The early morning light shone down upon the small ferry. The ghostly boat was moving down the canal of green, stagnant waters. Pieces of rotting skeletons drifted past. The acrid aroma was enough to make a human retch their guts out. But the passengers aboard this ferry were far from human. They were creatures of the night. For this was a unique world of horrors and eeriness. This was the world of Halloween.

Amongst the monsters eager to reach home, a teenager sat quietly amongst them. Unlike most of the passengers, she was travelling alone. Judging by the heavy backpack by her side it was obvious she was an apprentice of some sort. Any form of apprentice, when they finally came of age, was destined to join with a master of their chosen field. It was common to see apprentices leave their hometowns to seek a master of their field. This girl had obviously travelled for a long time in hope of reaching the ship’s destination, Halloweentown, the capital of the Halloween world.

Nothing really stood out about her though. She wasn’t overly beautiful. If anything she was just your average girl, not fat or thin, just stuck in between. But it was evident she was an early bloomer in the puberty area. One would assume she was older than her body suggested as she possessed womanly curves and a rather large bust. But she kept these features hidden beneath a baggy black shirt and a pair of loose jeans. Upon her shirt was a large image of a demonic crescent moon devouring the sun. A long harlequin jester coat shielded her from the cold. Her messy red hair was kept at bay in a wild ponytail beneath her black and blue jester cap. Beneath her right eye she had a strange violet marking like a jester doll. On the back of each of her pale hands was a violet swirl.

Noticing the docks fast approaching she grabbed her backpack. Looking ahead she saw Spiral Hill, the key monument of Halloweentown. Within moments the ferry docked at the edges of the slums. The only canal that flowed through the town made contact at the lower parts of Halloweentown. The slums were a terrible place, heavily trashed with the garbage from other areas. Eerie shadows were cast across the walls from the neon green light of the water. In a hurry everyone left the ferry before it sailed off into the distance. The girl watched everyone move off in their separate ways, often into the arms of their family and friends. But when you’re an apprentice from out of town, no one cares.

---

Jack watched with wonder as Dr Finklestein unveiled his latest creation. It was a monster created from the remains of the Trick and Treat dolls used as guards of the Acid Works. The ghostly creature drifted within its glass prison in a state of sedation. Its head was like a jack o lantern with long fangs. Its body was a swirling mass of white and black cloth. But its hands were massive claws with tendril like fingers.

“I must say doctor, this is absolutely bone chilling!” praised Jack

The doctor nodded modestly “Just a few touch ups and it’ll be ready for next Halloween”

“This is incredible, where do you get your inspiration?”

“When you’ve done the job long enough, it just comes naturally”

“I know what you mean. I can’t even remember a time when I wasn’t the Pumpkin King”

“So how is Sally? How is your son, Jason?”

“Sally is fine as for Jason… hard to say”

“Why is that?”

“He’s just so… disobedient. He won’t listen to either of us or show up to his scaring lessons. He can’t even summon Pumpkin Fire. Yet he wants the title of Pumpkin King”

“Apprentices, they’re always so troublesome”

“Surely you’d want to retire one day doctor. Spend more time with Jewel”

“I will never hand over my title as mad scientist, not until I meet someone I believe to follow the rules”

The skeleton raised an eyebrow in curiosity “Rules?”

“Yes Jack, rules. You have certain rules as a Pumpkin King, so does a mad scientist”

In an instant the Mayor burst into the room and laughed “There you are Jack! I need to finalise a few things for next Halloween so we can get started! We only have three hundred and sixty four days to go!”

---

The jester girl walked through the Acid Works. Taking note of the strange architecture that surrounded the ominous tower before her. The flowing river of what she suspected was acid was just bellow the metal bridge she was walking across. The sight of a bat falling in and becoming a half congealed mass of organic matter only confirmed her suspicions that the liquid was a type of acid. She walked up to the tower door and knocked.

Jewel turned from her housework. The sound of knocking echoed in the monstrous tower. Like an obedient housewife she walked to the door and opened it. She was face to face with the mysterious jester girl. Jewel smiled warmly “Good morning, how can I help you?”

The girl quickly removed her hat, her messy fringe hung around her face in a mass of curls. “Is this the residence of Dr Finklestein? The Mad Scientist of Halloweentown”

“Yes it is. My name is Jewel, I’m the doctor’s wife and you are?”

“I’m Shadow” she offered a hand out “It’s nice to meet you Jewel”

She shook the girl’s hand and said “So what brings you here?”

“I wish to speak with Dr Finklestein. I want to get an apprenticeship with him”