The audience nearly screamed when they saw what was behind the curtain. There were drawings of fat little winged cherubs shooting arrows at people. These same people then became couples with hearts floating around them. Surrounding the drawings were heart shaped boxes and the quiver and bow Jack brought from Valentine Town.
"What's this? These people aren't scared at all," the Werewolf snarled.
"They're in love," Jack said.
"Love? Does it involve blood?" asked one of the vampires.
"Well, there are many hearts involved."
"I like this holiday so far," said another vampire.
"Those boxes are so ugly," Brunie, the gray witch said as she flew up to the stage on her broom.
"Can we know what's in them this time?" Hilda, the green witch, asked.
"Chocolates. All different kinds of them are in these boxes."
"That makes up for the love stuff, I guess," said the corpse child, who was joined by the mummy and bat child.
"Why are we doing this anyway? Who's in charge of this?" asked the harlequin demon, the upper part of his head nearly rotating in speech.
"His name is Cupid. He flies about in the sky with his feathery wings, shooting arrows at people and putting them under his spell."
"Spell? Well, we're behind you, Jack," said Hilda.
"As if we weren't before," Brunie said with a wink.
"So is it agreed that we act now? It is only a short time until February 14th, are we as a town up to it?"
"YES!" replied every creature in the room.
"Then go and do yourselves proud. Oh yes, and not one soul mention what took place tonight to Sally. No one, or else," Jack finished before leaving the stage and leaving the audience in confusion.
As the crowds thinned out into the streets, Jack was approached by none other than Doctor Finkelstein. The bald mad scientist rolled up to the Pumpkin King and looked at him suspiciously. Following him was Jewel, his look-a-like bride who dragged Igor along on a leash.
"Not a word to Sally, eh? You know where she is, don't you?"
"Finky, be nice to Jack. He is too good to be hanging around Sally, anyway."
"Exactly," Jack blurted out. "It is just that with all this speech of love and romance, Sally will begin having those.. um-"
"Pitiful delusions of happiness?"
"That's right, Doctor," Jack said with an awkward grin.
"What an intelligent strategy. Maybe now she can finally realize she belongs with us, Finky," Jewel said as Igor tugged at the leash, "Calm down, Igor."
"Yes, perhaps she will."
"Doctor, I need a pair of wings that will lift me and allow me to fly."
"Yes, I think I can help you with that. Do you mind if they are black feathered?"
"Not at all."
"Very well then. Roll me away, my precious Jewel, I have work to finish."
"Right away, Finky." said Jewel as she guided him back to their home with igor in tow.
"No wonder she ran away," Jack said to himself as he made his way home.
As the skeleton passed the group of wandering musicians along with giving them change, he did not realize he was being followed by a peculiar little girl. She was the same height as the terrible trio known as Lock, Shock, and Barrel, yet seemed much nicer than any member of the notorious trick-or-treaters. She was also covered from head to toe in black fur, with a tail and pointy ears. She poked one of the musicians to get his attention.
"Hey there. Haven't seen you around," said the sax player.
"Are you sure?" the girl asked, her emerald green eyes begging for someone to notice her.
"What's your name?" asked the musician in the bass.
"I don't know. People just call me Kitty."
"Makes sense," said the accordion player.
"Have you seen a lady with stitched and blue skin. She's really pretty and has red hair."
"That's Sally," said the player of the bass, "She's shackin' up with the bone daddy."
"Huh?"
"Just follow Jack home, Kitty. You won't go wrong."
"Thank you," said the little cat girl before running off.
"I could've sworn I've seen her around before." said the accordion player.
"We see a lot of people. Just keep playing," said the musician in the bass, leading the rest in their familiar tune.
As for the cat girl, she followed their advice and crept behind the Pumpkin King on his way home. Unfortunately, she couldn't just walk in the house behind him. It seemed that if she wanted to get in touch with Sally, she would have to wait until morning. With a shrug and a sigh, the girl walked beneath the staircase and curled up in the area underneath. She promptly fell asleep, not knowing of anything going on inside the house.
"Hey, Zero," Jack said as the spectral dog greeted him.
The dog whined and looked at Jack's chest pleadingly.
"Zero, we can't play fetch in the house. I mean it. Tomorrow, boy," said Jack as he pet the dog on its head before making his way to his room. When he climbed to the top, he found a Sally, asleep at a table with the lavender flower in one hand and her other hand faintly grasping to a notebook.
Jack slowly crept over to the sleeping rag doll and picked her up. He then proceeded to place her on his bed and cover her with a blanket. He figured one night on the couch wouldn't do him any harm.
"Sorry I couldn't come home any sooner, Sally. You're probably off in a dreamland, peaceful and happy. Either that or figuring out what this is," Jack said as he took the flower from her hand, "I've never seen one like this before. Must be the one live plant in all of Halloween Town. Pretty special in my opinion, which is why you had to have it. I can't believe myself. You're asleep and I still ramble on about how much I care for you. Oh well, Good Night, Sally." Jack finished after he kissed her on the forehead and then made his way down the stairs.
It was late by the time Jack changed and lay down on the couch. It wasn't until now that he realized how creepy his house was. The living room was full of gargoyle statues and bat-shaped lamps and such. The fact the wallpaper was full of glaring skulls didn't help either. The only thing keeping Jack from running upstairs was Zero's company.
"Just, you and me Zero...downstairs...far from Sally."
The dog stared at its master before yawning in a bored manner.
"Yes. This house sure is spooky. Never really noticed that much. Maybe I should check on Sally, make sure a ghost didn't get her."
Zero whined at Jack in a skeptical tone.
"What? It's possible. I mean, you're here. Maybe my hormones are acting up... what am I saying? I'm dead. I'm not supposed to have hormones."
Zero rolled his eyes before floating up to Jack, who was now sitting up.
"She's probably cold... then again, the bed's next to the fire. Why do I find this so confusing? This is worse than figuring out Christmas. I swear, when I figure out love, I'm writing it down," Jack finished before he heard something from upstairs.
"Sally!" he exclaimed before running off, leaving Zero to jump on the couch and claim it as his own.
YAY! Jack to the rescue. At least, he thinks he's off to the rescue. Maybe his undead hormones are acting up. There's more of the story coming up. Until I come back and post it, I'll say Hasta Luego, readers. (Re-edit Comment: getting close to fixing the plot hole. Yay!)