Dragonmistress and Celtgirl: "How could you end it there?! You're so mean! Stupid suspense! Please update soon!"

--- Because I'm just that mean.=3

Thanks for R&Ring!

By the way, has anyone else heard of Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge? It's a game Capcom is developing for the PS2. 'Tis a sequel for the movie X3 If you want the link to the trailor, just send me an e-mail.

Also:

I might be adding sketches for all of the chapters soon. Anyone think I should take the time to do so? (Like sketches of one scene from each chapter.)

Well anywho, here's the 6th chapter - In The Dead of Night. I had a lot of trouble on this one, that's why it took me so long. XP I felt like there needed to be a bit more interaction between Jack/Sally.

Hope you enjoy--


Sally trailed off, she was losing her courage once more and she didn't know how to get it back. Jack gazed on her patiently while horrible thoughts ran through his skull. What was so terrible that she would be so reluctant to tell him about? Did she do something that she wasn't sure was against Halloween's rules or not? Could she be afraid of the punishment? Or was she about to reveal to him a secret she had long kept since they're first meeting? Or worse yet.. Did she have something to do with the mysterious disappearances that had everyone's feathers so ruffled?

The skeleton refused to be believe it. Sally was the most gentle of all of Halloween, the most kind and sensible of them all, she could never have anything to do with this crisis.

"Sally, please.. Trust me." The pumpkin king's façade was that of a concerned and worried lover, "I want you to be able to tell me anything.. There is nothing you could say that would make me change my opinion of you." And he meant it. Even if Sally was to tell him she had been created for the sole purpose of assassinating him - He would never stop loving her.

His words made Sally grow but die a little bit inside. How could she keep a secret from him? She finally broke down and collapsed. He embraced her trembling shoulders gently, attempting to be of some comfort. He had never seen her like this before..

"Please don't think less of me.." She murmured through a hushed voice, "Please don't…" She calmed and was suddenly quiet in his arms. "Sally?" Jack looked down, her eyes were open but looking to the side, into the distance like she was watching someone approach, but he knew they were alone.

"Dr. Finkelstein.. He.. " She paused to take a deep inhale and clench her eyes closed, "He's thrown me out of our home.. But.. But I don't know why.. He said nothing.." It was like she was confessing to a horrible crime as she was clutching the collar of Jack's coat tightly.

Jack almost laughed in relief, but caught himself before he did. This was serious to her. Dr. Finkelstein was, after all, her father figure. To be practically disowned by your own father, and not even knowing why, would be a horrible experience. But as he was about to say something, Sally interrupted him as if she already knew what he was going to say.

"There's more.." She uttered softly, "I came back the next night… For once, I wanted to go home.. I had to at least know what I did to cause him to make such a decision .. I always knew I was nothing but an irritation to him, but..." Jack tried to cut her off, "That's not true Sally, despite what all he's always said, he really -" But she continued like she didn't hear him, "But I didn't think he'd ever go as far as to.. As to…" She trailed off, but he knew what she was about to say. When she didn't continue, Jack looked at her, "What happened..?" She was looking down at her hands that were wringing together in her lap, she had pulled back and Jack was now only kneeling before where she sat. "He wasn't there.. Him or his new creation.." Her eyes slowly rose to look at his face, "Jack.. I think I learned a new emotion that day.." She paused biting her bottom lip while the corners of her eyes drew together in dejected worry, "I think it's what others call… Abandonment.."


Sally had been staying in the Cemetery, and sometimes in the Town hall whenever the Mayor forgot to lock up at night. It had been one week and she had refrained from telling Jack because she was worried what he would think of her. Would the doctor's conclusion about the rag doll open Jack's eyes to her worthless existence? Would he be disappointed she didn't tell anyone, or try to get help? To Jack, however, it was just the first in the series of disappearances, the first case that no one had been aware of. Dr. Finkelstein, after all, was quite the recluse and usually only came out of his laboratory when he was summoned. No one had noticed his absence.

Why he had banned Sally from their home the night right before his vanishing, however, was strange.. Maybe he really had abandoned her.. The idea saddened Jack, but it would be odd for Dr. F to just pack up and leave without a second word to Jack or the Mayor..

Or, perhaps, the doctor had been trying to protect Sally..?

Sally stood near the doorway of Jack's home, the tower's interior was so alien to her. Even though she had often entertained herself from her room watching the exterior of his mansion.

She had to try to remember what she was doing there.. Never in a million years could she had pictured herself being allowed in the famous Pumpkin King's tower.

Of course, Jack had said he couldn't have her wandering the town at night. When he had asked why she hadn't stayed in her former home, she didn't even need to say it. The memories were surely painful, so instead she had decided she'd rather sleep in the cemetery. Jack couldn't have that, so he had invited her to stay in his home.

Jack came down the stair well, skipping two steps at a time but maintaining a normal pace. He was carrying a pillow and some rag-tag blankets under his arm, which he spread across an old bench with a wooden seat and wrought iron arm rests and legs. He dropped the pillow on top of the blankets and turned to face Sally with his benevolent smile. "I can sleep here, you're welcome to take my bed upstairs until we can make more suitable arrangements."

Sally had been watching him, and was surprised when the crude bench/bed wasn't for her. She smiled, but looked down. She had such a horrible habit of being shy, "That's so kind of you Jack.. But I really don't want to intrude.."

"I insist." Jack smiled and took her pale hand, then led her to the stairs. Sally held his hand for a moment, then leaned up and kissed his bony cheek. "Thank you Jack.." She took both his hands in hers and gazed up on him. "Thank you so much for caring.."