Chapter #12
A full moon shown that night. The lake was calm, and peaceful. The light glinted off the waters like glass, and reflected every hint of loneliness in the night. Jack stalked to a pumpkin, and sat on top. In his hands, he held the crucifix. No matter how much he stared at it, he just couldn't remember what it was for. He clutched it, and nothing happened. That's all he remembered he was supposed to do. Clutch it. Without its use, he placed it back in his coat.
Seralicore came up behind him. "Come my fiendish friend. We have much to do tonight. When the full moon is in full sight, the darkness under this world will arise, and the mortals will never see their precious sun again..." She smiled darkly. "For now, you must come with me."
Meanwhile, Sally had taken Zero to a place where they could plot, and scheme. The wind blew across her tear stained face, as softly as a mother would croon to her baby. Her baby... Jack was not there to comfort her. Instead, he made things worse. All because of that dirty rotten elf who called herself Seralicore. Zero felt her rage, hurt, and sorrow. He nestled up to her, his little pumpkin nose gleaming, and fell asleep on her lap. "Come Zero. We have to save Jack. I didn't give up on him when Oogie took control, I won't give up now. Come on! Wake up you silly dog!" Zero sat up, and barked. "Let's go save you're master." She smiled.
Seralicore had taken Jack back into the depth of the underworld. The lime-light gleamed, and glowed like slime, and it bubbled, popping in the air with its annoying "glop". Walking to the side of the ship, the roof of the cave came into view. Beside the ship, to one wall above the entrance, was a steel rail. The rail had a platform, similar to a subway station where you wait until the train comes. The steel had barbed wire on top, and in the middle of the fence so as to keep whoever was inside, inside. The gray stone walls looked like prison cell material. Jack let an evil grin cross his face. This was going to be fun. He caught up to Seralicore, and tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, he pointed up.
"What is that for Master?" Seralicore looked up fondly.
"That my friend, is your throne. It awaits you, as you await the slaves you are soon to own." She kissed him on the cheek before leaning back down. Only months before had she done this, and Jack had refused her. But now, in his trancelike state, he could have begged her for another one. His grin widened, and he took another peek up.
"Tell me! Oh tell me Master, what is my kingdom to look like?!" He tugged at her shirt. She turned to him, and playfully laid a finger across his mouth.
"Hush now. Come with me. We have much planning to do. Tell me... How are we to get the slaves down here Jack? Should we use you to flush them out?" Her grin widened, and Jack thought so hard, he had to close his eyes for a moment.
"No. I don't believe we should. I'd say Sally would be a good one to send up. After all, everyone will believe her. I've been missing how long now?"
"Correct! And she's only been here a short while! They'll think she found you! Perfect Jack, perfect! You're a genius! I knew using you would be a good idea!" She ran to the ship, and pulled Jack to the bow that was sticking up out of the water almost completely up to the ceiling. The rest of the ship was under the lava pool. They stood to the railing around the top of the bow, and using to hold on so they wouldn't fall backwards, they looked around them. Looking out over the ground, they could see the blackness in the edge of the cave where the lime-light lava didn't touch. The walls looked more like rotten wood from far away in the shadows. The lime-light lava was like a nightlight only it bubbled with life. The green cast Jack's face into an eerie green. Shadows placed themselves around the corners of his mouth, and near his eye sockets. He put his hands on his hips triumphantly as he looked down at the platform. He could see right on top of it. Every place. It was rounded, like half a circle, but the fence around it made it look so menacing, so... he couldn't even describe it.
Seralicore came up behind him, and slipped a black cape around him. He lifted his arms, and slipped head into it. Seralicore came over, and took the gold button in his outfit. With her delicate fingers, she hooked it up, and let the black cloak surround him... When Jack moved, the cape swirled as though it were blowing in the wind. Dramatic, yet it put on the effect. In the lime-light, everything seemed so ghoulish... Jack laughed maniacally, and swirled around in his newfound lingerie. When he stopped, he looked to Seralicore.
She stared back. Jack gave her a crooked grin. She turned around to stare into the light, and watch the lava eat away at the ship. The broken, stained, and rotting wood creaked every time she stepped. She swore to herself that if the ship were under water, it would look like the titanic did right before the front part of the ship rose and sunk down, for it was in that position.
She wasn't paying any attention, and Jack came up behind her. She'd completely forgotten one thing... She may have created Jack evil, and she wanted him to take over the world, but she never mentioned any part with herself. Therefore, Jack found her completely useless. When she turned around, Jack's crooked grin widened. He grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, and held her out over the bow of the ship. Seralicore gasped.
"JACK!! What you doing?!" She screamed. He held her out, and put his head down to look over the edge. He shook his head.
"Ahh... It's a bit of a fall. But I think you feel much when this is over." Seralicore screamed one loud scream as Jack let her fall into the pit. He watched her fall, her slim form sinking below the churning liquid. The last he saw of her, was her hand reaching out of the lava pool.
In secret, he left the ship, and searched for Sally. Now it was time to set his own plan into motion. When he found her, he acted as though he were normal again. She bought the lie. "Jack! Oh my God, I thought you were dead!" She screeched, and ran over to him. "Where's Seralicore?! Does she know you're here?"
Jack hushed her, and hugged her close. "No. She's dead." Sally sighed. "Sally... I need you to do something for me." She looked up at him. "I need you to go to Halloweentown, and tell everyone where I am. Bring them here. Tell them to scare the mortals here too."
