Chapter 7 - Three Portals

Jack and Bunny had barely rolled out of the way, gasping at such strength that was much enhanced since the last time they saw him. There was no doubt the utter lack of humanity made him more ruthless than ever. There was no hesitation in his desire for kill; every swipe and slash was no slob, and each was blunt and fast in design. And, as Jack noticed, he seemed not to recognise him and Bunny anymore, at least not at a personal level. He constantly referred to them as just 'Guardians'. No matter he was clashing against Jack or Bunny, there was no change in his eyes, but the same old hatred. Beyond saving, indeed.

"It's no use trying to win through this ping-pong match. Can your tunnels appear on roofs?"

"Not when I'm darting around like this."

"That's a bummer. Listen, if we get through this alive, I'mma race you along one'a those. Never officially got a tour or the sorts."

Bunny looked at him incredulously. "Don't think too hard about death at your age, mate."

Behind Pitch Black, a flash of light bursted into a portal, taking everyone by surprise. The Fearlings, despising the brightness, scattered and was disintegrated enough for Jack and Bunnymund to knock their way out of the cage.

The lack of humanity heightened the sensitivity of Pitch Black to light as well. He seemed having trouble just to see where he slashed at, as he turned about and took a swipe at the opening of the portal, and was frustrated when the scythe met empty air.

"Come forth and accept your doom, Guardians. I've no leisure to play games."

Nobody came out of the portal, and no one responded. After a few confusing seconds, another portal exploded into view. Then a third one. All of them surrounding Pitch Black.

Suddenly, Sandy jumped out from one of the portals, he raised his hand in which clutched a stamp-like device. As he closed in on Pitch Black, whose back was facing him, he was about to strike with the device.

But Pitch Black turned just in time, and with a vicious swipe of the scythe, Sandy was thrown several feet back into the portal. Though not a moment after, Tooth zoomed out of another portal towards Pitch Black, with the same device in hand.

Jack watched in bewilderment. After another round of struggle, he faintly got the idea of what North and the others were trying to do. Yet Pitch Black had already learnt not to remain inside the circle of portals in which he risked exposing himself. As Tooth flew out the second time, he promptly grasped hold of her wrist tightly that she failed to escape.

He dragged her out of the circle as she tried to pull free in desperate attempts. Disintegrating the scythe, he used his free hand to examine the device Tooth held.

"The Seal of Imprisonment," he spat. "Another childish trick upon the Guardians' sleeves. Fine. If they're so curious to see what this thing do, let they themselves have a taste of their own medicine." He smiled maliciously and he looked up from the Seal to Tooth, who was horrified.

"Tooth! Give me that!" shouted Jack.

Without thinking twice, she snatched the Seal with her free hand and threw it towards Jack's direction. Jack quickly caught it. He spared a look at Bunny, who was already battling the Fearlings inside Jamie's room. The child was hiding under his sheets.

He didn't need any element of surprise. He didn't need any time for fighting the Fearlings. He just wanted all of this to be over with. Charging at full speed, he zoomed straight towards Pitch Black, who looked at him with an expression that clearly said how predictable can you be?

Jack thought he had dodged the blade of the scythe. And he was right, yet the long shaft struck the side of his skull, sending stars to his vision. As he tried to rebalance himself, he saw Pitch Black gestured to the Fearlings. The swarm of them flew towards him like a horde of bees avenging their fallen beehive. Reaching their black, slender arms and claw-like fingers, they were mere seconds before tearing Jack apart…

An abrupt shove thrusted Jack aside and onto the ground. As he regained his senses, he looked up and witnessed North being swarmed by a horrific amount of Fearlings.

"North!"

"And what have you got here?" said Pitch Black, gleefully.

The Fearlings closed their claws around North's arms, attempting to pry his hands apart. Yet they appeared to have difficulty competing against North's well-trained muscles; his skin had been left with various scratches, but his arms refused to budge. The Fearlings shrieked, frustrated. Only North remained silent, not betraying a hint of fear and concentrating all his might in shielding the white light.

Pitch Black stood by the side, amused by all the struggles in front of him. "Wasting all of our time, aren't you? Don't worry; I'm not going anywhere, just patiently waiting for you hand it over." He rounded the horde to kneel at North's side. "I know you can hear me. I'd like to point out that in situations like this, it's perfectly appropriate to drop your pride and call it quits. But it's not your fault if you don't feel like it yet, because eventually you will learn the appeal of it."

Jack saw him giving the Fearlings a meaningful look. As he stood back up and strode away from North, the Fearlings began to cover up North's body. Instead of being clawed against, North's skin slowly lost its colour and sickly grey bloomed from the tip of his fingers.

"NO!"

Jack threw himself towards North; the wind picking him up right at the second. He barely had time to steady himself, when a black, sandy scythe slashed straight towards him. He dodged the blade narrowly, but the shaft did not stop moving and whammed him away like a fly. He was forced to wheel several circles in the air. By the time he recovered from the initial shock- Jack thought as the dread welled up- North would join the Fearlings for good...

Then Jack saw it. A blue, small flame dancing in mid-air with no support but itself. It floated peacefully, unbothered by all the chaos around it. It was their final hope. If the six of them were overrun, they just need one more… one more help…

He flicked his hand. A gust of frosty wind promptly blew and diminished the blue flame. Falling down, he landed right at the Nightmare King's feet.

"Found your rightful place, haven't you?" said Pitch Black, glowering at Jack, who tried to push himself back up- his face sickly pale. "Don't look at me like that. It's a simple cause-and-effect; you've chosen the wrong path and now you're paying the price. But don't trouble yourself with my words. If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't keep you alive for long, after witnessing your limits."

Jack felt his head curtly brushed aside by Pitch Black's feet. Every part of his body was exhausted and in pain. But that wasn't important. No. He was waiting intently for a sound cue. After a couple of seconds, when he was faintly aware that Pitch Black was strolling towards North, prying his blackening hands for a furiously beaming, white light…

A loud noise echoed through the sky, stunning all the Fearlings at their activities. Jack perked up immediately, despite the sore feeling on his back and neck. But he couldn't see any steam, or any giant locomotives. The whistle became louder still, yet he saw nothing as he looked around.

"I'll take that," said a raspy voice behind him, snatching the Seal of Imprisonment from his clutch.

Everything happened so fast that Jack had a hard time keeping up. He saw the Grim Reaper glided above him, meanwhile discovering that the Afterworld Express had stopped in mid-air, right on top of the Bennet Household, casting an eerie shadow over the cottage. She landed noiselessly at the side of Pitch Black, who- like Jack- was yet to fully comprehend what was happening.

She grabbed hold of his shoulder and forcibly turned him around to face her. Then without letting go of him, with the hand that held the Seal, she struck him straight at the forehead.

Bright, green light exploded from the Seal, blinding everyone. For a while, all Jack was aware of was the violent thumping of his heart. Then afterwards, the colours flooded back to his vision, and the world was normal again. The Fearlings flew off, desperate to get rid of the green light. North was released in an instant; his skin turning back to health.

The Guardians and the Grim Reaper froze, as they witnessed a body sprawled awkwardly on the ground, where Pitch Black had once stood. Cautiously, they approached the figure, revealing to be an unclothed and grievously scathed body of a man.


Next Chapter - What's So Funny? (Epilogue 1/2)

Update date: 12th November 2018