Two days later, Tooth was in the main room, cleaning teeth when the three guardians arrived. She always did that when she had a lot on her mind. It was easy, relaxing, and didn't take a lot of thought to accomplish. She set down the tooth brush and sparkling lateral incisor when Sandy, Tooth and Bunny stepped into the room. They had dispersed not long after Jack left, promising to contact one another if they got word from him.
"You've heard from Jack so soon?" She asked, wanting to be excited, but wary of their expressionless faces. "He's okay, right?"
"Tooth," North began. This ees quite shocking news. Please try to stay calm, but Jack-"
"Don't drag out the suspense like ya did with me. It's cruel." Bunny interrupted. "He thinks its funny to make us all suffer. We got a letter from Jack. It was on his bed in the workshop." He handed over a piece of folded paper while North humphed, his attention stolen. Tooth took it quickly. The others watched her growing smile as she read the contents.
Dear everyone,
Sorry for all the trouble I caused, and thanks for taking care of me while I was sick. You were right about me getting total recall. I remember everything. I still feel like being alone. I know I'm being pretty angsty, but I don't know how to associate with people real well anymore. I spent too long alone for that. Give me some time. I'll come back when I'm ready, whenever that is.
Thanks for understanding,
Jack.
"Thats fantastic! He has his memories back!" Squealed Tooth. In her excitement, she squeezed the paper until it crumpled.
"Yeah, it's a good thing." Said Bunny in a monotone. Tooth rubbed the paper over her knee in an attempt to get the crinkles out.
"Aren't you happy for him?" She asked, a little confused at his lack of emotion.
"Course I am. I just... What's he need ta be alone for? If there's somethin' wrong, doesn't he know he can talk to us?" Bunny had indifference written all over his furry face, but his ears betrayed his otherwise perfect performance. They drooped unhappily, showing the true pain he felt at Jack's apparent lack of trust.
"Come to think, Jack did not sound like usual self in letter, da?" Asked North, rubbing his jaw with one of his large hands. "Perhaps he feels we think less of him, after seeing memories."
"But that's ridiculous! He's a hero now, in my mind." Tooth seemed shocked that this would even cross anyone's mind.
"Well, we know Frostbite ain't exactly the brightest." Bunny folded his arms. "If he's off somewhere sulkin' over somethin' like that, I'll rip him a new one."
"Then maybe he is in need of friend. Now more than ever." North placed his fuzzy black hat back on his head.
"I think I'm gonna go look for him. The only problem is, I'm not sure where." Sandy made his way to Bunny. The moon appeared over his head, then houses, then a lake. Bunny snapped.
"Burgess! You're a genius my friend." Sandy shrugged modestly. "Alright, I'm gonna head ta Burgess. I'll let you guys know when I find him, and if he's feelin' okay." He thumped a rabbit hole into existence but before he could drop down it, Tooth spoke.
"He might not appreciate you finding him. He might just want some quiet time to think." He waved her warning away easily. "He's had two days ta think. Sometimes ya just gotta buck up and deal with the people that care about ya." He smiled, gave a small salute, then disappeared.
oOo
Jack was having a nightmare. This nightmare consisted of memories. Ever since he had regained his human memories, others had drizzled in. He had remembered how to get to Burgess, and he remembered... A little boy? He wasn't sure who. It was like trying to see through muddy water. But it was bits and pieces of those memories that tormented him now, while he slept.
Some of the horrors that he witnessed were real, he could tell. They had the clarity that only comes from being lived through. Others, he couldn't be sure about. Everything was garbled together and hazy, half images that flitted through his mind then disappeared, leaving only their sense of terror behind.
He was in a town, greeting people and smiling brightly as they passed. All was normal until a child ran straight through him as he bent down to speak to him. A cold feeling spread through him, clenching his heart. He gasped in shock. The scene changed.
Dark tendrils reached for him. He yelled, turning to run, only to be cut off and dragged into a forest of dead trees. They loomed eerily above him, then grew faces. Horrible grinding voices laughed at him as he screamed, helpless. Everything shifted.
Sandy was floating in the air, fending off a torrent of what appeared to be dark sand horses. He jerked to a stop, then a turned. A wicked black arrow, sharp as sin, protruded from his back. Ripples, then a new setting.
He was in a crowd of people. He looked down at himself to realize that there was a bright crimson stain seeping into his hoodie. He clutched his stomach, looking around to the bustling square of people. Surely someone would see him. He yelled, reaching for someone, anyone. They passed him, not sparing so much as a glance. From one blink to the next, his surroundings altered.
A man stood with his back to him. He was cloaked completely in black, with slicked back hair. He melted into the shadows, then appeared next to him. Jack jumped, looking into the mans face-
"Hello Jack." Blue eyes flew open at the words. All traces of the nightmare dissolved, leaving only their sticky residue of cold sweat and fear. "Are you all right?" the silky voice continued. Jack tried to find the owner, but his eyes wouldn't focus. "You looked like you were having a nightmare, so I woke you."
Jack got a handle on the hazy world. He sat up, leaning heavily on his elbows. He spotted a tall, thin man standing near the door of the room. "Where am I?" he asked wearily. He was tired of waking up in places he had no idea how he got to.
"Welcome to my home, Jack." said the man. "I'm sorry to have moved you without asking permission, but you were in danger."
"Danger?' dark eyebrows pulled together. "The last thing I remember is falling asleep near a tree…"
"Yes. There were wolves. I fended them off and brought you here for the time being. I realize that was quite… forthright of me, but I decided that you'd prefer that to being eaten."
"Probably. Thanks, I guess." The man gave a Jack a penetrating stare. It was making him quite uncomfortable.
"You really don't remember me, Jack?" he asked. He had a pained expression.
"Oh. Sorry did I know you too? My memories are starting to come back, but they're very hazy. You do look familiar…"
"I hope so! We've only known each other for two hundred eighteen years." This brought Jack up short.
"What?"
"I can't believe you'd forget such a close friend. I was the one that was there for you when all of the other immortals abandoned you. I was the one that was there when even the Man in the Moon left you on your own."
"But I thought that for those three hundred years I was with the other guardians."
"Is that what they told you?" The man pinched the bridge of his nose. "How despicable. They never cared about you like I did. They only grew friendly with you once they realized that you had so much power."
"Really?" Jack asked. He was a little skeptical. The guardians hadn't seemed like those kinds of people to him. "Who exactly are you again?"
"My name is Pitch Black. You and I have been together since nearly the beginning." Jack tried his hardest to pull his memories out, but the more Pitch spoke, the more he found it difficult to focus on them. He could only remember emotions. Happiness, fear… loneliness. There was an awful lot of that. That fit what Pitch was telling him.
"The guardians may seem kind, but they're only doing for their own benefit. They don't want either of us to be believed in."
"Are you a guardian?" Jack asked.
"No. And neither are you."
"I thought I was the guardian of fun. That's what-"
"They told you. I think it might be easier to assume that all they did was lie to you. I'm sorry, Jack. If we were guardians, I would be darkness, and you would be cold. Hardly glamorous."
"This is a lot to take in..." Jack was ready to slump back onto the bed. He was almost reluctant to go to sleep. Every time he woke up, everything changed. He also feared the nightmares would return.
"I understand. I'll let you go back to sleep. Try to remember me, hmm? You really are like a brother to me."
"I'll see what I can do." Jack muttered. He let himself fall back into the grey sheets. He only heard the click of a door closing before he fell into oblivion.
Outside the door, Pitch was instructing another nightmare.
"Help him to sleep." He commanded it. "Give him a lovely nightmare. If he starts remembering anything, alter it. I have faith in you, pet." He gave its mane one last stroke, then let it slip into the room with the sleeping boy. He laughed as he walked away. People were so vulnerable when they slept. Getting Jack Frost on his side was almost going to be too easy.
A/N: Chapter seven! I had to rewrite it three times to get it right... Darn me and my nitpicking. This one isn't my favorite, but I'm excited for the next chapter. I've been dying to include Jamie! Thanks for all of your patience and support!
Oh, and unrelated. If you guys liked the memories from last chapter, check out my series of one shots. I mostly write them when I have writers block for this, which is sadly often, but they're fun. It's called Did You Know. Even if you don't read it, drop me some ideas for one shots you'd like to see, and I'll do what I can.
Love, Mariah.
