Tricked Out | Nightmare Before Christmas

Chapter 11: The First Mistake

This chapter is shorter than the others but plays its part. As usual, I own nothing.

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November 7

10:36 am

Ivy leaned against the door frame to the witches' common room, listening to Gretchen ramble.

"-and he may seem a bit spacey, but he's really very sweet. Have you met him yet?"

Ivy noticed the lingering worry in Gretchen's eyes and decided to ease her mind, "I haven't been exactly seeking out a guy with an ax in his head."

Gretchen smiled and Ivy forced herself to relax. The witch had barely let Ivy out of her sight since she'd come back, and Ivy guessed she was still turning Jack's words over her head-just as she herself was. Her eyes darted over to watch the hands of the old clock shoved into the corner. Come on, come on...

Gretchen hoped her nerves weren't obvious to the girl. She snuck another glance at the human, who had her arms crossed lazily as her gaze tracked a wayward spider.

The mayor had sent a message by ghost to the witches moments before Ivy had returned, summoning them to the town hall. She felt a little guilty about breaking their other appointment, but she was more concerned about leaving Ivy.

She straightened up as Helga materialized into the room, broomstick in hand. Helga smirked at Ivy's twitch, then narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Where's Rosie?"

Gretchen sighed heavily, grabbing her handbag and tying it to the end of her broom. "Your guess is as good as mine. If she comes home, Ivy, don't let her leave again. She's been avoiding her chores all day."

Helga looked out the window before calling to her sister, "Let's get going, Gretchen. We don't' have much sunlight left."

..........

Ivy gave the witches a fifteen minute head start before she crept along to the storage room, startled to find it unlocked. She grabbed a lantern from the floor and held it high, holding back a gasp.

When Gretchen had show her the room before, the shelves had a few empty patches, but the majority had been at least partway filled.

Now, only a few dried leaves or berries remained. Ivy sneezed from the dust and set the lantern on a high shelf, her gaze searching for the book.

There!

Laying hazardously on the edge of the workbench was the leather bound book, a huge knot holding it closed. Ivy pulled the book to her, using her sleeve to wipe off the cover.

Halloween Town Herbal Stock (Third Edition)

Ivy felt a twinge of guilt seeing Gretchen's messy scrawl, but pushed it down. She tried to yank on the knot, only to get rope burn.

Hissing, the human spotted what looked like the wing of a metal bat, the edges torn and jagged. Holding the book in one hand, she grabbed the wing and with a few saws had broken the rope.

The moment she opened the book, a face came stretching through the pages, screaming it's cover off.

Ivy gave a scream of her own, but kept her hold on the book.

"THIEF! TREASON! INVADER!"

The screams grew louder and Ivy swore, knowing she didn't have much time. Ignoring the book now copying her profanity, Ivy wrestled through the pages, her eyes growing wide.

Stinging Nettle...2 Caterpillar Hairs....0

Poison Ivy...3 Spider Eyes...0

Giant's Ward...0 Pumpkin Seeds.....1