Through The Hollow

Chapter 12

Jade stepped down from the car. She looked at the school that stood before her. It was her own but she had never much cared for it. She was there with her new boyfriend, Kevin. They had been dating for about a month now and she was pretty content with their relationship save for the fact that she would have preferred to stay inside most of the time rather than eat at a restaurant. Other than that everything was perfectly fine.

Kevin hopped out of the car next to her. He had short black hair that he spiked on his head all the time. His nose was small like her own as was his mouth and he had the most beautiful blue eyes. They stood out most of all against his stubble and hair. Jade loved Kevin a lot. He was kind, sweet, and, most importantly, cynical like she was. He was the perfect boy for her. Kevin had a long rode on that divided down the center and was geld together by a purple gem at the top. He had a hood that he usually left off and a scythe that he hold either hold or put in a black belt that she had made for him.

She hurriedly fixed her costume up as best as she could. For Halloween, this year, she had decided to go as the mental definition of pain and war. So, to do this, she had a short dress on that was tight to her body and a pair of jeans on under that. Then she had placed fake scars all over her body with fake blood dripping from her eyes. Her red hair was messed and tatty because she hadn't brushed it for the same purpose. Her hands had false claws all along the ends and so they looked much longer and she had some make-up on her left eye to make it look as though she didn't even have one. Her lips were painted black with lipstick and her skin was coated with white to make her pale as the moon.

She looked at the school. The committee had done a very good job on it and she was glad for that. Last year it was looked horrible and she hadn't been too happy about it, as you can only imagine. So, this year she had joined the decorating committee to do it up herself. It looked good.

Kevin took hold of her arm and pulled her along. "Let's go. We have to make an entrance."

"Since when have you ever been worried about making an entrance?"

"Since I got you for a girlfriend."

Jade felt her skin turn red and she hoped that it wasn't visible behind her make-up.

Kevin led her inside the building. They crossed through the crowded hallways and made their way into the auditorium. It was a bustle with people dancing, talking and having a good time. They were all dressed in wonderful costumes. Some of them were very original whereas, unfortunately, some were not. One boy walked by with his pants practically down to his knees and a blue beanie with a visor on his head as well as a pair of sunglasses that didn't fit his face.

"What are you supposed to be?" she asked.

"Yo! I'm a hard core rapper!"

Jade rolled her eyes. "It's people like you that give Halloween a bad name. Where's the originality in that kind of costume? There is none. All you did was slap together a costume from your old clothes that you wear everyday. The only reason that you can get away with this is because Halloween has lost so much purpose that most of the costumes seen these days are just as stupid. Let me guess… You're going to go out with some friends, bang on doors and demand candy?"

"Why you have to go up and do that? Jade… it's me." The boy removed his glasses to reveal sagging brown eyes with rings caused from lack of sleep. Her smiled at her with bright white teeth. Jade was a little taken aback by the tanned boy's face at first.

"Ulmer? I didn't know that you chose these kind of costumes… I didn't even know that you liked Halloween…"

"You have it right there. I don't. The only reason I'm like this is because Carl and Reeaz were going to pick me up here and we were going to score some candy before the night's over."

"They haven't shown up?"

"Nope."

"I'm not surprised. Oh well. Have a good night Ulmer. Happy Halloween."

"Yeah… sure…"

Jade walked away, still attached to Kevin's arm. Ulmer slowly put his glasses back on and slipped into the crowd.

"Why don't I go and get up some punch?"

"Kay."

Kevin broke off from her and wandered through the throng towards the punch bowl, leaving Jade there in the crowd all on her lonesome. She sighed. Now that he was gone there was nothing to do for a little while. But she decided to take matters into her own hands. Jade started to dance a little bit, not really caring if people thought that she was crazy for not having anyone to dance with.

"What are you doing?"

Jade turned around abruptly at the sound of the voice. Her eyes sat on three people that had emerged from the crowd to greet her. Well… 'greet' may not be the best choice of words for this particular moment.

Cleo was standing there. She was next to Hilary and Andy. There were all girls in the same grade as Jade. Each of them had blonde hair but Hilary's was a little browner than the others'. Cleo had a short pink dress on with the shoulders puffed out. If someone were to bend down ever so slightly they would have been able to see her undergarments but Jade was aware of the fact that Cleo liked it that way. She had lots of jangling bracelets made of gold that went all the way up her arms. There was a tiara that sat on her head with a purple gem on the tip and she had a pink wand in hand.

Hilary had a grass skirt on with a blue bikini top. She had her brownish-blonde hair tied up in a long ponytail so high on her head that if you nudged her from the back her hair would have all flown into her face. She had sandals on her feet and flowers were… taped? Yes… They were taped all up her legs, stomach and arms. She had heavy blue eyeliner on and her lips were colored bright red.

Andy had her blonde hair curled to perfection and her witch's hat sat perfectly on the top. She had long sleeves that cut at the ends just close enough to her fingers to strap on and connect to the rings that she wore. Her dress was very short, like every one else in the group, and she had boots that went all the way up to her knees with thick laces and high heels. Her eyelashes looked fake and she looked as though she had just gotten another job done on her nose.

"I'm dancing, Cleo. Something you'll never get to do tonight."

"Oh?"

"My sources tell me that you're boyfriend just left you."

Cleo's face turned bright red and furious. "That's has nothing to do with you! You horrible person! What are you supposed to be anyway? Bloody Mary?"

All three girls burst out in a fit of laughter.

Jade felt her heart sink.

"And where's your date huh? I'd be surprised if you even got one."

"You know damn well that I have a boyfriend!"

"Oh, yeah. That weirdo, Kevin. Well, regardless, I know that no one will dance with you. Not even Kevin will. You'll step all over his feet you stupid little girl. I'm surprised that you haven't let your spirit stay at home where you belong." The laughter started up again.

People were staring now. Jade just wanted to sink away.

Now it was Hilary's time to step up. "No one wants to dance with a strange little girl that can't even decided what she wants to be for Halloween."

"Yeah!" came Andy's smug voice. "I mean. What are you supposed to be huh? Who puts that much though into a costume? It's just pathetic."

Cleo came back. "No one wants to dance with you and this if proof of why. Because you hate everything else in life and Halloween is all that's left for you. It's creepy like you and it's the only thing that you like at all anymore. No one would want to dance with…"

"May I have this dance?"

Their attention was all turned to a tall boy. He had a pinstripe tuxedo on with a bat collar. His mask was a simple skeleton face but it looked oh, so real. He had a long, lanky body with abnormally long arms and as wide smile planted on his mask. It even moved when he spoke. Cleo smiled at him and extended her arm as she said: "Of course." She cast a smug smile towards Jade who sank down where she stood.

"I wasn't speaking with you."

Cleo looked back at the boy in the skeleton mask, her eyes wide. "W-what?"

The boy extended his long fingers towards Jade. She just stood there, lost for words and unable to move. "I was speaking with this young lady right here. May I have this dance?"

For a moment Jade didn't speak. Then, with a grin on her face, she took the boy's hand and allowed him to lead her out and onto the dance floor. Leaving Cleo and her crew to be laughed at by the student body.

"I'm Jade Ortho."

"Pleasure, I'm Jack Skellington."

"That works."

"I suppose it does." He smiled at her.

"It was nice to meet you Jack."

"Huh? Nice to meet me?"

"Well yes, I have a boyfriend."

"Surely he won't mind if you dance with someone else once?"

Jade contemplated the matter for a moment. Kevin was usually a good person. If he didn't care for her dancing with someone else she could just apologize and he would forgive her on the spot. It was good to have someone like him. In closing to her thoughts Jade shrugged her shoulders to Jack. "I guess it wouldn't hurt him. Kevin's pretty good when it comes to trust and whatnot."

Jack smiled even wider.

"Jack, what are you doing?"

Jack and Jade looked down to see a little girl. She had a long gown on with cobweb arms and blue jeans. Her black hair fell all around her face and spiked up at the back. Her face was pale like the moon and she had a bat painted on her forehead, although half of it wasn't visible behind her bangs. She glared up at Jack. The girl showed a tremendous amount of strength in her legs and leapt onto Jack's shoulder, making Jade jump back in surprise. "Jack, I'm getting bored."

"Is this your sister?"

The little girl glared at Jade and made her sink again. "I'm his friend."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jade."

"Likewise, I'm Yulee." She turned back to Jack. "When you're done here look for any disturbances down the street. That's where I'll be. Yulee leapt down and started to walk off into the throng.

"Don't go throwing eggs at house now…" Jade smiled after her.

Yulee turned her head back. "Trust me… I plan to do much… much worse…" Then she disappeared in the immense traffic of the auditorium. This left Jack and Jade stumped.

Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
The world is in your hands
But I will fight until the end…

Jack took hold of Jade's left hand and placed his other one of her waist. She wrapped her arms around her neck, for although he was tall she was as well. They moved a few times to the side and then traded positions to the other side.

Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
Don't follow your command
But I will fight
And I will stand

They did a box step to the side. Jack spun Jade around by surprise and nearly lifted her from the floor. She touched her foot on the ground and they moved to the left.

When darkness falls
Pain is all
The angel of darkness
Will leave behind
I will…
Fight…

Jack spun Jade around completely once and then stretched her arm out with his own as they spun in the opposing direction. She let her arms slip from their hold around his neck and she allowed him to separate from her so that they were looking at each other from a meter apart. Yet their hands were still holding tightly.

The love is lost
You cheat and lied
Have vanished from god
And all delight
The dreams are gone
Midnight has come
The darkness is our new kingdom
Yeah
Yeah

Jack spun her back towards him so that she curled in towards his chest. When the 'lied' came in the song she brushed up against his tuxedo. Jack spun her on an axis and took hold of her right hand. By 'delight' she wrapped her arms around his neck once more. They spun around once and Jack held her waist as he allowed her to stretch down. Jade held onto his neck with one hand as she let her other one go out and curve in an elegant pose.

Although the song wasn't complete people were dancing. Jack decided to stop for a while. Jade was glad for that. Although she wasn't tired she didn't think that it would be very good if Kevin saw her dancing with another boy like that. She wasn't even sure if she had actually told Kevin that she could dance at all. Jade turned back to Jack. "That you for the dance Jack. I have to go and meet Kevin now. Maybe I'll see you around school?"

Jack smiled but said nothing.

Jade walked into the crowd.

---

She opened the door to the second floor science classroom. Jade walked in. "Kevin… I don't think that the punch is in here…" She stopped at what she saw.

Kevin was sitting on the teacher's desk with a girl in his lap. Jade knew the girl all too well. It was Cleo. She was sitting in her boyfriend's lap, her dress was pulled up far too high and she had her arms wrapped around his neck. Their lips were locked in a kiss and Cleo looked at Jade from the corner of her eye. The minute she saw her she broke off from Kevin. "Uh oh…"

Kevin turned to see Jade's form leaving the room in a hurry. "Jade! Wait! I can explain!"

---

"What's wrong?"

Jade looked up surprised. She couldn't see much beyond her tears but she recognized the voice all too well. It was a good voice that she had heard not too long ago. It was one of those voices that you were never able to forget, no matter how hard you tried. But, regardless of that factor, she was happy to hear it. For some reason, it was the only voice that she wanted to hear at all. "Jack? W-why are you here?"

"I saw you run in here…" She couldn't see but she felt him sit down next to her. The room seemed a lot more crowed now. Of course that only made sense seeing as they were sitting in a janitorial closet. "I decided to come and check up on you. See if you were all right and all."

Jade couldn't contain herself anymore. She threw her arms around Jack and started to sob into his suit. He hurriedly tossed his hands out of the way but she didn't see that. He had a look of surprise plastered on his face. Jade cried long and hard before she spoke again. "Kevin… Kevin cheated on me! I saw him in the science room with Cleo!" Just mentioning it made her sob even harder.

Jack lightly patted her head. "Um… D-don't cry. I…" She heard him sigh deep. Jack pushed her away from him and held her shoulders in a friendly grip. He wiped away her tears with his thumb and looked her in the eyes. "I think that I can help you get back at them… Both of them… That is… If you want to…"

"I do. More than anything. I want to get back at the both of them for doing this."

"Ok… But what I am about to tell you cannot leave this closet ok? What I tell you, you mustn't tell anyone else. You can't tell a single soul about this. All right?"

Jade nodded to him

---

Kevin stepped out of the building and walked to the old willow tree that sat at the back of the school. The person that he saw standing there under the leaves wasn't whom he had been expecting to see. Cleo was standing there, shivering violently. She looked incredibly cold in the cool air. Kevin walked up towards her. She turned to him with a surprised look on her face. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"I got a note from that guy who asked Jade to dance a little while back. I'm guessing he finally came to his senses and has decided to apologize to me. It won't matter though. Leaving me out here for more than a minute is enough to tick me off again. He'll have to work hard to gain a dance with me now." She turned to him. "What about you?"

"I got a note from Jade telling me to come here. She looked pretty mad when… you know…"

"I'm not surprised. You did cheat on her after all."

Kevin frowned at her. "I don't even know why I did it either. You're such a sadistic person. I don't know how I could have thought that you were better than Jade. She's 10 times the girl that you'll ever be."

"Oh, that really hurt. Get a grip." She eyed him intently. "You know you want me."

Kevin didn't move.

"Kevin? Are you listening to me?"

"Kevin's not here… Please leave a message after the beep… beep!"

Cleo nearly fell onto her bottom. That voice that came from Kevin's mouth wasn't his. It didn't even sound remotely like his. This voice she had heard before. It was calm yet… scary? She remembered hearing it not too long ago. It was that boy that had asked Jade to dance. The one that had embarrassed her. "H-How…"

"Now is not time for how… now is a time for 'oh, no!' What do you think?"

"Oh no?"

"Ha! You send it!" Kevin, or whoever was using his body, lunged his arms out forwards. They stretched far out of shape and far longer than they should have, wrapping themselves around her body and pinning her to the tree. They wrapped around the trunk and her body once. Twice. Thrice. Then she screamed out loud. That is… before the arms wrapped around her mouth and her eyes.

Soon Cleo couldn't see anything at all. She couldn't feel the arms on her body anymore and she couldn't feel the tree against her back either. She couldn't feel the ground and when she stretched her arms out she saw nothing but the black that surrounded her. She floated in and endless void of black… And she was terrified.

Cleo screamed out loud.

Little did she know but no one could hear her.

---

Kevin collapsed to the floor.

He didn't know what had just happened.

He rubbed his head.

It was very sore.

He looked around him. There was a pair of small feet not to far from his face. In fact, it was only about 30 centimeters away. When he looked up he saw a tall boy with a skeleton mask and a pinstripe tuxedo. He had long arms and legs with a normal torso and a cue ball head. Kevin smirked. "What's with the stupid outfit?"

"What's with the stupid face?"

Kevin frowned and stood up. "You're asking for it buddy!"

"You mean like she was?" The boy pointed one, long, bony finger towards the tree close to them.

Kevin followed his finger's pathway and looked at the very base of the willow. He saw Cleo. She was curled up at the base of the tree, on her side, with her knees tucked right up to her chin. She was shivering and shaking all over; her eyes were wide with fear.

"W-what… what did you do to her?"

"This…"

Kevin looked back at him.

He screamed.

---

Jade stepped out of the building. There was an ambulance outside of the school and they were loading two teenagers into the car. Kevin and Cleo were the two that they had with them. Cleo was shivering uncontrollably whereas Kevin was struggling to break free with all of his might.

"No! He'll get me! He'll get me! Those eyes! He didn't have any! He didn't! He didn't!"

She smiled. Jack sure had done a number on them.

Jade was aware that he would have already left. He had walked down the street a while ago and had told her not to go outside unless she heard sirens. She had heard them and so she had gone outside. Now she was wondering where Jack would have gone.

"I don't go to this school so you probably won't ever see me again."

"You don't go here? Then why are you here in the first place?"

"Scaring spree…"

"I guess that makes sense…"

"Remember, you can't tell anyone else about what I'm doing for you tonight ok? Well… I guess maybe a few people… Just down tell them my name all right?"

"Right. I promise. I hope you become the pumpkin king."

"What?"

"The pumpkin king. I hope you become the next one. I think you'd be a good king."

Jack had smiled wide at her. "Thank you. That means a lot." Then he had left to scare them.

Jade smiled. She knew that he would make a good king… And she really hoped that she would meet him again.

Then she turned to head for home.

---

Brooke: Second scare! Three more to go! I wrote this whole chapter in one night. That doesn't usually work when it comes to this story but I did it! Whoo!

Jack: New review from Musically

Brooke: Good. Reeaz was meant to be someone that the audience would be able to hate with every fiber of their being because he's just a jerk. He's actually more but… can't really say all that stuff with this rating… oh well. And I agree… Carl is a weirdo. I based him on my friend, Carden.

Fiendmon: Have some cola for this review! You rule!