Sk: >_> <_< >_> I'm running out of ideas! Ah well, I'll try and keep up! n___n Sorry about the delay! My computer died and I had to use the laptop, and I CANNOT write on that STUPID thing! XD
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"Chelsea!"
Sally ran over and pulled the ragdoll close, as her daughter nuzzled into her. Jack smiled and walked out, obviously trying to hide how worried or angry he was. Chelsea's chocolate eyes gazed up at the figure of her father. "Um, hey, daddy! We're back safe... and we found something out..."
"How could you do that?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet. Sakura ducked behind her sister as Shelly and Evan climbed out. Kris was still staring around in fright, her skin nearly as white as paper. Chelsea began to quiver, shrinking away into her mother's embrace. Shelly spoke up, still holding Evan in her arms. Her ears were pressed flat against her skull. She knew that her uncle was disappointed more than angry, and that's what made it worse.
"We just wanted to get Maree and the other two home, uncle. We didn't mean to make you angry..."
"Not to mentioned worried sick." he muttered, looking away. He looked back. "This is so disappointing. I thought you'd have more sense than that. You knew that a group of us would go looking, but when all six of you were gone, we didn't know what to do."
"We're sorry, Uncle Jack and Aunty Sally." Evan murmured, his voice sounding close to tears. Jack sighed and motioned to the tree sisters. Sakura shrank away a bit, while Willow looked up.
"Thank you, Willow, Sakura, for finding them and bringing them back. Now, you'd better get back to the Hanging Tree. It's getting rather late."
"Okay, Mr. Skellington." Willow smiled, nudging her sister and beginning to walk away. "Let's go, Sakura."
"Bye, guys." Sakura squeaked, before hurrying after her older sister. "Wait up!"
Jack sighed and took Evan into his arms, grasping Shelly by the wrist. Shelly whimpered inaudibly, but followed all the same. Kris was directed to Skellington Manor and ordered to stay there until told otherwise. She smartly did as she was told. Sally smiled and held her arm around Chelsea's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek softly. "It's okay, baby. We were just worried, that's all. And your father, although he doesn't like to admit... he was scared."
Chelsea stopped, staring wide eyed at her mother. "Papa? Scared? Now I know that's a lie."
"It's not." Sally sighed, running a hand through her blood-red hair. "He's scared. For you and Bayley. He didn't think we were going to get either of you back alive."
"Oh..." Chelsea whispered, wrapping an arm around her mother's waist and pulling herself closer. Her voice fell to a whisper, so she could only hear herself. "But I found something out that might make him happy. I think I know what Bayley's up to, and where he is."
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"Evan!!"
Vanda's happy squeal echoed through the tower, waking her four friends. The Vampire Brothers had been having daily visits from Michael and Vanda since the children went missing. Vanda took Evan into her arms and nuzzled him, sitting down and cradling him close. Michael tried to hide the grin on his face. "Sorry, guys." he smiled at the brothers. "We didn't mean to wake you."
"Eet's allvight." Tony, the second youngest, smiled. Troy, the youngest, looked up, as Josh and Cody, the oldest and second oldest, began to fall asleep again.
"Vhat's all de commotion?"
"Eet's my son." Vanda whispered, cradling Evan dearly. He was nuzzling into her neck and clutching at the front of her dress. Michael looked over at his brother.
"Thanks, bro." he smiled, hugging him. Jack returned it. "Is there any news of Bayley, or Anne, or Maree, at least?"
"No, I'm afraid not." he whispered, turning away again. Michael smiled, putting an arm around his brother. Chelsea began to speak.
"Papa, I-"
"Not now, Chelsea."
"Wait until your father's calmed down, sweetie." Sally whispered softly, kissing her daughter's hair. Chelsea nodded and sighed, looking away. Jack sighed and looked up, straightening his jacket. Michael grabbed his trench coat from one of the hooks, and smirked, looking over at his brother as he pulled it on.
"No worries, bro. I'll help you find them."
"I vill too." came a rather young voice. The group looked over at four boys, each a vampire like their fathers. The oldest, Calvin, blinked and looked away. As did the second oldest, Sean. They were obviously apologising silently for not being very brave. The second youngest, Casey, was the one who'd spoken up. The youngest, Keith, was cowering behind his older cousin. "Baylee ees my vriend. And I eentend to help all ov my vriends."
"I don't know...." Jack mumbled. "I don't want him getting hurt."
"Bro, we need all the help we can get." Michael argued, looking over to Tony. "Tony, is it alright if your son comes with us to find the three that are still missing? I mean, we do need the help, and he is Bayley's friend."
"Go vor eet." Tony smiled, nodding. He looked over to his son. "Just stay safe and don't put your safety on de line vor somevone else eef you don't need to."
"I von't dad." Casey smiled, before following they group out.
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"Oh my gods! Shelly! There you are, baby!" came Pan's joyous shriek as she embraced her blind daughter. Werewolf smiled, turning to Jack.
"Thank you for finding her. It was terrifying without knowing where our daughters were. Any idea where Maree might be?"
"I'm sorry, daddy." Shelly whispered, still locked in her mother's hug. "We don't know where Maree's gone, or the other two."
"Ah well..." Pan sniffed, straightening and burying her head into Michael's chest. The skeleton wrapped his arms around their adopted sister as she curled her tail around his legs. Jack laid a hand on her shoulder, as Chelsea once again spoke up.
"Dad, I think-"
"Chelsea, this isn't the time." Sally whispered, looking down at her. Chelsea sighed and nodded, folding her arms. Casey grinned and nodded up at the skeletons and their sister.
"Don't vorry. Ve'll geet deem back, or my name eesn't Casey."
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"So what is your name, miss?"
Kris looked up at the skeletons, whimpering and hugging herself. Her emerald eyes were wide and she was feeling rather dizzy purely from fear. She shuddered gently, whilst Chelsea put a slender arm around her shoulders, smiling. "Muh... muh-mu-muh..."
"Her name is Kris, dad. Kris Claus. She's Sandy's granddaughter."
"Oh, well that changes the circumstances completely!" Jack smiled, laying a bony hand on the human's shoulder. Sally smiled and nodded at the new girl, whom shrunk back for a second, but smiled to the ragdoll in return. Michael blinked, hands on hips.
"But what she all the way out here for?"
Chelsea blinked. Not even her mother was going to stop her this time. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! We think that Bayley, Anne and Maree have started working with that Oogie Boogie man character that you all told us was a bedtime story. Which was a dead lie, mind you. And now they've apparently captured the other Holiday Leaders, including Sandy. Now they only need the Halloween Leader, and that's daddy. And I wouldn't leave out the chance that they'll want Uncle Michael and Aunty Pan too."
The others stood there in shocked silence. Jack looked down at his daughter, ruffling her hair. "I had no idea that could have happened. I'm sorry, Chels."
"It's okay, daddy." Chelsea smiled, hugging him tightly. Kris gulped and whimpered, looking around.
"It's so dark... and creepy..."
"That's why it's called Halloween Town." Michael smirked, folding his arms across his chest. Sally nudged him with her elbow. He looked down at her blinking. "What?"
"Well, we'll have to go straight away." Jack murmured, looking away. "Casey, Michael, meet me with the Hanging Tree. Sally, stay here and look after Chelsea and Kris."
"What?" Chelsea and Kris cried at once. Kris shook her head angrily and stepped forward, looking rather scary to Casey. "I came to get my grandpa back, and I'm going with you. Chelsea is too. She deserves to decide whether to come or not! And don't bother telling me about her disability, either. I know what it is and if she survived those woods and the climate of Christmas Town, she can definitely get through it here!"
Jack stared in disbelief at the little Christmas Towner, then smiled and nodded. "Very well, then. Chelsea, are you sure you are up to coming with us?
"Positive, daddy." Chelsea smiled, nodding. She ran her slender fingers through her bloody-red hair and its black and white streaks, and then through her naturally white fringe. "If Bayley can do it, so can I."
Sally slowly wrapped her arms around Chelsea's figure, tears forming in her deep hazel eyes. "You two be careful." she whispered, burying her face into Chelsea's hair. "All of you be careful..."
"We will, mum." Chelsea smiled, nuzzling into her mother's neck. "I promise."
They stayed there for a few moments, before a mischievous grin spread across Michael's face as it used to when he and his brother were rather young. "Let's get goin', eh? It's not like we're not going to come back."
"Michael, you have to understand!" Jack sighed angrily, looking over at his older twin. "This isn't just like running away from dad when we were eight. This situation has serious consequences. Someone is going to get hurt, whether we like it or not. You really have to be up to this. We can't just call it off because someone tripped and carry on tomorrow. This is no game."
Michael sighed and looked away, nodding. "Right... I'm sorry, Jack. Okay. I'm right now. C'mon, kids and oh-so-beloved-brother-o'-mine! Let's go kick some bug-filled, potato-sack Oogie butt!"
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So... n_n There you go! Hope you enjoy, and wait until next time! n____n
