Barrel stared at Lock, his own fright mirrored on his friend's face. The grownups were so mad now. And scared. What would they do to Shock? Dear Shock, with her funny ways and sharp tongue and wild spirit. The wild witch of the woods, they called her. And now the reverend was calling for her to renounce her ways. She wouldn't do it. As they stared up at her bright eyes and defiant face, her long brown hair tangled, her face still stained with the dirt from their latest adventure, they loved her more dearly than ever.

"I won't!" Shock said, stomping her bare foot. "I won't be a part of your nasty town with all the shalls and shall nots! I will do as I please!"

"Then, Sarah May Lockett, you are unable to be saved and shall burn for your witchcraft," the reverend said.

"Burn?" Lock hissed between his teeth, his eyes going wide. "Barrel, they're going to burn her!"

Barrel thought of fire and shuddered, but the townsfolk began to scream in approval. Barrel's mind raced. They couldn't want her dead! The Lord said not to murder! And Shock wasn't a witch! She was just misunderstood. The nickname that he and Lock cherished so dearly had become a death sentence.

"No," Lock gasped. He grabbed Barrel. "What do we do?"

"We must stop them!" Barrel cried.

"You will do no such thing, Bartholomew. Go home. Now," father said, shoving against him before pushing in with the crowd as they lunged, shouting for Shock.

Though the Lord said to obey his parents, Barrel would not listen to that. If he did, Shock would die in flames. She wasn't a witch, no matter what they said. Without hesitation, Barrel snagged Lock's arm. "This way!"

Lock looked startled at Barrel taking control for once, but he followed through the dirt street and past log houses as Barrel wound them up to the steep hill that was on the other side of town. As they topped the hill, Barrel looked down toward the dark swamp, where fireflies flickered like stars. Then he turned and went back down. The town square was ahead, and Shock was screaming. The smell of smoke carried on the wind.

"Faster!" Barrel screeched. 'Lord have mercy!' he prayed.

"Burn the witch!" they screamed.

Shock began screaming louder.

"God, no, please!" Barrel shouted as he saw flames licking up in the bonfire pit. A hand reached out of the flames, the flesh melting away then Shock's voice cut off.

"Murderers!" Lock bellowed. "Heathens! Beasts!"

"Hold your tongue, boy!" the reverend snapped.

"No! I hate you! I will never listen to you again! You're nothing but a liar, Father! You give God Almighty a bad name! Pharisee! Viper! Snake! Whitewashed tomb!"

Barrel could do nothing but stare at the blazing fire. He saw a skull. Shock's skull.

The reverend came forward and grabbed his son. Lock howled, insulting him, tears of grief streaming down his face. Barrel turned and watched in slow motion as the reverend took up a stone.

"Tell me what happens when you have a rebellious son, Levi," he said.

Lock stood straight. "Stone me then, you hypocrite!"

The reverend's eyes flashed and he flung the rock at his son. It struck Lock's temple and his eyes went dead as he dropped like a stone.

"You would murder your own son?!" Barrel screamed. "Coward! Murderer!"

The crowd turned to him, and the reverend was reaching for another rock. Barrel turned and ran away from the town, unable to see through his tears. He gasped for breath as he ran, then the ground disappeared beneath his feet and he tumbled into the swamp outside town. He gasped but continued forward, too confused and scared to do anything else. There was movement in the murky water, and Barrel stopped. Peace flowed over him and he stopped and turned around to face the crowd, his face a mask of serenity.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me," he said, his voice unwavering.

Then pain lit his reality and he screamed and looked down at the swamp. An alligator had his leg and was beginning to drag him in. It was going to roll to drown him. Barrel closed his eyes and took a deep breath of swampy, mucky air…

And he let it out for a long, long time as the world became nothing but darkness.

Jack surged out of bed, sucking in air as he got over the shock of the new night terror. He slung on a thick robe and didn't bother with shoes before he bolted out into the snowy night toward Oogie's house. He ignored the muffled shouts and cries from the other leaders in their homes, his only thought to get to those poor children. When he got there, he knocked twice then walked in. Oogie looked frazzled, and he spun to see Jack.

"Where are they?" Jack asked.

Oogie gestured around the room. "Hiding."

"Barrel?" Jack asked.

Oogie pointed under the bed. Jack sat down and peered underneath to find Barrel lying there looking like death.

"Hey there," Jack said softly. "Want to come out?"

Barrel shook his head and shuddered, tears streaming down his face. Jack leaned against the bed, settling in.

"Chased into the swamp," Jack said. "Not very nice of them."

"He killed Lock and Shock," Barrel whispered. "Why would he do that? He was the reverend. He was supposed to take care of us. He was supposed to be a man of God."

"True," Jack said. "And I'm sure he's been dealt with, one way or the other. But I'm going to tell you right now, he was just a man. Seeing that night terror, I can tell you he was abusing his power. What he did was wrong, in the worst sense of the word. He murdered you three."

Barrel hiccuped. "He did. He did murder us. Jack!" He cried even harder. "I hate him! I know it's not right to hate, but I do!"

"I can understand why. He took so much from the three of you," Jack said. "You were just children."

Barrel sniffled then shifted and crawled out from under the bed. Jack lifted him effortlessly into his lap and cradled him. Barrel cried against Jack as Oogie stoked up the fire and began preparing a small snack, keeping his eye on the other two hiding spots. After awhile, Barrel calmed down and Jack stroked his messy hair then peered down at him.

"Can you be brave and let me talk to the others?"

Barrel nodded, but he reached out for Oogie. Oogie lifted him up and held him as Jack stood up. "Where?" he asked. Oogie pointed to one of the cabinets then headed for the bed and sat down to watch.

Jack settled against the cabinet and knocked gently.

"Go away!" Lock demanded.

"Oh, I don't really want to do that. I want to talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about."

Jack sat in silence for a few moments then spoke. "I always wanted a father when I was a boy. I thought any father would do. I was wrong about that. Some fathers aren't wanted."

Lock began to sob inside the cabinet. "I'm a bad boy, Jack," he cried. "I'm such a bad boy."

"Why?"

"Honor thy father and thy mother," Lock sobbed. "And I hate him! I hate my father!"

"It is also commanded that fathers not provoke their children," Jack said, keeping his voice steady. "And most importantly, thou shalt not murder."

"He didn't murder anybody though," Lock argued, his voice thick with emotion.

"He burned Shock."

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

"He stoned you."

"If a son shall not obey father nor mother, he shall be stoned outside the city gates," Lock shot back.

"That was never the intention of that verse," Jack said. "And what about Barrel?"

"The gators got Barrel. Father didn't murder anybody," Lock mumbled.

"Shock was not a witch, your father chased Barrel to his death, and he stoned you to death for calling out his despicable actions," Jack said sternly. "And he did murder you. He murdered three children, including his own son. And I can't imagine how hard it is living with that, Lock. But I am here for you, even if he never was."

There was a long, long silence before the cabinet cracked open and one of Lock's gleaming eyes peered out at Jack. Jack offered a hand and gazed compassionately at the boy. After a few moments, Lock pushed open the cabinet and crawled out. Jack picked him up and placed him in his lap. Lock squirmed but relaxed after a moment and leaned against the Pumpkin King, silent tears still tracking down his pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Jack," Lock finally whispered, looking up. "For everything."

Jack nodded and squeezed him. "I need to talk to Shock. Do you want to sit with Oogie?"

Lock nodded, so Jack stood up and walked over to Oogie to place Lock in his other arm. Barrel reached over and took Lock's hand, and the two boys huddled into the Bogeyman. Jack took a deep breath.

"Where?"

Oogie pointed over at the wardrobe. Jack nodded then padded over and sat down, knocking gently. There was no response. Jack knocked again.

"No one's here!" Shock spat, her voice quavering.

"Oh. My mistake," Jack said. "I was looking for Shock. I need to speak with her."

Barrel and Lock grinned. Jack really was brilliant if he knew how to approach their friend.

"She's not here," Shock said.

"Can I leave a message?"

There was a long pause. "Fine."

"Very well. I would like to tell her that what happened to her wasn't right or warranted. And that it's not her fault that her friends died, too."

Oogie looked up sharply, and Lock and Barrel stared at the boneman. Did Shock feel guilty for their deaths? Apparently she did because she gave a hellish shriek and began kicking the inside of the wardrobe.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" she screamed.

Jack sat there as Shock threw her fit and he waited. Eventually she calmed down, and the kicking turned to whimpering.

"Feel better?" Jack asked.

"No," Shock muttered. "It's my fault they died. They didn't deserve it. If I'd just listened to Reverend Parson, none of this would have happened. It's all my fault."

"None of the three deaths are your fault," Jack said. "Yes, you were rebellious, but what else could they expect? You were children. They were the grownups. Yet they acted like spoiled children and burned a child alive because of their silly superstitions. Because you weren't a witch when you were alive, were you?"

"I don't know," Shock mumbled. "I could do all sorts of funny things."

"A sensitive spirit doesn't equal witchcraft," Jack said. "And now that you've crossed over, things are different."

"Are they?" Lock blurted out.

Oogie shook him, but Jack gestured him over. Lock and Barrel obediently walked over and sat in his lap.

"Yes. After death, things are different," Jack said. "This Realm is very special, you know. Ours is the only one where the residents had nonmagical, fully human lives before they arrived. They aren't magical creatures given to help me on my Holiday. They are people. People who suffered and didn't have a chance to see the light. This Realm is their second chance. And when they feel they've had it, they can leave."

"Where do they go when they leave?" Barrel asked. "I miss Trix and Treets."

"All I know for sure is they go on. To where, I'm not sure, but I haven't been called to go yet. I might not be this side of time. But I'm not too bothered by that."

"Will we be called?" Lock asked.

"Sooner or later, yes. But I wouldn't worry about that right now. I'm more worried about you three." Jack paused then tapped the door of the wardrobe again. "Is Shock there yet?"

"Maybe," Shock said.

"I'd like to see her. I think her friends want to give her a hug."

There was a pause then a click as the wardrobe door opened. Shock slipped out and stood there, her face pale, her eyes red, and stared pitifully at the floor. Barrel hopped up at once and embraced her. Lock was slower, but he gave her a brief hug.

"I don't regret it, Shock," Lock said sincerely. "And to be fair, we have the best afterlife."

Shock smiled a little then padded over to Jack. She met his gaze and spoke. "We never meant for this to happen. But it's our fault Bodach got in."

Oogie stiffened as Jack nodded. "I'm aware of it. And I'm going to tell you two the same thing I told Barrel. I am not your enemy. Yes, the reverend has skewed your view of authority, but I promise you that I only want what's best for you. That means laying down rules, and you following them."

"Why are there always rules?" Shock demanded, stomping her bare foot.

"To maintain order and peace," Jack said. "And to protect you from bad things happening."

"Don't worry, Shock," Barrel said. "Jack promised me that we can always ask about the rules and why they're there. And we can tell him if we think a rule is stupid or bad. He said he'll explain it. And that's better than a switch if we argue."

Lock and Shock both relaxed and looked at Jack, their expressions curious. "Promise?" Shock asked.

"Promise," Jack said. "Now why don't you three have a snack then try to get more sleep?"

"Okay," Barrel said.

The three children padded over to the kitchen, but Oogie was there before they could even blink. "Hang on, you three. What do you mean it's your fault Bodach got in?"

"They set up the doctor," Jack said.

"We knew he wasn't happy about the engagement," Shock admitted quietly. "And we weren't happy with Jack. So when we heard Jack say that…"

Barrel spoke up as Lock and Shock squirmed. "Jack was talking to Sally when the Holiday leaders came over. He mentioned that somebody from his night terrors was still alive and the doctor knew who it was. So we made sure to make him think of it. And he took it from there."

Oogie was very still after the admission. Even his bugs were all quiet. Jack stood up and placed his hands on Oogie's shoulders. "I know you're upset. But they're just children. They've learned not to mess with night terrors anymore. Please, just give them their snack and send them to bed. They've suffered enough for their mistake."

With those words, the three children knew that Jack was nothing like the grownups from their before-lives. He was asking for mercy for them instead of further punishing them for their mistake. They looked at each other and smiled. It wouldn't be as hard to follow Jack as they'd thought.

Oogie sighed. "If you insist," he ground out.

"Thank you. I've got to go and talk to the others. Take care of them."

"Yep."

Jack turned and patted each of the children's heads then left. As he trudged toward the lodge, he braced himself. When he got to the door, he could hear loud talking and arguing.

"Here we go again," Jack said with a glance toward the star-strewn heavens. Then he went in to soothe his friends.