Astra and Jack came to a stop at the rope bridge, outside Oogie's casino. "How do we get inside?" Astra asked.
"Well, there are two entries. A pipe over there, or we can break in from the roof."
"The roof!" Astra spluttered, Jack nodded.
"They may be expecting us from the pipe, we'll try a surpise entrance. We can scale down this rope and slide down into the hole, which I'll create" Astra agreed and edged down the rope after Jack.
***
Lock, Shock and Barrel were tormenting Pheobe (Barrel wasn't he was trying to get the other two to stop) in the casino. They were throwing dice at her and hitting her the number that appeared on the dice. "Huh? Snake eyes!" Pheobe grimaced anyway, her arms were bruised all over. A huge crashing sound came over heard. Jack and Astra burst from the ceiling. "Astra! Jack!" Pheobe stood up and Jacks and Astra saw Pheobe's chains. Jack glared at the three-some. Lock and Shock gasped but then smiled as a plan fell into place. "Jack! What a surprise to see, Oogie is waiting for you. This way." But Jack stood as still as stone. Astra edged towards Pheobe, but Shock stood in front of her. "Don't hurt them!" Pheobe burst out. Lock smiled malicously.
"Of course."
"We wouldn't dare." Shock joined in, Barrel didn't answer and elbowed Barrel in the ribs. "Oh, yeah." What Pheobe didn't know was that they all had their fingeres crossed behind their backs.
Jack and Astra were taken into the next room, Pheobe walked as far as her chains would take her. She peeked through the gap in the door, and she didn't like what she saw. Lock, Shock and Barrel snuck behind Jack and Astra and hit them on their heads with a stick, causing them to fall to the floor. They picked them and dragged them into a wardrobe. The entred the casino again, laughing. Pheobe glared at them. "You promise you wouldn't hurt them!" Lock and Shock showed Pheobe their crossed fingers.
"
crossies!" Pheobe looked at Barrel, hurt in her eyes. "I thought you was my friend." Barrel stepped towards her. "I am. I had nothing to do this!" Pheobe's pain changed suddenly to anger, she pushed Barrel to the ground. "Get out of my sight." She walked and sat in the extreme corner, away from the three. Lock grunted. "Come on, let's go." After the three left, Pheobe glanced up at the moon through the hole, which moments ago Jack jumped through. "Astra." Pheobe whispered. Then she folded her arms and lay them on her knees. She cried on her folded arms.
-Poor Pheobe!
. More to come-
