To his sister, Jack was a hero.
Not because he saved her on the ice, not because he brought happiness and light anywhere he went. Not even because he was her brother and constantly looking out for her.
It was because Jack was simply not afraid of anything.
When they travelled through the woods after nightfall, he wouldn't jump in fear at the slightest noise like she did. When storms broke out and forks of lightning flashed through the ominous night sky, he didn't cry for help like she did.
When the ice was breaking beneath them both, he wasn't scared like she was.
He laughed and made a joke about it.
And he always, always rescued her.
If only she'd known he was lying.
You see, Jack had been afraid. Just not for himself.
All his life Jack had been afraid.
He'd seen the horrors of the world first hand. Late at night after his triple shift at the farm he'd see the young ladies begging, or selling. One time he'd even witnessed an assault, though he was long gone before it was over. It felt horrible to just walk away and do nothing, but he knew better than to play hero. He had his mother and sister to look out for - they depended on him. If he wasn't careful, and ended up dead, his sister would have to become one of those women.
But he would never, ever let that happen. Not to Emily. For she was the light that the world needed. The hope, wonder and joy. She was pure, unlike everything else in Jacks messed up life. His father had died in battle when he was 11, and his mother was just as lifeless. She would sit in her room all day staring at the wall, off into her own world. She was probably happier there. Emily was the only thing worth saving now. That was the only reason Jack got up to do his three jobs at minimum wage. So she would have a bed to sleep in, and food in her belly.
When the ice had started breaking underneath them that day, that was all Jack could think of. I've got to save her, she needs to live. He tried with all he had, and got her to the thicker ice. He'd done it - he'd saved her. That was his purpose in life. He had fulfilled it.
Life was always cruel like that, always cracking sick jokes. His purpose had been fulfilled - did that make him no longer worthy of walking the earth? Or was he simply released of his duty? Whatever the reason, the ice kept on cracking, the world kept on spinning, and Jack kept on falling. Straight to the bottom of the lake.
It was then, in his final moments that he was scared for himself. He didn't want to die, he wanted to live. Even if it was just to watch Emily grow. It was a shame really, for if he had any will power left, he could have fought his way to the surface. But he simply had no fight left. Everyday he had fought, and now he was done. In life Jack had worked to his last bone. In death he simply fell into an ever lasting reverie.
He deserved this fear. To fear for himself.
But the cruel thing was -
No one rescued poor Jack Frost.
A/N - So yeah;) this is my first RotG fic. Not much, just something I wrote quickly. Hope everyone liked it, as dark as it may be. Drop a comment if you want, always appreciated!
Until next time
- Raejay x