W00t! Just returned from an over-nighter with a friend where we watched Tim Burton's master piece 8 ½ times in a row. XDD Our goal was 10 times but we ran out of time. ;; (Now if I could only kick as high as Jack and do frontward flips, I'd be able to mimic all his moves. X3)
Lone Warrior2:
Glad to see you like it so far. XD Yes, I just had to throw in some Jack & Sally fluff, I have a thing for wanting a little bit of everything in every story I do. (I.E. A little of Comedy, Romance, Action, Adventure, etc) Hope you enjoy the rest. )
Dragonmistress and Celticgirl:
I'm nice again.. For now at least. n.n
A/N: For anyone who's interested, start looking for a second Nightmare Before Christmas story that I will soon be coming out with. I believe it will be one of my more anticipated stories that a friend and I are developing together, so I hope everyone who takes the time to read it will enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying writing it. It's yet another tribute to the genius of Tim Burton, by that I mean a fic that if he happened to stumbled upon it while surfing the net, he could be proud. X3 There's no decided name yet, and the story is still in works, but let's just say it's a bit of a prequel involving a Pleasantville-type-neighborhood, pest-be-gone, and a whole lot of Jack. ;-)
October 30th
Five. It was the day before Halloween, and five were still missing with no clue as to their whereabouts. Much to Sally's surprise, the preparations for the holiday continued on as normal. Normal save for the uneasy expressions and suspicious gaze of many a worker that bustled about where she perched on the side of the fountain.
The rag doll was sewing a few last minute garments for Halloween's residents, as instructed by Jack, when she caught a glimpse of the terrible trio, formally known as Boogie's boys, scurrying across the cobblestone ground and through the cemetery's wrought iron gate. It creaked closed behind them sending out a loud thud as it hit the stone wall.
"Hm.." Sally paused halfway through a stitch, her eyes drawing up at their inner corners while she bit her lower lip, her gaze lingering on the doorway that lead to Cemetery Hill and the old dreary forest. The three had been acting strange the past few days, instead of running around Halloween pulling pranks and stealing food, they had remained reclusive in the twisted, decrepit tree-house they called home. It wasn't that often that one would see them out and about anymore.
Sally placed the ragged cloth she had been working on beside her basket of sewing tools and walked slowly through the crowd towards the gate that her gaze remained fixated on. Jack had told her he didn't believe they were really up to anything more then being themselves, but she had to have some reassurance. She had to be sure he was right.
She stepped through two of the jagged bars, trying to avoid being forced to open it and make the loud creak it always seemed to perform. She didn't want the three to be aware of her approach if she could control it.
Glancing around cautiously, she at first saw no sign of the threesome. Only the dark brown of the curling hill and the grayscale cemetery surrounding it. A gargoyle on a tomb stood only a few yards away, sneering at her with spiteful knowledge. If only that black, grisly sculpture could speak.
Then something suddenly caught her attention in the forest.
Was that possibly a shadow she just saw move through the brown trees? Sally made her way through the tombs and through the pumpkin patch. She walked past the fence at the base of the hill and onto the rag-tag path that lead to the gruesome entrance of the foreboding forest. Jack had advised earlier that day no one stray too far from the main square.. But Sally's curiosity got the best of her as she peered through the thicket of trunks and lanky branches.
There it was again! A shadow not far away, followed by a chorus of children's giggles that echoed against the trees.
Sally took a step back in uncertainty.. If they really were somehow related to the strange happenings.. What could she possibly do? But her mind pushed her on. "Lock..? Shock..?" She looked around and took one hesitant step onto the leafy soil, "Barrel..?" There was no response but the silence of the forest.
"No no no, it would look much better here by the fountain." The tall, grey haired witch scoffed holding a large pumpkin with a crooked face.
"Oh you've no taste." Proclaimed the Harlequin demon. "The colors would clash with one another! We'll put it beside the skeleton tree."
"No." The witch snapped in defense.
"I believe I can resolve this." Jack's voice replied to them both. He was approaching the two his usual, bony smile worn on his skeletal face. Taking the pumpkin in his hands he placed it on top of the fountain where it settled and balanced itself.
"Brilliant!" The harlequin demon exclaimed.
"How horrible!" The witch implied with awe. ('tis a good thing)
Jack shook his head with a snicker as the two departed to help the rest of their friends, anything he did was 'brilliant' to these people. At one time he may have cringed at it, but he had become quite indifferent by now. The skeleton turned to survey the rest of the preparations, only a few more additions and everything would be ready.. He only hoped the missing would turn up soon.. Halloween just wouldn't be the same without the Mayor and the others.
His sight caught the abandoned basket of thread and needles sitting next to the fountain at his feet, the old coat he had asked Sally to mend lying with it. Jack felt as though something inside him dropped, and he looked around the square quickly. Where was Sally? Suddenly there she was, walking through the cemetery's gates, all of the breath he had held released with final relief.
"Sally, thank goodness." He sighed as she approached him while he held the side of his head as if he had a headache. She looked up at him, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"You scared me, that's all.." He said. "Don't wander off like that.. With all the vanishings it's dangerous."
That was a first, she scared him? It made her feel guilty. "Oh.. I'm sorry." She leaned down and picked up her basket.
"It's alright." He looked down at her, propping his hands on the back of his hips casually. He couldn't take this stress, and sometimes Sally's curiosity didn't help at all. Jack looked up to see the Behemoth and Mr. Hyde trio pulling a wagon of last minute supplies through the front gate of the town. "Careful with that!" He exclaimed taking great strides towards them.
"Are you sure this is it?" Barrel asked poking at the old stone tomb. Lock crept out of the trees of the forest carrying an armful of wood, which he dropped at the foot of the near statue. "Yeah, I'm sure." He replied with a tone of annoyance, "This is the one I saw him come out of."
