborness he just nodded, trying to smile as he let her go. "Very well then," he said. "I guess I have no choice but to respect your will. But I'm still quite concerned..."

"Don't be," came her reply. "I'll be fine, I promise you."

"I hope so," he muttered as they continued walking again. Silence for a moment.

"It's certainly nice to be outside once again," Sally commented. "It's so stuffy in that old place, and he won't even let me open a window."

A strange look. "Why not?"

She just shrugged. "He rarely gives reasons for his wishes, and I hardly feel the need to question him. I just do as I'm told."

"Harsh. Whatever, his mind is messed."

"How true," she said with a giggle. "I mean Igor's not bad, in fact he's pretty nice to me. But the doctor is just another story all together." Pause. "So anyways, how goes everything with the holiday?"

"Surprisingly well, actually," he replied. "We're ahead of schedule this year, we might able to make some more improvements before the whole thing is over. Perhaps put in a couple of additional scaring routes or something."

"That's great," she grinned.

"Yeah, it is. The jack-lanterns are all very near completion, they've been put away now into the holding cellar so that they don't go rotten. We'll put them out on the 30th of October. The witches are working on their latest brew, one that turns humans into insatant zombies." A sigh. "And then there's Lock, Shock, and Barrel with their pranks...."

"Huh? Who are they?"

"Only the biggest troublemakers in all of Halloween Land," he shrugged. "Horrid little beasts, always into everything. Hiding things, ruining stuff, disturbing folks....they especially like to frazzle the mayor's nerves, they love that.

"Why do they do this?"

A shake of his head. "Who knows? Bad seeds is all I can say. They live with Oogie Boogie, who if you didn't know already, is the resident force of evil. They act as his little henchmen, doing his bidding when he wants them to. Now I'm not exactly sure of what he has them do, but I know he only eats live sacrifices. I suspect human, which is against the law, but I have no evidence to support that."

"Poor kids," she sighed. "What a rotten childhood."

"That's the way it happens sometimes." He paused now, gesturing in front of him. "Ah, here we are. Your task is just inside, where all of the activity is taking place."

Together they climbed up the front steps, the doors opening mysteriously on their own. Sally's breath caught in her throat now as they stepped in; the activity! It was almost overwhelming everything that was going on. Countless people scuttled around, doing this and that, all preparing for the big night.

"Lots going on, huh?" came the voice from beside her.

She was taken aback somewhat by all this. "Yes....it's quite busy...it reminds me of my first day of creation, when the doctor took to town center."

"JACK!" came a sudden voice from behind them. Sally was somewhat startled by this, turning with the king to see who it was.

It was a little man, short and obese, wearing a spider tie and an outrageously tall hat.

"Jack!" he repeated. "Where have you been?"

A little motion towards his side. "Finding Sally here. Here, I don't think you two have met. Sally, this is the mayor. Mr. Mayor, meet Sally."

They shook hands. "Nice to meet you, miss, Jack told me he had an assignment for you."

"Apprantly so, yes."

"Well, I think you'll enjoy it, it suits you." He turned towards the king. "Now, I was going to mention to you..."

A wave of his hand. "Sorry, my good man, can't talk now. Maybe later."

"Oh, right then. I'll speak to you later."

"Sounds great. Come along then, Sal." Without another word he led her over to the stage, leading her up and toward a table on stage left. Here she saw a pile of material laid down, along with a sewing basket. It was at this point she released her hold on him.

"Here we are then. What I had in mind for you to do was just some basic repairs. One of the vampires has a cloak that needs some mending, that's in there. Then there's the clown with the tearaway face, he got a rip in his costume from his unicycle. It needs mending now. And also the witches, a dress of theirs is in ill repair. It's all written down there for you, don't worry." He bustled through the pile, checking to ensure everything was there. "During Halloween, we pride ourselves in having appropriate attire. However, many people cannot afford the time to make the repairs." A smile. "So now, it is your Halloween duty. I know you'll do well with it."



*****