Tricked Out | Nightmare Before Christmas

Chapter 19: How Not To Charm A Crush

Merry Christmas everyone!

All credits to the author. I don't own anything.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!
...

November 13

After Common Sense fails

"Much obliged, ma'am." The Suspender Man said, tipping his hat. "Why don't you have a seat; and I'll give you what ye paid for."

How about NO, Ivy's mind snapped. But for whatever reason, her body felt heavy and she slumped down onto a log, her eyes fixed on the banjo. "My grandfather used to play," she muttered, fighting the desire to hear the music. You're tone-deaf, Kunze, you don't understand music-

"Did 'e?" The man asked, smiling. "It's a generation instrument, I like t' think. Stories for 'undreds of years passed down..."

"-just like...Halloween," she said, her head heavy. The man made no reply except to crack his knuckles and ignite the banjo.

Ivy wasn't sure what she's been expecting, but she was certain that the instrument before her wasn't natural. The sounds seemed to surround her, causing vibrations within her skull, and she swore she could hear voices all around-

"-get away! It's a trap!"

And there were colors now, colors and images that swirled around, and images that flickered and spin and flashed before her eyes, and why couldn't she move and-

For what felt like the dozenth time that day (night?), Ivy felt hands grab her and pull her away, the banjo song still calling.

"Let go!" Ivy shouted, not bothering to look at her assailants. "You're gonna-"

SLAP!

The sting on Ivy's face drove away the last of the fog, the banjo music halting entirely. The trick-or-treaters had her pinned to the forest floor, and Shock was shaking her hand out.

"I've been wanting to do that since first I saw you!" The faux witch cackled.

Ivy eyed the odd angle of Shock's wrist and fervently wished that the Citizens could feel pain. She sat up, causing the other two to back away as she scanned the forest around her-no sign of the bog in sight.

"The hell was that?" She snapped, shaking her head to clear away the traces of music. "What happened?"

The three giggled, their masks shaking with the sound. "He likes to play for people," Barrel said, the scratchy tone echoing around the trees. "His soul belongs to the bog, and he gives lots of concerts..."

Her seated position put Ivy at a near eye-level with the trick-or-treaters, who took advantage gleefully.

"Didn't you like it?" Shock sneered, not noticing the slight mark on Ivy's face. "We would've let you listen longer, but sometimes humans stay too long, then they get all...moldy."

Ivy fought the urge to gag at the mental image and patted herself down, scowling. And I've lost 2 Euro, too.

She stood, casting a glance upwards. The trees were woven together too thickly to see Halloween's paradoxical sky.

Was that the fate of the last two humans? Stuck listening to banjo music for all eternity? Chills crept along her arms, and she turned to the other monsters. "Well, I don't plan on molding today. Can we get this over with?"

"Impatient human," Lock grumbled, leading the way through the thicket. "Behold!" He squawked, throwing his arms out.

Ivy raised her eyebrows as she stared at the pathetic excuse for a treehouse, boards falling off the roof and a strange metal chute surrounding the tree before disappearing down. She walked to the edge of the crevice and peered down, shoving her hands into her pockets.