Shock watched in horror from her hiding place as blood ran down the Beldam’s mouth. Lock lied dead and bloody on the floor. Barrel was tied to a chair, unconscious, blood running down his face from where two buttons had been sewn into his eyes. Shock tried not to make a sound, biting her wrist to keep from screaming. Despite her efforts a tiny whimper escaped her and the Beldam turned abruptly towards her. Shock tried to scream but the sound came out muffled and that’s when she opened her eyes.
Shock had been dreaming, screaming into her pillow. Her wrist was bleeding; she hadn’t just been biting it in the nightmare. Shock took a deep breath to try to keep herself from crying. It was just a nightmare, she told herself, just a nightmare. And yet dangerously close to reality. Shock tried to push it from her mind. She would have to stay focused if she was ever going to get out of there. She went to the connecting bathroom and found some band-aids. She washed the bite on her wrist, wincing a bit from the sting, and covered the wound. Shock then began getting ready for the day. When she came out of the bathroom she noticed a dress hanging outside her closet door. She felt a small chill, it hadn’t been there when she went in; the Beldam had been in her room without her knowing. She looked at it; a note was attached to it that read:
‘For you, to wear today—Love Mother’
Shock: (in whisper to herself) You’re not my mother.
Shock had never met her mother but she knew she wasn’t the Beldam. The dress was beautiful, the same dark purple as her eyes, with tiny sparkling jewels sewn all over making it look like it was made of the night sky. But she didn’t want to wear anything from the Beldam. She started to put her night gown back on, but then wondered what the Beldam might do if she didn’t wear the dress. So she put it on. She looked in the vanity’s mirror at her reflection wearing the dress. The color brought out the green in her skin. It was cut to be flattering and flatter it did, making her look older. She heard the Beldam announce breakfast was ready. She didn’t want to go to breakfast. She glanced at her reflection again, took a deep breath, and slowly left her room. She met Barrel out in the hallway; he too had on different clothes: ripped black jeans, a black t-shirt with skeleton ribs print, and black leather jacket.
Barrel: I see you got new clothes too.
Shock: Yeah…Barrel, there’s something I have to tell you.
Barrel: What?
Shock: (in whisper) The Lock she showed us isn’t really Lock, he told me.
Barrel: (also whispering) Then where’s Lock?!
Shock: I don’t know, but when we see the Other Lock pretend he’s the real one and we don’t know anything.
Barrel: Uhhh…okay.
Barrel was a bit confused, but he was always confused. Shock and Barrel walked to the dining room where the Other Lock was setting the table.
Other Lock: Good morning Shock and Barrel. May I say you look lovely this morning Shock?
Shock: Uhhh…thanks?
The Other Lock pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit down. Shock paused there for a moment before sitting down, unused to being treated like a lady. Shock noticed that, in contrast to her and Barrel’s clothing, Other Lock was dressed very plainly. A surprised looking Barrel sat down staring at the Other Lock like he might burst into flames any second now. Shock thought Other Lock must be a very good actor, last night he had seemed so sad and afraid, this morning he acted like life couldn’t be better. When the Beldam entered with their plates the Other Lock helped her set them down, and then pulled out a chair for her as he had done for Shock. Breakfast this morning was bacon, eggs, and toast. Barrel’s was covered in a thick layer of sugar, which was how he ate almost everything, and Shock had strawberry jam on her toast. Other Lock’s plate was piled high, and he ate hungrily, though politely. Shock wondered why he needed so much food.
They ate in silence. Or rather, Barrel and Other Lock ate in silence. The Beldam didn’t eat and Shock moved the food around her plate more than she ate it.
Other Lock: Something wrong Shock? You’ve barely touched your food.
Shock: I...I’m not hungry. Do you want it?
Other Lock started to reach for the plate then looked at the Beldam and took his hand back.
Other Lock: No, you should eat Shock.
He gave a hungry glance at her plate. He’d already eaten all his food. Barrel had partly eaten his, and he looked like he felt guilty for enjoying it. Shock felt nauseous as she tried to eat hers. It was delicious of course, but she just didn’t feel comfortable eating it.
Beldam: I was thinking after breakfast Lock could show you some more of the house.
Other Lock: Yeah…you wouldn’t believe what’s behind some of these doors…
Other Lock looked towards the Beldam, to Shock it looked like he was getting instructions on what to say. The Beldam lifted her eyebrows and tilted her head as if saying ‘go on’.
Other Lock: …It’s amazing. If you’re done with your food I’ll show you some of the cool ones.
Shock: *sighs* Okay..I’ve eat as much as I’m going to.
Other Lock: You coming too Barrel?
Barrel: Sure. *burps* Sorry.
Beldam: Have fun kids.
Other Lock talked happily beside her as they walked through the house. Shock barely paid attention, lost in thought. She wondered if Lock was behind one of these doors. She snapped back to reality when Other Lock abruptly stopped talking.
Shock: What’s wrong?
Other Lock: (whispering) Shhhh…she shouldn’t be able to hear us from here but I can’t be sure. Shock, Barrel, I think I can help you find your brother, but you have to play along. I know you don’t like it here but you have to pretend. Smile.
Other Lock gestured at his own fake smile. Shock smiled, if only half heartedly. Barrel over did his smile a bit.
Other Lock: Not that much Barrel.
He shrunk his smile a little.
Other Lock: Good, now follow me.
They followed the Other Lock as he led them to a door painted bright red.
Other Lock: (loudly and with false sincerity) I think you’ll like this one.
Shock: (playing along) Cool. What’s behind it?
Other Lock: Oh, just wait and see. I think you’ll be impressed.
When he opened the door they found the room empty. Shock suddenly realized what he was doing. He was pretending to show them doors that held entertainment when he was actually just opening random doors to see what was behind them. A real smile appeared on her lips. Now they had a plan.
Shock: Amazing! Isn’t it Barrel?
Barrel: Awesome!
Other Lock: And that’s just the beginning. I have to show you this next one…
On they went. Some doors were empty like the first one, some actually were rooms created to entertain, but none held the real Lock. They had only gone through about half the doors on that hallway one door in particular caught Shock’s eye. In contrast to the colorful room this door was painted solid black.
Shock: What’s this door?
Other Lock: Open it and see.
Shock tried to turn the handle. It wouldn’t budge. She had a feeling Lock was behind this door. She tried looking through the keyhole. Nothing. Then she got an idea.
Shock: (whispering) Barrel, do you still have that skeleton key we used to get in?
Barrel started feeling around in his pockets.
Barrel: (also whispering) I think I left it in my pajama pants.
Shock: Then come on, we have to go get it.
She grabbed Barrel’s sleeve and began to drag him to his room. Other Lock followed behind them.
It was too quiet, thought Oogie. The lack of noise made the house seem empty. It was empty. The three were gone, most likely for good, and Oogie didn’t even have a picture of them. He knew why, I mean, you try to get those three to sit still and smile. Besides, he had never much for sentimentality, but still…all those years and not even one picture. He remembered when they first came here, or rather were left here. Their parents abandoned them leaving only a note with their names and ages. Nothing else. His first thought had been to take them to another doorstep, but there had been something about then that changed his mind. A certain spark of evil energy that just needed guidance. He assumed they were related, but there were times when he had questioned that. They were so different from each other. Sometimes he wanted to strangle them, other times he was proud to call them his boys…and girl. He missed them.
..............................................................................................
Is Lock behind the door?
Will they get the key?
