The lights burst and went out all around the room and a cloud of smoke trailed into the room from the window above the bed, "What is this?" A voice as smooth as oil traveled through the air.

My body tensed up as I felt the smoke trail around my shoulders, "W-Who are you?"

The voice laughed making me shiver, "Oh little darling Angel, you don't know me? I'd think one naughty spirit would be familiar with another."

Something was definitely wrong if that wasn't already obvious, "Who are you?" I repeated with a firm voice.

"I'm Salem," he said softly finally appearing in front of me. At first I was in the initial shock of how this frightening voice was from a guy my age, and a good-looking guy at that.

"I'm-

"Angel," he cooed looking at me with hooded eyes, they shined electric yellow. It started to become clear to me as I looked at him again, he had electricity in his eyes, skin like a light ash, hair darker than midnight, he carried a large scythe, and his face was scarred with long streaks on his left cheek.

"What do you want Black?" I growled clenching my eyes shut for moment trying to calm myself inside.

He looked at me with a sarcastic smile, "Oh so you made the connection now! Well that's wonderful baby really," he paused leaning on his scythe glancing over my features.

I suddenly felt horribly exposed and attempted to cover myself with what little I had, "I won't say it again, what do you want?"

"Ooh snappy tonight aren't we?" he chuckled to himself, "I'm not really wanting anything unless you're the prize here, but my father was kind of hoping you'd want to be with us on this."

He circled me like a panther waiting for his chance to pounce, "On what exactly?" I asked firmly jutting my jaw out.

"Do you not know yet?" he asked in a condescending voice, "well I'm shocked really, I'd think the Guardians would tell you why they need you before locking you up here."

"I'm not locked up here," I snapped turning to face him fully.

Salem simply smirked at me, clearly enjoying my state of confusion and frustration, "Check the door then," My eyes rolled instinctively and I scoffed reaching for the door handle, but I was shocked by what happened after my fingers wound their way around the golden doorknob, "they locked it didn't they," he whispered knowingly.

I turned to him with my mouth slightly hung agape, "How-

"Come with me, Angel," he extended an ashen colored hand looking at me calmly, "he'd never lock you up, Pitch. He'd let you run free and wreak havoc just as you used to only better. Don't you see it baby? Our powers could be legendary together; naughty kids would rule the world and make all those wicked nightmares come alive."

My breath was shaky as I looked between his extended hand and hypnotic gaze, "…no."

"No?" he looked disappointed at first before he regained his snarky attitude, "Don't make a foolish decision here Angel, you could live in a palace with thousands of glittering jewels, all the power you could want in the palm of your hand."

"No," I repeated standing tall, "this isn't right, the Guardians are good, but you? You're the only naughty spirit here."

Salem marched towards me with a furious glint in his eyes, but I braced myself for whatever was to come, "Only for you," those were the last words he whispered before the lights came back to life and he was gone through the window like he'd came.

I sighed finally letting my shaky knees collapse under me, why did he show up here? What was even happening? What if he was right? Every nerve in my body suddenly felt like it was sent into frenzy and on the edge.

I slowly got to my feet again and crawled into the large bed, I brought my knees to my chest trying to shake off this dark feeling he gave me.

I need to watch my memories…I thought.

My hands frantically searched the sheets for the golden cylinder Tooth handed me, but it wasn't there anymore.

Oh no.

No, no, no, no he didn't really.

Of course he did.

Salem took my memories. He's trying to bait me into their horrible scheme to ruin all of the children in the world.

But isn't that what you do baby? His voice slipped through my mind.

"Get out of my head!" I shouted throwing pillows across the festively decorated room.

What am I going to do? How am I going to find out who I was and find my center? I took a deep breath and counted to 10 before placing my feet back on the cold hardwood floor. I had to do something different in order to understand all these things.

I had to ask Jack.

Turns out the door wasn't locked, it was an addition to Salem's little act. My feet shuffled across the floor quietly as I started down the hallway, I had to find Jack's room…but this place was huge! How am I going to find one room in this enormous place? Ah well, I'll have to figure it out. Every step had to be quieter than the sound of my cold beating heart and the floor simply wouldn't have any of that tonight because it creaked and moaned every few steps, "Dammit."

The floor suddenly got much colder by one of the doors and I let my eyes fall to the crack under the door, the lights were out but I could see the shine of moonlight off the floorboards. My eyes closed shut as I reached for the doorknob and turned it gently hearing a soft click.

When I opened the door I could just barely see the outline of Jack sleeping under the creamy covers, he looked so peaceful… I made my way over to the side of his bed he was closest to and stood there for a moment. Should I wake him up? That's why I came here after all though isn't it…

"Jack," I whispered touching his shoulder lightly.

He groaned at first but then sat up in a flash, "Hmm? What?" When he saw me his shoulders relaxed, "Angel…? What are you-?

"I need to talk to you."

Jack rubbed his sleepy eyes before falling back onto his pillows, "What is it?"

I let out a shaky breath biting my lip in the process, "I uh…Jack, I-I don't know where to start."

He looked at me with concern now, "What is it?"

I fiddled on the spot nervously and spilled everything that happened from Tooth up until this present moment, "…I'm scared Jack."

"Come here," he said softly scooting over on the large bed lifting the covers in the gesture of wanting me to join him. I did so hesitantly and curled up into a fetal position under the red satin sheets wanting things to just resolve themselves.

"Why do I have to be in this?" I mumbled sadly clenching my eyes shut in attempt to not cry, but they flicked wide open again when I felt Jack wrap his arms around me and pull me to his chest, "Jack…?"

His cold nose skimmed across the skin on my shoulder, "Just try to get some sleep, we can figure it out tomorrow."

With Jack's comforting hold on me I soon drifted off to a deep sleep despite the night's heavy events.