(Jack's POV)
It was around dawn when I woke. I could tell by the weak sunlight that spilled through the small rectangular window that sat on the wall to the left of my bed near the ceiling. A yawn slipped through my lips as I sat up. I stretched, helping release my body from the stiff form it always took when I slept. My back was slightly sore from the hard, lumpy mattress that I slept on.
"Psst!" I rubbed my eyes, thinking that it was the wind that whispered into my ear. I then threw back the sheet and got to my feet. After another yawn played across my mouth, I spotted the outline of a familiar, slender figure. It wasn't light enough to see who it was exactly, but deep down my stomach twisted into a knot.
"Rapunzel...?" I asked, although I knew it wasn't her. Rapunzel had really long, stormy gray hair that was almost always tied up in a braid. This person had dark, spiky hair. It could have been lighter, but with the lighting it was so hard to tell.
"Jack," The voice responded, satisfaction in his voice. The cruelty that hung in his tone sent a shiver running up my spine and the fine hairs on my neck to raise. His voice had deepened by a landslide.
"I know my own name, thank you, Pitch," I retorted. A chuckle came from the figure as he stepped where I could see him. He was taller than I remembered, and wore all black. It kinda creeped me out.
"Alright then, Frost, you ready for your greatest nightmare yet?" I narrowed my eyes. What does he want?
"Yeah, right. Since when do you waste your time with the color person?" I asked sarcastically.
"Since I found out where they kept you," He laughed, "I haven't had a chance to poke at your fears in a while."
"Of course you haven't," I muttered under my breath. I just sat down on the bed and took a deep breath, trying to build up a mental wall to protect my fears. My irrational fears.
"I haven't poked at the fear of never getting out of here," He said mockingly, a smirk spreading over his face. I flinched, and his eyes caught the movement.
"And you're afraid that you will never see your precious friends again-" I blinked in surprise when I saw a petite girl push the highschool boy to the ground. I recognized her immediately, even though I couldn't see her face. Rapunzel?
"And you're afraid that you will never be noticed," She said as she leaned down close to his face, causing her long braid to fall to the side, "Get. Out. Right. Now." At the tone of her voice and the anger that flashed in her light gray eyes, Pitch just glared at her. But then she raised her arm and slapped him, the back of her hand whipping through the air and hitting his cheek. His eyes went wide and he got to his feet, immideately running into the shadows. I caught myself staring at Rapunzel like a stupid person.
"Thanks," I murmured, walking up to the bars. She sat up and flashed me a smile.
"No problem. He used to live next door to me before I moved, so I know how to take care of him." I chuckled, but then sighed.
"He is the one who called the police." Her gaze softened and she walked up to the bars which she had been about a foot away from. Their faces were now inches apart, and he could feel her soft breath on his colored skin. She reached through the bars and took his left wrist and raised it to her face. I felt my breath catch in my throat. Her skin was warm against his cold skin. She placed his fingers onto her forehead and drew it across. The first thing I noticed was how soft her skin was. But the next thing I noticed almost gave me a heart attack.
I glanced at my hand. Make up? I looked back at her youthful face. Where she had brought my hand across my face, there was color. My skin was pale in comparison to hers.
"You're colorful?" I whispered, barely able to choke the words out. She grinned.
"Just as colorful as you," She whispered back, "Now, today we are going to break out of here. I know a place of people just like us." People like us?
"You mean...colorful?" I asked quietly, hope playing at my voice. She nodded, causing her hair to bounce a little.
"You aren't alone. Now let's go. We have to leave now or never." I smiled nervously.
"But how can I get out?"
"Taken care of. Now listen closely, here is the plan..."
The vents weren't as sturdy as I had hoped. They would tremble a little when I would crawl. So, I had to compromise. I found myself sliding through the vents like a snake in grass. It wasn't the best idea, but I had heard of worse. So I dealt with the cold metal against my skin and just pressed forward.
Vents didn't like me. They twisted and turned a lot, confusing me. After I had figured my way through, at least past the confusing parts, I came to a fork in the vent. The way to my left turned abrubtly, and the other turned slowly to the right. I thought about it for a moment, my mind scrolling back to what Rapunzel told me.
I recalled her instructions and took the left vent. As soon as I could make the narrow turn, I froze. Voices sounded below.
"Check on everyone. And bring Jack out for his scanning."
"Yes, sir." My heart suddenly raced in my chest. Don't clamp up now. Just keep going. I slithered forward, trying to remain as silent as possible. It wasn't a minute later that I heard a yell.
"JACK OVERLAND FROST!" I stiffened, but I kept going. I couldn't stop now. Not when I was so close. I felt the vent decline a bit, and could remember that Punzie said that we would meet just down here. It declined more. Now it started to worry me. I was sliding a little, not able to control what gravity did to me. I slowed myself down by pressing my hands to the vent edges.
At that moment, the end of the vent was in view. I slid down slowly until I reached the end. I peeked through to make sure that Rapunzel was there. The room that I had been brought to was dark and not likely used. I shoved against the end of the vent, causing it to fall. I whipped my hand down and caught it inches before it hid the door. I let out a soft sigh of relief and climbed out of the vent. I then stuck the end back on.
The air in the room was musty. That would explain the discusting stench that would fill my cell sometimes. I could make out the outlines of items around the room. Like a office chair, desk, Punzie. Punzie! She crouched down beside me.
"They won't think to look in here. There are no secerity cameras in here, and the room isn't used," She whispered. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
"That explains a lot," I whispered back. I froze when I heard sounds coming from the vents. I felt Rapunzel tug on my arm and pull me behind a large item. I heard the end of the vent clatter on the floor.
"JACK OVERLAND FROST!" The scream once again filled my ears, but I didn't move. I silently prayed that whoever was looking for us wouldn't succeed. Deadly silence hung in the room for what seemed like forever. Then light spilled into the room. And just as quickly, it disappeared. Whoever had come in through the room had exited.
"What now?" I whispered, blindly glancing over at her. I felt her sweet breath against my face once again.
"Now... we fight."
