Cobwebs Tend to Grow on Halloween

I don't own anything but my OC's.

Chapter 7

"What do you think you're doing?" Cobweb's savour demanded.

"I-I…"

"That is not an answer." The person pulled Cobweb back up onto the hill.

Cobweb turned around.

His rescuer crossed their arms over their chest. Their head was a jack-o-lantern, currently with a frown on it. They wore a torn white shirt and dark green waistcoat with brown trousers. Their hat had a wide brim and resembled a witch's hat, the top of it flopped over, as if it was pointing at the person's heels. Their clogs were black and leather. By the looks of it, they didn't have any hair. Cobweb saw that they had tiny fangs sticking out of the jack-o-lantern, the back of their fangs pressing against their bottom lip. By the sound of their voice, they were Cobweb's age and male.

Cobweb yelled out in fear and stepped back, arms flailing as he almost tumbled off of the hill again.

The person grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back up. Cobweb noticed that his fingers were made of twigs. "Would you stop that?"

Cobweb stared.

"Who are you? I haven't seen around here before." The boy asked., releasing Cobweb's hand.

"C-Cobweb."

"Cobweb? As in the kid Jack Skellington found out here?"

Cobweb nodded.

"Well, I'm Alistair Skelton." Alistair poked himself in the chest with his thumb. "But you can call me Al."

"Oh…Alright, Alu."

Alistair's eye sockets widened. "No. Not Ah-loo, Al."

"Alu."

Alistair sighed. "You're not very bright, are you?"

"Well…I wear dark clothing…"

"No, as in smart."

"Oh…I wouldn't consider myself smart…"

"Hm."

Cobweb tilted his head. "Why're you made of twigs?"

Alistair looked at him. "I'm a scarecrow."

"Then why the fangs?"

Alistair paused in thought and put a hand to his mouth. He shrugged. "Dunno, they just grew."

"Do you live out here?"

Alistair nodded. "I live between here and the Hinterlands." Alistair said, pointing out at the place.

Cobweb looked the way he was pointing.

"I sometimes help Behemoth with the pumpkins."

Cobweb nodded. "That must be a boring job."

Cobweb had met Behemoth and he wasn't much of a talker.

"Nah, it's alright. I like pumpkins."

"Jack says I'm not allowed to eat pumpkins."

"How come?"

"They make bad things happen to me."

Alistair nodded and looked off into the distance. "How old are you, Cob?"

"Cob?"

"If you call me Alu, I'll call you Cob."

"Oh…ok. I'm eight, I think."

"I'm seven, so you're older then me."

Cobweb nodded.

"Wanna play tag?" Alistair asked.

"Tag?"

"Yeah." He poked Cobweb's chest. "Tag, you're it!" Alistair quickly ran down the hill.

He turned back after running a distance, only to see Cobweb standing still, blinking in confusion. Alistair climbed back up the hill slowly, in case this was a trick. "Hello? You're it."

"I'm what?"

"You…don't know how to play tag, do you?"

Cobweb shook his head.

"Well…When I poke you and say 'Tag, you're it', you're supposed to chase me. When you catch up to me, you have to tag me, then I'm it." Alistair explained.

"Oh…" Cobweb poked him. "Tag, you're it."

"No! You have to chase me!" Alistair exclaimed.

"But you're not running."

Alistair sighed and turned. "I am now." With that, he sprinted off, Cobweb following.

Alistair ran fast for a scarecrow and his limbs were made of wood, including his palms and feet, but his fingers and toes were twigs. His chest was stuffed with hay.

But Cobweb ran faster and soon caught him. "Tag, you're it!" Cobweb turned on his heels and ran the opposite way, Alistair chasing him.

Alistair was soon a few inches behind him and accidentally tangled his ankle with Cobweb's, tripping them both up. They rolled around in a ball, limbs tangled with each other's. They rolled until they hit a large jack-o-lantern, the fruit breaking and pumpkin flesh and juice splattering all over them.

Cobweb and Alistair looked down at their clothes. They were caked in pumpkin and soil.

"Oh no!" Cobweb exclaimed. "Pumpkin! I can't get it in my mouth!"

Alistair reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief, then began to wipe the pumpkin away from Cobweb's mouth. "There."

"Ow!" Cobweb yelped.

"Sorry," Alistair held up a hand. "Twigs for fingers."

Cobweb nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Sorry for tripping you up."

"It's ok. That was fun."

Alistair smiled for the first time since Cobweb had first seen him. "Yeah, it was, wasn't it, Cob?"

"Yes, it was, Alu."

"We're friends now." Alistair held out a hand.

Cobweb shook it. "Friends."

They both stood up.

"C'mon," Alistair said. "Let's play again."

Cobweb poked him. "Tag, you're it!" Cobweb quickly got up and ran off.

Alistair ran after him.

Cobweb and Alistair laughed as they played their game of tag.

Cobweb ran into something, falling onto his backside. He looked up, only to see the angry face of Jack Skellington.

Jack's eye sockets were narrowed and his arms were crossed.

"J-J-Jack!" Cobweb exclaimed, almost squeaking.

Alistair was still running and tripped over Cobweb, falling over and landing beside Jack's feet.

"What, in the name of Halloween, do you think you're doing?" Jack demanded.

"J-Just playing tag with my new friend: Alu."

"Alu?"

Alistair stood up, picking up with hat and held it to his chest. "It's an honour to meet you, Mr Skellington. My name is Alistair Skelton, but you can call me Al."

Jack took the hand that Alistair offered. "Nice to meet you, Alistair." Jack released Alistair's hand and turned to Cobweb. "You are in huge trouble, young man."

Cobweb gulped out loud. He knew what trouble meant. It was bad.

"Not only did you run off," Jack continued. "But you're also covered in pumpkin and dirt."

"Alu made sure the pumpkin didn't go into my mouth…" Cobweb said in an attempt to make things better.

"Good thing he did." Jack replied.

Cobweb stood and Jack took hold of his hand.

"I'm sorry about this, Alistair." Jack said to the boy. "Cobweb and I will be going now."

"M-Mr Skellington."

Jack turned back to Alistair.

"I was wondering, perhaps, if Cobweb could come and visit me sometime. Or I visit him?"

Jack paused in thought. "We'll see."

With that, Jack turned and led Cobweb out.

Cobweb turned and waved at Alistair.

Alistair waved back.

The two skeletons left the Pumpkin Patch in utter silence.

…

As they walked through town, people gave them a look after seeing the look on Jack's face. They knew Cobweb was in trouble. The Witches whispered to each other, saying they knew the boy was bad news.

Shadow came out of her shop and rushed up to Jack, clutching a paper and pencil she would use to design Jack's suit. "Oh, Jack, I-"

"Not now, Shadow." Jack muttered as he walked passed her.

Shadow watched them, and Cobweb turned his head to look at her, the pure look of : "Help me" written all over his face.

Once they reached Skellington Manor, Jack opened the door and let them both inside, closing the door behind them.

"Sit down." Jack ordered, gesturing to the living room.

Cobweb hastily ran into the living room, scrambling onto the couch.

"I don't believe you, Cobweb." Jack said, pacing. "You know better then to run off like that."

Cobweb hung his head in shame.

"And now you're covered in pumpkin, which happens to be the thing you're not allowed to go near!" Jack continued, raising his voice.

Cobweb lifted his head and Jack could see the tears in his eye sockets, making him feel guilty. Cobweb was a child, he didn't know any better. "Are you mad?" Cobweb asked, his voice wobbling.

Jack paused. Yes, I'm bloody mad! He wanted to shout at him. But he just couldn't. Cobweb began crying. Why? Oh. Jack's eye sockets widened when he realized what he had done. He'd said that out loud. He'd shouted at Cobweb. A child.

I'm the worst guardian ever, Jack thought to himself.

"No…" Jack answered, sitting on the coffee table in front of Cobweb. "I was worried. I couldn't find you anywhere." Jack smiled softly. "I'm glad you've made a friend your own age, Cobweb, I really am. You can't hang around Zero and I all day, can you?"

Cobweb just cried.

Jack sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout. I didn't even mean to say that. I'm sorry." Jack held out his arms and picked Cobweb up. As he did, Cobweb flung his arms around Jack's neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Jack shushed him quietly, patting and stroking his back. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Jack realized that Shadow was right. He did care about Cobweb. He didn't want anything to happen to him.

It didn't take Jack long to realize that Cobweb had fallen asleep. He'd cried himself to sleep.

Jack placed the boy on the couch, unwrapping Cobweb's arms from his neck and placing the blanket over him. He hesitantly stroked Cobweb's forehead before heading into the kitchen to prepare Cobweb's dinner for later.

As Jack cooked, he felt wrong inside. He still couldn't believe it. How could he have done that to poor Cobweb? The boy must've been petrified.

Jack sighed. He wasn't cut out for this. But he would try. He would try for Cobweb's sake, just until he found his parents.

An hour had passed, and their dinner was ready.

Jack heard the springs in the sofa stretch and turned to see Cobweb in the kitchen doorway. A sudden wave of déjà vu passed over Jack.

"Hello," Jack said.

Cobweb nodded. "Hello," He replied, his voice a little hoarse from crying.

"Dinner's ready."

"I see."

"I'm afraid you'll have to clean up first."

Cobweb glanced at his clothes. The dirt had become crumbly and the pumpkin juice was now sticky in his hair.

"You'll have to go and take a shower." Jack said.

Cobweb looked up. "Yes, of course."

"Do you know how?"

Cobweb nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Alright. The soap is in the cabinet and there are fresh towels on the radiator. Put on your pyjamas when you're done and bring these to me." He gestured to Cobweb's suit. "I'll give them a wash to get out that dirt."

Cobweb made his way up the stairs, carrying his pyjamas and hearing Jack call: "If you need anything, just call!"

…

Cobweb descended the stairs, clad in his pyjamas. Water dripped from his hair and he kept a towel around his neck to catch it before it got his pyjamas wet.

Jack sat at the table in his usual seat and Cobweb took his seat opposite him. They ate in silence for a while before Cobweb spoke up. "I've remembered."

Jack looked up from his meal. "Remembered what?"

"My age. I'm eight years old."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I had a vision while I was asleep and I heard a voice say 'Happy eighth birthday' to me."

"I see. I'm glad we've sorted that out. But…Did you just use a French accent to say vision?"

"I don't know. What's a French accent?"

"Never mind." They went back into silence.

"Do you forgive me?" Jack suddenly asked.

"For what?"

"Shouting at you."

"Yes."

"You do?"

"I do."

Jack sighed in relief. "Good. I'm glad. I don't want you to hate me."

"After everything you've done for me, Jack, I'd find it hard to hate you."

Jack was at a loss for words.

"My clothes are on the couch, by the way."

"Oh…Good."

For the rest of their dinner, they sat in silence.

…

"Did you see that?" The small witch asked the skeleton and devil.

"Yeah, Jack and that kid." The devil replied.

"Wonder why he's so important?" The skeleton boy wondered.

The witch and the devil looked at each other before shrugging.

"Whatever. C'mon, let's tell the boss!" The devil ran off, the witch and the skeleton following.

…

Jack placed the blanket over Cobweb after putting the boy's clothes into the washing machine.

Cobweb smiled drowsily. "G'night, Jack."

"Good night, Cobweb."

Cobweb stretched his arms as Jack turned to leave, then settled down and quickly went to sleep.

…

Jack lay awake in bed. He couldn't believe what he saw. He usually wouldn't be too shocked about it, but after the odd spider vision Cobweb had had, it was believable.

Jack never noticed it before, but…now he did…

Cobweb's right arm was longer then his left arm…

…

Author's note:

Wow, two updates in one day! Bonus! So, did you guys like Alistair? And isn't it cute how Cobweb calls him Alu instead of Al? See you guys next time!