The pumpkin princess

Capture

Morning came around, the pumpkin shaped sun beaming through the windows. It shone on Bella's face, making her groan quietly. She rolled onto her back as a soft yawn escaped her pink lips. Her eyes fluttered open as zero floated towards her, barking happily.

Bella looked at the ghost dog and smiled shyly. "Good morning to you too." She said before sitting up and stretching. For once in her life, she felt well rested.

She swung her legs over the bed, her bare feet touching the floor. She rubbed her eyes before looking out the window. She got a good look of Halloween town. It was very...

Different? Yeah different was the word. But in a good way. Something she had never seen before.

"Bella?" A voice called out, making her gasp, her hand going to her chest. She quickly turned around, her eyes locking on jack. Draped over his arm was a blue dress with blue flats.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He said, feeling ashamed.

She regained her composure and swallowed. "I-it's Alright s-sir." 

Jack only gave a small smile. "Please, call me jack. Did you sleep well?" He asked as he walked towards her.

She nodded before twiddling her thumbs shyly. "I did." Was all she said. There was an awkward pause before jack started speaking again.

"I wanted to show you around Halloweentown, if that's alright." He offered. Sally was visiting her father, doctor finkelstein. Well he wasn't really her father... more like her creator. But she looked to him as if he was her father. And she as his daughter.

"I would love that." She looked down at her clothes, which jack noticed.

"Sally said you can wear this dress."

Bella looked at jack and gave a small nod before jack handed her the dress.

"I'll leave you to get changed." He said before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Bella glanced at zero who turned around to give her privacy. She took off her clothes, folding them neatly on the bed before putting on the dress and shoes. The dress wasn't too big and it wasn't too small. It was long sleeve and it was just above her knees

She brushed her hair, her natural curls falling over her shoulders. Zero looked at her and barked happily, floating around her. Bella couldn't help but giggle softly as she watched the adorable ghost dog fly through the door. She opened it and walked downstairs, looking around.

Jack was standing by the window, his bony hands behind his back. Zero barked to get jack's attention and he turned around, looking at Bella. A soft, bony smile formed on his face as he walked towards her. "You look beautiful Bella. Are you ready to go?"

Bella blushed a bright pink and nodded. Jack opened the door and they both walked out, zero behind them.

About 30 minutes into the tour, they were next to the fountain in the middle of the town square. jack had to take care of something with the mayor, who seemed fond of Bella.

"Bella. I have to take care of something but I will be right back, okay?" Jack said, making Bella nod.

Jack walked off, leaving Bella and zero alone. She sat down on the edge, her hands in her lap. They didn't seem to notice three little kids sneak up behind them, a black and orange bag in their hands.

"I really don't want to do this Lock." The witch whispered into the devil kids ear, while the boy with the skeleton mask licked his black and orange lollipop.

"I know shock. But we don't want to anger the master..."

With that, they threw the bag over Bella, making her scream. They tied her in it and threw it in the tub, zero barking furiously.

"H-help!!" Bella screamed from inside the bag as the tub went as fast as it could go, the kids now inside of it.

Zero zoomed to go find jack, barking repeatedly. Once he found him, he kept on barking, a worried expression on his face.

Jack looked at zero, then looked around. "Where's Bella?!" He asked worriedly, zero continuing to bark.

"Mayor, I have to go now." He said and without another word turned on his heel, zero right behind him. He continuously called and looked for Bella, but no response.

So he ran back home, sprinting like the fastest man in the world.

When he reached his home, sally had gotten back. "Sally!!" He said, holding his head in his hands.

Sally came down the stairs, rushing towards him. "What's the matter Jack?" She looked around, Bella nowhere to be found. "Where's Bella?!"

Jack paced back and forth. "I don't know! I went to go talk with mayor and I left her with zero. Someone must have taken her." Zero barked at him again, making jacks eye sockets widen.

"Oh no..." he muttered as he sat down, burying his face in his hands.

Sally knelt down in front of him. "What? What is it?" She asked. Jack looked at her, saying the name of the monster he hoped he would never see again

"Oogie boogie...."