“Oogie!” Jack yelled, sliding into the neon-lit room and almost tripping. “Oogie, what have you done with Sally?”
Oogie emerged from where he had been hiding behind one of his robots. “I haven’t done a thing with your girlfriend!”
“You lying sack of bugs, WHERE IS SHE?!”
“I…I don’t know!” Oogie fibbed.
Jack took two steps forward and locked his hands around Oogie’s neck (or lack thereof). He started squeezing. His eyes were cold, and his voice dangerously low as he spoke.
“Tell me where Sally is or I swear I will kill you here and now.”
“P..please…” Oogie gasped.
Jack squeezed harder.
“Tell me, Oogie, if you want to live.”
“The Mastermind took her!” Oogie choked out. “Now please, please, let me go!”
Jack released Oogie.
“Who is the Mastermind?”
Oogie Boogie cowered on the floor. “I don’t know his real name, he won’t tell me. Won’t tell anyone. All I know is he’s got your stupid girlfriend and my…some other people.” Oogie shut his mouth decisively.
Jack squinted, trying to decide whether to believe Oogie or not.
“Are you saying the Sally who’s in Halloween Town right now is fake?”
“No, no,” Oogie protested. “She’s Sally, but…oh, heck, I can’t explain it. Go to the Mastermind, he’ll make it clear! You’ll find him, if he wants to be found. Otherwise…you’ll be lost. Pretty much forever. But my guess is he’ll want to be found.”
Jack considered. The Mastermind had probably been the one leaving cryptic notes in his room. He did want to be found. He wanted Jack to come to him.
A trap?
Probably.
Was Sally worth the risk?
Definitely.
Jack dragged Oogie up from the floor. “Fine. I’ll go. But I warn you, Oogie, if she is not there…you will die within three seconds.”
As Jack left, Oogie didn’t doubt that he meant it.
He rushed to the back of the room, fiddled with one of the robots, muttering all the while. Slowly, the robot moved to the side, revealing a small door. Oogie opened it, and fell into black.
“Oof!” he grunted as he landed, rubbing his backside. He was never going to get used to that.
He dashed across the room and splashed his fist into a still pool of water. “Mastermind!” he shouted. “Mastermind!”
The water trembled, and slowly lit. All Oogie could see was a sick, pulsing white.
“What is it, Oogie?”
“You said you were in control of the situation!”
“I am. Be pa—”
“Well, Jack just came galloping over here and just about wrang my neck!”
“Be calm, Oogie. You’re still alive, correct?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Let me guess what he wanted. He wanted the ragdoll.”
“Er…yeah…about that…”
“Oogie, what did you tell him?”
“I told him you had her.”
“Oogie,” the voice was now dangerously soft, “I warned you that, under no condition were you to tell anyone that.”
“Please!” Oogie moaned. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
“There, there,” the voice soothed. “It’s all right. No need to worry. I wouldn’t hurt you, Oogie; you’re the one who’s going to rule all the holidays. I need you.”
Oogie went weak with relief. “So…you’re not mad?”
“Oh, I am. Most certainly. But I will not discipline you, this once.”
The pool glimmered, flickered, and went dark.
“No,” the Mastermind spoke aloud. “Not this once.”
So gullible.
He gazed back over at his collection.
Soon there would be a fifth and final addition.
