Chapter 13: Straighten out your act.
Jack hurried down the walk to the gate. Once there he unlocked it, slipping through effortlessly. He shut the gate and stepped through the town square. Mr. Hyde tipped his hat, as did the other two Mr. Hydra beneath. "Good evening, Jack! Beautiful night for a walk, h'm?" Jack stopped momentarily, greeting his friend. "Good evening, Mr. Hyde. Yes it is. I'm afraid I can't stay and chat. I'm on my way to the graveyard to take care of business." Mr. Hyde, all three of them, nodded. "I understand. Perhaps another time them. Good night, Jack!" Jack waved before hurrying through the town gate, looking around as he walked down the path to the gate near the old cave in the graveyard.
Upon entering the south graveyard, he spotted the mausoleum just across the bridge and around a corner. He quickly crossed, making a beeline for the mausoleum. He could feel his anger rising. Those three had the nerve to talk to HIS daughter! "Just wait till I see them...And if they're up to their old tricks again..." Jack threatened. He approached the mausoleum and gave the door three hard knocks of urgency. "Meg is that you? Did you bring more food?"
"You idiot! What if that isn't her?"
"Who else would come here, Shock?" He heard Barrel ask just before the stone door opened, to reveal the one person the trio never expected to see at their door. "J-J-Jack Sk-Skellington!" Barrel shouted in shock. Shock pulled him behind her and stepped up to the doorway. "What are you doing here and how did you find us?!" Jack crossed his arms. "My daughter told me. What are you three up to THIS time? And where's Lock?"
"We're not up to anything! And Lock is asleep. Hey!" Shock was moved aside as Jack stepped in, walking down the stairs. When he saw the devil curled up on the floor he bent over, tapping Lock on the shoulder. The male rolled over onto his back and slowly opened his eyes. The sight of an angry Jack made him scream and bolt over to the wall. "Jack?! What are you doing here?! Shock! Barrel!" The two came running down to stand with Lock defensively. Jack straightened. "You three were hanging out with my daughter! You three better tell me what you're up to or I'll-"
"We're not up to anything! We don't serve Oogie anymore! We've been fighting to survive out here for sixteen years!" Lock snapped angrily. Barrel wrapped his arms around his stomach and Jack finally noticed how thin
They all were. "They're almost as thin as I am..." He thought.
"...It's impressive you all have survived out here."
"Yeah not easy when all you eat are raw pumpkins..." Shock muttered. Jack relaxed slightly. "So you three have actually been keeping out of trouble?"
"Well except for bringing back Oog-" Barrel was silenced when Lock hit him in the back of his head. Jack's eyesockets widened then narrowed. "What was that?"
"N-nothing! Honest!" Lock stammered nervously. "I knew it! You three brought back Oogie Boogie! Again! After all of my warnings! Where is he!?"
"Nice going, Barrel!...He's probably at the tree house. We ran away after we brought him back." Shock answered reluctantly. Jack widened one of his sockets. "Oh? And why is that?" The trio was silent, looking at their feet. "Tell me or else I'll scare you so bad-"
"He tried to eat us!" Barrel blurted out in fear. Shock and Lock looked at him. "Sorry guys but Jack is still scary!" He whined. Jack was taken aback. Oogie had tried to eat them? Really? At Jack's bewildered expression Lock turned red in embarrassment. "He...tried cooking us into a stew...There. I said it okay?! Exactly as you had said. We grabbed Barrel and ran. We haven't went there since." Jack took it all in. "They had actually abandoned Oogie... Who's to say they're not making their own plans though?" Jack thought.
"Alright I believe you. But I'm watching you three! If I find out you are planning something involving my daughter, I will make you all pay! Understood?" The trio nodded cautiously.
"Good." Jack straightened himself and turned to leave. "Oh and one more thing...I'll be watching you especially closely, Lock!" The tall skeleton walked up the stairs and shut the mausoleum doors behind him. Barrel calmed down, stepping out from behind Shock. "Wow...Jack is still scary as ever!"
"I hate to say it...But you're right." Shock agreed. Lock scoffed, crossing his arms. "Please! He was so NOT scary! Wimps..." Shock got in his face, glaring at him. "And who do you think you are calling US wimps?! You were just as scared as us!"
"Was not!" Lock argued. Shock snorted her disagreement. "Is that why you screamed like a girl and ran?" She taunted. "And you were barely able to talk to him! Even I wasn't stuttering!" Barrel snickered. Lock growled, swinging his plunger at them both. "Shut up!" They jumped back and laughed. "Not to mention how red you were! He embarassed you sooo bad!" Barrel burst into another fit of laughter. Lock screamed in anger, pushing them both aside and storming up the stairs. "That's it! I'm going outside to get some space away from YOU idiots!" He opened the door and slammed it shut, hard. "Morons...Stupid Jack...What'd he mean by watching me "especially closely" anyway?"
