"Who is it?!" A cranky voice echoed down from the top of the tower.
"It's just us Doctor!" Sally called back up.
"Ah." The whirring sound of a mechanical wheel chair spiraled along the ramp and soon the duck like creature came into view. "My favorite creation, how are you today?"
"I'm doing just fine today. Father got me a new book." Odella held out the book for the old man to see.
"That's good to hear." The doctor was always so kind to her but seemed apathetic when he spoke to Sally, whom he now turned his attention to. "So what brings you here this time?"
"Halloween town is in danger. I'm worried people will fade away and our homes will stop existing. I came to see if there's anything you could do." Sally cupped her hands together over her heart.
"What makes you think we're in danger?" He replied.
"I had another vision."
"More of your dream nonsense girl?" He snapped a bit but sighed. "I have to admit they usually did have some truth but they're still illogical and you shouldn't cry out in alarm with every single one. I'll make some plans but I won't actually do anything until there is real evidence that Halloween Town is endangered."
"Thank you. I know Jack will be pleased." Sally sighed and gave a smile.
"Where is he now anyway? It's too late for any meetings I assume."
"He went to talk to the other holiday leaders. To warn them."
"A little bold in my mind but I guess the Pumpkin King can't take any chances; no matter how illogical and senseless the source of information is." The old man turned his chair and began back up the ramp. "I have to go start some other work so come visit me when I'm not busy."
"Of course." Sally nodded and stepped out of the iron building with Odella right behind her. "Let's go home and wait for your father. I'm sure it'll take a while to talk with every holiday leader since it isn't a scheduled meeting."
The two walked home without any problems. Odella started a fire in the living room and set herself on her special lounge chair. She flipped open to her place in her book and continued to read. Sally entered the kitchen and decided that baking might help her stay calm. I shouldn't be worried. Jack always finds a way to fix everything.
Gathering the ingredients the ragdoll set upon making a simple graveyard pumpkin pie. She even had some left over whipped screams from her last pie to put on top. Zero, now awake and alert swayed around her feet. Despite being a ghost, he loved nipping up whatever fell to the floor. Sally didn't really mind since it saved her from having to clean it up later.
A couple hours passed and the pie was sitting in the fridge waiting to be feasted. Sally joined her daughter by the fire as they both enjoyed a slice of the dessert. Odella was half way through her book and skillfully balanced her pie on her knees to nibble at as she read further into the story. She folded the corner of the page she was on when she heard the front door burst open. Zero rushed around the corner knowing exactly who it was.
A staggering Jack made his way into the room. He leaned against the wooden archway and slid down to the floor. Zero whined with a worried look at the exhausted Pumpkin King.
"JACK!" Sally leapt to his side. "What happened?"
"Sally, I'm fine. I'm just tired." He grabbed her hand and turned his half lidded eyes to her. He spoke quickly with short, rapid breaths. "We have to get everyone out of town. The holidays aren't safe. Easter and Saint Patrick's Day are withering away. Valentine's Day is completely gone. Some of the leaders are missing. The citizens who survive are running to Christmas town but there isn't enough room or any assurance that Christmas is safe either. The worlds are actually turning into voids, empty space. When I opened some of the doors there wasn't anything behind it but a hollowed out tree.
Santa is the only leader I could actually get a hold of. He doesn't know what's going on. The only thing for certain is that no one is safe not even Halloween. I don't know how to save my people or my holiday." Jack closed his eyes and pounded his head against the wood. His frustration was evident with the cracks forming in the archway. "We have to leave but there isn't anywhere we can go."
Odella, as emotionless as she was, felt very worried and scared. It took a lot to wear her father down. Then again she guessed that walking through a door expecting a world and finding an empty void was an intense experience for anyone. She usually kept quiet during stressing moments but there was a voice in her head, an idea she had to let out.
"What about the human world?" Her voice was quiet but her parents unmistakably heard her words. They both looked at her slightly confused but Jack quickly grew a smile.
"What are you thinking in that head of yours?" He prodded her for more information.
"Well, you only checked the holiday worlds and mother only seemed worried about the holidays. So maybe the human world will be untouched. If it is maybe the holiday citizens could live there until we figure out what's happening to our homes." Odella blushed slightly with the attention to what she felt was a stupid idea the more she explained it.
"You my dear have the great mind of a leader." Jack stood and went to pat his daughter on the head. "I didn't even think about the humans."
"But wouldn't we scare the humans? I don't think they'd like to host all of the holiday people." Sally stated worried about upsetting the humans and disrupting the order things went between them and the holidays.
"We don't have much choice and I'm sure we can make some sort of arrangement. I'll go meet with Finkelstein to see if he has any ideas and then run everything by Santa." Jack headed back to the door.
"Wait, you're in no condition to go back out now." Sally protested and stood in front of the skeleton.
"I'm fine Sally but we're running out of time. I don't know how much longer Halloween has." Jack easily maneuvered around his wife and left the house. The ragdoll sighed and turned back to her daughter.
"I guess we'll be moving." Sally collapsed back into her seat. Odella lowered her gaze to her twiddling fingers on her lap.
"I'm sorry if my idea makes you upset. I know you're happy here." Odella apologized.
"You're idea was really helpful Odella. I'm just worried. It seems like that's all I can do is worry." Sally smiled trying to lighten the mood. "You could never upset me my creature."
Odella smiled back with more confidence.