Chapter 6: Dark Secrets
Faster and faster she tore through the tunnels, but no matter which way they went they always ended back in the main hall.
"Arg, this is getting us nowhere," Roxy shouted in frustration. She sat down at the foot of the mountain of Teeth Boxes, racking her brain for an idea. Baby Tooth began to whimper beside her. The dark shadows and confinement of the underground cave were no place for a free spirited fairy. Hearing the small cries, Roxy's features softened and gathered the little fairy into her hands.
"It's okay, Baby Tooth," she tried to assure the frightened mini fairy. "I'm sure Jack and the others are on their way to find us. But we need to figure out how to get out of here, just in case."
Roxy looked about the room, trying to come up with a plan. The cages were too high for someone without wings to reach, and there was no key, so freeing the mini fairies was out. She had tried searching the tunnels for a way out, but that had proved useless. This place was like an enchanted labyrinth. No matter which way she went it brought her back to the same spot. And if she tried going back, the tunnels would change and bring her back to this room. Roxy sighed and set Baby Tooth on her shoulder, resting her chin on one hand and drummed her fingers on her knee with the other.
Baby Tooth looked up at Roxy. She worried what would happen when Pitch found them, but she was more concerned about what would happen to Roxy. She would most likely be imprisoned along with her friends, but Roxy was human. There was no telling what Pitch would do. As the mini fairy looked around her tiny eyes fell on something that she hadn't noticed before. Baby Tooth got very excited and began tugging on Roxy's hair to get her attention. Roxy swatted her away.
"Not now, Baby Tooth, I'm thinking," Roxy scolded. Baby Tooth rolled her eyes and flew into Roxy's line of vision. "Hey! What? What!"
Baby Tooth flew over to a far-off wall, circling a specific portion of the wall. Not sure what she was supposed to be looking at, Roxy got up and skated over to where Baby Tooth was hovering. Scanning the wall, Roxy had to squint before she could see what the fairy was pointing to. There, blending in with a rocky terrain was a door — a blind door to be specific.
"You sure this is a good idea?" she asked. Baby Tooth only shrugged her shoulders. "Okay…" Roxy approached the door and started to search for a way to open it. The design had no trim or any sign of an opening. She pressed her hands against the hard stone, searching for any sign of a way in. Finally her hand met a hidden notch. This must be it, she thought.
Roxy tentatively put her hand on the handle. Taking a deep breath she jiggled it to see if it was locked. The lock clicked and the door creaked open as if it hadn't been opened in a long time. Roxy gently pushed the door open a crack and discovered a dark room. Opening the door completely let in enough light for Roxy to see. The room itself was bare, save for a small pedestal. It was made of a dark, almost black oak wood and carved to look like living smoke. Resting on top was a satin pillow made of dark red silk. In the center of the pillow sat a wooden box, carved from the same wood as the pedestal. Only instead of smoke, the carvings were of all the constellations with gold inlays. Roxy felt almost drawn to the box and before she had known she had done it, she was standing before the it; hands hovering over the lid, waiting to open it.
Okay, this is ridiculous, she thought. I'm not Pandora for Pete's sake. Yet here I am, with a box, and I just want to see what's inside. Roxy struggled with the desire to open the box. She finally got frustrated, pressing her hands to her temples and grit her teeth. She looked over to see Baby Tooth staring at her with a concerned expression. She dropped her hands to her side in defeat.
"Well, open or keep it shut?" Roxy asked Baby Tooth. Baby Tooth looked about as unsure as Roxy felt. Neither of them had any idea what could lie inside that box. Still, Roxy didn't get the feeling that they were walking into a trap. But something about this box told her that whatever lay inside was important. She took a deep breath and placed her hands on the lid. The surface was smooth, like it had just been polished. She tried lifting the lid but it remained shut. It was locked.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," she huffed. "There must be a key around here somewhere…" She started to search the room but the only thing in it was the box. Lifting the object into the air, Roxy discovered that there wasn't even a keyhole. Bringing it to her ear, Roxy shook the box. Not a sound.
"There's just got to be a way to open this thing."
As she examined the box, she noticed that the Libra constellation seemed to stand out among the others. The scales were supposed to be evenly balanced, but this constellation's scales were tipped. Roxy pressed her fingers over the constellation and found that the lower scale pressed down. Pressing her fingers more firmly, she heard a 'click' before a section popped out on the side of the box. Startled by the discovery, Roxy turned to look at Baby Tooth before peering inside the secret compartment. And what she found had to have been the most beautiful object she'd ever seen.
Inside was a silver chain attached to a locket. The locket itself was also silver, and oval shaped with intricate swirls designed on the front. Roxy gently took the chain in her fingers and lifted the treasured jewelry out of the box. She set the box back on the pedestal and fingered the pendant. It was obviously very precious and had to be very old, but it was well taken care of. Whoever this belonged to obviously treasured it very much. Unable to resist, Roxy opened the clasp. Her eyes widened and she almost stopped breathing.
It looked as if the picture had once been torn to shreds, and then put back together, making it almost impossible to make out. But from what Roxy could make out, the portrait was of a young girl, most likely younger than herself. The girl had pale skin and long raven-black hair. Her haunting eyes twinkled like stars, framed by long eyelashes. She wore a gown with a tall collar and a pendent fastened at the base of the girl's neck.
"Who is this?" Roxy said mostly to herself. "And why would Pitch have it?"
Baby Tooth took a closer look at the locket. Suddenly she began chirping and buzzing around, desperately trying to get Roxy to return the locket and leave the room. Unfortunately, Roxy did not share the telepathy the mini fairies had with the Tooth Fairy. While Roxy continued to stare at the locket, neither she nor Baby Tooth sensed the sinister presence that had discovered them in the darkened room.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Roxy and Baby Tooth jumped from the voice that echoed off the walls. Roxy almost dropped the locket, but managed to keep it from falling to the ground. She turned and saw Pitch in an absolutely furious rage. His eyes had even shifted from their cold silvery-gold color to a vivid dark amber. Roxy tried to hide Baby Tooth behind her back as a means to protect her, but it was pointless.
Before he could say another word, Roxy bolted for the door, skating faster than she ever had in her entire life. She managed to slip past Pitch and raced down the nearest tunnel entrance. She didn't care that Pitch was most likely jump out from the shadows and trap her, or perhaps send his Nightmares in after her. All that mattered to Roxy was keeping Pitch away from Baby Tooth.
Just as she was coming around the bend, Roxy had to brake fast. In front of her was an army of Nightmares. Their head's were lowered and their teeth were bared. Their nostrils were flared as they stepped lightly forward, seeming to balance on the very tips of their hooves. Baby Tooth clung to Roxy's shoulder, cowering back from the beastly creatures. Roxy slowly backed up, every intention of speeding back down the tunnel, but as she turned around another wave of Nightmares cut off her path. She had no choice but to surrender. She held up her hands and allowed the Nightmares to lead her back to Pitch. She was led to the middle of a large, open chamber, where Pitch stood in the center, Nightmares encircling them. There was no escape.
Pitch looked down at Roxy, his face like stone. "You are Bonnie's friend, are you not?" he asked, his voice harsh and demanding.
"Yeah," Roxy sneered. "And you're the pompous Shadow King she raves about. Personally, you seem more arrogant in person, but I guess that's just the inflated ego talking, right?"
Pitch winced at Roxy's words but a faint smile touched the corners of his lips. Bonnie still talked about him. He wiped his face of emotion and let an evil grin onto his face. "Aren't you a spunky one," he sneered back, patting her head. "Now, I will only ask once for my trinket you have. Give it back."
Looking down Roxy saw she still clutched the locket in her hand. She tossed it in the air and caught it. "Why? Afraid I'll tell Bonnie you're two-timing her?"
Pitch narrowed his eyes. "Two-timing her? Is that what you think the girl in the locket is to me? Someone to fool around with while Bonnie "raves" about me?" he asked, his voice like poison. "I will tell you now, girl, you have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oooh, sounds like I hit a nerve. Maybe two."
Pitch drew back before snapping his fingers. Three Nightmares rushed Roxy, phasing through her while one of them grabbed the locket from her hands. The Nightmare brought the locket to Pitch who took it carefully. A look of relief and remorse crossed his face as he opened the locket. The Nightmares moved back into formation.
"Safe again, my dear," Pitch whispered, slowly closing the locket.
Roxy collapsed to her knees, bracing herself on her hands. When the Nightmares had passed through her an explosion of pure terror had coursed throughout her body. She was gasping for air. Roxy looked up to see Pitch caressing the precious locket. As she watched him, she slowly started to piece together the facts: the box opening on the Libra constellation, which represented scales and associates with Virgo, the virgin goddess of justice. Then there was the locket with the picture of a girl…of a girl who looked like…
Rising slowly to her knees, she looked at Pitch with a sudden realization. "She was your daughter…" Roxy just barley whispered, still in shock of the epiphany she unfolded. Wait till I tell Bonnie!
Pitch glared at Roxy. "Feel like a fool now?" he asked, pocketing the locket. "You of all people should know that no one could cheat on Bonnie. She is too perfect…too beautiful to have that happen too her. I may be the Nightmare King, but Bonnie is sacred to me." He ranted without even realizing what he was saying.
Roxy started to get angry. "I'm the fool? You're the one who's trying to destroy all that's precious in the world just because people aren't afraid you anymore. And yet you stand here going on about caring about one person when in reality your plan will destroy her. How dare you! Look Pitch, not sure what happened between you and the Guardians in the past, and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with your daughter, but if you think for one-second that what you plan will bring you closer to your happiness, then you're wrong, dead wrong!"
Pitch snapped. With a wave of his hand, Roxy was shot backwards and chained to the far wall. A Nightmare came up and ate Baby Tooth as she tried to free her friend. The little fairy screeched while fluttering about the ribs of the Nightmare. Nodding to the mare, Pitch slowly approached Roxy.
"Baby Tooth!" Roxy turned and gnashed her teeth. "Let her go!"
"Just because you are Bonnie's friend won't spare you from this. However, I can tell you that it will end…But not before you scream," Pitch said, placing a hand covered in black sand before Roxy's face. With a slight blow, a flurry of black sand swirled around Roxy's head before entering her nose and mouth.
"Now the nightmare begins," Pitch said with smirk.
Roxy's body twisted and contorted as one by one her mind was filled with a child's worst fears: darkness, spiders, lightning and thunder, ghosts; creaking floorboards and rattling chains, and a screaming one would hear in the dead of night. All past before her mind's eye but something happened that Pitch had not anticipated. The corrupted dream sand began to pour from her mouth and retreated back into him. He started down in frustration before looking back at his prisoner. As she lifted her head to meet his glowing orbs, Pitch was met with Roxy's smirk.
"Spiders and monsters?" Roxy asked sarcastically. "Nice try, but the gross and bizarre haven't scared me since I was two."
Pitch eye's widened before he turned up the scare factor. He fashioned himself a large scythe.
Roxy just laughed. "And now you're ripping off the Grim Reaper. Real original. Give it up Pitch, I'm seventeen. Nothing scares me."
"Nothing you say?" Pitch asked, pocketing the scythe for later. "Nothing at all? Well, I will admit I was going easy on you since you are Bonnie's friend, but you've brought this upon yourself."
Roxy watched as the black dreamsand flowed from his fingertips and hovered above her head. "So what, you gonna give me more nightmares?" Roxy scoffed. "In case you forgot, that doesn't work."
Pitch chuckled, causing Roxy's skin to crawl as an icy chill ran up her spine. "Did you also know that I can peer inside your mind and make your worst nightmare into a reality? I don't do it often because it takes so much of my power, but in this case, I'll make an exception."
The black sand began to grow, coming closer toward Roxy's face. She struggled against her bonds, but they only wrapped tighter around her body.
"Y-You won't get away with this! The Guardians will stop you!"
"Now how do you expect them to save you when they'll no longer exist. Already children have begun to forget all about your precious Guardians. Without Sandman around, my Nightmares are free to enter the children's minds, spreading fear. And by ruining Easter, and eventually Christmas, children will stop believing in the stories their parents tell them. Soon my fear will spread and children will believe in me again."
Now Roxy was beginning to panic. She had to get free somehow and warn her friends. But as he got closer it was clear no one was coming to her rescue. Pitch was an inch from her face, a cold smile on his thin black lips. The black sand began to prick her skin.
"Now, lets see what scares you the most."
The pain was more unbearable than anything Roxy could have imagined. It felt as if burning knives were slowly digging into her skin, carving their way through her skull. Flashes of things that frightened her past before Roxy's eyes as Pitch dug deeper, searching for one thing even Roxy herself had not been able to overcome. It was the one thing she had never told anyone, not even Bonnie. She fought will all her might to resist Pitch's power, but the pain was becoming too much. She looked up through half-lidded eyes at her tormenter. Pitch glared down at her with golden eyes that held nothing but pleasure from the fear he inflicted on her.
Finally, the white-hot flames of the pain had reached their peak and Roxy let out a bloodcurdling scream that filled the whole chamber. The mini fairies shrunk back while the Nightmares whinnied in delight.
"So…this is what frightens you." His voice was low and whispered like velvet, but it dripped with venom. "Oh this is grand, isn't? Simply grand!" The Nightmares whinnied louder in agreement. It was the last thing she heard before the full pain washed over her, numbing her entire body as the fear coursed through her body. Then she blacked out.
XXX
Cosmic Horse: Why Pitch? Why must you be so bad?!
GodlyJewel: For those who don't know, Pitch's daughter is an actual character in the original The Guardians of Childhood books, specifically Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. I finally got to read the first three books, but now I want to know more about her. Also I have now become a sympathizer for Pitch since he's a villain with a tragic past.
Cosmic Horse: Gotta love the tragic villain. Otherwise you're just a fat jerk… Wait, when did you get here?
GodlyJewel: This chapter's features my character, so the fanfiction deities allowed me to come back. *whisper* Actually I escaped. *impish smile*
Pitch: Hey! Get back here!
GodlyJewel: Bat poop! Heeeeeelllllp! *dragged away*
Cosmic Horse: Maybe I should go help her…or not… Are those mango slices?