Jack wasn't sure when it started but one day he walked into Wednesday's room to talk to her when he noticed lots of jars on the shelves of the wall, each with a different spider. "uh Wednesday, what is all this?" She turned, holding one of the jars that had a spider in it. "There my spiders." Jack nodded. "Alright. Well, it's almost time for school." Wednesday nodded, placing the jar down. Once both were downstairs Sally gave her breakfast and fixed her hair before sending her and Jack on there way. Jack kissed her head goodbye when they got to the school and went to his own work with the mayor.
Wednesday normally walked home alone, due to Sally and Jack working past the time school ended. They knew she could take care of herself. Jack returned home from work only to have Sally running to him with tears in her eyes. "Oh Jack! It's terrible!" Jack frowned. "Sally! What's wrong? What's happened? Are you alright?" Sally wiped her eyes. "It's Wednesday. She hasn't returned home from school. I looked and asked and nobody's seen her, oh Jack what if shes hurt?!" Jack felt his bones run cold. His precious Wednesday was missing but he stayed strong for Sally. "Don't worry Sally, I'l go straight to the mayor, we'l get the whole town searching!"
Oggie boogie could hear the cat siren going. He chuckled evilly. "You hear that child? Looks like dear old dad is searching for you." He walked over to Wednesday who was chained up, a little beat up but overall alright aside from pissed off. She glared. "He's not my father." She was chained to the wooden table that Sally and Santa once were so many years ago. It was flat, as she stared at the dome-like ceiling with crawling shadow-like, glowing creatures dancing. He chuckled, leaned down next to her, nearly laying next to her. "So sure about that? you all seem like such a perfect, happy family." He chuckled when he saw her fuming. He has never had a victim so feisty yet so quiet. "You don't like that." She refused to look oggi boogie in what stood for his eyes, continuing to look at the glowing creatures around the ceiling. "He and Sally helped me out in a rough patch. Thats it. There not my parents" Oggie boogie spoke, standing up. "Ooooohhh are you sure? Because I think your lying and Oggie boogie dosnt like liars." His cloth arm glowed green where his hand should be before bringing it down to her forehead. He chuckled evilly. Her eyes widened before her world blacked out.
Everyone in town was searching frantically for Wednesday. The vampires looked thru the swamps, the witches looked thru the woods, flying over Halloween-town. Jack was trying not to pace, being Sally's rock. She was terrified and so worried. He held her as it kept himself from pacing a hole in the ground with his own worry. One of the musicians ran up to him. "Jack! Jack" Jack let go of Sally, going to him. "What is it? Have you found her?" He shook his head. "No but we heard that Oggie Boogie may be back. It might be good to check." Jack nodded, looking away, feeling a rage he's never felt build at the thought of little Wednesday in the hands of that monster.
"I'l let the Mayor know. I'm going to check it out. Please, keep searching in case it's a dead end." They nodded, running off. Jack went to sally, hugging her. "Oggie boogie might be back I'm gonna check out his lair." She looked up, looking terrified but accepted it. "Please, be careful." Jack kissed her quickly before leaving to tell the mayor then leaving to the lair.
Wednesday walked into the Skellington manor as she normally did after scare school as she started calling it. She stopped. Everything was different. What was once black and gloomy and goth was now brightly colored with pastel blue on the walls with white accents with a white couch. Everything else was white as well, furniture, shelves. Where Zero was always waiting on the couch for her to read to him, was no where to be found.
"Oh good your home!" She turned from looking wide eyed at the house. She saw a very tall, slender man in khakis, loafers with a white shirt and a sweater vest that matched the wall. His eyes were large with slick back black hair. She knew it was Jack but it wasn't. She nearly glared. "What's going on? What happened to the house? To you?" He chuckled. "What do you mean? I should be asking you the same thing. The black dress is so dark and gloomy. " She glared, gripping her skull shaped book at sally had made for her. "I always wear this."
Jack shook his head. "Well that simply won't do young lady. Go up to your room. There's a dress waiting for you. We're expected at the mayors for dinner In an hour." She looked around again. "Where's zero?" Jack gave her a look. "Who? Oh! I think you mean snowball." She swallowed down her growing nerves. She didn't like this. Jack continued. "Snowball! Here boy!" From the kitchen came a small, white fluffy dog, jumping into jacks arms.
She started backing away but turned when she heard the door open. It was Sally. But it wasn't. It was a woman with long red hair, fair skin and a flowery, white, vintage dress. Wednesday backed away. Sally spoke with a frown. "Oh your not even ready. " Jack spoke as well, still petting the fluffy white dog. "I was just getting her up there. She's being very stubborn." She turned to Jack, glaring. Hating how terrified she was. What was going on? "I'm not getting changed jack. I always wear this." Sally gasped. "Wednesday that is not way to speak to your father." Wednesday turned on Sally. "He's not my father and your not my mother, Sally. "
This was just a bad dream. She needed to wake up. She closed her eyes to will herself to wake up. It's not the first time she's had a nightmare about something like this but was certainly the most vivid. Suddenly she felt a slender hand around her arm, dragging her to the white staircase. She struggled. "No. Let me go. I'm not wearing your dress! This is not real!" Sally just watched with worry as Jack struggled to get her up the stairs.
He nearly threw her into the room. Jack just stared down at her. "I'l be up to check on you within a half hour. If your not in your dress your mother made you then I will be forced to put you in it myself. " He turned, closing the door.
She cursed herself. Her eyes were watering as she turned, staring at her room in horror. All her spiders were gone, the room was painted a pale pink with stuffed animals that were anything but scary. She didn't feel like struggling again. She didn't feel like dealing with Jacks wrath again. She wiped a tear away furiously as she decided to put on the damn dress. Ignoring the hurt that threatened to consume her.
The dress was simple. It was white with short sleeves and a pink ribbon around her waist. She felt her lip tremble as her door opened, showing Jack and Sally. They both smiled. Jack spoke. "There! Now you look so much better." She walked up, hating to bring herself to begging but she had to snap them out of this, her out of this. "Jack...Sally...please. This isn't us. What happened to you?" Sally shook her head as Jack spoke. "Now Wednesday you know better. You must call us by mom and dad-" "Your not my parents!" She didn't know she was capable of such volume but here she was literally screaming at them.
She continued, ignoring the tears going down her face. "Your not my parents. You know your not. You never forced me to address you as such. Your Jack and Sally, my adoptive parents." They started to walk forward, looking a mixture of worried and irritated. She backed away, seeing a window. Although it was a pretty long drop, she was technically dead therefore would be fine. She quickly made her way to the window, going to open it but quickly found it locked. She panicked and tried to break the glass but Jack had already pulled her away from the window. This nightmare only broke a moment by the feeling of a white hot burning pain coming from her feet. The perfectly,horrifying world mixed with Oggie boogie holding a chain and laughing and mocking then going back again to the preppy Jack and Sally worrying.
She screamed, not from the pain but from the fear. Fear of never seeing Jack and Sally again, never seeing zero again. Jack said the only thing that could end her was total destruction.
Jack was right to check out Oggies lair. He barely got into its entrance when he heard screaming. That screaming he recognized was coming from Wednesday. He's never felt so much rage. He ran in, using the powers the witches gave him to literally push parts of the lair away. Once he got to the second door, he could hear them so closely. He nearly growled, using an invisible force to open the door so roughly it was nearly off its hinges.
There he saw Wednesday being slowly dipped into the...lava pool? Whatever it was it was burning her, she was screaming and crying in pain. Oggie saw him, smirking. "Poor jack. You should watch your little girl a little better." He started to chuckle, letting go of the chain that was holding her above the fiery pit when Jack stopped it. A green glow coming from the chains as it lifted her back up and away from the fire.
Oggie was starting to look scared. "Jack...when did you get such powers?" Jack glared at Oggie, his eye sockets glowing green. Jack ignored him, going to where Wednesday was, now safely on the ground, staring blankly ahead, like a doll. He saw Oggie move out of the corner of his eye, most likely chickening out of what he's done. Jack outstretched his hand, making Oggie stiff as a board. Jack spoke lowly, continuing to look at Wednesday. "What did you do to her?"
Oggie tried to move but Jack brought his bony hand into a fist, Oggie started to collapse in on himself from the force. He yelled in fear. Jack got up, staring Oggie down as he crushed him for information. "I said what did you do to her?" Oggie was struggling to even talk. "Ok! She's stuck in a nightmare, nothing more! Just let me go!"
Jack growled. "Let you go? After you tried to kill Sally and Santa claws? After kidnapping my daughter you think I should let you go? Oh no. Your going to burn for all that you have done. I'm going to make sure you never come back. " Oggie started floating from Jacks hand, Jack leading him over top the flames. Before Oggie could struggle too much he let him go.
Oggie boogie screamed. His bugs and sack suit burning with him until he was nothing. Jack made sure every single little bit and bug was gone before looking over at Wednesday and calming. The green glow was gone from his eyes as he ran over to her, holding her close, shaking her, trying to break her of whatever nightmare she was in. "Wednesday! Wednesday! Please! Wake up! It's jack!"
He knew it was a silly fear, fearing she died even thou she was already technically dead. But it scared him as he shook her, rocking her, willing her to wake up. He wasn't sure what it was that did it but she woke, screaming and thrashing. He held her arms. "Wednesday! Calm down! Your safe!" She calmed, panting as if she just ran a five miles before she started sobbing into his chest, seeing it was her Jack.
He he never seen her so emotional. He wasn't sure if she was capable of it. He held her close, rocking her until she calmed. It terrified him to think of what was in her nightmare that made her react like this.
Once she calmed he helped her sit up. She had tear stains on her face but was stoic as ever. Jack frowned. "What happened? Are you alright?" Wednesday looked at the ground. Still reeling from the fact it was all a nightmare. "I'm fine. I don't want to talk about it right now." Jack nodded. "Of corse. Let's get you home. The whole town is looking for you. We were so worried." She tried to get up but winced, falling. Jack caught her easily. He almost forgot. Her legs were badly burned, the skin on her feet was almost non-existent. Bone showing thru.
Jack picked her up, carrying her. "Just hold on to me. I've got you." She felt useless but let Jack carry her, her arms around his neck. He carried her out of the lair, going back to Halloween town. Soon as he entered everyone started gasping and asking questions. Wednesday tried to hide in his bony chest from everyone. Jack spoke loudly. "Please, give her some room! We need to go to Dr.Finklestein." The mayor moved to him, standing in front as he yelled. " You heard him everyone! Out of the way, please! We will update everyone on the situation!" Soon everyone started walking back to there homes. The mayor turned to Jack, gasping when he saw Wednesday's poor legs.
The mayor spoke. "You take her right away to the doctor. I'l being Sally." Jack nodded. "Thank you mayor." He walked to the doctors place, holding Wednesday protectively.
Jack got to the doctors place, rushing in, calling for him. " ! Please! I need your help!" The doctor wheeled down. "Jack! What in the world has gotten into you? Do you realize what time-" The doctors words stopped in his mouth when he saw a terrifyingly worried jack cradling his new adoptive daughter Wednesday whose legs were burned to a crisp, the skin nearly falling off. Jack walked closer. "Please Doctor, she won't be able to walk if she's not fixed up. " The doctor turned his chair around, started to wheel it up the large, round ramp. "Bring her up Jack."
While the doctor was working on Wednesdays legs Jack was pacing. Worried about Wednesday. About everything. What was in her nightmare? Her legs were showing bone. She must be in so much pain. Oh my poor Wednesday! What if I didn't make it there in time? What if no one suggested to check out Oggies lair?
He heard the door opened to reveal Sally and the mayor. Sally was crying, running to Jack who held her so close. Sally cried into his shoulder. "Is she alright Jack?" Jack nodded, holding Sally close."She will be." Once Sally calmed down they sat down in the parlor that was above the ramp Jack explained what he could. He told Sally that Oggie boogie trapped her within her mind, within her worst nightmare while trying to "kill her" by sinking her into the fire. But he calmed Sally explaining that he's never going to bother them again. He didn't want to go into details. Not yet. He was still coming to terms with what he did and how he behaved.
came out from the operating room where he made many beings like Sally, Jewel and the rain deer. Jack and Sally both shot up with worry. The doctor sighed. "She'l be fine. I fixed her legs to the best of my abilities but the skin was too burnt to work with. So I made her legs similar to Sally. There made of a durable material and stuffed with leaves. Her bone is still there but the rest of the leg is stuffed and stitched. It'll take a little to adjust to it. I've never worked on a human before Jack but I think everything will be fine."
Jack shook his hand in both his larger bony ones. "Oh thank you so much doctor! May we see her?" The doctor nodded, giving the signal to follow as he wheeled inside the room.
They walked into the room, seeing Wednesday sitting up on the operating table, staring at her legs. Jack spoke up carefully, walking closer. "Wednesday. Thank goodness your alright. How are you feeling?" She looked up from her pale, stitched up legs to look at Jack. "Different. But different isn't a bad thing." Sally wiped a few tears away, walking over to her and hugging her. " Oh we were so worried. I was so scared we'd never see you again." Wednesday was taken aback by the affection but let it happen. Sally pulled away but not before kissing her head. The doctor spoke. "How are your legs feeling?" Wednesday gave it a thought a moment. "I can't feel them. " "That's because there nearly weightless. I had to use a durable material to stand in for skin then I stuffed them with leaves. There very similar to Sally but because your a human your bone is there, giving it a bit of weight. Go on, try them out."
Wednesday nodded, moving so she could get off the table. She saw Jack move, wanting to help but knowing he shouldn't until asked. She put her first foot on the ground. It didn't hurt like before but it felt like it could collapse in on itself but it didn't. She then brought the other down, now fully standing. She felt as if they would fall apart at any moment but they never did. She walked around the lab and back to the table. They felt fragile but we're very strong. And the stitched look that they had looked pretty cool and creepy. She wondered if she could get that look on her face and arms.
The doctor spoke."So? How are they?" Wednesday looked over. "Can I get my arms and face stitched up as well?" Jack and Sally were taken aback by the question but chuckled. The doctor even smiled a little. "I can but its up to Jack and Sally." Wednesday looked up at Jack, giving him very depressed looking puppy eyes. Jack shook his head. "In a few weeks. How about we adjust to your legs first." "Deal."
Jack thanked and offered some form of payment but the doctor waved it away. "It was an emergency Jack. Go home and rest." Jack nodded, offering his hand to Wednesday who took it rather quickly, walking down the ramp and out of the doctors place.
Jack was nervous as they walked outside but it seemed the mayor did a good job keeping everyone calm. The walk home was fairly uneventful.
When they got home the first thing Wednesday went to was Zero. Zero came barking and floating around her. She petted his ghostly figure. Sally spoke next. "Did you want something to eat? Some hot cocoa?" Wednesday paused before speaking. "Hot cocoa would be nice." Sally smiled before walking into the kitchen.
Wednesday walked to the black couch, her legs feeling a little wobbly. She wondered if that's why Sally always had a limp walk. Cause her legs were so weightless. She got to the couch, trying to get onto it to sit but found her new legs made it difficult. Jack saw this, helped her.
Wednesday looked over at jack. "Thanks." She looked around the house, feeling so relived it was as it was supposed to be. "He placed me in my worst nightmare. This house wasn't black and gloomy or scary. It was bright blue and happy and zero wasn't here. You and Sally were human and forced me to call you mom and dad. Forced me to wear this white dress, took away all my spiders-" "Wednesday. You know we would never do any of that to you, right?" Wednesday looked up at Jack who looked so concerned. Sally behind him, holding the cup of hot cocoa.
She nodded. "I do." Sally smiled sadly, handing her her hot cocoa. She took a sip and nearly cried in relief that she was home. That made her think. "Am I able to visit my real parents?" Jack smiled. "For a day, yes. It takes a lot of work to open the portal to the human world which is why we only go up on Halloween. But I can pull some strings and get it done." Wednesday nodded. She thinks her family would love Jack and sally.