Hi everyone! I'm sorry I haven't written any chapters lately. I've been sick and busy. Well I hope you enjoy chapter 8!

Chris was sitting against a building thinking about what had just happened.

Why did she run away? Did I say something wrong? Does my breath smell?

Chris checked his breath quickly.

Well it smells like worms wart. I don't understand.

"Well, well, well, where have you been all night?" A voice from the side of him said. Chris turned to see his dad leaning on the building.

"Dad! I was at um, well I was w-walking through town. Yah, that's what I was doing, I was walking through town."

"All night?"

"Yes."

"All alone?"

"Okay, okay I admit it. I wasn't walking through town. I-I was with Maria on the hill."

Jack looked at his son for a moment, and then smiled.

"Oh, so you charmed her. That's my boy! You have your father's charm."

"Mmm, not quite dad. The minute she got up she ran down the hill as if she had seen a monster. I just can't figure out what happened."

"Well maybe she…" But before Jack could finish his sentence the cat siren began to cry. Everyone gathered in the town square. Since tonight was Christmas Eve they thought it was just the Mayor telling them the things that had to be done. But when they got there the Mayor had his worried face on.

"Everyone!" The mayor said. "There's a message from from…OOGIE BOOGIE!"

Everyone gasped. It was impossible Oogie had been died, or so they thought.

"Here's what he wrote." The Mayor said as he began to read the note out loud.

"Dear, Chris Skellington,

Come to the tree house alone, or else.

Oogie

Everyone looked at Chris in shock. Even he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Me. Why would Oogie want me? And what does he mean 'or else'." Suddenly it dawned on him. "Maria!"

Chris turned around and started to run into the woods when a hand grabbed him.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked.

"Dad I have to go after her. If something happened to Maria, I don't know what I would do."

"Then I am going with you."

"No dad! You heard Oogies note. He told me to come alone. If you come, he'll kill Maria for sure."

Jack didn't like the idea of Chris going alone. But he knew Oogies games, and he knew hi son was right.

"Alright." He said. "Just be careful." And with that Chris ran into the woods to the tree house.

I hope this chapter was better then the last!