Aster peered out the window, trying to calm his nerves as he drummed his fingers on the windowsill. The sun had set over an hour ago, and there was still no sign of Jack. "This isn't like him," he muttered, and glanced back to North. "He's cut it close before, but he's never been this late getting home before dark."
Especially since most of the city made it a safety rule to be inside before dark. Sandy himself had been encouraging it lately as a way for citizens to be extra cautious. With the talk of the coronation, people were getting nervous Pitch would pull something, and the man did often enjoy striking when people were most afraid.
North grimly nodded. "Da, but perhaps he is running late from work? It has been extra busy."
"I suppose," Aster replied, "but I still feel-"
A knock at the door cut him off. Aster raised an eyebrow at North before he went to answer. It couldn't have been Jack, he wouldn't have bother to knock. So, who was coming to see him this time at night?
Upon seeing Tooth when he opened the door, he was half filled with relief and half with dread. Jack wasn't with her, which he had to interpet he wasn't working late.
"Is Jack here?" Tooth asked, looking around the hall. "He never returned to my post office. I thought perhaps he came home."
"No, he is not," North said as he entered. "We were hoping he was with you."
Aster took a deep breath as he tried to not let panic take over. "When did you last see him?"
"Early afternoon," Tooth explained, "but when he didn't get back I-"
Suddenly, she was cut off as the door flung opened. Katherine dashed inside, slammed the door, and leaned against the doorframe, panting heavily. Bunny would have rushed to her along with Tooth, but his eyes were glued on the familiar staff in her hands.
"Katherine, are you alright?" North said, taking the girl by her shoulders. "You should be home-"
"I was on my way back from the shop," Katherine replied once she caught her breath. "But then I found Jack's staff laying in an alleyway." Her eyes were full of fear as she looked up to the adults. "He would never leave his staff behind."
"No," Aster said, taking the staff from Katherine and clutching it tightly. "He wouldn't."
His eyes narrowed as he brought the staff to his nose, and sniffed. His heart jumped at the familiar scent of darkness, and sand. "Pitch," he whispered with a growl.
"Pitch?" Tooth gasped. "Bunny, are you certain?"
"I'd never forget that scent," he snarled. It was a smell that still haunted his nightmares.
Katherine swallowed, clasping her hands together. "Pitch? As in the Boogeyman-"
"That all of Santoff Clausen is afraid of?" Aster asked, and sighed. "Afraid so, Sheila." His hands tightened into fists. "If he hurts a hair on his head-"
He went quiet as North touched his shoulder. "Let us be calm, and rational. Do you think it is possible, Pitch knows you're here?"
"I can't see how," Tooth said as she looked to Aster. "You've always been so careful."
"Then he must have taken Jack for another reason," North said, and looked to Katherine. "Which alley did you find Jack's staff?"
"The one on Booker Lane," Katherine replied, "a block down from my house."
"Then we will go there for clues," North ordered, "Tooth, take Katherine home. Tell Ombric to inform Sandy for us. He will need to be on high alert, and then meet us at alley."
"Can't I come along too?" Katherine asked, with a flash of anger in her eyes. "I want to rescue Jack."
"It's too dangerous, Sweetie," Tooth replied as she gently took her by the hand. "The best way for you to help Jack is to stay safe."
The girl looked reluctant, but gave in with a sigh. "Fine, but just be careful alright."
"We will, and the same goes for ya," Aster said as he watched them leave. He squeezed his eyes shut before turning to North. "Someone should tell Nightlight. If Pitch is on the move-"
"Once Sandy knows, I am sure he will inform palace, and the boy knows to stay near prince," North replied as he folded his arms. "Bunny, do you have compass in case we need it?"
"Right here," Aster said as he patted his vest. "Ya know it never leaves my side," he took a breath as he headed into the kitchen. "Let me just fetch my 'emergency supply'. If we're going against Pitch on his turf, we're goin' need it."
"Da, and we should stop by my place for swords," North confirmed as he followed Aster, and gave his friend a comforting squeeze on his shoulder. "We will get Jack back. I promise you friend."
"I have no doubt we'll get Jack back," Aster said as he went into the cupboard and opened a tin of chocolate. "I just hope we get him back in one piece."
North gave an understanding nod as Aster tried not to let the fear show on his face.
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Jack awoke with a moan, and his eyes blinked blearily as they adjusted to the darkness. He was sitting in a chair, and he tried to lift a hand to rub his eyes except they were bound behind his back.
Jack's eyes widened as his memory came flooding back to him. He had gotten attacked from behind, and then was forced to smell something to knock him out. So, where was he? He was sitting in a wooden chair, that much he was certain, and Jack was positive he was securely tied to it.
His heart beat rapidly as he glanced around. There were no windows, and the only source of light were the gas lanterns on the table. He noticed paintings hanging on the wall that hadn't been dusted in over a decade. Judging by the smell of mildew the room hadn't been properly cleaned for just as long either. Was he in some kind of house?
Suddenly, the door creaked open. The same man Jack found in the alleyway entered. He smiled at Jack with a grin that belong to a cat finding a mouse. "Ah," he said with a chuckle. "Glad to see you've returned to the land of the living."
Jack growled, struggling against the bonds. He'd been tricked, and Jack didn't know who he was angrier with. The man standing before him, or frustrated with himself for falling for it so blindly. "Who are you?!" Jack demanded.
"We'll be getting to that," the man said. It was then a woman wearing a man's suit with long black hair tied back entered the room, along with two large, burly men whose fists looked large enough to crush human skulls in one hand. "Although, you're rather curious, Jack," the man continued. "You rarely ever seen a half human, and half Lunarian running around."
Jack flinched. It was hardly the first time a person pointed out his mixed heritage, but it creeped him out this shady guy had a particular interest in it. "How do you know my name?"
"I've been watching you for awhile," the man replied as the woman placed a chair for him to sit.
"Why?" Jack asked, shaking his head. This wasn't making any sense. "I just deliver mail-"
"Exactly, so you have information I want," the man smirked. "As for who I am, I believe many know me as the 'Boogeyman', although I much prefer the title of 'Nightmare King'."
Jack paled. He swallowed to calm his nerves and tried to not let the fear appear on his face. "You're Pitch Black."
"Give the boy a prize," Pitch replied, "and if you do what I say I may be talked into letting you go unharmed."
Jack glared, but kept his mouth shut. This was bad, and insane! He had been kidnapped by the former Baron that had been terrorizing Santoff Clausen since before he was even born. Jack bite his lower lip, praying this was a bad dream and he would wake up, except to his horror he didn't.
"With that said, it's not particularly you I have an interest in," Pitch explained smoothly, and then promptly snapped his fingers. "Onyx, you may now read the letter."
"Yes, my Lord," the woman, named Onyx apparently, said as she reached into her coat and revealed a familiar envelope.
Jack's eyes widened as Onyx tore it open and unfolded the paper. "That's Nightlight's letter?! You kidnapped me over that?!" He heard Pitch wasn't right in the head, but he never thought he was this nuts.
"Correct," Pitch said, as Onyx read and her lips turned into a frown. "I had thought of opening it when you were unconscious, but if I had questions about dear little Nightlight, I figure you were the perfect person to-"
"My Lord," Onyx interrupted, looking stunned relevant, "this letter contains nothing," Onyx said, looking stunned. "It's just childish nonsense."
Pitch's smirk vanished. His body went still as his brain seemed to be absorbing what he had just heard. "What?" he spoke, with his voice full of venom.
"This letter has nothing, but riddles and poems," she replied holding it out to him, "read it for yourself!"
Pitch snatched the letter, and read it over. His look of shock evaporated and was replaced with rage. "You idiots said the boy was relaying vital!" Pitch snarled, springing from the chair, and charged at the two men. "How could you mistake this dribble for high security information?!"
"Well, uh," one of the man stammered as both of them cowered against a wall. "You see, we never actually saw the letters."
"Y-yeah," replied the second man. "We just assumed since, you know, why else would that Nightlight kid be sending letters?"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Okay, you guys are making less sense? Nightlight is a kid like me. What did you think would be in those letters?"
Suddenly, the room went silent. All four adults were staring at him as if he was the person with a screw loose. Jack squirmed under the gazes, but he kept his hard stare. "What?"
"You don't know?" Onyx replied, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Know what?" Jack asked, not bothering to hide the frustration in his voice.
"She is referring on who Nightlight truly is," Pitch said in a calmer tone as he studied Jack. "And you are proving either to be clearly ignorant or you are a very good actor."
Jack kept his mouth shut, and tried not to look at Pitch's questioning stare. He felt like he was an animal that was being judged whether to be dissected or not.
"Still," Pitch replied as he sat in the chair again, "you may still be useful to me. Onyx, hold the boy's head."
Jack's heart jumped as the woman obeyed and moved behind him. The boy tried to keep his head out of the woman's reach, yet she gripped tightly, and held his head in place. "My Lord," Onyx asked. "Is this necessary? He is a child-"
"I'll get information by any means necessary," Pitch stated, as black sand swirled around his fingers.
Jack's heart froze. "W-what are you going to do?"
Pitch smiled. "It won't hurt, however, it should give you a nice little nightmare." He chuckled as he brought his fingers to Jack's forehead. "I find people to be much more obedient and willing to answer questions with a bit of proper fear in their souls."
Jack swore his heart stopped. Pitch's nightmares were one of the many reasons the man was feared. There had been stories one of his nightmares would haunt a person for years. No! No! Jack thought. This can't be happening! He struggled, but it was fruitless. Onyx kept her hold, and the boy was helpless as Pitch's fingers were about to touch his forehead.
"Pleasant dreams," Pitch mocked as he went to touch.
Jack braced himself. Suddenly, just as Pitch's fingers touched him, there was a bright light. Jack felt a warmth encircled his body as he heard Pitch cry out in pain. "What's going on?!" he yelled. However, just as fast as it appeared, the light faded.
Jack blinked, and his jaw dropped. His egg shaped pendant was floating in midair with a life of it's own. It probably would floated even higher if it wasn't still attached to the chain around Jack's neck. Pitch was moaning on the floor. There was a stench of burnt skin, and Jack could see the source of it was Pitch's severely burned fingers. Then just as quickly, the pendant dropped like a stone and fell lifelessly against Jack's shirt.
"My Lord!" Onyx cried as she rushed over. "Are you alright?!"
Pitch looked dazed as he clutched his hand. Gradually, he raised his head and his gaze locked directly onto the pendant. He scowled and yelled "Remove that thing from the boy's neck! Now!"
One of the men rushed over, and proceeded to do so. Yet, Jack was stunned by the sudden grunt.
"Sir, I can't!" the man shouted.
"What?!" Pitch cried, still clutching his hand. "Are you that incompetent-"
"I can't lift the chain!" the man continued. "It's like it's embedded into his skin!"
Jack kept silent, not daring to say a word since he was equally confused. He didn't feel anything, not that he was complaining since the pendant just saved his life. His stared down at the piece of jewellery like it would give him the answers he wanted. What on earth did Bunny put into this thing? It was just an originally pendant...at least he thought it was.
Onyx sprang from her master's side, and stood where the man was. Jack felt her tugged at the chain, but had the same result.
"It's true," Onyx said, astonished. "It's become attached to him."
Pitch rose, never taking his eyes off of Jack. It was for a brief moment, but Jack thought he saw fear flicker over the Boogeyman's eyes.
"My Lord?" Onyx asked.
Pitch's eyes narrowed, and sharply turned to her. "I need to attend to my hand," he looked to the man standing near the door. "Guard this room, and don't let anyone near this boy until I've returned! Understood?"
"Yes, Sir!" the man said with a salute.
Pitch gave the boy one more glance before he was escorted out of the room. Jack was left alone, eyeing his pendant and wondering how he was getting out of this mess.