Word Count: 475
A/N: Day one of a writing challenge.
Summary: The shadows circled him. He was theirs now.
Beginning
Pitchiner stood guard, keeping motionless as blackness shifted behind him. Dark tendrils swirling around; forming fierce and terrible images. It was his duty as an elite solider to make sure that the Nightmares never escaped. It was the task that had been set out for him, and he would complete it. For he was 'Pitch'; a warrior, a fighter, a protector, a guardian.
He would keep them all safe, even if it meant never seeing his family again. He was comforted with the fact that as long as he stood guard, as long as the Nightmares were locked away, his family was safe. His lovely wife and his precious daughter; they would never know fear, he would make sure of it.
Behind him the shadows danced and spun, taking new forms, forms that they knew would bring them freedom. Da- daddy...
Pitchiner froze, his blood running ice cold as he heard the scared whisper. It couldn't be, she was safe. They both were.
Darling? Why won't you look at us?
He stared forward, not moving a muscle as the voices echoed in the dark chambers. They weren't his family, his family was safe. They had to be.
Daddy, I'm scared. Can we go home? Please, daddy?
A set of black keys clinked softly as shaking hands moved slightly, forcibly closing his ears he ignored the voices. Telling himself over and over that it wasn't really them. If he told himself that enough he wouldn't look, he wouldn't succumb to the fear.
Darling, please, take us away from here.
Daddy! Daddy, I'm scared! The bad things are back! Dadd-
Pitchiner turned around, fear grasping his heart and blinding him. With one glance he fell; his senses were stolen and lies were forced upon him.
His family was in the prison. They were behind bars. They weren't supposed to be here, they were supposed to be safe. They were supposed to be sa-
The scrape of metal on metal echoed in the black chambers as dark keys unlocked the cage. Hinges groaned as the prison door was hastily pulled open and yellow eyes locked on the form of the guardian.
But he wouldn't be a guardian anymore, oh no, they would make him the opposite. They would give him a gift for freeing them.
Pitchiner choked back a scream as the Nightmares rushed out and the spell broke; he tightly shut his eyes as they circled him. Never noticing as they approached, failing to take note as one stepped forward and touched him. He did scream then, as darkness filled his very soul and twisted him until he to was a Nightmare.
He was theirs now. The Guardian was theirs.
And as all of this happened the being that would become the Man in the Moon gazed down sadly, quietly mourning the loss of a brave man.