Chapter 7: Warning And Fear

Barrel gasped awake as he sat up in bed, his eyes wide in terror as he thought he could still hear the Beldam's voice, but a moment later, his mind cleared, but he was still shaken and afraid.

He never forgot when he escaped her, thanks to Dr. Finklestein. And now Coraline had escaped her. The little boy knew there had been a chance the Beldam would try to come back for him, which was why he didn't like to be alone, but he had a feeling now with his nightmare he had just had, the Beldam was coming.

And she would get both him and Coraline.

Getting out of bed and quickly getting dressed, Barrel left the treehouse, being quiet as Lock and Shock were still sleeping. As he stepped outside, he saw the sun was just coming up and Behemoth was in the pumpkin patch nearby. Feeling a bit better, but also knowing he had to warn Jack, the little boy ran as fast as his feet could carry him, the gate opening for him as he approached it and he was soon in the town, heading straight for Jack's house.

Jack had been watching the sunrise as he was thinking of some new ideas for some playful scares when he heard running footsteps and turned to find Barrel running into the yard and pausing to catch his breath. Seeing the boy's urgent face, the skeleton lithely leapt down from the balcony to a nearby tree and then leapt again to the ground, landing quietly. "Barrel?" He called out to the boy.

Barrel jumped with a yelp when he heard his name called, but then looked relieved when he saw Jack. "Jack!" He said, running up to him.

As he got closer, the skeleton could see the raw fear in the boy's eyes and knew that this was serious. He kneeled down and caught the boy as he jumped at him and clung to him. "Jack, she's coming," he heard the boy say.

Jack stiffened when he heard that. "The Beldam?" He asked.

Barrel nodded, a few tears escaping his eyes. "I...I had a nightmare about her coming from underneath the treehouse," he said. "She...She said she'd get me and Coraline and...she wouldn't let us go when she got us again."

The skeleton held the boy as he shivered and more tears fell from his frightened eyes. "Are Lock and Shock still at the treehouse?" He asked.

The boy nodded. "I...I haven't told them, but...she'll no doubt get them too."

"Not on my watch," the Pumpkin King said. "Go inside the house, young one. You'll be safe there."

Barrel didn't argue as he scampered into the house and the skeleton quickly headed into town, finding one of the vampire brothers coming towards him. "Jack, my brothers and I are sensing a dark aura approaching," he said. "It's still a ways away, but it is worrisome."

"I believe it might be the Beldam," Jack said. "Barrel just came and found me. He apparently had a nightmare about her coming up from under the treehouse."

The vampire looked grim. "Oogie's old lair," he said worriedly. "Jack, we must get the trick-or-treaters into town."

The skeleton nodded. "Come. I'll grab Shock and you grab Lock. Barrel is already at my home."

The two headed for the treehouse and surprised the other two children, who were at first angry at the intrusion until they heard that Barrel had had a nightmare that could be a warning. "We haven't gone down into Oogie's old lair lately," Lock admitted. "It's...It's hard to explain."

"Like someone dangerous is down there?" Jack asked.

"More like...someone's watching and it's not Oogie," Shock answered. "Plus...we've heard Barrel mention something he called 'the Other Mother' in his sleep. We thought he meant a stepmom or something."

The vampire looked worried. "Grab your things and come with us," he said. "The Beldam is not to be taken lightly."

"Indeed not," came a voice and they saw a black cat appear from behind the tub. He turned around. "Well, come on," he said.

A boy came out and Jack could immediately tell he was from the Other World. He had buttons on his eyes, but his lips were sewn shut. "He is one of her creations," the cat said. "But he doesn't like what she does."

Jack slowly approached the boy, who flinched and looked at him with fear. "Shh, I won't hurt you," the skeleton soothed, kneeling down and holding a hand out for the boy to take. "What is your name?"

The boy shook his head and pointed to his throat. "He's unable to speak," the Black Cat said. "She did that. His name is Wybie."

The skeleton nodded. "Wybie, if you come with me, I can provide you protection from her," he said. "I can also see about getting that thread off your mouth."

Wybie looked at him and then back at the skeleton's outstretched hand and slowly reached for it, flinching as his hand rested in the Pumpkin King's hand, but felt skeleton fingers close gently around his hand, making him look to see the skeleton was smiling before he looked urgent. "Come, we have to go," he said.

It wasn't long before they were at Jack's house and Coraline was talking with Barrel, who told her about his nightmare and Black Cat backed up the boy's story. "You must be alert at all times now," the cat said to her.

She nodded before looking at Wybie, who was holding still as Dr. Finklestein gently and carefully cut the thread around the boy's mouth, finally getting it all. "There," he said, nodding to the boy. "I got it all."

"How do you feel, hon?" Jewel asked in worry.

Wybie looked down. "He's unable to speak," Jack said.

Coraline went to stand by her father. "Does he know sign language?" She asked.

The boy perked up when she asked that. "I believe that is a 'yes'," the skeleton said with a chuckle. "And fortunately, every resident in Halloween Town knows sign language."

"Could you teach me, Dad?" The girl asked.

"Of course," he said with a smile.

Coraline turned to the boy. "Don't worry. She won't get you here," she said.

Sally came into the room and she looked worried. "The Mayor said he is seeing smoke on the horizon and it seems to be heading towards the trick-or-treaters' treehouse," he said.

Barrel looked afraid. "That's where she's going to enter Halloween Town," he said.

"Jack," Dr. Finklestein said. "I think it might be wise to gather everyone and tell them that the Beldam is coming."

"I agree," the Pumpkin King said. "I'll tell the Mayor to call everyone to the Town Hall at once."

As he headed out, the Black Cat went up to Coraline. "You will have to face her," he said. "But I can give you something to help."

"What?" She asked.

"The Beldam is one that has love with conditions, but if unconditional love is shown, it will be her downfall," he said. "Remember that well, Coraline."

She nodded and he took off. "What are we going to do?" Barrel asked, his voice filled with worry.

Dr. Finklestein sat up straighter. "We're going to stop the Beldam once and for all," he said firmly. "She hurt our Coraline and Barrel and now hurt young Wybie. She's not going to hurt any more children. Ever."

Jewel nodded, taking her husband's hand. "Time to banish her once and for all," she said.

Sally nodded, pulling Coraline, Barrel, and Wybie into a hug. "We'll protect you," she promised them.

The children were quiet, clinging to Sally in fear.

Fear that the Beldam was coming.

A viewer had asked about Wybie and the Black Cat and I thought, "Okay." :)

Next up: The battle.

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GoldGuardian2418