* Author's Notes* I changed the title of the story because I realized it sounded weird. Who knows? I might change it story takes place after Dark Days, so there are some minor spoilers. I hope you enjoy it, so review please! Thanks. -TC

Chapter Two: Kidnap the Detective!

A bitter wind bit through Valkyrie Cain's clothes. She shivered. She loved her life, but it had its… setbacks. Skulduggery Pleasant, the Skeleton Detective, barely noticed the cold. After all, thought Valkyrie, He is dead. She and the dead man in question were slowly trudging up a hill, toward a small, isolated town. She muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a swear as she tripped again for the 16th time. She thought of things her reflection was doing. It's probably warm and comfortable, and gorging itself on candy. Hmm… Candy. Valkyrie quickly shook herself out of her reverie. You have a job to do, she reminded herself. Even if it is Halloween, your favorite holiday EVER! The detective duo was investigating a series of robberies that had happened during the past week in the small town. There had been quite a few magical objects stolen too.

It feels so good to be on a case with Skulduggery. After he had been gone so, so long. Just a normal case, no saving the world type things. Finally. His voice broke the silence.

"Any thoughts?"

"On what?"

"Oh, the weather, your favorite book, and I don't know… the case?"

" Well, what did he steal?"

" Or she."

"Or she." Agreed Valkyrie.

" It's strange." Shelooked at him. " -Er." He amended. He cleared his throat, even though he didn't need to and had no throat. "Well, he-"

"Or she." Interrupted Valkyrie

" Stole a large bag with binding properties, a glamour amulet, a confusion charm, and a map." There was a questioning pause.

" A map?"

" Yes, a map."

" I'm not disputing the fact that he or she stole the map, just why?"

" Maybe they thought they would get lost on the way back."

" Does the map have magical properties?"

"No."

" Then why are we disputing about a map?"

" To simply dispute, my dear Valkyrie." She rolled her eyes. They arrived at the top of the steep hill. Valkyrie sighed. She missed the Bentley. Now it was practically walking everywhere.

" So… is it just a stakeout or what?" she asked

"Yes, it is a stakeout."

" Do I contact you when it gets suspicious?"

" Contact?"

" We are splitting up aren't we?"

" Oh, yes, yes. Of course." Skulduggery said.

"Okay then."

" Right, I take the east side of the village, and you take the west side."

"Fine." She headed toward the west.

"Oh and before you go…" called Skulduggery.

" What?"

"You might want to put this on." He tossed her a glittery object. She caught it and looked at it. It was a black mask, embroidered with red, and decorated with silver beads. It would make a perfect addition to her "costume" (her work clothes). When she looked up again he was gone. She headed to the west side of the village.

A few hours later, when her stakeout was proving to be fruitless, Valkyrie noticed a silent figure heading in her direction. She narrowed her eyes. It was a girl, approaching steadily closer. The girl appeared to be speaking. What's she saying? Wondered Valkyrie. She listened closer. It sounds like… she's singing. Valkyrie was indeed right. The girl was singing.

" I sense there's something in the wind, that feels like tragedy's at hand." Valkyrie looked at the girl closer. She had long black hair, and huge hazel eyes that made the rest of her seem very small. Her skin was white, almost blue, and she was taller than Valkyrie, but moved like a small child, clumsy and graceful at the same time. She had a small, almost nonexistent, nose. She was painfully thin, and there were huge bags under her eyes. She looks like a corpse, thought Valkyrie. Maybe that's her costume.

"Umm…Hello?" Valkyrie called to her.

" Hello." She smiled, and it was lovely and strange, as her teeth were perfectly white and straight, but pointed at odd intervals. Valkyrie couldn't think of anything to say but:

"I-I like your costume. It… looks so real…" She silently cursed herself. How could I say something SO stupid?

" Thank you. And I yours." Her accent's not Irish. American maybe?

" I uh, noticed the song you were singing." Why can't I say anything right? I sound like Fletcher!

" It's a song I learned from my mom."

" Okay…" she said. " You're not from around here are you?" AGGGHHH! I'm turning into Fletcher!

"No. I come from a place very far away." She said elusively.

"Oh." With nothing more to say Valkyrie stared a bit at the girl. The girl cocked her head, as though listening to something. She turned.

" I have to leave."

" Okay. Um… goodbye."

" Good buy?" Valkyrie stared at her. "Oh yes… um, good buy, and have a frightening Halloween." The strange girl strode briskly away into the gloom of the night. That was the weirdest girl I've ever met…Valkyrie was suddenly distracted yet again by the sound of singing.

" Kidnap the skeleton man, lock him up real tight, throw away the key and then turn off all the lights!" She froze. Skulduggery… she broke off into a sprint to find him. The song continued, describing all the horrible things they were going to Skulduggery. Assuming it is Skulduggery, and not some stupid songs stupid kids are signing. She raced toward the town square, calling his name as she went. The square was completely empty.

" SKULDUGGERY!" she yelled, no doubt waking some of the residents. She sobbed. She couldn't help it. She ran into an alley and slumped against a wall. She cried and thought of the long time Skulduggery had been inside the Faceless Ones' Dimension. Oh wait, she thought, sitting up. I can call him. She cursed herself as she dialed. Pressing the phone toward her ear, she looked into the gloom.

Who were those three figures coming toward her? She strained her eyes; she couldn't see very well in the dark. She could make out a pointy hat, and …horns? Am I seriously seeing horns? The three figures were whispering among themselves.

" Is that him?"

" I don't know, I can't see very well in the dark." There was a sound of a smack.

" We better not get this wrong. She won't be pleased." The voices were unpleasant, loud and whiny.

" Never mind her. If we don't get them, he won't be pleased."

" And then we'll be punished."

" Then let's bag him!" They stopped whispering. They came even closer to Valkyrie. Skullduggery wasn't picking up. She was trapped like a rat. She rubbed her black ring. Should I use my powers? But, they could be mortals. She prepared a fighting stance anyways. Then they spoke as one.

" Trick or treat!"

" What?" Valkyrie asked, suddenly confused. She dropped her stance.

" YAAAH!" They yelled, pulling a large black bag over her head. She dropped her phone as she struggled. Then something large and hard hit her head. And then everything went black…