“I can’t stay here for ever Barrel. I… just don’t think I can survive in the lands of the dead and insane. I… I want to stay, but I think it’s what’s making me sick. I’ll… be leaving in a few days… Please… under stand.” Blair had said before she stifled a sob and turned to run off. She couldn’t even choke out the words I love you, in fear that she wouldn’t be able to move on and return home. Fear that she would stay here and die, sick from what ever was ailing her here.

The good doctor had told her that she had stayed too long, that the living can’t live long in the lands of Halloween. She had been growing sicker in the last two or three years. Her body wasn’t aging like it should, but it was getting sicker as the time passed.

That night she had told Barrel she had to leave, as she didn’t know anything else to do. She planed to leave for good, and try to live on her own. Her family had thought her long dead by now. Her brothers couldn’t be mad at her still, and her father and mother must assume she left or died or something. That had to be fact. She would return home, but only long enough to gather things and leave. Barrel, Lock and Shock had taught her enough about sneaking around that she should be able to do it with out being seen.

So that was her plan.

And Barrel didn’t like it.

Barrel sat in the Pumpkin Patch, depressed looking, watching Even care himself a new face. “It’s not fair…” He moped, sighing deeply. “I don’t even feel like eating candy anymore.”

“You should do something about it then…” Even told the young demon as he carved a new set of eyes in a new pumpkin. His old head was beginning to rot and get soft in a few places. It was time for a new one.

“Like what?” Barrel grumped. He was never the brains of things so he really had no clue what to do about this! How could he make her stay!

“Like make her stay.” Even said, poking out a oddly shaped triangle of pumpkin and grinning as his new face and head was done. Listing his old head off, his long hands raised it high above his head, still talking. “You could always ask the Pumpkin King to do something about it…. But I wouldn’t trust that jerk for Nothiingggg…” The last few words were yelled, echoed as the body of Evan threw the head across the way, sending the rotting pumpkin with the calmer mellow face, crashing into a hill side and breaking in several pieces.

He picked up the darker face, pushing it on his neck and twisting. After a moment, the eyes blinked, the mouth bent open and shut, and the head shook yes and no, testing its self out. The voice was darker now, and not so mellow and kind. “Or… you could always have her killed here.”

Barrel sat up at that last point, eyes wide. “She’s human though! I can’t have her killed! She won’t come back! She’s not like Shock and Lock and I! She can’t take an ax to the head and reattach it later.” He protested.

The evil looking Evan grinned deviously, shaking his head. “Mmm no, no, your wrong there little demon. Those humans who are killed in Halloween town… stay and live in Halloween town… as part of our own. If you kill her here… she will become one of our own and will have to stay here with you. Isn’t that what you want?” Evan’s hand reached out to stroke the boys short hair, smiling at him. “Kill her and she is yours for ever. No more need to go home. No more worry about her dying here with some illness. She could train with the witches if she wanted. Or work and serve your precious Oogie Boogie.” And after a darker smile was plastered over the pumpkin head, he added “Or… I would be willing to teach and train her. To let her stay in my place.”

“Really? Is that true? If she dies here she will be able to stay?” Barrel said, jumping up to his feet, excited. “I have to tell her right away then!”

Before he got too far, he was grabbed by a long arm, dragging him back in. “Ah, little Barrel… it might be wise not to tell her. What if she got scared… and didn’t want you to kill her? Hmm? What if she chickened out?” He laughed darkly, “what if I help you. I know the perfect plan. And it requires just you and me…” He said, petting the boy on the head like he was used to doing with young. “Come… lets talk in private… the pumpkins have ears you know.” He said, standing and rushing the boy off with him to his hide out.

That evening, Barrel took Blair by the hand, smiling at her as he dragged her off. “Please, Blair. B-before you go. J-just one more time, let’s go to the Patches” he told her. She looked pale and sick and very tired, like her life was being sucked out of her already. She was going to leave him soon, but not if he could help it. He was going to make sure she stayed with him for good.

The evening was fine, the night was beautiful. Barrel sat on the hill side, following his instructions that Evan had given him. They had one more night under the moon, sitting on a patch work quilt and gazing at the stars. In a basket, Barrel had two apples, some candy, and a bottle with two glasses. Pouring them each a bit to drink, he made sure that the left hand held the pre poisoned class, and his in the right hand was poison free. But just as he offered her the left glass… his heart, if anyone thought he had one, had a change of mind. He swiftly offered her the right hand glass, and giving her a half hearted look, he drank form the poisoned cup.

While Blair enjoyed her drink, Barrel turned his head, making faces, shuddering, and letting a wretched pain pass though him. Holy mother of Hannah! What DID Evan put into that cup? It hurt, it burned, and sometimes it ticked. Ha, Barrel liked it, but man, he was sure that Blair would have died just in an instant. Gasping a purple cloud left his lips before he looked back to her. A nervous grin on his face.

As it grew later, and his nervousness grew, he tried to go through with it. “Are you hungry?” He asked, offering her an apple. It was poisoned of course, at least the one he gave to her. This was part of the plan. Poison her, let her die carefully, gracefully, and let her ‘live’ after it with him.

Only, Barrel didn’t feel right about this either, so as he offered her the apple, and she took it, marveling at the pretty red color of it, he twitched. He twitched and bounced a leg, watching her look at the apple. Watching her rub a thumb over it, and watching her raise it to her pretty black painted lips. Just as she was about to bite into it, Barrel changed his mind. He didn’t know what came over him, but he reached up, grabbing her hand and the apple, gave a shout of “No!” and suddenly chucked the apple off into lords knows where, away from them swiftly. He held her hand, his eyes were wide, looking up at her. “I… er… Sorry. That one had a worm in it. I should have checked it better.” He stammered.

Blair smiled at him, leaning forward to give him a tight hug, though she felt weaker then she had before. “Mmm you’re so kind to me Barrel. I’m…” She was crying again. He hated it when she cried. “I’m really going to miss you.” The girl said, hiding her face in his shoulder and neck, leaning on him for a bit. He looked a little shocked, a whole lot nervous, and quite ill.

“You… you can always stay B-blair.” He said, hopefully.

“nn… no I can’t. If I die here… I won’t be able to see you anymore… if I go home, at least I can visit… maybe.” She said, sounding miserable. She would much rather stay here then in real life any old day.

Barrel pulled himself from the hug and stood suddenly. “Wait right here. Don’t move. I’ll be right back. Swear. I… have to get you something. A… going away gift.” He said, and trotted off towards the grave yards not far away.

AS he left, Blair sat there on the hill side, curling her arms around her thinning body and sighed. She didn’t want to leave, but she hurt, and she was getting sicker. The Doctor had told her it was because she needed normal human air and food.

Food. She was a little hungry. She looked over in the basket, pulling out another apple and looking at it. It was really pretty too, and it seemed clean and fresh. No worms in it at all. Raising it to her lips, she took a bit of it, smiling as she waited for Barrel to return. But as she took that bite, it lodged in her throat, much like snow white and the poisoned apple. Gasping for air, her eyes grew larger, her breath short, and a moment later, she collapsed on the ground, the apple slipping from her hand.

About 10 minutes later Barrel returned, pulling a small package along with him. He reached the patch work quilt, found a basket, Blair’s pointed hat, and a partly eaten apple. There was also a set of thin foot prints and for a few feet, a set of dragged marks. Barrel wasn’t the smartest, but he knew what direction they were headed. Dropping the package, he went running, gasping “Blair!” as he looked for her. Searched. He knew where to find her though, and to Evan O-Lantron’s he did run.

In the house of O-Lantron sat Evan, his face dark and menacing, his clothing bloody and a mess. His working table was pushed clear up to it’s tallest, so he could reach everything even while standing or on his tall stool. His gloved hands and smock were gross with blood. A hand reached up to scratch his head, leaving bloody smears on his pumpkin head. “Hmm… interesting… now if I took this…” his long fingers poked at something. There was a gasped sound and a arm fell off the opposite side of the table, swinging back and forth on the side. “Ah… interesting. This is indeed a good day. I…” he stopped, hearing someone at his front door.

“Enter Barrel. Your just in time.” Evan called in his twisted and sick voice.

Barrel charged in, breathing heavy. “Where is she! I changed my mind, let her go… oh!” He gasped, looking at the table. It was bloody and a thin pale arm hung form it. Green and black hair cascaded from the other side. Eyes widening, Barrel yelled, letting out a demons bellow, a holler of rage and fear in one. It was a sound he used a lot on trick-or-treaters every year, but then it was normally just forced. This one? This one was true. He was pissed off. He swelled in stance and charged to the table, catching glimpse of the girl on it.

Blair face was contorted, her mouth was gagged, though she was awake and free of the poisoned apple. Her face though was pained, paler then before, and in shock. Her body, was ripped over down the chest and there was a spot on her head that was split open, very carefully, very correctly, like a doctor could do. She was awake and could feel each prob that Evan had done. She reacted when she was poked. She was bleeding to death here though, and it hadn’t been long. It seemed that things had only just started.

Barrel set dark and demented eyes on Evan, who was now standing with a skull saw, buzzing at the boy. He didn’t care and launched himself over the table, dark eyes glowing as shadows fell upon him. Barrel had never looked more fearful in his life, and even Evan, with his completely whacked out mind was thrown a bit. Before he could do anything, Barrel had grabbed the pumpkin head, smashing it in his hands, and throwing the pieces everywhere in the room.

It took him several minutes before he realized that he could grab Blair and leave. He was being nieve though, thinking that he could just wrap her up in a sheet and carry her out, and that she would be fine. Oh no, she was very nearly dead by time he returned to her side. “H-hang on…” he told her, eyes wide as he wrapped her bleeding numb body up. She didn’t even respond anymore, her gaze was spacey, she was white as a ghost and her body was so cold it felt natural to him, instead of the soft warm feeling she normally gave him.

On swift feet, Barrel held the bloody girl to him, and ran off swiftly from the house (leaving a Headless Evan flailing his arms around, desperately searching for something to use for a head till he made a new one) and headed towards the town. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know who to turn to. If he went home Lock and Shock would just laugh at the situation. Oogie Boogie would just eat her for dinner. He couldn’t go to Jack and he couldn’t go to the Pumpkin King either. He had no one he could really turn to.

Rushing into town though, he cried out “Someone! Help!” He ran right into the Mayor, gasping. “Help her! She’s dying…”

But they Mayor’s head spun and he called loudly in his fearful voice “It’s Oogies boy! What have you done?!”

The Vampires all swooped in, speaking in turns. “It’s Blood!”

“How delightful.”

“How devious!”

“How delicious.” They said the last part together, licking their teeth and lips.

“Someone help her! PLEASE” Barrel said, actually using the P word. By now the girl in his arms wasn’t moving, or breathing. His clothing was soaked in blood, as was the sheet, but he held tight to her, holding her broken body to his carefully. Tightly. AS the crowd gathered around him, he refused to et anyone take her unless he knew they would help him.

He was spinning around, trying to beg someone to help him, but everyone just stared, commented, wondered. No one did anything. Before he knew it though, a bony hand grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. Tall and frightening, the black clad figure swooped down, round skull head staring at him. Barrel gasped, looking up at jack Skellinton’s face, his own eyes wide. Jack still scared him.

“Come with me.” Jack said suddenly, having surveyed what was going on. He rushed the little demon boy off with the bloody body in its hands. He asked few questions, getting Barrel to tell him what happened. He got enough of the story that he needed to hear. Bending down he took the dead body from the boys hands, told Barrel it might be too late, but there was still hope, and with his long legs, he took off towards the Doctors tower.

Barrel sat outside the Doctors tower for a good 9 hours, not sleeping, not cleaning up not even moving other then a deep sigh or two. He sat there on the steps, head in his bloody hands and waited. And waited. And when Jack had left, he looked up hopefully, but saw that jack’s face was a riddle of Anger and so very dark. Barrel cowered back but never moved other wise. He watched Jack stride off swiftly back through town, wordless.

He stayed there that night and morning too. The blood on his body having dried and crusted, but he still paid it no mind. He sat there for ever, and would sit there for ever if that was how long it would take. He hated this town and everyone in it, and he hated Evan and… just everyone.

He hated… --- Ah but the Doctor rolled outside, looking around. “Ah… boy… there you are… you’ve given me quiet a mess to work with. Not much left of her really. Such a mess.” He said, reaching up to take a napkin and dab sweet form his brain, closing the lip once again when he was done. Sighing he shook his head. “It doesn’t look good. Why… why boy did this happen?”

Barrel told him the story, told him about Blair leaving because of what he, the Doctor had said, told him that Evan said she would be able to stay if she died here, and told him about changing his mind, and finding her missing. He told the Doctor everything, and then slumped down again on the step, depressed. “And now she’s gone…”

“Rubbish. Such rubbish and nonsense. Not everyone who dies here stays here. It takes a true genius to do that.” He said, swelling a bit with pride in himself. He liked the small ego strokes of course, and that certainly was one. “It is true that she’s dead though.” He finished, turning his chair around as if he were to go back inside. “I couldn’t save her life.” He informed barrel as he started to roll to the door again.

Barrel jumped up, face dropping. “Wha… but…. No! You…” and then he growled, face darkening, upset. “I… hate you! If you hadn’t told her to go home in the first place, none of that would have happened!”

The doctor stopped, looking back to the demon boy. “Oh…” his brow raised. “But if I had not told her she would have died very soon.” His voice was calm. He turned to the door again, pushed it open and added. “But that doesn’t matter now, does it?”

Barrel was about to have a fit. It didn’t matter? SHE didn’t matter? Was that what he was implying? He was about to jump up and strangle the old man, when someone behind the door moved. A flash of green and a pale hand slid past the door, ducking a bit to look out into the light.

“You can come out now my Pretty.” The old doctor said, giving a crinkled smile and rolled back. “Some one has been waiting for you.”

Stepping out of the building, thin pale legs showed from under a patched dress. Her pale skin was the color of death, her lips were blue as well. Her green eyes were a little cloudy, but still green. A smile came to her face as she looked at the dim light under the pumpkin sun. Looking, she saw the face of a very shocked and dumfounded Barrel.

Reaching a pale hand up she ran it through her hair, reveling that she had staples and stitches in her forehead. It was clear that she also had stitches over her chest and neck. She smiled at Barrel, but looked to the doctor. “I… feel funny…”

“It will pass.” The man said form his wheelchair.

Barrel jumped up and over to her, grabbing her cold hand into his, eyes wide. “Blair! Your alright!” He called, looking eye to eye with her. She just gave him a smile, but slowly it faded and turned to a bit more of a confused look. “Um… yes. I guess I’m alright.” And after a moment, she looked embarrassed, glanced to the doctor, and then back to Barrel, whispering… “Um… but… ah… who are you? Do I know you?”

The words felt like ice running through his body, his eyes going wider. He stepped back, their hands sliding slowly from his grasp. “Wha… what?” He asked, feeling colder then normal. He looked to the doctor, who was shaking his head.

“There are some memory issues. She’s forgotten a good deal over the traumatic situation. There wasn’t much else I could do.” He informed the boy.

Blair looked dazed still, a bit confused, and very sad now. “You’re… a friend, right? Isn’t that what you said Dr. Fin---“ she was cut off by Barrel’s words.

“I’m glad you’re alright. I’m sorry for what happened. Bye.” And with out further word, he turned and took off running, sprinting as fast as his little legs would take him, away from the doctor and Blair. Barrel ran hard, trying not to let stupid emotions bother him. He ran, hoping to clear his mind. He knew Lock and Shock had always been right. One way or another, he would mess things up with Blair. One way or another he would lose her. Why not like this. It was painful and eye opening. She didn’t remember him at all. And it was his fault she ended up like that. He ran.