Chapter 4:
As they were setting off straight after learning the way to the human world, Acacia and Raz detoured to the town's fountain.
Seeing the faint greenish glow reflected off Raz's skull was kinda creepy. She took the crystal vial out of her pack and he did the same.
Almost everyone carried a crystal bottle about. It was the only thing that could hold the spring water because it melted trough the other bottles.
The both plunged the vials into the fountain, waiting until it filled up completely or it burned Acacia's flesh off her left arm.
"Whatcha doin'?" asked a voice behind them. She turned, it was the Corpse Kid. Although, nobody could call him Corpse Kid anymore.
Halloween Towners grew up once they were dead, but never grew too old. Unless you had died old and came here.
And everyone just called him Corpse now.
"Nothing," they both said automatically."We just came for some water." said Raz
"At the same time" added Acacia
Corpse wasn't so easily misled.
"Okay then, where are you going?"
"Nowhere!" they both laughed again.
The vials were full now. Acacia took them both, replaced the corks and put them back in their bags.
"So, Raz. Where is Sally?"
He pointed in the direction of the Hanging Tree's home.
"There." He said
After a while, they arrived outside the entrance to Big Hanging Tree. Acacia looked at Raz, telling him to call out.
"Mom?" he shouted "Mom, it's me, Raz!"
"Sally! Are you there?" cried Acacia
No answer. That was strange, Sally was nearly always there.
"Perhaps…she's gone to Doctor Finkelstein's?" she suggested
"Or to get another load of deadly nightshade."
Raz shrugged and they went to look for her.
But after talking to the Doctor, and looking in the right places, they couldn't find here. Nobody knew, nobody had seen her.
Raz was getting anxious.
"What if…" he reasoned for the fifth time in an hour. "What if I ask my dad where-"
"No! Raz don't you get it?" she interrupted, shouting at him.
He glared back at her, with a look that reminded Acacia a lot of Jack.
"Sorry." She mumbled, looking down at the floor." But we can't go see him because he'll say we can't go and then that's it. This town'll die and that's the end of Halloween. Imagine."
He thought, and then heaved a sigh.
"I know. But what are we going to do?"
"Well, Jack isn't the only holiday leader who knows where it is, is he?"
He looked at the girl confusedly.
"What?"
Acacia smiled that smile.
"What about Sandy Claws? He goes once a year too. He's bound to help us, after Jack saved his life."
"Twice," added Raz,"And yes, he does owe us a debt. And he would know. And you're right."
"As always." She said proudly.
He scoffed at her.
"So all we have to do-"
"Is get to the Hinterlands-"
"Persuade Sandy to tell us-"
"And boo! We're off before you can say oh my god what are we doing!"
They both laughed and set off for the old cemetery