Nyctophilia 🕸️The Nightmare Before Christmas 🪦

Chapter 5

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The band's music filled Blair's ears as she glanced around at all of the creatures gathered in the town centre, waiting for Jack.

Applause and cheering echoed as Jack emerged from a coffin that had been turned onto his sleigh.

Blair glanced to her right as Sally weaved through the crowd to join her.

"Think of us as you soar triumphantly through the sky, outshining every star, your silhouette a dark blot in the moon... You who are our pride, you who are our glory, you who gave frightened billions into an early grave..."

Blair rolled her eyes at the mayor's speech, turning to mutter something to Sally but she paused as she noticed fog rolling out of the fountain behind them at a rapid pace. The mayors speech came to a stop as the fog thickened and filled the town centre, making it almost impossible to see.

"Oh, no! We can't take off in this! The Reindeer can't see an inch in front of their noses." Jack stated.

Sally sighed in relief, causing Blair to glance at her with furrowed brows. "Did you do this?" Sally nodded in response and Blair smiled, "Thank you."

"This fog's as this as—as..."
"Jellied brains."
"Thicker!"
The crowd continued to complain, and Jack sat down on his sleigh with his head in his hands. "There go all of my hopes, my precious plans, my glorious dreams." Blair moved to stand next to Jack, gently grabbing his hand. She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles, silently comforting him.

"There goes Christmas." A child from the crowd cried, making them all groan in disappointment.

Zero barked, nudging his nose against Jack's leg. "No, Zero. Down, boy." Jack suddenly turned his head to look at Zero again, "My! What a brilliant nose you have. The better to light my way! To the head of the team, Zero."

The crowd cheered as Jack kissed Blair's hand before letting it go and grabbing the reins, exclaiming 'We're off!' before him and his reindeer's took flight.

"Wait, Jack! No!" Blair yelled, reaching out for him but he was already gone. Blair's shoulder slumped and as the crowd dispersed, she was left alone to watch her husband fly away. "Good-bye, Jack..." She began to walk home, only glancing back up to the sky as Jack's 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' echoed through the air.

"Oh, how I hope Sally's premonition is wrong." She muttered, continuing to walk. As Blair walked past the musicians, they played a slow, sad tune.

"I sense there's something in the wind that feels like tragedy's at hand, and though I'd like to stand by him, I can't shake this feeling that I have." Blair murmured, resting against a gate and slowly lowering herself to sit on the ground. "The worst is just around the bend, and does he notice my love for him? And does he see how much he means to me? What will become of my dear Jack? Where will his actions lead us then? Although I'd like to join the crowd in their enthusiastic cloud, try as I may, it doesn't last. And will we ever be together forever?" Blair held out her hand as a black cat strolled towards her, allowing it to run against her hand. "No, I think not. It's never to become, for I am not the one."

The cat rushed away as Blair stood up, heading towards her house.

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