Chapter VI: Nursery Rhymes

Danny

A sharp pain roused me from sleep. I could hear voices around me. "Do you think he's really the Halfa?" one asked curiously. It wasn't one I heard before. I began to wonder if I died fully and am in some kind of Purgatory.

"Do you think he really fought the ghost king?" another voice asked excitedly as I slowly opened my eyes. "He's awake," the voice called out as my vision returned and found myself surrounded by strange creatures.

There were mummies, zombies, vampires, and other creatures that seem they came from Sam's webcomic. A strange being that looked like a living doll rushed in and told the crowd to back off.

"There will plenty of time to see him later. Now he needs to rest." Everyone groaned and left the room. "I am very sorry about this Mr. Halfa," she said turning to me. I told her it's all right and I am just trying to figure out what happened to me. "You're in Halloween Town." Halloween town?

"Did I hear correctly is the Halfa awake," a tall skeleton dressed in a tuxedo walked into the room. He looked over to me and smiled. "It is honor to meet a hero of your magnitude. I am Jack Skellington," he introduced himself. Just call me Danny. "As you wish Mr. Danny," I looked around the room trying to piece everything that happened. "My wife, Sally, found you in the cemetery you were on Death's door, no pun intended."

The last thing I remember is Vlad's voice and feeling an intense pain inside me. I feel something tight on my stomach and pull the blankets off revealing a large suture on me. "You were literally falling apart when I found you," the doll, who I assume is Sally, said as I looked at the wound. I thank her and asked if I could have a moment to myself. "Yes of course," she and Jack say if I need anything just to ring the bell and walk out of the room.

Ghostwriter

"Come on, think, think!" I shouted trying to find inspiration for my next story but there was nothing. "What is it about death that cuts you off from creativity?" In life I could write twenty pages in half an hour. Now I am lucky if I can do paragraph a day. "Maybe I need to…" just then a bright light appeared in the middle of the room.

"Good day Étienne," a calm voice said as the ghost of time, Clockwork, appeared in front of me. "I hope I am not intruding," he said in a manner more suited to a fact than a question. The old ghost chuckled and said I shouldn't be surprised he knew my name.

After a moment of silence I finally got back the power to speak. "What are you doing here?" was all I could say as Clockwork took a seat at the table. He said I am needed to aid Daniel's friends. Apparently the boy went missing. "What can I do?" The now young specter smiled.

"You are familiar with the Holiday Worlds?" Of course it was one of my favorite stories growing up. Even now I am fascinated with the old legend but they don't exist it's just a story. "They are quite real," my guest said adjusting one of the watches around his wrist. "Vlad wounded and hid the boy in one of them. Samantha and Jasmine are on their way there. I want you to help them in any way you can."

Why me I am just a writer not a warrior or sage. He mentions that my Quantum Computer is fixed. "Yes, it took awhile but it's ready. I admit it's not as powerful as it was." Clockwork gazes at the notebook computer on the table.

"Good it might come in handy," He waves his staff and generates a portal. "There is no time to waste." I close up the computer and float through the portal.

Barrel

"How are we going to get up there?" I asked my brother as we looked up at Jack's house. Lock smiled and said we have it under control. He takes out a grappling hook throwing it at the window sill. He tugged on it to make sure it's secure and climbed up.

"Now remember we have to be quiet," Shock said as she climbed up next and entered the room.

"Hurry up you idiot." I scurry up the rope knocking Lock and Shock. "You moron!" she was about to hit me when the Halfa moaned.

"Who's there," he asks as we cram into the shadows. He looks around before going back to sleep. That was close. We silently come out of hiding when I feel my foot step on something. I let out a scream making the child dart up and standing on the bed. "I said 'who's there?' "

"Get Him!" Lock cries taking the snare trying to capture him. He dodges it and attacks us. "Get the Spirit Board ready." Shock takes out the board and commands the spirit to freeze. A glowing energy surrounds the halfa and freezes in place.

I take the chains and wrap it around him, "good work." Shock throws him in a bag and commands the bathtub monster to take off. Soon this will be all ours.

Sam

"Where the sun sets and the screech owl you hear. A ring of trees shall appear." I read the text looking up at what appears to be a circle of trees. "I think we here." There were symbols carved on trunks. There was a shamrock, an Easter egg, a turkey, and many others.

"What do you think it means?" Jazz asks taking in the sight. According to the text each leads into a different realm where it is always that Holiday. "You mean in this one it is always Christmas?" she points to one that has a Christmas tree carved on it. That's what it says. She was about to place a hand on it when something darted past her and pinned her arm to the tree.

"You think you could get away with humiliating me?" Skulker asked as he appeared. I am surprised Vlad still has you on this after your poor performance in the lab. "Oh this has nothing to do with Vlad." He aims his ectogun at me.

Jazz tries to pull herself free but the bond is too strong. "Sam! The code use the code," Skulker tells her to shut up. I take out a device from my pocket and enter in a code. The hunter demands to know what I am doing. "Just sending you on a trip."

His rockets pop out of his arm and he takes off for somewhere unknown. "Farewell sap!" I say racing over to help Jazz. I take out a pocket knife. A glowing beam of energy shoots out and destroys the dart holding Jazz prisoner. "The Fenton Multi-Tool, I knew it would come in handy."

I take out the Fenton Finder. "Ghost straight ahead," the voice chimes. In front of us is a tree with Jack 'O' Lantern on it.

Bingo!

Jack Skellington

"Mr. Danny? You okay?" I burst into the room but he is gone. There are signs of a struggle in here. Something has happened to him. Sally walks into the room and asks what happened. "Danny's been halfa napped. We have to search for him,"

"Do you think it was the one injured him in the first place," I don't think so. I walk over to window and see a puddle of water on the floor. "I am going to alert the Mayor. Round up as many people as you can find. " she nods and takes off as I pick up the phone in the room.

The operator monster asks who I wish to call, "The Mayor's office please," the goes through but there is no answer. That is odd where could he be?

I walk downstairs and see posters plastered everywhere- 'Grand banquet for the honored guest' a poster read with Danny's picture on it. I think I know where to find the mayor. I follow the trail of posters until I find the mayor a few blocks away.

"Ah Jack, I was just going to see you. Do you think the Halfa would like wine or blood juice," I tell him we have worse problems. Danny is missing and we need to find him. "oh no, it's him it's….," I place a hand under on his mouth. No it's not him but I have an idea and I will need your help. He nods and we walk back to his car.

Maddie

"I'm sure they just got held up somewhere," Jack said as I looked out the window. I would expect this from Danny but Jazz is rarely late for anything. I am about to get the Fenton Family GAV and search when the phone rings.

"Hello," it is Vlad he says he has something to tell us. "Can this wait Vlad we are…," the billionaire said it's about Danny. A knot forms in my throat. "Jack," I look up at my husband "Vlad wants to come to his mansion ASAP."

His eyes light up as he grabs my arm and races out to the RV. Please let Danny be safe.