SCHEMINGS

"So," Jack said slowly. "You're from the world where holidays come to them, and you're here because of your friend?"

"Yep," said Siana.

"We don't know how to get back," Valary added.

"Well we can help you there. I know a person who can get you back easily, though you might have to wait a couple of months for Christmas."

Both Valary and Siana gave Jack quizzical looks, but he was deep in thought, his head resting on his hand. Sally took a sip of her tea before saying, "Maybe we should find your friend first."

"Good idea." Jack stood up and yawned. "No doubt she would like to find you. I'll take a look around town, but in the meantime both of you rest up, you look tired."

Siana yawned widely showing a row of sharp yellow teeth. She had noticed the fur on the sides of her face and arms, and didn't like it one bit. Her costume had come to life, just as Valary's had done, so that she really was a cat-woman-creature and Valary really was a mummy (and a very attractive one at that), and Annabelle was really a princess…of sorts. Curling up into a ball on the floor she lay there trying to sleep.

Valary stayed in her seat as Sally closed the door behind her, for her and Jack were going to search the town for Riks. It had been quite a night, coming to this place now known as Halloween Town, being a mummy…Hahaha, I'm a mummy.

"So, you're the Reaper man himself?"

The Grim Reaper nodded, still staring down into the empty well. The scythe he held glowed blue as Riks stood next to him peering curiously into the well. After a few moments she finally asked "Are you waiting for something?"

He nodded again and held the scythe up. Up through the well a white apparition appeared. It was in the shape of a young man with a long nose and small dark eyes. Rope hung around his reddened neck. Riks had a vague idea of how he died.

The Grim Reaper swung the scythe and cut the spirit in half. The man cried out in alarm, or he would have if he had a throat to cry out from, before he slowly faded to a small misty ball. It hovered for a moment then darted away out of sight.

"Where's it going?"

The Reaper turned and pointed to the graveyard gates as the glowing ball went through.

"Why did you kill- I mean cut it?"

YOU ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

"Just curious."

YOU ARE NEW?

"Yes."

He seemed hesitant to talk, maybe because his voice was strange. Riks didn't hear him say anything; she just knew what he said. The words seemed to pop into her mind.

IF I DID NOT SEVER HIM FROM HIS ATTACHMENT, HE WOULD HAVE DRIFTED BETWEEN WORLDS.

"…like- a ghost?"

NO, NOT LIKE GHOSTS.

They stood there in silence, waiting for the other to talk.

"I don't understand." Riks said breaking the silence.

YOU ARE YOUNG.

He turned and looked at her for the first time. His head moved up and down as he inspected her.

TOO YOUNG.

And with that he walked off, disappearing down an alley.

Riks raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head. She sat on the well, her feet dangling over the edge, wondering what to do. She knew she should look for Siana and Annabelle, but where to start?

"Hmmm."

She stood up and suddenly heard vioces. Darting around the well she crept behind a low wall and squatted on her hands and knees. Hiding in the shadows, Riks peered around the corner.

She saw a large purple hat pop into view. Squinting, she could just make out the forms of Lock and Shock, though Barrel was hard to spot in the gloom. The three were arguing- well Lock and Shock were, Barrel usually stays out of it.

"But what do we care?" Lock exclaimed.

"Oogie Boogie would care that's who!" Shock screeched back.

"I don't see a point."

"Think about that other world! No one in Halloween has ever been there."

"Except for Jack."

"Exactly!" Shock said excitedly. "Remember how much trouble he made?"

"Yeah you're right!" Barrel said.

"And, if we go there-"

"-we can have as much fun as we like!"

"No Oogie Boogie to boss us around."

"No Pumpkin Head to ruin it!"

"Yeah!" They all cheered.

"Wait!" Lock said breaking the merriment. He paced around the two.

"How do we get there?"

"Well," Shock said slyly. "We find the people that came here-"

"-and ask them to take us back?" guessed Barrel.

"No!" Both Lock and Shock screamed.

"We'll take them to Oogie Boogie-"

"-find out how they got here-"

"-and then we're out of Halloween Town!"

"Yeah!" Both Lock and Shock cheered this time, and hurried off down the street, leaving Barrel behind wondering.

"But I don't want to leave Halloween Town…" He ran off after his partners in crime.

Creeping out from the shadows, Riks stared after them. She had to find Annabelle and Siana. Now.

With the grim reaper, he is based on Terry Pratchet's Death character, so I don't own him. Wahh….