The Giggler Learns to Dance - Shortlisted - Open Novella Contest 2020

Chapter Eleven - The Best Laid Plans

(Fantastically, this character in the header is from a Scooby-Doo episode called 'The Menace in Venice' and liked to be called 'The Ghostly Gondolier'. You didn't need to know that information, but I enjoyed it and thought I'd share!)

Chapter Eleven

The Best Laid Plans

Their plan had formulated quickly and concisely, ideas flowing easily between the trio as they had stood in the dim light of the Giggler's kitchen. However, that didn't mean that an intense knot of anxiety hadn't taken root deep in Alice's gut as she walked toward the town Square. 

The music had begun again, the drums of war pounding in her ears with each step closer that she took. Her anxiety grew as she felt just how alone she was. She had begun the night alone and was likely to end it so. Still, the lack of the Giggler and Topher's comforting presence on her either side was daunting. 

A giggle rippled through the air as she approached and her stomach sank. It was not the Giggler's timid kind of laughter that was filled with cautious joy, but the vindictive chuckle of a man who was about to sink his claws into his new favourite toy. 

Alice understood his fixation now. The Mance tormented her because she reminded him of his baby sister, Ruthie, who had never felt like a Ruthie. In many ways, the Mance was just a little boy who held his toys too close to his chest, not worrying that he may squeeze too hard and cause harm.

The Mance's laughter continued to punctuate the night air and it was a struggle for Alice to walk with confidence, shoulders back, and head high when she felt like nothing more than the child she was. The walk to the Square was short, but Alice's gait slowed upon sight of the dancing dead up ahead. She knew they would flank wherever the Mance was, but still, the sight of their swaying forms was ghastly. 

"Gather round," The Mance's voice boomed into every corner of the town and filled Alice's chest with dread. "Friends and foes, we have a latecomer to our midnight bizarre!" 

As his words faded, the clock tower atop the hill at the end of Ryndale's borders began to toll, signifying that a new day loomed. The children of the town had officially run out of time.

The Mance sounded like the eclectic ringmaster of the circus that Alice had visited in County Kerry last year with her younger cousins, before moving to the capital. The Mance was feverish, using whatever dark magic exuded from him to pull the children of Ryndale toward the Square. As Alice approached, she was met with droves of children returning from the hunt for the top hat. Older children held toddlers and babies in their arms that looked on the verge of sleep. Alice's heart pounded harder at the thought that she knew where the infamous top hat was. 

The music turned jolly and sanguine as the children filtered into the Square. The jack-O'-lanterns hanging in rows seemed to glow even brighter as the moon emerged theatrically from behind a cloud in the sky. It was difficult to worm her way into the Square as the adults, still lifeless and transfixed by the music began to take part in some kind of ridiculous jig, holding hands and moving in synchronisation. Alice tried to duck under an elderly couple's joined hands but ended up getting momentarily caught up in the dance. 

"Come along, Cottontail, it's time to join the fray," The Mance's voice turned silky smooth, undercut by a layer of impatience, but was as pervasive as ever.

The crowd parted for her all too eagerly, no one wanting to associate themselves with her for a single moment. The Mance was atop the bandstand once more, his hands at his waist, a sycophantic grin lighting up his face, giving his perfect features a devilish glint. 

Alice had begun to sweat, her palms growing slick.

What if the plan didn't work? What if this night never ended and the adults never came back to life? 

They couldn't afford to mess this up. 

She approached the bandstand, making eye contact with the Mance, who beamed at her. 

"It's nice to see you, Jeremy," She quipped, not having time for pretense. 

A shiver ran around the crowd at the sound of the Mance's real name, many of whom would recognise it from the myths and legends Dublin kids grow up with. The Mance's eyes narrowed briefly before he looked around her. 

"Where is your rag-tag team of dedicated troops, sweet one?" 

"I'm sure they'll be along," Alice shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 

At this, the Mance seemed bored with her. He clicked his fingers on his right hand once and the band members struck up a new song, slowing the pace. One of the female twin band members seemed to have acquired a cello and was now building suspense with a sharp sinister edge. The Mance stepped forward and addressed the crowd, his voice loud, though he didn't seem to be straining to be heard. 

"Well, my fine fighters, has anyone found my beloved hat?" He asked the crowd of children, all of whom fought not to attract the attention of any sort. He knew they hadn't, as he had given Alice the clue that told her he had known where it was all along. 

Alice waited, limbs locked in tension for the moment to strike.

Then, several things happened at once. 

Music started like a bolt of lightning, beginning with sharp piano rhythms, lyrics following quickly. It was dance music, the music of a generation of online fanatics and dancers that older generations could never understand. It sent a spark of joy directly in Alice's heart that seemed to scream; you are not alone.

The Mance's eyes flared as he looked over the crowd, his soft hair turning this way and that as his bandmembers struggled to control the crowd with this alternative music source, which grew louder still. 

Alice turned to look at the dancing dead and was cheered to see that the new music source was confusing them, their moves turning jagged and rattled as they lost their formation. As their united moving front broke down even further, some froze in utter stillness, others adopted a new dance, moving in time to the dance music.

"Where is that coming from?" The Mance hissed, his voice causing the crowd to flinch. All but Alice, who knew where the music was coming from and was waiting for it to grow louder. When the piano beat was joined by a louder, more thundering beat of dance music, Alice swallowed. 

It was her turn to dance. 

Admit the crowd of gaping teenagers and children, Alice began to twirl and jumping up and down in time to the music. There was a long moment where everyone watched in horror until a hand grabbed hers and twirled her around. She turned to see Topher, grinning and dancing with her. 

One by one, as slowly as a trickle, children began to join them in the dance. The youngest danced first, the teenagers seeming reluctant until siblings tugged them into the inescapable dance of the music. Alice ran to the closest dancing dead for a moment, seeing an elderly woman staring at the Square blankly. Gently, Alice took her hand and began to help her to move in time with the dance music, the music of the Mance's bandmembers all but drowned out. 

Soon, they were all moving, laughing with the nervous anxiety of the night and the Mance was emitting dark plumes of smoke, seeming to burst with utter tension as he roared his fury, barely heard over the music. 

"Alice!" Topher called, grinning in the direction of a figure cutting their way through the crowd with long, ballet-like strides. The Giggler, surrounded in a bubble of his healing light, protecting himself from the dark wrath of the Mance. 

Dancing dead and children alike danced, moving erratically and chaotically, the music's volume from Topher's father's professional music systems increasing in steady increments that tormented the Mance. 

After several minutes, in which the Mance tried to battle with his own music, the music cut off completely, landing the Square in utter silence, with only the rapid breathing and panting of the crowd to be heard.

Word Count: 1435

A/N: 

We're getting scarily close to the end and I'm a little emotional about it! I've loved these characters so much, it will upset me part with this story. What a whirlwind!

Jens x