Sk: Okay, I just got back from a holiday with my parents, thus my not-updatyness. XP And I'm sick, so I'm not going to Armageddon, so what better than to do this? =3
Michael: You stay away from me... I don't wanna catch nothing...
Sk: ..... u_u; You're really irritating, you know that?
---
Kris stared into the darkness, her eyes glistening with the light shining from behind her. Chelsea looked after her, blinking. There were a few shapes in the darkness, moving, and it scared the life out of her. The young ragdoll had to cover her mouth not to scream as something touched her shoulder.
"What's going on?" Kris asked frantically, swinging around. The Tomb Keeper was standing behind them, clutching his staff in one hand and resting his weight on it, and the other pressed tightly against his left ribcage.
"Don't worry, it's just me." he uttered, looking up. Chelsea flung her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly and sobbing slightly. Michael looked down and gently stroked her back, blinking. "What's wrong, Chelsea?" he asked softly, moving his hand up to her hair, and running his fingers through it.
"I'm scared. And I don't feel well." she whispered. Michael looked up to Kris.
"What's going on here?" he asked firmly, expecting a true answer. Kris looked back to the darkened doorway.
"Well, when you left after the two boys, we carried on. We ran into a pair of witches, one of whom threw me to the lava." She held up her hand. "And then Chelsea's stitches came undone and she began to get sick. We're still trying to find Grandpa and Casey and Sakura, but we're afraid to go through this door."
"Alright." Michael nodded. "Then I'll lead you in, shall I? Can't expect to little girls to do it all by themselves." he joked, laughing. Kris smiled, and Chelsea giggled. Michael stood up, letting go of his niece, and stepped into the darkness. Chelsea followed, clutching at her uncle's coat. Kris brought up the rear, looking behind her every-so-often. Chelsea gasped and hid behind her uncle as lights sprang on, revealing that they were in fact standing on a giant roulette wheel. There was a tall figure standing before them, in a red tee-shirt with long, white sleeves and a pair of black jeans. His burnt red hair was bushed back, with bangs framing his pale face and purple eyes. A long, red tail, with an arrow-head tip and various scars and deep cuts and grazes swayed behind him. Michael gasped and held his staff at the ready.
"What're ya gonna do with that, TK?" the incubus hissed slyly, laughing. He was holding a girl close to his body. A young, pasty white girl with long, wavy black hair, pitch black eyes and cute little freckles on her cheeks and shoulders.
"Daddy, help me!" she cried in fear, struggling. Michael narrowed his eye sockets, tightening his grip on the staff that he held in his skeletal hands.
"Let my daughter go, Link!" Michael ordered. Link laughed and tightened his grip on the girl, moving one hand from her elbow to her shoulder.
"Now, now, Michael, no need to get angry." Link sneered, laughing. "How do you suppose to defeat the very person that taught you how to use that weapon, hmn?"
"I've improved since then, you wretch!" Michael growled, stepping forward a little. "Let my daughter go now, or I'll kill you."
"Uh, uh, uh, you're forgetting..." Link hissed. He was obviously having fun with this. "I have your daughter with me right now." He slid his tail slowly up her back, making her shiver, and coiled it loosely around her throat. "So, you could attack me, and I could lop her head off. You could wait there, and I could slowly tighten my tail until she draws her very last breath." He drew the last three words out a little longer, for suspense sake. "Or you could drop your weapon and I could let her go."
"Don't do it, Michael!" Kris whispered. "Incubi lie when they know they can get something out of it. How do you know he'll really let your daughter go? He could just tell you that so you leave yourself unarmed, and kill her anyway!"
Michael didn't respond. He narrowed his eye sockets as Link grinned.
Chelsea gasped as she saw her uncle's staff hit the ground. This was the first time in her life that she had ever seen her uncle give up to anyone. That included her grandma Rhia, great aunt Cammy, and her own father. Link smirked and uncoiled his tail, pushing Anne roughly. "Get away from me, half-blood filth."
Annelise whimpered and scampered over to her father, pressing herself against him. Michael wrapped his arms around her tightly, falling to his knees and resting his head atop hers. She broke down into tears as she sobbed into her father's chest, crying apologies to him. "I'm s-so sorry we ran away... just w-wanted t-to do s-something b-brave... n-never do i-it again..."
Michael hushed his daughter gently, nuzzling into her pitch black tresses. "It's alright, baby, it's alright. No one's mad at you. I'm going to get you out of here safely, don't you worry."
Kris stared on at the pair, pity flushing through her system. Chelsea moved over to comfort her cousin. But she jerked her head back as she heard Kris' cry of pain and fright. Barrel and Cask had tackled her to the ground, but she was fighting back. But it was obvious that she had only been loosing since one more person joined the fray. He was tall and lean like his brother, with brushed, rusty hair and glazed, purple eyes. He was still in his red tee shirt and now in red jeans, and was holding Kris to the ground by the shoulders. It looked like he was about to thrash her in the face with his tail. He looked back as he heard Chelsea gasped. "Lock!" she cried, standing up. Link narrowed his eyes.
"Do it, Lock. Don't just hurt her. Teach her not to interfere with other holidays."
Lock growled, making Kris whimper. He then looked back to Chelsea, which tugged at his heart. Tears were running down her face as she stared at him, and she fell to her knees. "I can't believe you!" she cried softly, staring at the ground. "I trusted you!" Michael would have comforted her if he wasn't already with his own daughter. Lock whimpered, and stood up, glaring down at Kris. Link growled this time.
"What are you waiting for, Lock?"
"... I can't." Lock snarled, walking slowly over to Chelsea and holding his hand out. Chelsea stared up at him, her brow creased with worry and fear. But the look in Lock's demonic eyes confirmed that he wasn't going to hurt her. She took his hand gently and pulled herself to her feet, falling against his chest.
"I thought you were going to hurt her. Or me."
"I wouldn't. I can't." he whispered to her, kissing her gently on the forehead. Cask and Barrel stared in confusion and horror at their team-mate, before being thrown to the ground by the woman they were sitting on. Link narrowed his eyes, moving forward.
"What is this, Lock?" he asked his little brother, anger beginning to boil inside him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm keeping Chelsea safe." he growled back, staring into the hazy purple eyes of his brother. Link narrowed his eyes as a young woman walked into the light.
"Mister Oogie told you to get rid of her, Lock." Shock reminded, blinking. Lock narrowed his eyes. "You agreed with us to get rid of them."
Lock then smirked. "That's where you're wrong, my friend." He held up his hand, and crossed his fingers. Shock's eyes grew wide, half in horror at how he could have betrayed his master, half in awe at how brave he was. Link snarled.
"I don't want to hurt you, Lock. But unlike you, I'm still loyal." he growled, clenching his fists. Lock let Chelsea go, stepping forward and sighing. Chelsea clung to Lock's arm. "If you side with them, you're going down too."
Lock snarled and pushed Chelsea away roughly as he was tackled by his older brother. Kris helped her up and held her tightly, reassuringly, as the pair of demons tussled on the ground. Shock gasped and backed away, whilst Anarchy moved ahead into the light. In the background, Maree stood in the darkness, one arm firmly around Caroline's waist, the other hand pressed against her mouth firmly. Kris narrowed her eyes.
"You're Maree, aren't you?" she asked softly, walking over slowly, Chelsea still clinging to her. Maree nodded slowly, growling.
"What's it ta you?"
"Let Caroline go, Maree! This isn't what you want to do!" Chelsea shrieked, before coughing. Kris petted her on the back, whilst Maree narrowed her eyes.
"You don't understand, Chels! If I don't do as I'm told, Bayley gets hurt!" the were-feline whined, tightening her grip. But the were-feline's grip broke as she looked up. A howl pierced the air. "Papa!?" she gasped, beginning to run forward. But Anarchy whipped around, grabbing the were-child's wrist, yanking back against her body, holding her wand at her throat. Werewolf leapt into the room, snarling. He was soon followed by Jack, eye sockets wide.
"Stand aside, Werewolf." Anarchy snapped. Werewolf gasped as he realised whom she held in her arms. "Step down and attack no one. If you do those two simple things, I will not harm your daughter. I really don't want to. She's actually a really nice girl." she whispered, looking away. The canine looked back at Jack, whom thought for a second before nodding. Werewolf whipped back, flexing his claws.
"Let my daughter go and I stand down."
Anarchy actually smiled as she pulled Maree closer. She lowered her mouth to Maree's ear. "I'm sorry what we've put you through. Keep your cousins safe. I know you have the power to do it."
Maree nodded, looking up at the witch. The woman released her, and the girl tore over to her father, throwing herself into his arms. "Papa, I'm so sorry! I promise never to run away again!"
"It's alright, Maree." Werewolf growled, looking up. "As long as you're not hurt, you're forgiven."
Link and Lock had, by this time, broken apart, and were staring at each other. Link's arm was a bit limp, but that was about all that was done to him. Blood was flowing from the corner of Lock's mouth, where he had cut himself on his teeth. There were bite marks in his shoulder, and he had various bruises. "I'm sorry, Lock, it had to be done." Link uttered, looking away. Lock nodded understandingly, before stepping backwards. He groaned and fell on his backside, wincing and drawing his left knee into his chest. Chelsea ran over and wrapped her arms around him, gasping.
"Are you alright, Lock?" she asked softly, wiping the blood from his mouth. The incubus nodded and smiled, kissing her gently on the cheek.
"Of course. I think your father's here..." he whispered, nodding toward the skeleton. "You better go see him."
She gasped and stood up, running over to her father. Jack wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she buried her face into his chest. "Daddy! I'm so glad you're here!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. Jack nodded, kissing her on the forehead.
"I'm just relieved to see you're still alive." he whispered, close to tears himself. He sighed and fought them back bravely for his daughter, and looked around. Werewolf was staring intently at his daughter, listening to her explanation. Link was helping his brother up and apologising yet again. Caroline was on the ground with Kris, crying into her shirt. Shock and Anarchy were plainly sitting to the side with Barrel and Cask. There was no sign of Casey or Sakura. Or of Bayley.
"Where are Sakura and Casey?" Jack asked Anarchy and Shock. Even though they were loyal to Oogie, they were still rightfully scared of the Pumpkin King, as he had already defeated Oogie three times. Anarchy pointed to the door on the opposite side of the room.
"They're in there. The Caged Kings, you'll remember?" Anarchy asked, looking up at the skeleton. "The holiday leaders, other than yourself of course, are there as well."
Jack nodded, and Werewolf sprang off, scampering in to free them. Jack walked over to Michael, helping him to his feet. He gasped and caught him, as his knee buckled. "Michael, are you alright?" he asked, helping his twin to sit down. Michael nodded, pulling free of his brother's grasp.
"I'm fine." he uttered, looking over to his daughter. "As long as I know Anne is alright."
"I'm fine." Anne smiled, wiping the tear stains from her face. Jack looked up, smiling at Chelsea, whom smiled back bravely and looked around.
"But... where is Bayley?"
"I'm right here." a voice growled. Jack looked over to the silhouette in the darkness. "Mister Oogie told me to come here. He wanted to know whether I needed help, but I think I can do it on my own."
"It's the truth." Oogie's voice laughed from behind the group. Oogie was standing there, next to the witches, grinning with his arms folded. Bayley stepped forward.
"Come and get me, Jack."
---
Lock: ... Ouch...
Chelsea: Oh, come here. I'll clean that cut up.
Lock: No. It's fine. We're nearing the anti-climax now.
Sk: Whaddaya mean the ANTI-climax, bitch? My story is going to have a good ending, I hope! >=3
Lock: Yeah, hope.
Sk: ... Shaddap.
