You might think being a Guardian is easy. Well, you'd be wrong. Whenever a Lunar eclipse occurs, this causes the moon to weaken. The same happens to our powers eventually leading to them becoming non-existent, taking our immortality also. Not forever though, just for twenty four hours. In that time we have to protect one another and make a choice. If we no longer wish to be Guardians, and/or spirits, and want to live a normal, human life, we can be granted that choice. Although, no one has ever chosen that as there isn't much for us with the life of being human. No family or friends. Being alive for three hundred and eighteen -no, three hundred and nineteen years- does take it's toll at times, but the group of four that I have integrated and trusted for a year now are my family and closest friends, there's no reason to leave. I have only ever been through one lunar eclipse, but the other Guardians have been through many more. So has Pitch. Because of the moon's absence, Pitch Black has learnt that he is at his most powerful during the eclipse. His powers reaching their climax and ours extinguished, he has a perfect opportunity...
"The moons out pretty early now." Jamie whines, looking up at the dark velvet sky and the moon shining down on the two. 6:37pm was pretty early, but that's just the consequences of the season.
"Yeah, because it's winter." I grin, falling back and landing in a snow drift.
"But my Mom seems to think that I won't notice when she changes my bedtime." Jamie whines, sitting, crossed legged, next to me.
"Can't advise you there Jamie, I can't remember bedtime." I smirk, folding my hands behind his head.
"You don't go to sleep?" The boy questions, clearly jealous at the idea of being able to be awake all the time.
"Only one or two times a month. I can't be tired otherwise I won't get all my duties done in time," I explain, "but don't wish away sleep Jamie. It gets pretty boring not even being able to sleep to pass the time..." I trail off, remembering the precious moments of sleep I am privalaged to have only a few times each month. The calmness and quiet... There's a persistent silence between us which last for at least five minuets. It's then that I start to feel a dampness on the front of my hoodie. Looking down at it, I see that the delicate frost patterns have started to melt away, the water droplets seeping into the fabrics and pressing against my skin.
"Oh, hey, the lunar eclipse is supposed to be tonight!" Jamie exclaims excitedly. That's what suddenly reminds me of yesterday's meeting about the lunar eclipse.
"Jamie, we gotta get you home, now!" I exclaim, darting up and grabbing the boys wrist. Pulling him close, I mentally call the wind, ready to cary us toward Jamie's house. I'm picked up, my feet barely off the ground, when I feel it faulter and it drops me again. Continuing running, I try again, calling at the wind, wanting it to hurry so I can make sure Jamie's safe. At a great force the wind grips me and pulls us several feet up and propels forward before cutting out again and dropping us. The pavement feels rough against my bare feet as I land, but that's one of the least of my worries now. Slowing to a halt I curse under his breath, out of earshot of Jamie, for being so careless to forget about tonight.
"Jamie, we're gonna get you home and I want you to bolt up your window ok? Don't even keep it on the latch, have it fully closed." I explain, a sense of urgency filling my voice, making it clear how important this information was.
"Jack-?" Jamie begins, but I cut him off by gripping his shoulders.
"Do you understand?" I question, slightly shaking him on accident. I just desperately needed to know he was listening to my instructions. With a quick nod of his head, I stand again, completely forgetting he wanted to say something, and trying to figure out what street we're on.
"Jack?" Jamie repeats, trying again to get my attention. I simply hum a reply, too many thoughts crammed into my head at the moment to actually reply with words, whilst running my hand through my hair in distress.
"Your hair's turning brown." Jamie points out. I was losing my powers and turning human quicker than I thought. Pitch would be almost to his full potential soon and he would have no problem picking out my scent still in Burgess. Helpless and alone, I will have no way of defending myself. This seemed to be a lot more rushed than the last time. However, the last time was two hundred years ago and I had no idea of it. Also no one to protect and no one to worry about ment that it was just like an average day for me.
"Jack, you're scaring me." Jamie states, fear rising in his voice as I pull him along the streets toward his house.
"No, don't be scared. Everything's fine, this is normal for me. It's a minor thing don't worry about it." I urge, desperately wanting him to swallow his fear so Pitch can't catch us when I cannot defend the boy. Arriving swiftly at his door, I walk up the stone steps with him and wait outside the front door. The door opens and his Mom appears with a warm smile on her face.
"You ok Jamie?" She smiles, opening the door fully so he can't enter the house.
"Yeah thanks Mom." He replies grinning.
"Who's your friend? A little older than you isn't he?" She questions. I can feel the colour drain from my face and tears prick my eyes when I realise her eyes have settled on me. I can see Jamie instantly freeze and he whips round, shocked that she can see me.
"Mom, do you believe in Jack Frost?" He questions, gawping at the scene unfolding in front of him.
"No sweetie, I told you it's just an expression." She replies, ruffling the boys hair. I hold back a wince at her words, trying not to take it too personal.
"I'm... Monty's brother. I saw Jamie on his own so I offered to take him back home." I explain, trying to make a believable excuse.
"Oh, I didn't know Monty had a brother. You don't look at all alike," she muses, holding out her hand, "anyway it's nice to meet you and very kind that you made sure Jamie was safe." She finishes. I take her hand and shake it.
"Would you like to come in for a drink?" She offers, our hands parting.
"Ah, thank you Mrs Bennett, but I really need to get going." I reply, walking down the steps and stopping on the pavement to bid goodbye's. Walking down the street, my hands slipping into my hoody pockets, I begin to reflect on everything that's just happened. So I'm human now, for twenty four hours? Everyone can see me? I'm not overly sure how to feel about all of this. I mean yeah it's great to be seen by everyone, that's something I've wanted for a very long time now, but I'm in a really bad situation. I'm stranded here with no powers or abilities, the Guardians have no way of being able to pick me up and take me back to the pole and Pitch could show up any second. I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I don't start to notice the lack of street lamps and the increasing density of darkness growing around me. Suddenly, something hooks around my right foot, causing me to trip and to fall to the cold pavement. I'm swiftly turned over and find myself surrounded by a group of boys, not much older than myself. They're all snickering at my fall, so they were probably the cause of it. They all looked like they had just crawled out of some back alley.
"Haven't seen you 'round 'ere before." One of them states, his boot tip tapping my ankle. I don't really know how to reply, so I decide it's best to keep quiet for the time being. I try to pull myself up, but another two of the group push my shoulders down with their boots, keeping me restrained to the floor.
"What shall we do wiv 'im? He don't look like he got much cash on 'im." Another points out, referring to nothing having fallen out of my pockets to the floor and not many places to put a phone or wallet.
"Well, I ain't 'ad a good fuck in a while." The fifth and final one of the group grins, maliciously. It's then that panick sets in. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, I could just fly off, defend myself or maybe not even have been seen by these guys. But everything just seems to be going from bad to worse. Hands wrap around my ankles and knees and the group hoist me up and begin to drag me into a dark alley. I thrash around screaming out for anyone to help me before some form of... Dirty rag, I think, is forced into my mouth, muffling any noise. I'm almost thrown into the alleyway, where, landing on my feet barely, I try to gain as much distance from the group as I can. My back presses against the dirty brick walls and my fists clenching, ready to swipe at the first one to get close to me. I don't think I've ever felt so helpless in my life. It's horrible. Suddenly, hands seemingly come from behind me. One presses against my eyes, covering my vision and the other circles around me, gripping me in an, almost, reassuring hold. The cold hard stone behind me has turned warm with body heat and someone's chest is now pressing against my back. I try to struggle out of this two, expecting it to be another one of the group, but he holds me down with ease.
"Leave, now." A familiar voice orders. I don't hear any movement and can feel the restrained sigh of the one holding me. There's a sudden loud hiss and something flicks against my arm for a split second. I can hear all of the groups scream and they begin to grow distant as they travel away from us. I still didn't feel safe. My mind was giving me the very reasonable information that I should put no trust in this new mystery person, but my body seems to be protesting. Slowly I can feel myself go limp in his arms from sudden exhaustion. Any remaining sounds become a blur of noise and my, already dark, vision cuts out as my eyes drag closed, allowing me to slip into unconsciousness.