A/N: Gah. This chapter is even shorter now, but you know what? That is okay, because now I have a decent plot line coming up and they will start to grow longer as I update! Y'know what they say: A picture is worth a thousand words. Or something. Or the other way around or whatever. Something like that. I dunno.


Jack's POV

I had never been afraid to tell the Guardians anything, but I have to hold this in. I try to keep my eyes open as I start to fly back to them, but it's hard to do so while feeling the immense pain of the cuts. My flights were usually carefree, thrilling, and relaxing, but right now all I can think about is Pitch and the immense pain I feel under my sleeve. It hurts.

I know your fear, Jack.

He's real, I can admit that, but I haven't seen him since so long ago. He's more real than I am. I am my own nightmare. He is his own nightmare. That is what scares me the most, knowing that I can compare him to myself. He also knows my fear.

Myself.

And I will never be afraid to say that even I believe in Pitch because he is real. Others believe in me, and I am slowly starting to not believe in myself, so does that make me real if others believe in me and I don't? I cannot answer that right now. I will have to hold onto that one. I take in a deep sigh, almost unaware of my surroundings as the pain builds up deeper and deeper.

I am not afraid of you. Are you aware that I have been watching over you this whole time, cackling as you stab that staff into your arm? I knew things would become too much for you. I should've kept it broken. It should've stayed broken, because all you can seem to do is get yourself into trouble. Do you like trouble, Jack? You were never a real Guardian.

This feeling of lost hope is painful. I try to subside the voice from my head, but it's barricaded inside of me. I cannot even think back to the times where I thought snowball fights and fun would be enough, because it is never enough. I have lost my center again. I have lost the person who was once the center of fun, but I am still fun to the others, just not to myself.

Do you still believe you are a Guardian when you cannot even be one to yourself?

I hear the words over and over again. I know Pitch is right. I cannot be a Guardian when I cannot even be one to myself. I hate to admit that he is right.

I try to speed up a little bit to keep myself awake, but while I'm flying I don't find it carefree, thrilling, or even relaxing when all I can feel is the soaked blood underneath my sleeve. I'll have to bandage that up when I get back. I'm already feeling lightheaded as I fly a little faster, and then I blink a few times to try and readjust myself, but when I look ahead all I can see is a shadowy dark figure and moments later I start to feel myself falling down until I'm surrounded by blackness.