In the Dark of the Night

Chapter Two

Author's Notes: You guys that reviewed my story, you guys rock! I love you guys, seriously. I mean, geez. 11 reviews for two chapters. I've got another 10 on the way, if this goes the way I hope it will. So, thanks again. It WILL get better!! Believe you me! :)

Chapter Two, Part One: No, Jack, No

Just as promised, Jack began to formulate ways that he could use to help Shock get her life back in order with the now Trick-or-Treating Duo, Lock and Barrel. He spoke with Dr. Finklestein (much to the chagrin of Sally, who was still wary of the old man even after 5 years) on various occasions about Shock's behavior. Each of the meetings, the men would go through dozens of books and run an assortment of tests just to figure what could possibly be wrong with the girl. They had yet to find any information that could be useful, and Jack found himself growing more and more frustrated as the days went by.

Sally had been trying to help in any way that she could when he wasn't with the doctor, even if all she did (or possibly could) was provide emotional support for Jack. But to him, that was all that really mattered. Having his Sally by him.

Every once in a while, the nightmares would come back. And every time he had them, Shock would turn up missing. (A/N: Now, THERE'S an oxymoron for ya!) The more vivid the nightmare, the longer she would stay away from her home, and the more Lock and Barrel worried over her. He had tried everything he could to stop the nightmares, even went as far as not sleeping for nearly a week (which made him a VERY undesirable man to work with the next day), but alas.

Nothing.

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It was nearly three in the morning when Jack and Sally were awoken by the sound of the gates outside of Skellington Manor slamming. The couple headed outside to confront (or in Jack's case, attack) the intruder. Neither, however, would've expected to see a very small, frightened looking Shock, muttering to herself in a voice barely just above a whisper.

Jack placed a hand on Shock's shoulder and gave her a slight shake, waking her from her stupor. He knelt in front of the witch trick-or-treater and asked in a calm voice, "Shock, what are you doing here?"

She just stared at him.

"You know, I bet you'd like to go home. You should be there with Lock and Barrel…" He automatically knew he had said something wrong when the girl pulled away from him and hid behind Sally, as if she was some sort of protection.

"No, Jack. No. I can't go," she murmured. Sally looked at Jack, his face contorted in confusion, then addressed Shock. "Shock, what do you mean? What are you talking about?" She tried consoling the now sobbing Shock (A/N: Say that three times fast). Shock just shuddered. Jack let out a long sigh. Together with Sally, he managed to bring Shock inside the house where he noticed the full extent of her appearance.

"Oh, Shock…!" Sally cried. Shock had dark circles around her eyes, obviously from lack of sleep. Her arms and legs held deep gashes, the clothing she wore were ripped, tattered, and bloody. Her hair was all over the place and she looked as if she hadn't eaten for days. "Come on, Shock. We're going to get you fixed up." Sally half pushed, half dragged Shock to the bedroom to tend to her wounds. She shot Jack a sad look before disappearing behind the door. Jack merely stood in his spot.

"It's really creepy, Jack," Lock's voice echoed in his mind. "She'll come back from wherever she disappeared to with cuts on her arms and scratches and remember nothing…"

Jack was brought out of his reverie by screaming and a loud CRASH coming from the room that Sally and Shock occupied. He ran as fast as he could, tripping over his own two feet once or twice, barging into the room. There sat Sally, holding on to Shock, whose hands were covering her stomach. That's when Jack noticed, there was blood on Shock's hands.

"Sally?" he questioned, entering the room. "What happened?" Sally pointed in the sword collection on the wall that Jack had collected for some time. There, on the floor, was a rusty axe, which was at LEAST 100 years old. Panic began to overtake the Pumpkin King's mind as he started to put 2 and 2 together. He kneeled in front of Sally and took Shock from her arms.

" I was trying to dress the wounds on her back when she pushed me away. I tried to get her to calm down when she pushed me again. Then she spun around right into that one," she said, pointing to the blood stained axe. Jack and Sally stood up an hurried out of the room. "Jack, where are you taking her?"

"She needs help. I'm taking her to Dr. Finklestein. She could get VERY ill from this gash."

End Part One

Author's Note: I know. It's short. But it's a two parter. So if it were one part, then it would be really long! Buen provecho!!