Bunnymund shook his furry head, giving a quick message to the others that it was not good. The winter spirit was sitting up in his bed, staring blankly at the frozen staff gripped between his fingers.
"He's so young." The animalistic guardian commented softly, receiving a soft gasp from the flittering fairy. "And there wasn't anything we could do."
"Why would Pitch kill someone?" The fairy's voice cried, "This is going too far, even for him."
"None of us would've been able to get her out of that frozen lake. Only Jack."
"Jack was knocked out cold, mate. Found him in the snow bank." Bunnymund shook his head, "This shouldn't have happened."
"Alice!" The youngest guardian cried out, doubling over his staff, burying his head in his knees.
The others remained silent, listening to a sound they knew well. The youngest spirit didn't even try to hide his sobs as they left his body. Jack's body shook and he did nothing to stop it.
This was the third time. The third time that he had cried since meeting Alice. The third time since he'd woken up surrounded by ice and moonlight. But this time, he didn't care if he hid it. He wanted everyone to know how he felt, even if he didn't understand it himself. He was hurt, empty, and for once, he felt cold. Cold and empty.
And he didn't care who knew.
His hand absently found its way to his hoodie's jacket, seeking out the velvet box he'd meant to give her before they were to head back. His eyes widened as he realized it no longer remained in his pocket. Which meant, that it was still somewhere there.
His head dropped again. The velvet would just have to stay there. There was no way he could go back now. He needed time. It was that simple.
He had all the time in the world.
"Hey, Jack…"
"I don't want to talk, Tooth."
The female guardian's face fell, her fluttering wings stopping behind her, her body sinking to the ground. Her head fell to the ground, "Jack, we just want to help."
"Help… me?" The winter spirit called softly, "How can you help me?"
"We… just want to help. Just tell us how."
"You," The winter spirit started, pulling his hood over his head, "Can leave me alone."
"…Jack, we just want t-"
"Just leave me alone! None of you can even understand what I just went through."
"I-"
"Jack! That is not the way to treat her." Jack glanced up, to see the servant standing in front of the female Guardian. "It doesn't matter whether or not you're mad. You do not treat a woman like that." The Irish servant ushered the blue guardian out of the room.
"Who are you to tell me that? You didn't go through what I did."
"Jack! You are not the only one who lost something! You are not the only one suffering!" Eric shouted, causing the winter spirit to raise his staff in protest. "I lost her too! I lost Alice too!" Eric grabbed the blue jacket covered in frost, slamming the trickster into the wall behind him.
"You weren't there!"
"And neither were you! You were out cold! None of us could've saved her!"
"But I let her die!"
"No you didn't! She was murdered! And you know it!"
Jack lost grip on his staff, and the two heard the frozen wood hit the ground. "I-"
"Come with me, we've got someone to visit."
"Huh?"
"A certain Jaime called the house, looking for a certain Jack Frost."
"How did he know I was-"
"Alice called him after the day you mentioned him. She thanked him."
"What?"
"For believing in you." Eric let the spirit down, "And he called this morning looking for you. He wanted to meet Alice."
Jaime, he'd neglected seeing him for a month and a half. He was hit with a pang of guilt, which was completely pulled away as Eric opened the window, standing on the sill. "Race you, Frosty."
"You're on… uh Lepricon."
"Great comeback, Frosty."
With that, Eric jumped out of the window. Jack followed, staring down into the snow where the man should've landed in. Instead, all he found were black shadows moving against the snow.
Strange.
But he ignored the thought, soaring on the wind.
And he found the man already at Jaime's house, knocking on the door. Jack spread the snow and frost around, causing it to thicken around the city.
"Hello, my name is Eric Ridings. I come on behalf of Alice Brooks. Your son talked to her about a month ago." Eric said upon the mother answering the door.
"Um isn't that the girl who called earlier, asking for Jaime?"
"Yes, and your son called back this morning, wanting to wish her a merry Christmas."
"So that's who he was calling."
"I came to tell him something, ah, that is with your permission."
The woman at the door paused for a moment, before inviting Eric into the house. Knowingly, Jack slipped inside at the last moment before the door closed.
"Jaime! Someone's here to see you, come down." The woman called out up the stairs. "What is your relationship to this Alice?"
"I am her servant. That is all."
"What is it, Mom?" A young boy came down the steps, wearing a sweater ready to go outside. "I want to go outside and play in the snow."
"Someone is here to talk to you. It's about someone named 'Alice Brooks'."
"Is Alice coming? Do I get to meet her?"
"Jaime," Eric interrupted, catching the boy's attention, "My name is Eric. I'm friends with Alice."
"Where is Alice?"
"That's what I came to tell you." Eric sat down on the blue couch, Jaime joining him. "Alice won't be able to come see you."
"Why not?"
"She got hurt, a lot, and won't be able to see anyone anymore."
A gasp escaped het woman's lips, "What… what happened to her?"
"We don't think it's an accident, but we'll have to look into it."
It definitely wasn't an accident… Jack thought bitterly, gripping his staff.
"Jaime, why don't you go play with Jack Frost outside now. I need to speak with your mother now."
That's when Jamie noticed Jack, and took no time making it outside.
It was no accident.
O.o
Well then, all the follows/favorites/reviews were quick to come and spam my emails.
This chapter may not be much, but the plot should start to pick up pretty soon.
Thanks for the follows/favorites/reviews.
o.O