Chapter 29

Jack ran through the Hinterlands as if the very devil was after him. Zero followed swiftly and gracefully behind him. A soft fleeting breeze seemed to almost carry Jack to his desperately needed destination. Trees seemed to rush past the Pumpkin King, the moon lit his way. He was unstoppable, he knew nothing could stand in his way of making it back to Eve, perhaps nothing really ever was. Racing against time, he finally came in sight of Halloween Town. A bitter cold seemed to surround everything. A where have you been? seemed to resonate within this icy feeling. Pausing only for a moment, Jack took this all in. His eyes scanned the area for Eve.

He turned his attention toward the fountain, where he suddenly remembered he had last left her with Santa. He looked closer and saw that there were no longer the foggy thin images of Halloween's own horrors floating suspended in time, they had disappeared. Finally what only seemed to remain was Eve, there as he had left her with a dutiful Santa kneeling at her side. Jack felt a cruel panic hit him hard. Somehow, without his knowledge, his feet had taken him straight to them. He kneeled next to Santa and grabbed Eve's hand.

"How is she? Eve? Eve?" he said to whoever was listening, whether it be Santa or Eve. Neither, however, answered. Jack patted Eve's icy hand, but got no response. He whimpered and put her hand to his head, bowing his head down in what seemed to be some kind of reverence. "Oh, Eve…." he breathed. Santa stood and patted Jack on the shoulder. Jack turned his head slightly, only to aim his voice towards Santa. "If I could do something…anything to erase all this from happening…" he began. Santa nodded, he understood.

"Be selfish." Was all Santa would say that night to Jack. He walked away. Jack stood quickly, he patted his pockets realizing he didn't have Santa's hat. Santa stopped and from his own pocket, drew out an extra cap. He turned toward Jack, winked, and then continued on his way. Jack quickly drew his attention back toward Eve. Her body was limp; her breath was silent and all but gone. Jack lifted her into his arms, stood and began to walk, while Zero picked up the vial of dark purple fluid Jack had asked Santa to keep safe. Walk away from the ghost town of a ghost town, from translucent memories and pasts. The fountain was silent and still, as Jack distanced himself and Eve from the town. A pile of Eve's costume clothing, black laced corset, shredded gray-black under skirt, artistically torn black tights, and black heeled boots lay lifeless, soon without an owner.

Jack walked further and further away, far west of town, farther than anyone would dare to go. Leafless trees guided his path as his loyal dog followed. He felt close now. He now stopped the moon at the forest's very edge. He then set Eve down gently and kneeled down next to her. Jack looked sadly toward Zero, who sympathetically placed the purple vial at his master's side. Jack stared at it and nodded.

"Seems all is gone…I've destroyed Halloween, I've made a wreck of Christmas, why am I still here then?" he asked himself. He picked up the vial and popped off its corked top. Tiny little sparks of burst bubbles hit the top. "Maybe…maybe this is why?" He then lifted Eve up into his arms and slid the purple liquid into her mouth. At first, nothing happened…and then suddenly, everything happened. White blinding light emerged from no real place and no real time, and once again all was dark.

Jack drifted in the dark, just as he had for so many years. A shuffle, a stretch, a yawn within the dark. A tiny squirm sensing his presence. He peered and saw nothing at first but a shadowy glimmer of a glow. He looked harder and then heard a voice breathe and breathless sigh.

"Jack!"

The figure seemed to hurry towards him now. Rushing to reach him, before, it seemed, the bottom fell out from beneath them.

"Jack!"

"Eve! Are you-are you alive?"

"I think I must be…"

"How do you know?"

"I'm crying…crying means I have a soul, but having something to cry about means I'm still alive."

"Oh my dear Eve, why do you cry?"

"I'm happy and I'm sad, I suppose…"

"Wha-? Why?"

"I have you and I soon will have had you…I've learned something, you know? While floating out here…but I don't want good bye to be our last words…"

"Why would we say good bye? You're alive! You can…no…you can't…can you?"

"Don't be sad Jack. You'll see me again…and it really was so much fun…"

"Eve I can't lose you now! Not after all that I've found out…not after all the waiting…my dearest princess, I love you."

"I love you, my Knight of Fright, my Prince of Screams, my King of Halloween…I love you more than you'll ever know…and that's why I can wait…"

"But Eve!"

"Be strong Jack…Time can't keep us apart forever…be clever my brave prince, you'll find your way back to me again…and please for both our sakes, be wary. This was only a test…more might be at stake next time."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Out here…you realize what you've known all along."

"Eve…"

"Kiss me, Jack Skellington."

"…Eve…"

"Yes?"

"Happy Halloween…"

Jack writhed and grasped at something that was not there. Once again he awoke within a graveyard, only this time he knew it all too well. No wet ground to greet him, but a snowy wasteland of cold unfeeling tombstones and spiky, rod iron fences.

"Mmmmmmm…" Jack sighed to himself. Suddenly Jack heard a beep of a horn. He turned suddenly to see the mayor waving from his battered vehicle.

"Jack! Thank goodness! Hurry! We must let everyone know you made it out of Oogie's lair alright!" he shouted. Jack's expression went from indifferent, to suddenly confused. Was his memory slipping? Hadn't more than that happened to him to cause worry amongst the townsfolk? Jack leapt onto the car, (for he was much too tall to sit inside) and rode along into town. As he re-entered he was awestruck, everyone cheered and waved at his arrival.

"Jack!

"He's back!"

"He's okay!"

"He's alright!"

"Our Pumpkin King's back, now everyone screams! In our town of Halloween!" Everyone else cheered. Jack suddenly felt a grin befall him.

"It's great to be home!" he found himself shouting amongst the crowd, who in turn, screeched even louder. Jack smiled widely. Then without warning, it began to snow. Confusion broke out amongst the crowd.

"What's this?" they all exclaimed. Jack looked up into the moonlit sky and caught a fleeting glimpse of Santa in his red sleigh. He waved and Jack waved back. Jack continued to stare.

"It's a present." He said simply, almost to himself. He then look around and saw his subjects joyously playing in this winter wonder. He was satisfied with it. Noticing his chance, he decided to steal away one last time to Moonlight Hill. He made soft steps so as not to ruin such a beauty that was this snowfall upon the ground. He then looked up and saw the top of the hill. He hummed a familiar tune and thought of Eve. He didn't worry however. He knew deep down she was safe and had made her way back to her previous life, before him, before any of this. He walked up the hill and soon his hum turned into a little song;

"My dearest friend, for whom I've pined…

See now the snow, the sky has cried…

As it falls gently from the stars…

That darken never…

Nor will ever…

Although this pain

Resides within me,

They'll shine our eternity…

"I shall have you back in my arms again soon, Eve…"

To be continued…

Be on the lookout for the second book entitled, A Nightmare Remembered, which should begin sometime this week. Thank you to everyone for reading my story and thank you to all who shall continue to follow it, up until it's end in the third book…

~randomosity~