Jack and Sally meets Gomez and Morticia

Chapter 10 2 of 2

Note: The other half of chapter 10. This is the heroes group finding room 999.

In the endless hallway, there were so much rooms to look. Unfortunately, room 999 is pretty far away. The pumpkin king pats twice on his right leg. Zero flew to him. The ghost dog was ready for anything. Jack commanded. "All right, Zero. See if you can find room 999." The ghost dog's ears went up. Zero leads straight down the hall. Jack told his group. "Everyone, follow him." The ghost dog's nose's light brightened. Zero examines the rooms. They followed the ghost dog. It took a while to get to room 999. Zero scanned the room number. The ghost dog found it.

In seconds, the ghost dog went through the door. It give Jack a fright. "ZERO!" Morticia and Sally gasped. Itt hid himself behind Mrs. Addams. Mr. Addams lightly patted Cousin Itt's head. The pumpkin king was worried. "Zero?" The ghost dog got back. It was whining. Something did scared Zero. They were relieved. Jack comforted the ghost dog. "It's okay, Zero. It's just your fear." Cousin Itt step up.

Itt talks in gibberish, determining. Jack nodded. Cousin Itt nods back. Gomez commented. "Brave ol' bean." Itt head in. Then, silence in seconds. Cousin Itt screams like a little animal would freak out. Their mixed feelings of horror. And then, Cousin Itt got out. Morticia had to check. "Are you all right, Itt?" Cousin Itt replies in gibberish solemnly. Sally wondered. "How can we tell that one's fear vanish?" The woman's voice spoke. "I can."

It was Ruby. Dom was there, standing besides her. He told them. "Itt was afraid at first. After a few moments of seeing his darkest fear, he faced it." It was true from Madame Leota. The only way to be release from Gracey Manor is facing your darkest fear. Zero tried again. Jack tries to stop him. It was too late. The ghost dog was already in room 999. His howl heard thru the area. It frightened them.

After that moment, Zero come back once again. Ruby declared, "Your ghost dog faced its fear." Jack does not understand. "How?" Zero flickers his nose. It was obvious. Sally observed. "Jack. Zero was afraid to lose his light." Dom said. "Zero is free to go." The ghost dog flips (or flies) backward with joy.

Gomez volunteered. "I'll go next. The family misses us. I cannot extend any more honeymoon until my soul is free." Morticia wants to go with him. "Cara Mia...I cannot ask you to faced fates' worse than death..." Gomez was dreaded. "Oh, Mon Cher...we shared the darkest fear...I may not come out alive..." Morticia feels his pain. "If I do not make it...Will you die with me?" Gomez has to know. Morticia speaks French. "Oui..." Gomez shut his eyes, kissing her hands. They entered room 999. Seconds turned to minutes.

A while later, the Addams couple came back. Morticia asked the maid. "Ruby...did we get scared to death?" The maid nodded, "You both did. And lived." Gomez was not satisfied. "Aw darn. We're still alive." The butler clarifies. "That's the point. If you're all in one piece, then you're free to go." Morticia was blessed. "Oh Gomez. We can see our children again at last." Mr. Addams was eccentric. "By George, you're right! We can go back home!" The Addams thanked Jack Skellington for saving them. The threesome left the Gracey Manor.

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Jack and Sally are the ones. The only ones left to enter room 999. The pumpkin king told her. "Sally...You should go. I'll wait here for you." She was confused. "You're not coming with me?" Jack was certain. "I need to prepare before the scary room. Just give me time." Sally was gentle. Her words comforted. "It's just your fear. Jack, I know what it's like to have disturbing feelings. I have it last year. About Xmas. It would not go away unless I do something about it. I have courage before. And I'll do it again." The pumpkin king mouthed, "Sally..." She was heading to the door. Jack alerted. Sally told him. "It's all right to be scared, Jack." He gasped. She was inside room 999. Jack exclaimed. "Sally! Sally, wait!" The pumpkin king's worries grew. For a skeleton, he trembles. His bony fingers quivers.

Ever since meeting Madame Leota, Jack has never feel that way before. Dom interrupts his dreading. "If I may, sir?" The pumpkin king did not say a word. He just looked at the butler. Dom spoke. "Have you ever experience fear before?" Jack moves his head down. He stared at his bony hands. Both of them rattled. The pumpkin king needs time to figure things out. Yes, he's a master of fright. A demon of light. Scaring people and creatures. Jack loves Halloween. His haunted home where there's no evil spirits lurking within the walls. Scary things did not bother him. The pumpkin king stated in sadness.

"I seriously have no wonder what fear really feels like...Planning...and preparing to make everyone scream...All my years in Halloween Town...I was a natural knight of nightmares...Master of Terror...have always been one...Funny...My bones still shakes...I don't believe what's happening to me...My hopes...My dreams...My fantasy...Madame Leota...Her poetry put me...into such disturbance..."

Jack mesmerized her words. A room with a mirrored wall. Looking thru to where it was before. Something to believe, hope or despair. What the pumpkin king still could not get over is how his heart will be torn in half.

"I...I was terrified that someone or something...will put me in a death sentence...by being scared at." Ruby gave him encouragement. "Eventually, you will have to face it." The pumpkin king was in denial. "What chance of a dread I shall escape from? Well how could I?" Dom wondered. "Then what do you want?" Jack replied in desperation. "All I ever wanted is to be with Sally without bad things happened." The maid and the butler stood in surprise. Jack comments, "Why does nothing ever turned out like it should?" That is it. It's not just one fragment of fear. The pumpkin king has more. He was tortured.

Sally exited the room 999. She had no foreboding for what occurs next. Ruby declared, "Sally is free." Jack turned. He was in relief that she's okay. Sally stared at him. "Jack?" The pumpkin king held her both hands. His face became grieving. "Oh Sally. I'm so happy you're here. Safe from the nightmare. I hope they're gone. No more premonitions or anything." She wanted it to say yes. Out of nowhere, it has not ever happen before. All Sally said was " Jack...I had the worst terrible vision." The pumpkin king lastly said. "Whatever it is, tell that to Mayor...My almost one year was being with you is the best year of my life, if I had one...Sally...you...trying to help me...made me realize that you cared for me...I am willing to do the same for you...Zero will lead you back to Halloween Town..." Jack kissed her two hands. He didn't dare to close his eyes. Jack said in devotion, "I love you, Sally." They went apart. The pumpkin king is inside room 999. "JACK!!" Sally screamed.

Do not worry, readers. In the next chapter, Jack will see what fear he's facing. It may surprise ya.