Chapter 3: A Protective Doctor

"The child escaped her?!" Dr. Finklestein asked, his mouth dropped in horror.

Jewel was equally as shocked. "Was she hurt?" She asked.

"The Beldam nearly got her from the looks of her pajama sleeve, but she was unhurt otherwise. At least physically," Jack said. "Mentally and emotionally, I'm not sure, but she seems to be settling in alright with me and Sally."

The doctor growled. "I haven't forgotten what that creature did," he said before looking down. "Poor Barrel."

Jewel looked at her husband. "One of the little trick-or-treaters?" She asked.

He nodded. "He was once the Beldam's victim," he said softly.

Jack, who had never heard this before, came closer. "Doctor, are you saying...the Beldam came to Halloween Town once?" He asked.

"No," the doctor said. "But her home was once in the woods just beyond the forest. The way to access her home was through a tree. Barrel found this tree years ago when he was younger than he is now, but when the Beldam tried to make him stay, he grew frightened and ran, somehow finding the way out through a door that used to be in the forest beyond Spiral Hill."

The skeleton felt his bones freeze with horror. "Is the door...still there?" He asked.

"No," Dr. Finklestein said soothingly. "I happened to be in that very forest when I saw that boy tumble out of the tree that led to the Beldam's home. His clothes were torn and he had cuts all over himself. I thankfully had some potions with me and mixed a couple of them to create a fiery explosion that burned the tree to the ground, cutting off the Beldam from ever coming back through that tree, but if she knows that her recent victim is here, she'll find a way here."

Jewel went up to her husband. "Has she ever succeeded?" She asked.

"Thankfully, no. One reason being Oogie Boogie. His magic kept other evil creatures from coming here to try and take over the town like he did."

"But now Oogie's gone," Jack said as horror gripped him.

"True, but because you defeated him, Jack, and Sandy Claws became our ally, word got out to the evil creatures and they don't dare attempt to take over because they know you are fierce when you defend what matters to you."

The Pumpkin King felt relief hit him. "But even so, the Beldam is sneaky. She could find a way," he said.

"Yes," the doctor said with a nod. "Why do you think Barrel is rarely ever seen without either other monsters or Lock and Shock with him?"

"He's afraid if he's alone, she'll come back," Jewel said.

"I wonder if he'll be willing to protect Coraline," Jack said.

"You'll have to ask him," Dr. Finklestein said.

Just then, the wind blew gently into the lab and swirled around Jack, some leaves forming a picture of Coraline and the lab. "Ah, it looks like you two will meet your new granddaughter soon," he said.

"Granddaughter?" Jewel asked before her face lit up. "Why Jack, you and Sally adopted the little girl?"

"Yes, but she doesn't know that yet," the Pumpkin King explained. "Sally and I didn't want to overwhelm her right now, especially since it's only been a day since she escaped the Beldam."

"Then we'll be discreet," Dr. Finklestein promised. "But I am happy to be a grandfather."

"And we'll protect our new granddaughter from that horrible monster," Jewel promised.

The doorbell rang and Jack went to go answer it, smiling as he saw Coraline standing on the door step. She blinked. "Jack?" She asked.

"Come in, little one," he said with a smile. "This is Dr. Finklestein's lab."

"Lab? Like a scientist?" She asked.

"Yes," he said with a smile. "Come. I'll introduce you to him and his wife."

She smiled, finding his smile too contagious to ignore as she followed him. She then bit her lip thoughtfully and carefully reached up to take his hand. Feeling her hand in his, Jack looked down at her with a smile and gently closed his hand over hers, his thumb rubbing gently over the back of her hand. Coraline relaxed at this, feeling a bit better, but began to feel nervous as they reached the top of the ramp and encountered two people at the top. Both smiled warmly at her.

"You must be Coraline," the man in the wheelchair said. "I'm Dr. Finklestein." He gestured to the lady beside him. "And this is my wife, Jewel."

"We're Sally's parents," Jewel said with a smile. "Jack was just telling us about you."

Coraline blinked. "He was?" She asked.

"Yes," the lady said before looking serious. "He also told us about your narrow escape."

"You were lucky, young one," Dr. Finklestein said. "I once faced the Beldam to stop her from harming one of our citizens."

The young girl gulped. "So she can come here?" She asked.

"Not by the way she could before," the doctor soothed. "But she will certainly try if she knows you're here."

Jewel nodded gently. "If you ever need a place to hide, dear, this key will allow you to enter here," she said, giving the child an intricate key. "We'll protect you from her."

Coraline gripped the key in her hand. "Thank you," she said softly.

Jack then noticed her necklace. "Where did you find your necklace?" He asked curiously.

"The two witches gave it to me," the child said. "They told me if I was alone and in trouble to just press the center of the pumpkin pendant and it will alert you."

He smiled. "So you met Helga and Zelda," he said. "What do you think of them?"

"They're nice, just like everyone I've met here so far," she said. "I can see why Sally told me not to be afraid, but really, they're not scary in a bad way."

Jack chuckled. "We prefer being scary in a good way," he said. "Just for laughs, but never to harm."

"Quite true," Dr. Finklestein said with a smile. "Oh, before we forget, Coraline, if you should meet three children named Lock, Shock, and Barrel, never tell them that you escaped that creature. You'll send poor Barrel into a flashback."

She blinked. "He escaped her too?" She asked.

"Yes, the same time that I faced her," he said.

Coraline nodded. "What about the other two?" She asked.

"I don't think Barrel has told them."

She nodded again before looking up at Jack. "Jack, it is okay if I stick with you for a bit?" She asked.

"Of course," he said with a smile.

Jewel smiled. "I'll make us some dinner, dear," she said to her husband, kissing him on the head and making him smile at her.

Jack smiled before kneeling down to Coraline's height. "I have something to discuss with the doctor and I'm afraid it would bore you," he said gently. "Why don't you go with Jewel? I'll let you know when I'm heading out."

"Okay," she said, following Jewel out to the kitchen at the end of the ramp. When they were out of earshot, the doctor turned to Jack.

"The Beldam is the reason I'm in my wheelchair," he said in a low voice. "I swear to you, Jack, I'll protect Coraline with my life."

"Thank you, Doctor," the skeleton said. "I wanted to ask you if you could create more scarecrows that breathe Pumpkin Fire."

"I can and will," Dr. Finklestein promised. "For Coraline."

Jack nodded, glad the doctor was very protective of the girl. It made him feel better, but he was still worried as he knew, despite being defeated by Coraline, the Beldam wouldn't give up that easily.

The Keeper Of Worlds asked if Lock, Shock, and Barrel had been a target for the Beldam and yes, Barrel was long ago and he doesn't talk about it. He's also never seen alone because he's afraid she'll come back for him.

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GoldGuardian2418