All the time Oogie had been waiting. Jack and his father were taking walks around Halloween Town and playing games together. Rexus told him stories about previous Kings of Halloween Town and Jack enquired as to why there was never a female in charge. Rexus ignored this, it was too complicated to explain.
They saw many people wandering around Halloween Town who stopped to bow or smiled as they walked by, they even saw the Mayor who was as flustered as usual, he pulled Rexus over to one side and talked to him.
"What have you done about Oogie?" he breathed.
"It is..." he hesitated. "Taken care of..."
"Oh good" the Mayor said, turning his face around to happy.
"Well, Halloween is in two days. How are the preparations with Jack coming?"
"He's more than ready. I just need to tell him what to do." Rexus said with a smile, but it wasn't a happy smile, it was more of a sad smile.
"Oh brilliant!" The Mayor said, tootling off down the way.
"What was that about?" Jack asked curiously.
"Halloween" Rexus answered in one simple word.
"Oh, I see!" Jack said with a huge smile. "What am I going to do in the Halloween show, father?"
His father looked at his feet. "Alot" he said.
"Really?! I'm so happy!"
"Jack..." his father said, kneeling by his side. "I want to tell you something. Make the most of now, keep every moment in your memory, whether it be big or small, never forget these moments with me and your mother. Never lose sight of them, understand?"
Jack nodded, not sure what he meant, and Rexus saw this in his eyes.
"It's getting late." Rexus said. "Perfect to see the Vampire Brothers, right?"
Jack's smile emerged back on his face to form a beam.
"Yeah!" Jack said eagerly.
"Excellent! Let's go!"
They arrived at the Vampire Brothers around 7:00 and they were all pleased to see both Rexus and Jack.
"Hello, little prince!" the youngest brother said, smiling a toothy grin. "Your majesty."
"What do we owe this honour?" The oldest asked, bowing.
Rexus took the oldest to one side.
"I need you to teach Jack, when I'm not here. Teach him to be a proper gentleman, teach him Shakespeare and such."
"But, where are you going Rexus?" the brother asked.
Rexus looked at his shoes. "I don't know...just looking to the possible future, you know?"
The brother nodded, as he watched Jack look at the viles of tomato juice on the side. He stared up at the many books in awe and amazement. There were books on 101 Ways to
Drink Blood and The Vampires Guide to Avoiding Sunlight.
"Jack" his father said, interrupting his train of thought.
"How do you fancy going to see Dr. Finklestein before we go home?"
"I'd love to, father" Jack said with a smile as he looked back up at the books.
So, they went to Dr. Finklestein next. They walked down the lane, passing frogs which they tried to avoid.
They walked up the winding ramp until they reached the top, they went into the elevator and Rexus cleared his throat.
"Hello Rexus!" the doctor said with a smile, turning in his wheelchair to face them. "Oh!
Jack, my boy! It's nice to see you too!"
Jack smiled and went off to look around the room whilst Rexus talked to Dr. Finklestein.
"Doctor...I want you to teach Jack some science and maths, teach him how to use scientific equipment and such."
"I can do that, of course!" the Doctor said, moving his glasses up his nose.
"Thank you."
"These look amazing!" Jack said, looking through a glass jar at a green liquid. There was felt strewn across the floor and books that were half open everywhere.
The Doctor wheeled over to his side. "These my boy are acids. They are highly corrosive and could burn your bones in seconds!"
Jack's eyes widened and he backed away from the jars. His father saw this and smiled.
"Well, thank you Doctor. We'd best be getting back now, hadn't we Jack?"
"Yes father. Thank you Doctor!"
Jack and his father returned to a lovely meal and then Jack retired to bed, he was exsaughsted from the days events. His father came in after he'd got ready for bed, as did Zero.
"You all ready for bed, Jack?" his father asked, sitting on the end of his bed.
"Yep!" Jack said, snuggling Zero. His mother came in and kissed him on the head.
"Good night Jack, and unpleasant dreams."
Jack smiled and lay his skull down to rest. His mother closed the door.
"What's wrong, Rexus? You've been distant since you found out about Jack's playmate."
"I'm...I'm fine."
"No you're not." Funerelly said, cutting in front of him before he had a chance to escape.
"Tell me."
Rexus heaved a heavy sigh.
"Look. Perhaps this Oogie character isn't as bad as Ozmando." Funerelly said. "You forget that Ozmando was once your friend and a kind boogieman. Perhaps he has changed in the years he has been alone. Just let Jack and Oogie be and they shall be fine."
"No..." Rexus breathed. "He is definately up to something. I had a vision."
"A vision?" Funerelly echoed, following Rexus down the stairs. "Of what?"
Rexus turned around swiftly. "An explosion. Jack screaming a petrifying scream and dust."
Funerelly's eyes widened. "What?"
"Something is going to happen and it will change our lives forever, Funerelly."
"When did you have this vision?"
"Outside in the town square. It was sudden."
"This isn't good. Perhaps you should consult Doctor Finklestein about this."
"I'm not mad, my dear." Rexus laughed. "I am merely in need of some rest and recooperation. I do not wish to think of my arch enemy at such hours as these."
Funerelly touched his shoulder. "Take what I've said into consideration though, Rexus."
Rexus nodded and climbed down the last few steps to the bottom.
The next morning, Jack ate his breakfast and went out into the graveyard to meet Oogie, who was looking incredibly vindictive.
"Hey Oogie!" Jack said in his usual chirpy tune.
"Hello" Oogie said reluctantly, turning around so he couldn't see him.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG?!" Oogie boomed. "YOU PROMISED TO MEET ME HERE AND YOU DIDN'T, THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG!"
"I-I'm sorry, Oogie." Jack said both afraid and apologetically.
Oogie's eyes narrowed and he looked the other way, he had only one chance left to kidnap him, or that was it and he still couldn't do it, although he was so angry with him.
They were friends.
"I'm sorry" Oogie breathed.
"It's alright."
"No. It's not what I said. It's what I'm doing."
"What could you possibly be doing?"
"I'm kidnapping you..."
Jack's eyes widened. "I...I thought you were my friend."
"We are friends! I'm letting you go, Jack. Run, run away from here. Get with your parents and stay away from the graveyard, do you understand?"
"But, what about you? Who set you up to this?"
"My father. Ozmando."
Jack's eyes widened. "My father's enemy" he said under his breath.
"Exactly. We should never have been friends, never. But nevertheless, Jack. I'm glad I was."
"Me too. Never forget me, will you?"
"Never."
Jack smiled weakly and ran as fast as he could away from the graveyard.
"OOGIE!" Ozmando barked from behind him.
"Dad..." Oogie said, clenching his fists.
"You let him go AGAIN?!"
"HE'S MY FRIEND! AND ALWAYS WILL BE! NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO OR SAY!"
Ozmando looked like he was about to explode, he punched Oogie in the face, becoming darker and darker until he looked like a shadow, his eyes glowing like headlights in the dark of the night.
"You traitor!" Ozmando said, his voice low and demonic. "You have disobeyed me too many times!"
He lunged at Oogie and disappeared into his felt. "Wait!" Oogie said, his voice becoming a little like his fathers. "Stop!" "NO!"
"Too late, son. I rule the show now!"
"No! Let me go!" Oogie said weakly, trying his best to stay strong, but it wasn't enough.
"From this day forward" Ozmando said in Oogie's newborn voice. "I am Oogie Boogie.
The badest Boogieman in the whole of Halloween Town. No more hiding, no more banishment! Just
PAYBACK!"
