Spreading Nightmares

Search Party

Lilith walked over to Briar, not noticing Sandy Claws' worried glare at her. As she approached Briar, he looked up at her, before turning his eyes to look behind her. He gasped, "what is it?" Asked Lilith before turning her head and gasping as well. "What the hell are you three doing here?" Asked Lilith. "We're just...Getting this guy out of your way." Said Lock, before laughing along with Shock and Barrel. They shoved a halloween themed bag over Sandy Claws' head and threw him into their walking bathtub before waving goodbye to Lilith and Briar. They walked their way back to Halloween Town with the bathtub following them. Lilith stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go after them, but decided not to. "Alright then." She said, shrugging it off. Lilith turned around and saw Briar using the side of a building as a scratching post, she lovingly messed up Briar's fur and got to work on more renovations to the town.

"We've looked everywhere, we should really get a search party together, Jack." Said Sally, her voice trembling. "You're right, darling, I'll speak with the mayor at once and have a town meeting called." Replied Jack, opening the door and sprinting down the steps of his house. Sally looked out at Halloween Town with a solemn look on her face, before closing the door. Jack went through the gate at the bottom of his stairs and was immediately met with the mayor. "Jack! I feel like it's been ages since we talked!" Said the mayor. "We talked yesterday," replied Jack, "but anyway, I need you to call a town meeting at once!!" The mayor froze, "what for?" He asked. "I'll tell you and everyone else in the meeting, tell them all to come right this very moment." Jack said, gesturing for the mayor to hurry. The mayor hopped into his car and drove around town yelling "town meeting now!" Through his megaphone. Jack rushed over to the meeting room and waited for all the residents to gather up inside.

After all the monsters entered the room, Jack stopped pacing and slammed his hands on the podium. "Everyone, my dearest Lilith and her best friend Briar have gone missing. They haven't been seen since yesterday, I need everyone in the town searching for her right this minute!" He yelled in a panic before leaving with the other town members to go look for them as well. The town members searched and searched and searched, they scoured every inch of the town. "Jack, we've all searched the whole town 3 times over, we even drained the lake." Said the mayor. "Well then, expand your search to the outskirts of the town and the depths of the forest. We won't stop looking until Lilith is back in my arms and Briar is returned safely home." Said Jack, trying to keep his cool composure. Jack walked to the graveyard, "Lilith?" He yelled desperately. He walked between the graves, scanning the area as best he could. "Woof!" Jack looked down and saw Zero by his side, he'd just come out of his grave. Jack sat down beside Zero and sunk his skull into his hands. "Oh, Zero," he said, "I've looked everywhere but I simply cannot find Lilith, I'm an awful father." Zero tilted his head at Jack, and started sniffing the ground. Jack looked up from his hands and saw him sniffing, his eye sockets widened and a slight smile came over his face. "My, what a brilliant nose you have, Zero!" He said, "Can you find Lilith?" Zero sniffed harder and started floating into the forest, Jack quickly following behind him.

Zero led Jack through the forest in a familiar path. As Jack took in his surroundings he realized where they were headed, "The other Holidays?" Jack said, confused. "Why would Lilith be there?" Jack pondered for a moment, staring at his feet as he continued to follow Zero. "Jack?" A distant voice called. Jack turned around to see Sally a few meters behind him, he stopped for a moment, and Sally ran over to him. "What are you doing?" Asked Sally. "Zero can smell Lilith, he's leading me straight to her." Replied Jack. "Alright then, I'm coming." Said Sally. "No, we need someone to stay back and look after the other kids." Jack said. Sally thought for a moment, concernedly looking at Jack. "Fine." She said, "But come straight back with her, I need to know she's safe as soon as I can." She hesitantly started to walk back, still looking at Jack as she walked. Jack waved and turned around to continue following Zero. They strolled between the trees until they found the open circle. "Alright, Zero," Said Jack, "Where did Lilith go from here?" Zero sniffed the door shaped like a Christmas tree. Jack stepped towards that door and slowly turned the knob. He opened the door, said goodbye to Zero, and jumped through into Christmas Town.