Chapter 10: It's Time

The shadowy figure raced through the graveyard to the treehouse, carefully climbing into the small cage. He had to crouch to fit inside. The cage went up to the doorway of the treehouse and the male swung the cage open, stepping into the house. "Hey dad, I'm back!" Not that you care... He added mentally. With a sigh he lowered the green burlap hood to shake out light brown messy hair. He blinked bright yellowish green eyes and trudged into the living room, plopping down on the couch. It wasn't long till Oogie entered his view, stepping through another doorway. He put his hands on his hips and stared at his son with a stern expression. "Well, did you see the brat?" Alistar folded his arms and stared back. "Yeah, it's a girl. A skeleton." Oogie narrowed his eyesockets with distaste. "Great, another skeleton...I hate skeletons!" Alistar smirked. "But you keep all these skeletons around."

"Don't get smart with me, Alistar! Unless you want to go down to the lair..." He threatened. Alistar stiffened for a moment, then rolled his eyes. "Fine..." He would never let his father see his fear. He had been taken down to the lair a few years ago and it was not an experience he wished to have ever again. Oogie Boogie really is the meanest guy around... He thought. "However, a daughter makes my plan much easier..." He looked at Alistar with a wicked smile. Alistar caught it and gulped. Oh boy... "You will intersect her and play nice. Earn her trust, romance her-"

"There is absolutely NO way that is happening!"

"Fine! Then just be her friend! When you have her trust, lead her here. Then I'll trap her and Jack will be forced to give control of Halloween Town to get his daughter back! Then we'll destroy their whole family! AH HA HA HA HA!" Oogie boomed with laughter. Alistar flinched slightly. He didn't want to hurt anyone. "Wait, I have a better idea. Why don't we lock them up in the lair forever instead?"

"Hmm...Nope, the only fate they're deserving of is death!" Oogie remarked. He picked a bug off the wall and ate it. Alistar made a face. "Gross...I'm gonna grab some real food." He got up and walked into a smaller room with a cauldron and cabinet. He opened the cabinet and pulled out some worms wart, pouring it into the cauldron filled with green soup. He stirred it until he thought it was ready, then grabbed a bowl and scooped up the soup, emptying it into his bowl. He grabbed a spoon and returned to the living room, sitting down once more. "Is that Snake and spider stew?" Oogie questioned. Alistar rolled his eyes, blowing on a spoonful. "No, it's Worms wart." Oogie grunted. "Snake and spider stew tastes much better." Alistar sighed in annoyance. He stood up and walked past his father. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To my room!" He answered. He stepped onto the lift and it pulled him up. Once upstairs, he stepped off and headed into his room, shutting the door. He put the soup on his nightstand and fell onto his bed. "Stupid dad...Always trying to get me to do everything like him! And it's always.

"The Skellington family will soon meet their fate!" Or "Jack his family's demise is close at hand!" He only cares about himself, and revenge! GAH!" He yelled, burying his face in his pillow, frustrated. He was also sick and tired of his father's threats. Whenever he challenged him, bothered him, interrupted his scheming, or argued with him Oogie threatened to take Alistar down to the lair. He shuddered at the thought of being in that lair.
"...Stupid dad..."

...

The three figures ran from the gate, hurrying through the graveyard. The one with the tail led the way to an old mausoleum. He grabbed the door and grunted as he pulled it open. "Man, this thing is heavy!"

"Quit your whining and get inside, Lock!" The female yelled. She had mint green skin and long dark blue hair hanging in tangles to her waist. "I'm hurrying! And I'm not whining, Shock!" Lock argued. "Please tell me you're not starting a fight right now..." The third member of the trio spoke up. He had light blue skin and forest green messy hair hanging in his eye. "Shut up, Barrel!" Both Lock and Shock yelled at him. Barrel folded his arms, pouting as he went down the stairs, into the mausoleum. He sat in a corner, grabbing a pumpkin. He bit straight into it hungrily.

Due to the banishment, food hadn't been easy to come by. The youngest had lost most of his weight over the years. He was still short, though with the height of a teenager more than a twenty year old. Shock came down next. Growing up had been generous to her. While she still had her large nose and pointy chin, she the hourglass figure of a mature woman, with perfectly shaped legs. A real beauty at age twenty two. Lock was the last one down, having to kneel so as to not hit his head in the doorway. He was the tallest at about six feet now, with a narrow, lithe frame. His nose was still a bit big, but his face had shaped out so it wasn't as narrow now. His dark red hair hung to his chin, with his bangs styled as horns above his forehead, and the hair shorter in back than the two pieces on the sides of his face. He also grew out a small goatee. He sat down and grabbed a pumpkin, as did Shock. "I am SO sick of pumpkins!" Lock grumbled. "We all are, idiot. But what choice do we have? Security in town has improved over the years." Shock said. "Didn't Lock say he had a plan?" Barrel spoke up over a mouthful of pumpkin. Lock grinned. "As a matter of fact, I do..." Shock looked at him. "So let's hear it already!"

"Like I said, I'm gonna win over Jack's daughter. It'll take a while, but be totally worth it when I'm king of Halloween Town!" Shock groaned. "This again? I thought you had a REAL plan!"

"Shut up! It is a real plan! All I gotta do is seduce her. It'll be easy! Good girls love a bad boy." Shock and Barrel burst out laughing. "Lock you are SO not a bad boy!" Barrel laughed. Lock glared at them both, grabbing his signature weapon, a plunger, and whacking them both in the heads. "OW!" They both complained. Shock growled and swung her broom. Barrel threw a pumpkin At Lock but he ducked, making the pumpkin hit Shock instead. In just moments a three of them were wrestling on the stone floor. Finally both boys found themselves pinned under Shock. "Get off of me!"

"Let go!"

"First say I'm the smartest and strongest!"

"No way!" Both boys exclaimed. Shock cackled. "Then I'm staying right here! Or Lock can admit he's crushing on Skellington!" Lock growled. "I do NOT HAVE A CRUSH!"