[[What if Jack had remembered everything as soon as he had re-emerged the night after his drowning; and if so what would he do about it. Perhaps it wasn't only Jack Frost's childhood memories that were taken or distorted and I suppose…it was for the better.]]
Bitter sweet memories of promises and melodies
Darkness. That's the first thing I remember.
It was dark, and it was cold.
And I was scared.
Jack blinked drowsily as he looked up through the murky water, numbly feeling the water tugging at his clothes and hair in gentle sways, the dead silence rang in his ears as he drifted; Drifting into a ray of moonlight that was refracted through the water which turned out to be the moon. Gingerly, he blinked open azure eyes as the ice before him seemed to fracture and break away allowing his body to surface. He coughed and spluttered, disorientated as the cold fresh air stung at his lungs and water dripped down his cheeks as if he had been crying.
But then…then I saw the moon.
It was so big and it was so bright,
and it seemed to chase the darkness away.
And when it did…
I wasn't scared anymore.
He panted heavily for a moment as he looked about him, his body seemingly weightless as he was lifted up. His panicked expression softened slightly as his breathing slowed to a more regular beat as a sense of calm and safety was drawn around him like a blanket on a winter's night. He watched the moon curiously before he felt a slight coldness brush against his barefoot and he looked down to see he was now standing atop the pond, the hole patched up as if it hadn't ever been there, the pond that he had been underneath…trapped.
Why I was there,
and what I was meant to do
that I've never known.
And a part of me wonders if
I ever will.
Jack looked up suddenly when the light dimmed and raised a curious eyebrow, his eyes briefly scanning the sky before he stepped back, treading carefully until wincing, he stepped onto something solid and looking down and saw it was a wooden staff like piece of gnarled twisted wood with a curve at the top.
he tilted his head and kneeled slightly to pick it up, blinking as it glowed a brilliant blue, jumping when frost shot out of it and across the top of the lake causing him to drop it. Then burning with curiosity he picks it and taps it against some of the close by tree trunks, grinning in awe as intricate frost designs began to spread and curl from where he touched the trunk.
Unable to contain himself Jack grins with gaining confidence as he swings the staff, running across the lake, laughter freely spilling from his lips until a certain heavy swing brings him flying high up into the sky, but a moment later and he's falling back to earth, grabbing a hold of the branch that he lands on and laughing wearily as he leaned into a sitting position.
Something glinted in the corner of his eyes and he turned his head to look into the distance to see a small village, the chatter and murmurs filling his ears now that he listened and something jumped in his heart. For a moment he paused and looked at the staff, gripping it with two hands before hissing as images flashed into his mind.
His little sister
Emma
at the age of Four crying as he tried to cheer her up
Jack, I'm scared.
CRACCKKK! The ice below her splinters more. She wobbles as
it starts to separate.
"I know, I know…but you're gonna
be alright. You're not gonna fall
in. We're gonna have a little fun
instead. "
"No we're not!"
"Would I trick you?"
fighting back tears She looks up at him
"Yes! You always play tricks!"
Jack chuckles
"Well, alright. Well, not, not this
time. I promise. I promise,
you're gonna be…you're gonna be
fine."
Jack fixes her gaze…holds it…there's nothing but the two
of them.
"You have to believe in me. "
Jack's sister pauses a moment, then smiles through her fear.
And just like that, Jack's demeanor changes. A light is
switched on inside him and the last thing that could be
happening is what is actually happening.
Jack casual and playfully
"You wanna play a game? We're going
to play Hopscotch! Like we play
every day!"
she looks more reassured.
"It's as easy as…one…whoaaaa…"
And Jack shows his sister the first leap, but mugs for her,
almost losing his balance then catching himself. She laughs.
"Two…"
(the next jump)
"Three!"
He turns toward her with his arms spread out.
"Alright…"
He reaches down to pick up a familiar-looking stick lying on
the ice. He extends it towards her —
"Now it's your turn."
Jack's sister looks down. She is trying to gather her
courage. Jack, never breaking his gaze with her,
(softly)
"One…"
She hops, wobbling, but catching her balance.
"That's it, that's it…two…"
She's almost there, Jack's staff just beyond her reach.
"Three."
She grabs hold of Jack's staff and in one massive effort he
slings her with all his might to safety. But the movement
propels him into the cracked ice. He looks up to see his
sister safe - smiles - and then plunges into the dark cold
water..
"JACK!"
"NO EMMA!….Ngh…ah…" Tears sprung to his eyes as he remembered clawing against the water, anything to get away from the stabbing, suffocating cold but the ice quickly began forming over him as his coat dragged him further and further down, the pain finally grew too much and he inhaled, his sister's broken sobbing disappearing into his subconscious along with the light.
He sobbed brokenly as he shook before turning his head to the village, a smile slowly forming
"yes…it's its ok i kept my promise! Mary i'm coming!" he grinned and set about clumsily coming down the tree, staff gripped in his hand as he pushed away and clumsily flew towards the small village
My village!
But the one thing I do know is…that I died here and my sister would be at home now with mama and papa, perhaps crying and feeling guilty and i promised her fun and hope and that is what she'll get