Jack's Daughter

Making Plans

She didn't say anything for a few minutes. "Yes." She answered finally. I nodded, the realization rattling my bones.

"We need to all leave. Whoever is left, we need to round them up, and bring them all to the human world. Then, prepare them to fight Oogie." Alyson said quietly.

"Ah. Alyson. You're back." Jack said with a tiny smile. "Yes. I did as you asked, but she still came." I looked back and forth, confused.

"Okay. I'm not doing anything unless someone tells me everything. I am tired of secrets. Tired of running!" I yelled.

"I can explain." The woman said. Jack jumped back, seeming to notice her for the first time. "Who are you? Are you with Oogie? Do not talk to my daughter." He said. I almost laughed.

"You should not be asking that. She is my child and I will explain to her." She snapped. Jack's face changed. He turned even more white than I thought possible.

"That means... You're lying!" He screamed like a banshee. "She's telling the truth. She's Sally." I said. For the first time in the waking world, she removed her hood.

"It's me, Jack." I heard a crash as Jack fell to the floor. I rushed over and looked down. "I don't understand. Oogie killed you. He ripped you apart." Jack said, he started to babble nonsense.

"Someone tell me what's going on!" I yelled. Sally grimaced. "Obviously you've inherited your father's loud voice." She smiled.

"I want to know. Or I'm going to leave right now." I threatened. "Okay. Let me explain:

"We created you, stitched you up like the doctor did with me. Oogie came in and stole you away. We searched the land far and wide. Jack even dredged the lake. Finally, we found you. Oogie had done something to you.

We didn't know what he did, we just realized that your skin was beginning to turn green and black. Your father gave you a heart, something Boogie never had.

We put it in you and we realized that your skin began to change back to the lovely blue. The heart was beating, making you alive and fighting off whatever Oogie put inside of you."

"So...I was technically brought to life by Oogie?" I asked. Sally sadly nodded her head. "But why can I have visions?" I asked. "Jack and I had the doctor combine bits of our spirits and put them in you. So, you really are our daughter. And no one else's." Sally explained.

Sally looked up at Jack, who was now standing over her. Their eyes met and Sally smiled. Jack brought her into a hug and that was the happiest I had ever seen him. They finally broke apart and Sally turned back to me.

"Due to your human heart, you grew as any child would." She finished explaining. I glanced at everyone. "Why does everyone hate Oogie? I've never even met him." I said, confused.

There was a long silence. I heard scraping and saw Samantha dart out of the room. I looked at Sally and she shook her head sadly.

"She had a child very young. But she died at the hands of Oogie. That is why she hates Oogie. He killed her child, when Samantha tried to kill Oogie."

I felt like throwing up. "I...I don't know what to say." I said quietly. I heard a howling scream and sprinted out the door.

I looked everywhere, I knew that noise was Samantha. She was gone! I had a chilling feeling come over me. Every happy memory was gone, leaving me a cold and empty shell.

A few seconds later, I was full of warmth again. "Oogie has her. I just know it!" I snarled. I was about to run off but felt a boney hand on my collar.

"No. We will get her. In due time." I heard Jack say. I tried to fight him off, but he held me back.

"Why is Alyson here?" I asked, finally calming down. "She's always been one step behind you. You've just never noticed, until she made you notice.

She was sent to always watch you and watch out for Oogie. I just told her this time to get to know you. I knew something was coming. Something big." Jack said quietly.

I nodded as Alyson stood next to me. "I'm older than I look, you know. I'm 117 years old." She smiled at me. "Oh!" I said, surprised.

"All right. What do we do now?" I asked, looking at Sally. "I still don't understand! I thought Oogie had you!" Jack said, ignoring my question.

"He did. He dismembered me and put me somewhere in the outskirts of the forests of HalloweenTown. Someone came and helped me, he had a weird looking key with a blade and had two friends with him. They looked like they were nonhuman. A duck and a dog..? They were looking for someone named Mickey." She shrugged.

I had never seen Jack smile so wide. "That's fantastic! Why didn't you come back sooner?" Jack asked, giving her a hug. "I couldn't because I knew what was going to happen and I needed to warn Spark, without any questions asked. And I needed to recover." Jack nodded and kissed her on the cheek.

"Alright, Bone Daddy, what do we need to do?" Alyson asked. I started laughing. Jack smiled at me and then his face turned serious.

"We need to gather everyone that is not controlled by Oogie and bring them to the human realm with us. Once we're there, we need to meet somewhere and decide what to do." Jack said.

"How can we tell?" I asked. "The key is your sword." Jack told me. I nodded, "what do I do with it?" I asked. "See the pumpkin on the end? It will light up if there's anything suspicious. Sally made it."

"Okay. Let's go!"