We're winding down here people, just a few chapters left. This chappy required some research. The result is still debatable depending on environment, but even so, was moderately helpful all things considered.

"Exactly how long has he been here Lock?", called Jack. Lock peered down at the Pumpkin King through an iron barred window high above. The air smelled of death, but without the pungent insistence of a recent demise.

"Umm... I'm not sure, Jack."

"Awhile, I'm guessing?"

"Uuh... I think since Halloween. That would make sense, huh? Oogie couldn't really get out of town unless it was Halloween, so he must have brought him back here then."

Jack closed his eye sockets and rubbed them with his fingers. Why, oh why, did things always turn out like this? He opened his eyes once more, and looked at the body. More accurately, he looked at once had once been a body. Lock slid down a rope and trotted to Jack's side.

"Whoah! He's barely even there anymore, is he?", the boy said in surprise. Jack glared at him.

"They don't exactly 'keep' Lock."

Lock poked at cobweb thin matter stretched over the bones. He hadn't bothered looking at the body in ages, just knew it was here, discarded, like all the other Oogie things which were of no use anymore.

"He's almost like you now.", Lock observed.

"Not really.", Jack said, his tone dry. "Was he alive when he got here?", He almost didn't want to know. Lock shrugged.

"Not sure. Maybe not. I don't know."

Jack closed his eyes again. Don't hurt or kill humans. It was the one thing he insisted on. Obviously Oogie had done whatever he wanted to do anyway, but it bothered Jack to think that so much could have gone on under his nose.

"Why would Oogie even do this?", Jack asked angrily. "I thought he ate bugs."

"Sure! But what do bugs eat?", said Lock with a laugh. "Who cares, Jack? I know it was against your rules, but Oogies's gone now anyway, right? You killed him."

"I did.", said Jack. "I killed him." The conversation stopped for a moment. Then, returning his attention to the corpse, Jack said quietly "This is too old, Lock.".

Lock stamped his little foot in irritation.

"Nuh-uh! You don't know that! You're not a doctor!"

Heaving an exasperated sigh, Jack reached deftly into the remains, releasing a cloud of putrid dust. Being the king of Halloween, he felt no special revulsion at this, aside from knowing that his hopes had been dashed yet again. Jack extracted his boney hand, closed around a desiccated, gray, object. Lock leaned in for a better look.

"That's a heart?"

"Not one that's going to beat again anytime soon.", Jack sighed. He opened his fingers. The heart, as dry as sand, crumbled between them and ran through to the floor.

"Wow. Sorry, Jack.", murmured Lock. He wondered if he could hold Sally to her promises. He'd meant well after all. How was he supposed to know that human bits were so fragile? Jack stood, his hand covered with dust from the corpse. He held it out before him so as not to soil his suit. On occasions as maddeningly hopeless as this, Jack found it could be comforting to hold on to what little control one had, even if that was something as unimportant as the cleanliness of one's suit. He turned from Lock and easily climbed back up to the surface. Lock scrambled to follow.

"Where're ya going now, Jack? Back home?"

The Pumpkin King didn't answer, just walked away toward the cemetery, his skull hung low.

The sky over halloweentown was a deep, inky, blue. It melted into lavender at the horizon. Jack paused at the edge of the pumpkin patch to admire the first twinkling stars of evening. He chided himself for having pinned hope on such an absurd possibility as Lock possessing a fresh and usable heart. I should have known better, Jack thought. He continued walking through the carefully tended rows of pumpkins, toward the softer earth which surrounded the lake. Kneeling by the green water, Jack plunged his hand under the surface, letting the traces of whomever that had been, slide away. He knew he would need to return home soon or Sally would worry, but decided to collect himself first, just for a moment. Bats flitted above his skull, leaving for their nightly festivities. Jack picked up a smooth stone from the banks and skipped it lightly over the water. It skipped six times. Not bad, thought Jack. I wasn't really trying after all. He sat, leaning forward over his knees, and soaked up the night sounds. Several minutes passed before his solitude was interrupted.

"Jack? Are you alright Jack?"

The fishgal emerged from the lake, surprised to see him. Jack gave a small wave.

"Yes, fine. Just resting here for a spell is all."

She smiled and slid through the water until she was beside him.

"I haven't seen you in town this week.", said Jack. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes, fine.", she said. Her voice rasped somewhat as she talked. "I've acquired a cold is all, but thank you for thinking to ask, Jack. And what of your problems? Any news?"

Jack smiled sadly and shook his skull. He looked away. The fishgal uttered a low hiss. She patted his shoulder gently.

"I am sorry, Jack. Do you suppose you'll find someone else then?"

He shook his skull again, frowning. The fishgal leaned closer.

"But what would you do if Sally couldn't stay with you?"

"I'd be alone.", he replied simply.

"You couldn't find another mate? You're certain?", she pressed.

"Certain.", came the answer.

"Why?"

"Because I love her."

The Fishgal nodded, backing away from Jack. She disappeared under the water. Jack exhaled sharply before standing. There was no point talking to his friends about this, he decided. They didn't understand at all, not one bit. It was like trying to explain Christmas.

Back at the treehouse, Barrel and Shock returned home, their pockets overflowing with lollipops.

"You missed out! Lookit all we got!", boasted Barrel. Lock shoved the smaller boy onto the floor and wrestled several of the pops from his grasp. That wasn't at all an unusual occurrence, but something about the ferocity of Lock's attack startled his companions.

"Geeez! What's wrong with you?", Shock asked. She laughed nervously. "You didn't even wait until he was asleep!"

"I had a bad day, so leave me alone!", growled Lock. He winged a baseball at Shock, narrowly missing her hat. I can't believe I'm not going to get my cookies, or my kiss, he thought. Life sucked.