Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to NBC
Chapter 11
Jack and Sally perched on the side of Spiral Mountain, looking over the town below. The celebrations for Jerod were well under way in the town centre, but neither of the pair felt much like joining them. Despite the previous evening's events, Sally felt peaceful, almost happy, sitting under the stars next to Jack and allowed herself a small smile.
In his bony hand, Jack still grasped the aged scroll tightly. He lowered his head and ran a long finger down the edge of the worn paper and sighed deeply.
"Jack?" Sally tenderly placed her warm hand over Jacks. He linked fingers with her and looked up at her patched face.
"Sally I nearly stopped him. I came so close. He was within arms reach."
"I know you did your best." Sally whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder. It didn't matter to her what Jerod did now. She had found Jack.
"That's not good enough. I've got to stop him Sally. The town's in great danger with him as Pumpkin King. They have no idea what he's capable off."
He turned his sad gaze towards the tree house on the other side of the pumpkin patch. Light from a small lamp glowed dully from inside. The scratches on his bony wrist reminded him of his cramped cell and he narrowed his gaze.
"I don't understand," said Sally, raising her head to look at Jack. "He's part of your blood line. Surely that alone…"
"He's a fraud!" Jack bellowed. His fingers grasped Sally's in a cold vice. "I am the end of my blood line. There never has been nor will there ever be a Jerod Skellington."
Jack let go off Sally's fingers and held up the scroll.
"This is my family tree. The original Skellington Family Tree. Started many, many years ago by my ancestor and kept updated by every new generation of Skelingtons. We're all here." He untied the ribbon and unrolled it carefully. To Sally's eyes, it was beautiful. A large yellow sheet of paper covered in elegant flowing scripts of the many different generations. Drawings of thin silver bones ran around the edge, forming a grand border, and meeting at the top in a bat shaped banner. Inside the banner, in large, bold letters was written
"The Skellington Family Tree"
Started by T.L.Skellington
1097
Sally ran her eyes down to the bottom of the page to the single remaining name: "Jack Skellington". That was it.
"B…but Jack…Jerod…he has your family tree. We've seen it."
"No Sally. This is the only copy. I know of every Skellington that was ever born, that ever existed, that ever died. And they're all right here in this Town's graveyard. Jerod is not a Skellington."
"Then…who is he?"
Down in the town square, the residents were still celebrating. The newly crowned Pumpkin King sat and watched the jollity from a special throne that had been constructed for the occasion. A thin smile passed over his lips. To his left sat Lock, Shock and Barrel, sent by Oogie to keep an eye on Jerod, and to his right the Mayor was rambling on about the plans for next Halloween.
"Since this silly business of proving you are who you say you is is over we can finally get to work on next years plans. There's only eight and a half months to go you know!"
"Yes mayor, you've mentioned. You don't need to worry. All the plans have already been made. You need not concern yourself with that." He reached over and snatched the scrolls from the mayor's lap and with a whoosh; the scrolls disappeared in a puff of flame and smoke. The mayor's pasty, distraught face peered up at Jerod.
"But…but sir, I have always helped Jack…"
"I AM NOT JACK!" Jerod hissed. "I do not need your help. Your assistance is no longer required. Leave my side. Join your fellow citizens in their celebration."
With this, the former mayor leapt out of his seat and hurried down the steps to the town centre.
"Well done Jerod sir. Phase one of Oogie's plan is almost complete!" Lock cackled quietly to himself.
"I know what I am doing. I do not need reminding. I shall hand out the assignments tomorrow. You can tell Oogie that he shall soon have all he's ever wanted."
Lock, Shock and Barrel giggled to themselves and crept off and made their way towards the tree house.
"And so will I" whispered Jerod as he stood and smiled and the rowdy crowd.
Deep in his dark lair, Oogie Boogie smiled to himself. His plan was working. Lock, Shock and Barrel had kept Jack busy long enough for Jerod to be crowned and had removed him from the Town Hall before any citizens had seen him.
"Oh at long last," Oogie whispered. "At long last this town is under my control."
The sounds of the town's celebration drifted down through the pipe in the lairs ceiling. In the morning, Jerod would call the citizens to the Town Hall to declare the new laws of Halloween Town and hand out the assignments, and phase two of Oogie's plan would begin.