“Wait? What the hell were you doing in the Hinterlands!?” Lock was confused, they all heard the warning about Jack being out there at night.
“Jack asked me to check on the doors for him so I did.” She sat on the couch, messing with her fingers. “I was checking one of the doors, then suddenly,” she gulped, “I turned around and it was right there, coming towards me.”
“Damn,” Barrel whispered, “We should probably tell Jack about this.”
“You’re right, come on! If we wait any longer who knows what that thing will be up to.” Shock got up quick and headed to the elevator, the two boys followed along.
In the study room of the Skellington Manor, Cindy sat quietly on Sally’s lap as she read her a story called ‘The Labyrinth,’ it was one of Sally favorite stories. Jack was sitting next to them on the couch with his arm around Sally, studying the look of interest in Cindy eyes as she followed the words in the book. The fireplace was lit up to give them a comforting atmosphere. Cindy was always calm whenever the fireplace was on. She looked up at Sally with her puppy-dog eyes.
“Does Sawah not like Toby?” She sounded almost sad that Sarah had wished Toby away by the goblins.
“Lets find out shall we.” She said as she continued. Cindy was about to fall asleep until they all jumped by the scream of their doorbell.
“Who could be out at this time of night.” He sounded almost angry as he got up and went down stairs to the door. Opening it to the surprise of the three tricksters. “Lock, Shock, Barrel? What are you doing out here?”
“Jack we have to talk to you.” Shock sounded almost urgent, Jack nodded and let them come inside. “What is it?”
“There’s something out in the Hinterlands. It was coming after me.”She explained in a panicked voice. “It was a strange shadow, no one in town can cast the shape of it.” The boys nodded in agreement.
“How do we know your not tricking us?” Sally gave them a suspicious look. Still holding the now sleeping Cindy.
“Mmm..” Jack put his hand under his chin in deep thought. “What did it look like?”
“Well,” She started, using her hands to help them out. “It was skinny, almost as skinny as you Jack, and it’s head, it looked like it was pointed upwards in two direction, like horns, and the voice....”She drifted, then snapped back in. “It sounded like a girl.”
Sally cast a concerned look at Shock then turned towards Jack who was putting the puzzle to this shadow, together. He started pacing back and fourth, glancing at the three from time to time. A long silence surrounded the room until the noise of boney fingers snapping together had broken it.
“I know what you’re talking about.”
“Huh?” Everyone said at the same time.
“When I was making my way from the residential area last night, I saw something familiar to what Shock said standing on the Spiral Hill.”
“You saw it too!?” The three teenagers said, looking at each other with mixed expressions.
Jack nodded his head as he reached into a jar and pulled out his Soul Robber. “I’m going out, you three stay with Sally till I get back. Don’t go anywhere.” The three nodded.
“But Jack, wha...”
“Don’t worry Sally.” He interrupted, “I’ll be back I promise. He gave her a small kiss before he turned and went out the door.
Sally turned around and looked at the three and smiled. “You guys must be hungry, let me put Cindy to bed and I’ll fix you up something ok?”
Barrel looked up with a brightened expression. “That’ll be great!”
Jack wondered into the Hinterlands, it was dark, but because of the bright moon it was easier to see. He became more worried as he walked deeper and deeper. Suddenly he heard a voice from the distance, almost like it was humming a tune. He leaned his head towards the voice, it indeed sounded like a female. He quickly picked up the pace, getting his Soul Robber ready for an attack. He stopped to see the figure sitting on one of the many random rocks that were place within the Hinterlands. Bopping it’s head from side to side as it hummed a tune. He quietly sneaked over, but accidentally stepped on a twig. He froze as the figure turned around and tilted it’s head.
“Hi!”
“Huh..” He let his guard down, the shadow just greeted him with a cheerful voice. This confused him. Then he notice the figure coming towards him, he back away till the moonlight hit the figure, exposing it.
The shadow turned out to be a young lady dressed in a jester’s outfit. It was pattered with red and black. Her hat, with gave her the strange shape on her shadow, was parted in two, also patterned in the same colors. Her hair was tucked under her hat so no one knows what it looks like. Her face was pale, as pale as Jack’s skull, almost. Lines ran down her eyes, ending with triangles pointing down her cheeks.. Her eyes were wide, almost as wide as Sally’s. Her body was slim, but toned.
“What are you doing out here?” Walking up towards her.
“I lost my staff.” She looked at the ground and moved for foot along the ground. “I’ve been looking for it for a while and I can’t seem to find it anywhere.” She then straightened up and let a hand out. “I’m Jackie by the way. What’s yours?” She smiled.
“Jack, Jack Skellington. The Pumpkin King.” He proudly said as he took her hand and shook it.
“Whoa you’re a Pumpkin King!?” He nodded. Her jaw dropped. “Wow! That’s so coo!” She turned around and started jumping like a school girl. “I can’t believe a Pumpkin King is right in front of me!” Squealing like a girl meeting prince charming for the first time.
“He rules pumpkins??” She thought in confusion.
“Uh, your not from around here are you?” He scratched the back of his head. No one ever got this excited seeing him.
She quickly turned around and straightened up again. “I guess not...” Turning around like she was looking for something.
He smiled at the confused girl. “That’s ok. Say, why don’t you come with me and we’ll get you something to eat, you look hungry.”
As soon as he said that her stomach began to growl, she place a hand on it and made one of those ‘I’m going to die’ faces. “Oh I would be honored...I haven’t eaten in weeks.” Her stomach growled again.
They stood there for a minute when Jack started heading for home, Jackie followed behind, looking around to see if her staff was hiding behind a tree, or laying on the ground. They finally got out of the Hinterlands and started waling up the hill. Jackie looked down to see a long stick on the ground below.
“My staff!” She jumped of the hill and grabbed it. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” Hugging it close, then realizing Jack was walking off. She took hold of her staff and followed once again.
Sally stood by the window of the Study room as Barrel and Lock were passed out on the couch. She rubbed her stomach, which was getting larger as time grew closer to the baby’s birth. Shock was sitting in front of the fireplace think of what might be happening to Jack. Will he be ok, or did something happen to him.
“1 o’clock...” Sally began to feel more worried as she looked at the clock above the fireplace. Her hands still set on her round stomach.
Suddenly they heard the door fling open. Both the boys woke up and followed Sally and Shock as they rushed to the door. Relieved to see Jack., and someone else.
“AHH SHADOW MONSTER!!” The three yelled as they rushed up stairs
“No, no, no she’s not a shadow monster!” Jack laughed as the three stopped in there tracks with a puzzled look . Then the figure stepped inside.
“Hi!” She let out a smile. “I’m Jackie.” Waving at everyone.
“I’m Barrel!” He blurred out before getting smacked upside the head by Lock. “Sorry...”
Shock recognized her voice immediately.
“Why are you crying?” rang through her head as she heard her greet everyone. This is the ‘shadow’ she had ran away from? “So you’re the one I met in the Hinterlands?”
Jackie took a close look at Shock and nodded. “Yep! You were the one that was....” She then noticed the two boys behind her urging her to continue.
“She was what?” Lock asked.
“Uhh...”She looked at Shock who looked back, almost pleading her not to say what she was about to. “Uhh you were the one that was...checking those weird shapes on the trees.” Shock sighed in relief. “Yeah that’s it.” She smiled, then gave a sad look. “I’m sorry I scared you like that, I didn’t mean to come up to you so sudden.”
“Well next time give me a warning.” She snickered back crossing her arms. “I’m going home now this whole ordeal is over.” She said leaving the house.
Lock noticed Jackie’s look on her face and tried to cheer her up. “Don’t worry she’s always like that.” He said following Shock out the door.
“Yeah, you’ll get used to it!” Barrel ran after then and shut the door.
Jackie stared at the door after they left. She lowered her head as she felt a familiar sadness building up inside. Turning to see Jack and Sally having a conversation behind her, she then looked up to see a small skeleton child looking down from the stairs. Jackie smiled as she gave her a small wave. Cindy hesitated for a bit, then waved back, which made her giggle.
“I see you met my daughter.” She jumped as Jack approached her. “Her name’s Cindy.”
“She so adorable.” She tilted her head.
“Thank you.” Sally said softly as she went upstairs. “Now Cindy, you know you’re not supposed to be out of bed.” She said putting her hands on her hips.
“I’m, sowwy.” The little one squeaked as she reached out to be picked up. Sally smiled as she picked her up and carried her off to bed.
“You should stay here tonight,” Jack suggested and pointed to one of the rooms. “There’s a spare bedroom over there, feel free to make yourself comfortable.” He stretched out his arms and let out a yawn. “Whoo wee! I’m tired. Oh, there’s food in the fridge also, make sure you don’t eat it all.” They both laughed. “Well goodnight.” Walking up the stairs.
“Goodnight.” She waved as she stood there. Waiting till the door of his bedroom door shut then headed to the kitchen.
She opened up the fridge and looked around. Finally she took out a small bowl of what seemed like leftovers from what looked liked Fishhead Casserole. She took a whiff if it before pulling it out of the fridge. She looked around and saw a microwave. Inspecting to see the dish was microwave safe, she quietly put it in and after a few minutes of trying to figure out how it works, she finally put it in for a minute. While is was heating up, she took a good look around. The kitchen was quite large, it had a nice stove, a big fridge and freezer, a small dining table in the middle. Looking down she could see the black and white tiles.. The microwave beeped as she rushed to open the door quickly. She froze for a bit, hearing if anyone woke up. Relieved that no one had, she looked for a small rag and took the food out. She found some silverware on the dish rack and took a knife and fork and headed for the room.
“Oh my goodness that’s the best meal I had in weeks.” She sighed laying down on the bed. She had just placed the dish on a small table next to bed, thinking she might as well wait till tomorrow to put the dish in the sink. Her staff was leaned against a wall at the other side of then room. She laid there thinking to herself. ‘Is this my home?? No...” She sighed as she turned to her side. No one knew the sadness that was within her. Ever since she turned 16 she had been looking for a place to stay, everywhere she went she had been an outcast, rejected from the people who she help, each with failing results. She tried and tried, but ended up leaving, looking somewhere else. She is now 19, and, hopefully, she had finally found a place to call home. A tear had escaped her eyes and rolled onto the bed. She smiled at the thought of it, but tried not to keep her hopes up. Turning to her other side, she curled up and fell to a peaceful sleep she had been yearning for years.
Meanwhile Shock was pacing back and fourth in the living room of the Tree House while Lock was in his room knocked out for the night. She couldn’t believe that pitiful girl scared the crap out of her.
‘Who is she? What is she doing here?’ Those thought ran through her head. Something about that girl bothered her. The fact that she came out of nowhere was a mystery.
‘Where is she from?’ She stopped in her tracks.
‘Why is she dressed like a jester?’ She made a weird face, and started pacing again. She was eager to know what this girl was about, why she was such a mystery. She stopped once again. “Why the hell do I care?” She put a hand to her face.
“About what?” Barrel said entering the Tree House.
“Huh? Oh nothing.” Then it hit her. “Wait you were out!? I didn’t even hear the elevator.”
“Yeah.” Crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “I had uh...things to do, so I left while you and Lock were having your usual arguments.” Noticing a worried look on her face. “You seem bothered by something, what’s bothering you? Argument got too intense?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No.” She turned away, letting out a sigh. “It’s that Jackie girl, something not right about her.” She turned back to him.
“She seems fine to me.” Taking a seat on the couch and popping a lollipop in his mouth.
“But where the hell did she come from?” She sat next to him.
“Mmm.” He put a hand under his chin. “Good point there.” Then his face brightened up. “Hey, why don’t we talk to her tomorrow? To clear things up ya know.”
“You’re right Barrel.” She smiled at him. “Maybe I’m overreacting a bit.”
“More like always.” laughing quietly, only to be smacked in the back of the head, which made his lollipop fly out of his mouth. “Hey!”
“I do not always overreact!”
“Oh yeah what about that time when you caught Lock peeping in your underwear drawers.” He tried so hard not to laugh at that one.
Her face became almost as red as a rose. “BARREL! WHY I...” He put a hand over her mouth.
“Shhhh! You’ll wake up sleeping beauty over there?!” He whispered, pointing at the door to Locks room.
They both started laughing as Barrel removed his hand from Shocks mouth.
“Yeah wouldn’t want to wake up THAT beast.” She look at Lock’s room door.
“Well I’m going to bed, I got stuff I gotta do tomorrow. G’night Shock.” He let out a yawn and headed for his room.
“Night Barrel.” Heading towards her own room.
She laid on her bed looking out the window. Those thoughts still running through her head, but then it shifted to someone else, Lock. Turning to her side, she let out a warm smile and pulled the blankets closer to her. She closed her eyes, thinking of the Christmas incident, wishing that Jack wasn’t there when they saw that mistletoe over the doorway. Maybe something more could have happened. She opened her eyes, turning on her back and sighed. ‘It’ll never happen, might as well stop thinking about it. There’s so many girls out there. He could have anyone he wants, why would he want me anyway?’ “I’m....” She covered her mouth before she said anything else. It took a moment for her to put her hand down. Looking to the left of her, she got up and walked over to her drawers. She looked around and then picked up a small mirror and held it up. She sighed at the sight she was seeing.
“I’m ugly.”
