Chapter: One

How Victor Met Alice

Victor Skellington dug inside his waistcoat and removed his pocket watch. He pressed the top to release the cover that hid the clock inside. He sighs, seeing it was only half-past two. The afternoon was coming in slow, much slower than he would like it to be. His desk is filled with paperwork he hadn't gotten around to finishing, next to that, was his sleek black telephone, along with a slim note pad for his note-taking when necessary.

Across the room, in their shared office, sat Albert, the original, and oldest Vampire in Halloween town. The round glasses sit comfortably on the bridge of his lengthy slim nose as he squints his black eyes down at the book he occasionally would write in with his snake skinned pencil-thin Inked pen. His black coal hair is tied back into a low ponytail by a black simple ribbon he used every day and even so when alive. The front of his face is framed by the wavy strands that fail to fall forward from his hard hours of working without a break.

Times for breaks weren't something Victor and Albert got often, and that went for holidays. Halloween would arrive in 3 weeks and preparation requires time. The Mayor popped in and out every few days with more scrolls of ideas, to add only to create more hours in their already tight schedules.

Outside the window from in the office, Victor noticed the firey red-hair belonging to the ragdoll sally, She had her arm linked with Jack who seemed more enthusiastic than he normally was. A scowl formed on Victor's skulled face, as he scratches at the top of his head inquiringly.

How did his brother have all of this free time? Halloween was approaching as fast as fog in winter, and here he was, laughing and expressing such affection, Victor could only believe stayed among closed doors and out of sight from prying eyes.

Sally made his brother happy, what more could an older brother ask for, than a woman to brighten his younger brothers heart? She brought him back, she gave him the life he was looking for, so why couldn't Victor shake off his animosity for them? Their PDA had increased over the last few months of their relationship. It was only a matter of time before Jack would get down on his knee and ask for her hand in marriage. And Victor knew, that is exactly what Jack will do, even if Sally told him she didn't want to get married for many years to come. Jack would wait, and never lose his passion or adoration for his Sally. Their love was a type of love, Victor hadn't ever known. It was Alien to him and looked sickening, and not to mention time-consuming to have.

No women fit the bill, and never would. His work was his marriage, whether he wanted it to be or not. Albert might as well be his life long partner, after all, he was Victor's best friend, and not to forget his oldest.

"Have you seen this?" Albert rose his head, with a frown embedded across his pale sunken in face. His eyes were as dark as night and sharp as a cat. Victor moved his head in the direction of Albert, but his black sunken in sockets where his eyes once were refused to leave his brother and his lover. "What?" He asked, quickly flicking his attention over to his partner and back to the couple.

Albert's head tilts to the side, body falling back into his leather chair as he narrowed his eyes. He follows Victor's eyes to the window before a scowl appears on his face. "They're like teenagers, parading such Intimacy in an open, public place like that."

"It's called the Honeymoon phase, is it not?" Victor asked, tearing his eyes from the window and down to his open planner. He had a few meetings with the Mayor this afternoon and another before he headed home.

"Don't tell me you are going soft, Victor? And there is no such thing, like a Honeymoon phase, it's constructed for idiots who display affection despite creating discomfort for those around them." Albert grumbled, slamming the book he had open, and threw it aside at his ever-growing pile.

"Jack is in love," Victor admits fairly, even though the word 'love' ran a shiver down his spine.

"Jack is in love," Albert repeats, bitterly. His face is pulled up in disgust as he collects a chunky-sized book from his unread pile. After picking up his pen, Albert points it in Victor's direction. "Jack is infatuated, he is not in love."

"In any other case, Albert, and I'd agree with you, but Jack is in love. And I'm not soft, I'm reasonable." Victor corrects him, standing to stretch his long bony legs. "Oh, what was it you wanted to show me?" Victor glances over to his partner, who removes his glasses. He gazes down to his desk, before looking back up at Victor.

"Oh, right, yes. Town meetings are being extended for an hour, over Halloween closing in. The Mayor wants speeches made, in regulations to the day and to go over any unmentioned announcements that are yet to be discussed with the rest of the town."

"And for Mr Oggie?" Victor inquired, leaning back on the front of his desk, arms folded over his boned chest.

"Mr Oggie is forbidden to attend, although it is mandatory he makes an appearance to the holiday festival on Halloween night."

"Very well," Victor nodded, approvingly. "Anything else?"

Albert placed his glasses back on his face and shook his head. "No, not at the moment."

Over the pond in the town of Saint Valentines, love was in the air. Much like any other day, no one was seen without a look of love on their faces and in their hearts, as they made their rounds of presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards to the ones that light the fire beneath their chests. Love confessions were made every second of every day, all thanks to Cupid and his matchmakers at the soulmates Organisation.

Alice was good at her job, finding love came naturally to her, once she accomplished another match made in heaven, she swore her heart would grow two sizes bigger each time and the butterflies in her stomach would flutter their beautiful wings, letting her know that, yet again, love is growing amongst the people of her town. But when she went home every night, the feels of love vanished. It wasn't the same anymore.

She gave so much love out, leaving herself with nothing but the shell of her heart, only to receive nothing in return. And to an extent, she was okay with that. Connecting two hearts was what got Alice up in the morning, but where was her love? Who held her heart?

As Laughable as it was, Alice wondered if maybe, just maybe her soulmate wasn't here in Saint Valentines. After being here for 19 years, surely she would have found him by now? What was wrong with her? Why was he taking so long, to find her?

And to add to her confusion, even more, Toby was waiting on her doorstep, his light curly mop sat perfectly on his head. His white shirt wrapped around his upper body like a glove, that matches with the tightfitting black dress slacks. To everyone, Toby was her heart, he spends hours thinking of her, admiring her, complimenting her. As he waited the day, she returned his feelings for her.

Alice was so used to giving love, she wasn't sure she could break a heart. Toby was perfect for her, but he wasn't hers. Even if her parents encourage her to give it go, and see where things will plan out. Alice knew it would all be a complete waste of time, Toby was special, a bankers son and trainee watch guard. Nothing he did was for him, Toby knew Alice needed a man and what better way to prove himself than to become a protector of their Holiday town.

But to his disappointment, Alice still hadn't shown her affection for him. It was like she never noticed his heart beating for her, did she know his feeling for her? How would he know?

His answer felt like it may have been answered when her toffee brown hair walked around the corner and stopped when she spotted him.

Toby rose from the step he had been sitting on, to make his way over to her. He smiles, as he brought his arms out to wrap around her. Alice forced her smile and returned his embrace.

"I had to come and find you, I needed to tell you something."

Alice slowly closed her eyes, they were the words she didn't want to hear from him unless it was to willingly let her go. "Oh," She tried to sound as attentive and blind-sighted to his already confessed feelings.

Toby pulled her away from his chest, so he could look at her. He smiled as a man in love, Alice could almost see his eyes turning to hearts, the more she stared at him. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I – I can't imagine myself in this world without you and as Cupid once said; We are most alive when we are in love. That is how I feel every day."

"And Cupid also says; Love will blossom when two hearts call for each other when meeting for the first time," Alice added, as clear and carefully as she could muster. She needs him to see, that their love wasn't mean to be.

"As ours did," Toby whispers, pulling the matchmaker back into his warm chest. He presses a kiss to her hair before laying his cheek gently on top of her head. "From now and forever…"

" Cupid knows the man who owns my heart. And Toby, Toby isn't him, I can feel it. " Alice hadn't felt this overwhelmed since the time, she matched a young woman with a man she loved but had feelings for another. Alice didn't know how to solve it, but in the end, all it took was for the young woman to come to terms with her feelings for both men, and decided who was right for her, and who was meant for her. Everything worked out in the end, but Alice knew her situation wouldn't be resolved as easy as the love triangle.

"Alice," The soft as a feathered voice says. "Please give him a chance, sometimes things have to be explored before we know what's right for us."

"But mother," Alice's plead eyes fell shut in anguish. "I have, and Toby will never be enough."

Alice's mother pulled her suffering daughter into her arms as she held her tight, without another single comforting word being said.

"I think I'll go for a walk, - clear my head a little." Alice forced herself to pull away from her mother's warmth. Who gives her a sympathetic smile, and a short nod. "Very well, my dear. But I do ask you think things over, if not for yourself then for your old mother, eh?" Alice's mother chuckles, fingers fridging together, anxiously. "Give me some hope, you'll fix things."

"I will," Alice pulled her mother back in for a quick hug, before turning to leave.

The waterfall wasn't far, it was the only place Alice felt like she could properly release her thoughts and feelings. No one went to the waterfall, it housed much fish of all sizes and colours. They swam around, entertaining anyone and everyone they meet.

The Waterfall was located in the forest, filled with pink leaved trees and bushes. The paths were marked with angel wings and love quotes of many from Cupid's book. He'd write his love on paper and shared it with the town, only for his admirable words to be pressed onto the paths for anyone who walked down to see.

Alice would read the words, and wish they held meaning for her. They were everything she wanted to hear, yet they fell on deaf ears with her. She would tell people of how powerful love could be, yet knew nothing of the word meaning beyond its description.

How could she live with a man, she held no true love for him in her heart? If anything, his heart would be the one broken more than her own. And Saint Valentines did no heartache, no matter the problem. But rejection was like committing a crime, and Alice couldn't bring that upon herself.

This distancing she was doing wasn't for her mind, it was for Toby to never find her and cause the dishonest words to leave her mouth due to the guilt and fear, she'd feel if to do so. At that thought, Alice held her arms tightly. Her eyes fall to her white heeled boots that were walking, but going nowhere.

Well, that was until the strange orange-faced tree called her name without a word. Its stare did the talking, Alice couldn't describe the face she was seeing on the tree trunk. How had she not seen that before? The tree was dark brown and nothing like the pink ones around it.

Alice's legs took her down the wrong path, it wasn't the one to the Waterfall, it was to the tree. And before Alice knew it, she was stood in front of the sharped teethed, and triangled eyed face pressed into the tree.

Alice bent forward so she could scan the tree of it's details. It was the strangest thing she had ever see in her life. As her eyes fall down the base, she notices the triangle handle on the side indicating the face could be a door. Completely baffled by what she was seeing, Alice shot her head behind her seeing no one, which meant she was the only one in the forest. Turning back around, Alice glances at the handle once again.

"Where do you go?" Alice muttered, questioningly. Her fingers lingered over the handle not making any move to turn it and see what was inside. Although the secret behind it was getting to her, she itched to know, what was being hidden?

After a few seconds of taking in its unusual appearance, Alice slowly turned the handle, with her lip trapped in her front teeth, She pulled the door open and peered inside with wide inquisitive eyes.

Disappointment rushed over her, as nothing but darkness came to view. Sighing, Alice fell back on her heels and stared into the nothingness. She didn't understand, as the face on the door, sent her imagination wide, she imagined something amazing, interesting but got nothing but space.

Wasting enough time, Alice got up, wiping herself down from the dirt below. The sun was going down, giving the sky an orange tint. Tomorrow she had a decision to make, the biggest one she ever has to make. Alice reached for the door, as she began to close it, agast of wind brushed over her face, causing her eyes to flutter shut. Her body felt something pulling at her, as the wind on her face picked up.

Panic broke out within her, and before she knew it. She was headfirst inside the large hole in the tree and down she went into the unknown.