Prologue
He leaned casually against the brick wall. "You aren't a bad person."
I glared at him.
"After all I've done?" I shot back. Who is he to say something like that to me?
"If you're going to kill me, then get on with it. I'm sick and tired of living like this." He looked astonished.
"Why would I want to kill you?" I rolled my eyes.
"Are you stupid? I lied to you. I hurt you. You hate me." Jack shook his head.
"You don't understand." He said calmly. Suddenly he wasn't the Jack that never wanted to see me again.
"I don't understand? Have you forgotten that you are Jack Frost, a Guardian, who is supposed to guard the children from harm, not talk to the harm?"
Jack pushed himself off the wall and walked slowly towards me.
"You define yourself as 'harm'?" I swallowed and nodded.
Jack slammed both hands on the brick wall behind me, caging me between his arms.
"Why?" I didn't answer. This close proximity was making me extremely uncomfortable.
"I asked you a question." Jack leaned closer, his icy breath fanned my face. I just closed my eyes.
"Why are you even here?" I whispered.
There was a pause. "I don't know." Replied Jack softly.
"I thought you hated me. It's okay, I get it, I hate myself too." I said.
His clear blue eyes shot straight through my own amber ones and through my mind, where the barriers I've built are reduced to nothing under his gaze.
I feel so exposed. Tears began to roll down my cheeks.
His cold fingers gently brushed away the tears. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I let out a dry laugh. "I didn't know how to just say it. I was afraid that you would hate me. I guess in the end, I was only delaying the inevitable."
"I don't hate you Sierra." Jack said quietly.
"You should." I looked away. I was truly disgusted with myself for everything I've done.
"I don't hate you." Jack repeated as if I hadn't said anything. "You shouldn't either."
"Give me a good reason not to." I stared up at his clear, innocent face.
His brow was furrowed in thought.
"You can't think of any, can you?" My head hung in disappointment. I slipped out of his arms.
"Goodbye, Jack."
I began to walk away. With each step, I began to relive my death. Every step away from Jack were screams of pain and burning flesh. Vomit was rising in the back of my throat, I choked it back down. The knot in my stomach tightened. My skin began to tremble and smoke. Wisps of flames began to dance on my fingertips.
"Wait!"
Everything disappeared. The fire, the ghosts of death. Jack caught my hands as he landed right in front of me.
This time there was no brick wall. "Stop! I've got it!"
Just an embrace.
Tears began to make its way to the corner of my eyes.
Jack leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"Because I love you."
