Chapter Nine:

Jack's Visitor

The Grim Reaper leaned on the edge of an odd sort of vehicle which appeared to be a cross between a black Cadillac, a monster truck, and a casket. His bony arms were crossed and if he would have been capable of doing so, he would have been scowling. The Head Of The Board Of Beyond was sitting a ways away, peering at him anxiously. It was a good idea to stay away from the Reaper when he was in a bad mood unless you were particularly fond of losing your head…not fatal in these parts…but quite annoying none the less.

Two large zombies were examining the truck quizzically, because they were zombies it was taking them a while. (Zombies aren't known for their intelligence.)

"You've been searching the truck for six hours now!" The Reaper finally snapped. Both of the decaying guards jumped and spun around to face him.

"We're looking for prisoner #13, sir."

"I know! And I can save you another six hours by letting you know that HE ISN'T THERE! HE WASN'T THERE FIVE HOURS AGO, HE WASN'T THERE TWO HOURS AGO! AND HE IS NOT THERE NOW!" The reaper slammed the casket shaped doors shut, closing both zombies in as he did. He grabbed his scythe and trudged towards the Head Of The Board in an irate fashion.

"Sir, it's important not to get worked up…we'll find him, I'm sure."

"Shut up, Arthur!" The Reaper said under his breath as he passed by. "I've no doubt he's already caused enough trouble in the time it's taken to get all of the papers sorted and to find the forms I wrote to prove that my instructions were not followed, not to mention…" He motioned towards the prison truck. "The six hours wasted looking for a phantom in a truck, when twelve other witnesses said they saw him vanish!"

The Head of the Board swallowed.

"What sort of um…trouble do you think he could cause?"

"Do you remember that incident a couple hundred years ago when that Dracula guy was causing panic in the mortal world? And all of us were extremely stressed out because we could not figure out how to kill him."

"Er…Dracula's still ali-…er…at large…isn't he?"

"Not where it counts, Arthur. Do you remember?"

"Yes."

"Well…"

"Well what?"

"Murdock was my apprentice! He has…instruments that would…be damaging to the mortal world…should he find a way to venture into it."

"I see…" He looked down thoughtfully for a moment. The Reaper's eye sockets narrowed.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

"No sir."

The Grim Reaper Sighed in frustration and headed towards the gates of Limbo.

"Where are you going sir?"

"I need to contact everyone within the area. I'm going to find that madman if it kills me!" He thought on this for a moment. "Metaphorically of course."

Shock stared up at the large, steel, circular structure with an odd look on her face. She rarely ventured into this part of town…unless it was for some sort of prank or something. She cast a quick look behind her, then, when there didn't appear to be anyone around, grabbed the heavy door knocker and heaved it against the ancient door.

There was a moment after her knocking ceased, where she could still hear it echoing on the inside. When that subsided the door opened a crack and someone looked out, still hidden in the shadows of the inner room.

"Who dat?"

Shock raised her brow and leaned forward.

"Shock. I want to see Jack…if your hiding him in there."

There was a long pause from inside. After a moment the person on the other side of the door spoke again.

"The mather thed not to let anyone in…under any thircumthantheth…" (His voice was muffled by the door, so the actually sentence sounded more like this; Them mmmther thed nowt tow lewt anyome in…undewr amy thircummmtheth.) Shock's brow crinkled and she stared at the door in annoyance for a moment, then, when whatever she was searching for in her mind did not seem to come to her, her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

There was some shuffling in the shadows of the doorway, then there was a creaking sound as the door was gripped from inside.

"Go away!" The door slammed shut. Shock jumped, then, after the echo of the slammed door subsided from inside, she glared at the wooden obstruction with something like contempt. She gripped the knocker again and slammed it on the door several times until it opened a crack again.

"You were told to go away!" It was the voice of the doctor.

"Let me in or I'll go find Murdock on my own and let him know where you are!"

"You wouldn't do that! He'd get you too!" The doctor said. However, there was some hesitation in his voice. Shock slammed her hand against the door.

"Clearly…" She yelled as she did. "…You do not know me very well!" There was a long period of silence, in which one could almost hear the doctors half brain churning.

"Very well." He said, finally. The door opened all the way. "But get inside before anyone sees you!" Shock stepped inside, vaguely aware that she had never been within the doctor's abode.

"What do you want?"

"I want to see Jack." The doctor frowned.

"What makes you think he's here." The doctor shooed Igor away with one of his gloved hands.

"I followed his ghost dog here." Shock said bitterly. The doctor's eyes narrowed.

"Stupid mutt. Anyone could have followed him." The doctors lip twitched a little as he said this. Shock ignored him. She had started to make her way to the stairs.

"Hey! Where do you think your going!" The doctor yelled after her.

"I told you, I'm finding Jack. If you wont tell me where he is. I'll find him myself."

"You can't just…!" She had already disappeared up the stairs before he was able to finish.

Sally was nudging the stitches on her ankle with her right toe, hoping that they would come loose. She had wanted to get one of her hands loose, so that she might be able to free her arms and get away, but when both of her wrists were tied and Murdock was dragging her along after him, forcing her to keep up at a bit of a run (Which she did not do well with her rag doll legs.) she had settled for freeing one of her feet and hopefully being able to kick his ankle a couple of times. They stopped abruptly, putting Sally's attempt on hold as she ran into the phantom from behind.

Sally made a sound of disgust and tried to back away from him, but wasn't able to when the loathsome specter grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up beside him.

"Well, we're home darling." His grin widened as she struggled to get away from him. He grabbed the rope again and began yanking her towards the giant tree house. Sally whimpered, but was none the less glad that he wasn't touching her anymore.

The only time Sally had ever been in the tree house was during the Christmas incident, when she had gone to rescue Santa Clause. Even then, she had only been in the Torture Chamber, and had therefore, never laid eyes on any other part of the giant lair. She pressed her lips together. She hadn't been missing anything.

Oogie Boogie's lair made the doctors house look cheerful and homey. Sally swallowed. Of course, her current attitude was partially due to the unfortunate situation she was finding herself in.

Murdock led her up a set of precariously perched stairs and shoved her into an empty room. He followed her in and shoved her onto a chair which sat beside a window (If one could call it that…it was more of…a conveniently placed hole in the wall.) While holding her down he used the rope he had pulled her there with to bind her to the chair, and after some careful observation, found a chain in the corner that he bound her legs together with.

"Another rope would work better my dear, but I'm afraid I've had them all burned. Not fond of ropes myself. You see, you tend to lose interest in certain…" He made a gesture with his hand. "…forms of entertainment, when they were used as a part of your demise. Pardon me now, I believe I have some children to punish for trying to sneak away. High pitched screams don't bother you do they? What am I saying, of course they don't…" He leaned towards her. "…your Jacky's sweetheart." He stood up and exited the room, making sure to close and bolt the door behind him. Once the door was shut, Sally began to struggle with her binds. After a few minutes of fruitless struggling, she gave up.

She lowered her head and stared fixedly at the floor. Her eyes clouded over as tears began to gather in them. She didn't think things could possibly get any worse.

Lock stared around a dark corner, his eyes darting from side to side as he watched the shadows for movement. He turned to Barrel and made a gesture telling him to hurry up. Barrel was walking hesitantly behind him. When he reached the older boy he looked over his shoulder uncomfortably and eyed the suspicious shadows that swallowed the tunnel way.

"Alright, let's go…" Lock whispered. Barrel jumped at the sound of his voice, then, a little embarrassed, followed him.

When they reached the end of the hallway Lock stopped again to look around. Barrel almost ran into him, then took a few steps back and turned to watch the other side. Lock nodded.

"Alright, I think it's clear."

"Do you? Well, I'd re-consider that…" The deep and melodic voice came from their right. Both boys turned towards it quickly. Murdock was grinning, his blood red eyes shining in the deep shadows.

"Evening, boys." Both boys took a step backwards.

"We were just…uh…"

"We were…um…"

Murdock chuckled chillingly, cutting off the boys attempt at an excuse.

"Although I'm sure your explanation would be quite…interesting…I don't believe that I have time for it. After all, I am the Pumpkin King." Lock and Barrel exchanged a look of horror. Murdock's grin widened, as he was pleased by this reaction. He bent over the two boys, his eye's turning a yellowish orange color.

"Now, I have a job for you. I have a great deal of work to do. You will go down to the empty room closest to the torture chamber and untie my lovely new play thing. Burn the ropes around her wrists, like the others, and lead her down into the game room. If she gets away, remove her legs and drag her down there. Chain her to one of the various game pieces and come find me." He brushed off his hat, shaking a spider onto the floor as he did and put it back on his head. Lock and Barrel sighed in relief when his eyes were no longer visible.

"I'd put haste on that boys. I have spared you for now, but make another mistake and I might reconsider this…friendly arrangement we have." He tipped his hat and spun around.

"Oh…" He said softly, before he took off down the hallway. "By the way…" He turned his head, his grin no longer visible as his mangled lips were pulled back in a glower. His hand, now mostly claw like grabbed Lock by the collar and lifted him off of the ground. "Even try to lie to me again, and I will send your soul to a place so desolate that not even the Reaper himself shall be able to retrieve it." He slammed the boy against the wall, and then, after straightening his sleeve, smiled pleasantly.

"Always a pleasure, boys." He spun on his heel and walked gracefully down the hall.

Lock struggled to his feet and stared after the man in loathsome fear.

"We have to get out of here. He's absolutely nuts!" Lock straightened his shirt and swallowed. "And not in a good way."

There was a creaking noise from out in the hallway and then the sound of the door swinging open slowly. Jack opened his eye socket a little and peered towards the door warily.

"Who is that?" He asked cautiously. He heard a snickering sound from the other side of the door and relaxed a little.

"I had a feeling you were still alive…"

Shock said as she entered the room.

Hurray, another chapter complete. Thank you very much for your reviews, I enjoy it when my readers hate my villain…it shows me that I am doing something right. (Although I can honestly say that I like Murdock much more then Jeff King in Pumpkin Town. I created that guy and he drives me crazy.) I hope you enjoy this chapter. I may do another one on this story, but I will most likely try to move on to one of my others for a bit.

Also, thank you very much Megan W. for all of your suggestions (And the rest of you, as well.) I do not mind making this character even more loathsome, and because I have already planned out exactly how this story will turn out, I can make things as hopeless as I so desire without having to worry about writing myself into a corner. Updates soon!