Prologue

The Struggle Within

Jack tossed and turned as much as he could without falling out of his tree. He gripped and pulled at his hair, trying to keep the demon from escaping. It was a battle he had to fight on a daily basis for the last 250 years. For the most part he managed to keep him at bay, with the few occasional slip-ups. But even then he always managed to regain control quickly enough to prevent too much carnage. This time was different though. He hasn't come this close to escaping the depths of his mind in decades. Jack was determined to maintain control but couldn't help but feel that he was fighting a losing battle. With his eyes clamped shut, he continued the struggle, not once noticing the pair of glowing yellow eyes watching him from the shadows.

Pitch

Pitch watched as the youngest Guardian fidgeted fitfully in his tree. The fear rolling off of his body was so dark, so pure, so delicious. Pitch could feel himself getting stronger by the minute! But he noticed something else radiating from the boy. An aura of evil and despair fought within the winter sprite, something that Pitch never expected from someone so pure of heart. He had, of course, heard the rumors; they were more than a century old. Rumors that he had perceived as nothing more than a mere myth once he had actually laid eyes on the Guardian of Fun. Now though, he thought that perhaps there was some truth to those stories after all. Stories of fear, destruction, and, above all else, death. A malicious, sadistic grin etched its way onto the Nightmare King's face. He knew what, or rather who, dear Jack was struggling with, and he was going to bring him out. His cruel laughter intermingled with Jack's frustrated cries as he spoke in barely a whisper:

"Worry not my friend; I shall set you free. The world will once again feel the wrath of Jokul Frosti."