It was a typical day at Lock, Shock, and Barrel's tree house. Lock and Shock were fighting over who was the best trick-or-treater, and Barrel sat on the couch and watched. He would cheer for Lock, and then, after a few minutes, he'd root for Shock, depending on who was winning at the moment.
Lock and Shock were killing each other. Their eyes were blacker than usual. Both kids had scratches and bruises all over. Lock pushed Shock down before he body-slammed his sister and yanked at her hair. Shock grabbed Lock's tail andsank her teeth into it. Lock howled in pain, but fought harder. He picked up Shock and threw her down. Shock, in revenge, put Lock in a headlock before slamming him down.
The fight carried on. At last, Lock was gained on Shock. He body-slammed her again, before putting her in a headlock. Shock gasped for air as Lock threw her down. She charged at him, Lock stuck out his leg as Shock tripped and fell. He put her in another headlock, and finally, Shock conceded. By now it was very dark outside, with just a sliver of moon in the sky. Shock ran to the elevator and was across the bridge faster than you can say, "Kidnap the Sandy Claws."
Shock ran to the graveyard and slumped down by a tombstone. She liked to be alone whenever she felt like crying. When she finished, Shock took a deep breath. She hated her siblings--especially Lock. She got up and began to wander around the sea of tombstones. She approached a stone gargoyle. As she looked at it, a huge shadow loomed over her.
"Aren't you a little young to be out this late?" asked a man.
"No!" Shock said rudely. "I do it all the time!"
"You shouldn't be out. Not tonight, anyway."
Two more men appeared. The first man grabbed her and tied her her up while the other two gagged her and shoved her in a sack. Shock kicked and attempted to scream, but it was no use.
"We got her. Now let's go." They ran into the Sleepy Hollow Forest.
Shock struggled and fought against her bonds. She bit off the gag and chewed at the ropes until they broke, before she kicked and screamed. She called them every nasty name she knew, and threw out her most dire threats.
"Can't we make her shut up?" complained a kidnapper.
"Do you have a muzzle?" asked a companion.
The men arrived at an old house. Inside, Shock was taken out of the sack and thrown into a tiny dungeon room, hardly big enough for her to stand in. There were bars across the cell. The men left and a woman walked in. She was tall and thin, with long blonde hair and blue eye. She wore tall boots, long gloves, and a tiny dress, all of them black. A golden talisman hung from her neck. Shock opened her mouth, stuck out her tongue and pointed inside, acting like she was going to hurl.
"So," said the woman. "Here's my favorite little witch."
"What do you want with me, you two-faced freak?" asked Shock.
"I'm Morgane, and I need your help for something."
"What do you need me for?"
"I just need a drop of your blood, It has to be willingly given."
"What for?" Shock asked suspiciouly.
"None of yor business!" Morgane said threateningly.
"I'm not scared of you!"
"Shut up!"
"NO!" Morgane opened the doors and slapped Shock as hard as she could, before slamming the bars back in place. Shock kicked at the door, upset and hurt. Neither Lock nor Barrel had ever smacked her like that. A tear slipped to the floor.
It was almost dawn and Shock still hadn't returned. Lock and Barrel were getting pretty worried.
"Do you think she ran away?" asked Barrel.
"No," said Lock. "Sinistra would be gone too." (Sinistra was Shock's totally cool vampire-chic voodoo doll.)
"We'd better look for her," Barrel stated.
They searched all of Halloween Town, but not one person had seen her. Lock and Barrel checked her favorite hangouts--the cemetery, the catacombs, the darkest alleys--and still no sign of Shock. By nightfall, they didn't have a clue to their sister's whereabouts. That night, it was quiet. Lock and Barrel sat down, nothing on their minds but Shock. They sighed. How much they missed their sister!
Shock was moping in her cell. She wanted to be at home, in her own room, in her own bed. She also yearned for her brothers. A cold wind blew in through the window. Shock shivered. She pulled her hat over her ears and cuddled up close. No matter what she did, however, she couldn't keep warm.
Shock's eyelids began to get heavy. Soon, her world turned black as her mind and body rested.
Lock and Barrel woke at the crack of dawn and immediately set out to find Shock. They doubled-checked her hideouts and searched everywhere else. There was still no trace of her. They went back to their tree house and climbed up a set of stairs, leading to one of their towers.
The room they were peeking into had a gray, unmade canopy bed. Along one wall was a shelf loaded with weapons and liquids. On the other was a small coffee table, with a black metal tea set. Each piece had the skull-and-crossbones on them, and the cups had razor-sharp edges. A few headless dolls and Sinistra sat around the table. Beside the bed was a huge stack of magazines and scary-story books. Shock hadn't occupied this room for nearly two days.
"You don't think she went to another holiday, do you?" asked Barrel.
"No," said Lock. "She hated Christmas Town."
"We should tell Jack," suggested Barrel. "He'll believe us."
Lock thought about that. They'd had some pretty bad times with Jack, but Barrel was right. Jack was the only one in the whole town who'd have any nerve to trust them. Finally, Lock agreed. The boys set off to the home of the Pumpkin King.
Shock awoke to something yanking on her hair.
"OW! Let go!"
"Morning, girl," said Morgane, releasing the hold on Shock's hair. Shock rubbed her aching head, cursing under her breath.
"I have a name," she muttered. "Use it."
"What was it agan? Spark?"
"Shock."
"Well, Shock. Are you going to help me or not?"
"NO!"
"Shock, you can be beautiful and learn magic if you do it."
"You're against Halloween Town! I know it! I won't help an enemy!"
"But what about Oogie Boogie? You worked for him!"
"I had no choice! He would've eaten me!"
"But then you turned to Jack and betrayed your master."
"Jack killed him, I'm free, end of story!"
Morgane wasn't going to take this kind of disrespect. She smacked Shock, before pulling her hair and kicking her.
By sunset Shock hurt all over, but her mind remained unchanged. Since hurting her wasn't going to do any good, Morgane tried something else. She would starve her until she agreed.
Though Morgane threatened to have her guard's heads if Shock got so much as a crumb, one guard couldn't let the poor child, who hadn't eaten in two days, hunger any longer. He gave Shock a small crust of bread, which Shock took gratefully. She smiled as the guard set off on his rounds.
"Jack! Jack!" It was Lock and Barrel. They sounded both urgent and very worried.
"What is it?" Jack asked softly.
"It's Shock," gasped Barrel. "She's gone!"
"Did you check the graveyard? Oogie's old casino? The catacombs?"
"All checked three times," said Lock.
"We checked the whole town!" exclaimed Barrel.
"Does she have any hiding places in any other world that you know of?"
"No. She hates the other worlds."
"Hmm..." said Jack. "I have an idea. Come with me." Lock and Barrel followed Jack to the town library. Once they got there, they looked through several maps until Jack found the one he was looking for. it showed all of Halloween Town and every hiding place within it. Lock and Barrel checked off all the places the'd already been. After they'd checked it four times, Lock
spotted a tiny place labeled "Old Manor."
"What's that?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," Jack replied. "I think that's where Morgane lives."
"Morgane?" asked Barrel.
"A wicked woman," explained Jack. "She wants to stay young, and to do that, she needs the blood of a young girl--" He stopped dead. "Of course!" he exclaimed. "Why didn't I think of it before? Shock's blood is just what Morgane needs to remain young. But there's a catch. The blood has to be willingly given. So long as Shock refuses, Morgane can't come to power. But we have to hurry. Shock could give in at any moment."
Lock, Barrel, and Jack followed the map deep into the woods, until they came upon an old mansion. There were guards at every door and window.
"Okay," whispered Jack. "I'll distract them while you two find Shock. If you can get her out, great, but if not, at least let her know that help is on the way and get out."
Jack shook ranches and snapped twigs until two guards left their posts. Lock and Barrel quickly slipped into an open window. Inside the manor, Lock and Barrel tried to make there way around the dark basement room. Lock lit a match. In the faint light, they saw skeletons with dresses, bows, and other girlish attire on them. Lock and Barrel hoped that Shock wasn't among them.
Suddenly, a tiny sound caught their ears. They followed it, and as Lock and Barrel got closer, they realized it was a girl crying. They entered a bare room with a table in the center. The sobbing was the loudest here. Along one wall, they saw a tiny cell--and in it was a figure dressed in lavender.
"Shock!" called Lock, running towards his sister. Barrel followed. Shock looked up, wiping away her tears. She was very pale and thin, and her eyes were somewhat bigger.
"Lock? Barrel? What are you doing here?"
"We've come to rescue you. Barrel, keep watch," Lock said, pulling a metal wire out of his pocket. He worked fast and furiously, but the lock was a stubborn one. Shock touched his hand. When Lock felt how cold it was, he worked faster. The grew lighter. Dawn was steadily approaching.
"Someone's coming!" whispered Barrel. He and Lock ducked under the table, covered by a long tablecloth. Morgane entered.
"Shock," she said. "I'm losing my patience. Either give me your blood, or wish you had!"
Lock peeked out from under the table.
"No," he mouthed. "Don't listen." Shock looked puzzled, but quickly changed the expression, as Morgane was watching.
"I want an answer, brat!"
Lock shook his head no, then ran his finger across his throat. Shock quickly refused. Morgane pulled her out of the cell and held her up by her wrists. She then threw Shock down as hard as she could. There was an awful crunching noise as Shock landed on her right foot. She shrieked in pain as she grasped her broken ankle. Morgane shoved her back in the cell and left.
Once the coast was clear, Lock and Barrel came out.
"She's a mean old woman," Shock sobbed.
"No matter what she does to you, don't give in," said Barrel.
"Why?" asked Shock.
"She drains the life of girls to keep her young, but she can only use the blood if its given freely," Lock explained. He kept picking at the lock, but soon, the wire broke.
"Rats!" exclaimed Lock. "Its a new one, but don't worry. We're going to get help and stop Morgane." The boys quickly left.
"Good luck, little brothers," whispered Shock.
"Is she in there?" asked Jack, once Lock and Barrel returned.
"Yes," said Barrel. "We need to get her out soon. Morgane has been beating her, and her prison room is awful!"
"Yeah," agreed Lock, remembering Shock's face and clammy touch. "If this keeps up, she'll freeze to death! You should see her! I bet Morgane is starving her!"
"Come on," said Jack. "We've got to get help."
"Why do you keep refusing, brat?" asked Morgane. "The other girls agreed quickly--"
"Before they perished!" exclaimed Shock.
"Who told you that?" demanded Morgane.
"I--I overheard it!"
"You lie!" Morgane slapped her. "Now tell me who, or else!"
Shock looked at her, numb with fear.
"Fine, don't tell me," said Morgane. "You'll only suffer!" She exited the room and came back with a whip. Shock screamed as the leather hit her back, but she refused to betray her brothers, the ones who loved her, the ones who were working so hard for her freedom. She was struck seven times before Morgane threw her back into the cell.
Lock, Barrel, and Jack heard Shock's cries, though very faint, as they reached town. They knew they had to hurry. None of them knew how long Shock could resist. Jack quickly announced an emergency meeting.
The entire town gathered in the Town Hall. The sun was starting to set. Jack stood onstage, explaining about Shock and how they were going to get rid of Morgane. Many knew who Morgane was, and quickly agreed. The crowd rushed home and returned about five minutes later, with torches, pitchforks, and other mob weapons. They marched through the forest until they came upon the Old Manor.
The guards saw the torchlight and immediately attacked, though they were outnumbered by about three to one. Lock and Barrel kept throwing grenades every now and then, enjoying the explosion and watching the guards run. Jack fought vigorously with a sword and shield. He was very swift and quick, being here one second and over there the next, his sword somehow cutting the guards' armor to ribbons.
The witches fought on their brooms, throwing out their most dire spells, while the othe monsters took the guards' weapons and snapped them in half. Many of the guards were captured, but two of them captured Lock and Barrel and ran inside, bolting every door and window. The citizens tried in vain to get inside, but to no avail. Many left, taking the captured guards with them. Jack and Sally stayed behind to try to break in.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Morgane screeched at Shock. Just then, two guards came in, dragging Lock and Barrel.
"Look who we caught," one of them said.
A wicked smile formed on Morgane's face as she handed each guard a knife.
"Slit their throats," she said coolly.
"NO!" shouted Shock. "Please! I'll do anything!"
Morgane thought for a few minutes. "Hmm...I'll only spare them...if..."
"If what? asked Shock, dreading the offer.
"If you give me a drop of your blood."
Shock didn't want to do it, but she couldn't let her little brothers die--no matter how much they drove her crazy.
"I'll give you five minutes to say your good-byes privately," said Morgane, helping Shock out of the cell. She and her guards left.
"Shock!" shouted Barrel. He and Lock ran to their sister, and soon, all three were locked in a group hug. They pulled apart, but then, Lock and Shock held each other close.
"I'm sorry for all of our fights, Lock," Shock said, tears starting to form.
"Me too," Lock agreed, his eyes getting wet. When they pulled apart, Barrel clung onto Shock.
"I'm sorry for everything, Barrel," Shock sobbed.
"Same here," cried Barrel. All three fell into another group hug.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I love you both," Shock wept.
"And we love you too!" Lock and Barrel cried together.
"We'll miss you," Barrel sobbed. "It won't be the same."
"There, there, Barrel," said Shock, trying to comfort her little brother. "I'm sorry things have to be this way, but it's my duty to see that you're safe." She turned to Lock. "Lock, promise me you'll look after Barrel."
"I promise," said Lock. The trio embraced again.
"Good-bye, little brothers," whispered Shock.
"Good-bye, Shock," said Lock.
"Yeah," sniffed Barrel. "Good-bye."
Morgane burst in. "Time's up! Guards, help Shock. She has a problem with her foot." A guard picked her up. Shock looked to her brothers. The guard carried Shock, with tear-filled eyes, to her doom.
Jack and Sally found a way inside. Jack raced to find the terrible threesome while Sally looked for Morgane. She quickly found her--and Shock. Tears fell out of Shock's eyes as she waited to prick her finger. Morgane laughed evilly as she threw another bat wing into the thick green liquid.
"I can feel it," she said. "Soon, blessed youth will be mine. Shock, I need the final ingredient."
Shock pulled out a needle and poked her finger. She held it over the cauldron and was about to squeeze out a drop, when--
"NO!" called Sally. "Shock, don't do this! Please!"
"If I don't, Lock and Barrel will die." Shock squeezed her finger.
"Shock! NO!" But Sally was too late. The spell was already cast. Morgane opened her necklace, having Shock's soul join her other victims. Morgane got younger as Shock got weaker. Finally, Shock collapsed, her eyes closed, never to open again. Morgane laughed triumphantly.
"Her youth is mine!"
"You evil old hag!" Sally shouted.
Morgane merely tied her up and threw her, and what was left of Shock, into the room with the girls' skeletons. Sally saw Shock's tiny and lifeless body from where she lied. She looked away and cried.
Morgane happily gazed at her reflection. Shock's youth was just what she needed to be this beautiful. Suddenly, a shadow passed by her.
"Who's there?" she called. here was no answer. Morgane continued to admire her reflection, unaware that right above her, a trap was being set. Jack jumped down and tackled the wretched woman and struggling with her. Lock and Barrel came to help. Barrel grabbed Morgane's necklace and ran off with it. Lock followed, and he and Barrel tossed it and fake-tossed it to one another, trying to confuse the guards. Finally, they came to the room with the dead bodies. Jack and Morgane ran after them.
"NO!" shouted Morgane. "Don't open it!" Lock slid it under the door. Sally got it and snapped it open. Screams, laughter, and chatter from young girls poured out. The souls reunited with the bodies. On each skeleton, ghostly skin and hair formed, showing what each girl once looked like. One of the ghouls untied Shock. All the skeletons stood up and walked towards Morgane. They would have thier revenge!
Morgane tied to run away, but her guards, who hated her, pushed her towardas the sea of ghouls. Her screams echoed off the walls as a fiery light enveloped her. In a few minutes, she was gone, with not a trace left. She had been condemned for her crimes. Their revenge now complete, the ghostly girls conceded, their bones falling all over. Sally picked up Shock's body. Her soul hadn't been freed. Lock and Barrel saw her and quickly looked away. Jack picked up the fallen amulet.
Suddenly, it began to glow. Lock and Barrel watched in awe. They, too, touched the talisman. It grew brighter and brighter, and finally, Sally touched it too. The second her finger felt the golden surface, a blinding light shot out. When it cleared, Shock's ghost was floating in midair, white as a pearl.
The ghost winked, went to her body, and lied down, sinking inside. Slowly, the color returned to Shock's skin, and finally, her eyes opened.
"Where--where am I?" she asked.
"You're in my arms, Shock," said Sally. "Come on. We're going home."
The crowd in Halloween Town cheered as the remaining guards were marched to join the other prisoners, and they cheered even louder when they saw Jack, Sally, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. A big celebration was held for defeating Morgane, and in the process, one of the witches healed all of Shock's wounds.
That night, under the full moon, Lock, Shock, and Barrel stood next to each
other on the spiral hill.
"All right, you two," said Shock. "Nobody's the best. We belong together!"
"You mean, you're going to stop fighting?" asked Barrel.
"Well," said Shock. "Not likely." She pushed Lock and ran off. Lock and Barrel laughed and raced after their sister, their giggles filling the bright night sky.
