The moonlight shone on the burial mound as Riker strode out of the door. He clutched the neck of a raven, which was alive but drugged. Adjusting his glasses, he looked around and got his bearings, then began picking his way down the hillside. His grey eyes were sharpened by a potion, just as his legs were. He knew he would need all of his senses that night.

With soft, sure steps, the doctor moved across the lowlands, referring often to a crudely drawn map he'd copied from the old book Oogie had made him. Just thinking of the bugman made Riker's fingers dig into the flesh of the bird. A soft noise of discomfort came from the semiconscious raven, and Riker relaxed his grip. He needed the bird alive. For now.

When he arrived at the edge of an ancient forest, he knew he was getting close. Referring to the map one last time, he folded it one-handed and stuffed it into his lab coat pocket, then strode fearlessly into the depths of the woods. The animals didn't scare him as they prowled around. They could sense something was wrong, that he wasn't exactly human, at least, not alive, and they slunk away after catching his scent.

There was no evidence of the well-worn path that used to lead the way to his intended destination, but the doctor didn't care. He had all night to search. But he was sure he wouldn't need that much time. He could already see the signs that he was getting close. As he broke into a small clearing, a shiver went up the doctor's spine. He knew then that he was almost there. The ground vibrated with old magic, stronger than anything the other leaders had, and just as strong as Jack and Oogie.

Squinting in the shadowy glade, he followed the buzz of magic, walking slowly toward the source. When his entire body was alight with sensation, he stopped and reached forward. His gloved hand came into contact with something that was cold even through the material that covered his hands. With a murmured word, blue fire erupted in his free hand then he allowed it to float as he moved forward to observe what was in front of him.

When he was sure that it was what he thought it was, Riker dug his fingers through the moss and began to clean off the weathered stone. As the old symbols were revealed, another shiver, almost a shudder, went up his spine. He knew what those symbols meant. And a niggling doubt in his head caused him to pause for a minute.

Was he really going to do this? He knew that this wasn't the wisest thing he'd ever done. Was he willing to face the consequences if this went wrong, which it very well could? Could he simply accept the fact that Oogie was back in Jack's life?

A grimace flashed across Riker's face, and he began to vigorously clean the shrine. When the face of it was clear, he narrowed his eyes and nodded. This was the right one. He'd never been here before. They had never let him come. He ran a gloved hand over the smooth, feathered head of the raven then broke its neck in one quick jerk. He tore off the head and let the blood run into the dirt around the base then dipped two fingers into the fresh blood and etched out a symbol in the circle that was carved into the stone. Then he stood, quenched his fire, walked a few steps back, and waited, curious and a bit afraid.

At first nothing notable happened. Riker's eyes slowly began to adjust, and the silence where a thundering heartbeat should have been was disturbing. Then the blood symbol slowly took on a smoldering glow, like the embers of a fire. Riker licked his lips nervously as the red light grew brighter and brighter. Then the bird corpse exploded into an inferno. A wide circle of flame extended around Riker, trapping him inside, and he sucked in a breath, fear making him stiffen.

As he watched, a tall, shadowy figure rose in front of the shrine, the flaming bird clutched in his fist. It seemed to be nothing but darkness, more solid and complete than the surrounding dark woods, but its eyes were balls of flame and its teeth were white and bright. A cruel grin spread across the shadowed face as it held up the offering.

"It's been awhile, Riker Finkelstein," a reedy masculine voice said. "What brings you here to my little patch of earth?"

Riker's voice was gone as a wave of oppressive terror swept over him. What was he doing? He knew better than this! This thing wasn't to be trifled with! For crying out loud, this monster was the reason Jack had night terrors! Had he lost his mind?!

The grin faded for a moment, and wariness appeared in the flashing eyes. Then it came back and the shadow leaned forward.

"Tell me. How are Jack and Oogie?"

Anger and pain spurted through his veins, flowing like blood as they filled him. He scowled and glared at the shadow, which laughed, soft and low.

"Touchy subject?" it purred.

Riker swallowed and squared his shoulders. "I want a favor, if you don't mind."

"A favor?" the shadow asked, sounding surprised.

"Yes."

A wider grin spread across the dark face, the teeth taking on a pointed edge. "Oh, but you know that's not a good idea, Riker. You're surely smarter than that."

"I'm smart enough to see that you can help," Riker said, the pulse of anger throbbing in his ears, almost as if he were alive again.

"Hm. If you insist," the shadow said casually. It looked down at the bird. "We'll have to discuss payment, of course. This was simply a summoning offering."

"What do you want?" Riker demanded.

"First, let's hear what you want."

Riker thought carefully then spoke slowly. "I want Oogie removed from the picture. Permanently."

The shadow's grin faded, and it raised the charred corpse to its mouth, chewing on the flesh as it thought carefully. The pause stretched longer and longer as the entire dead raven was devoured and the shadow picked its teeth with the sharp end of a feather. Then the shadow slowly shook its head.

"That is not possible, even with my not inconsiderable powers."

"Why not?" Riker asked, crestfallen.

"There is powerful magic holding that man together. I would have to kill Jack to even have a chance at breaking it. And since Jack is as dead, or undead, as is possible, that's an impossibility. I cannot destroy Jack, therefore, I cannot destroy Oogie."

That disappointed Riker, and he stopped to think about what else he could do, what else he could ask for that would get him what he wanted. The shadow resumed picking at its teeth with the feather, watching carefully. Riker finally nodded to himself and looked back up.

"Can you make him suffer?"

The grin widened, and the teeth sharpened even more as the fire that was the shadow's eyes flared with excitement. "Oh yes. I could make him suffer for a long, long time. He cannot truly die, but he can feel pain. I could produce an endless cycle of agony that would have him wishing for death."

A flush of hot anger twined with pleasure crashed through Riker's veins, and he laughed darkly at the thought of Oogie suffering until the end of time. He nodded at the shadow.

"That's what I want then. What do you want in return?"

The shadow moved up a thin, dark hand to stroke its chin, and it was Riker's turn to wait for a reply. The silence stretched on, broken only by the crackling ring of fire that surrounded them. After a few minutes, the shadow shook its head slowly, its eyes dimming.

"I cannot ask for payment for something I cannot do," the shadow said softly.

Riker blinked. "But you said you could do it!"

"I could if he were in the mortal realm. But where he is, I cannot go. I have never been able to cross to that magical dimension you call Halloween Town, nor the other Holiday Realms."

Panic seized Riker. "No! You have to do it!"

"Can you lead him out of the realm?" the shadow asked smoothly.

Riker flinched. "Oogie won't leave except on Halloween. Unless Jack is missing. He'd never follow me out," he grumbled.

"Then there's no way I can do as you ask. Unless…" The shadow paused thoughtfully.

"Unless?" Riker asked hopefully, heat and eager excitement running through his veins like blood.

The shadow leaned forward, its teeth flashing. "Unless you lead me into the Halloween Realm. Then I could make Oogie suffer. Over. And over. And over…."

Riker stood stock still, his mind racing. It was hard to think past his anger and hatred of Oogie, hard to imagine a future where he said no. All he could really think was why not? He knew every way possible to get into Halloween Town, but the shadow would need a talisman to get past the barrier, a talisman made from items only found in the Halloween Realm. He could make one with ease. He could bring the shadow in. He could watch Oogie suffer. Over. And over. And over…

"Deal. I need to make the talisman. But what payment do you want?"

A wide, unnatural grin spread over the shadow's face, and it sat on the top of its shrine, its tall, thin form looming over Riker's.

"Oh, I think the talisman will be payment enough, Riker. Bring it to me here in three days with another bird. A crow, if you don't mind. I prefer murders to conspiracies any day."

Riker nodded and he held out his hand. The shadow clasped it and the fire around them turned black with red flames licking up into the sky, sealing their promise. With one final grin, the shadow disappeared into the ground in front of the shrine, leaving Riker feeling strangely tired and empty.

After a few minutes of letting his eyes adjust to the dark again, Riker turned and made his way back toward the burial mounds. It would take a day to gather the ingredients and a day to make the talisman. That would give him just enough time to get it done and then return to the shrine. As he stepped out of the forest, he looked up and saw the burial mound at a distance, and he stopped.

He still had time to renege on the deal. He could go to Jack and tell him what he'd done, ask for help to get out of the promise. It was the smart thing to do, the only thing that made sense. And for a single minute, he could think clearly, and he knew he had made a terrible mistake. Then he thought of Oogie's gloating face if he admitted he'd done wrong, and rage clouded his mind again.

He would begin as soon as he got back. And then Oogie Boogie would know what it meant to suffer. Just like him. Only for Oogie, there would be no death at the end of the torture. And that was a pleasurable thought.