"I'm off."
"Jack, at least let one person go with you."
"No."
Jack looked at the other Guardians hard. He didn't want them to get hurt. He already failed one Guardian, he couldn't fail another.
"But Jack-"
"I said no! So for the last time, I'm going alone."
Jack huffed and headed towards the window. Tooth looked at the others and zipped quickly in front of him.
"At least..." She took a deep breath, "At least take Vallerie with you."
Jack looked into Tooth's eyes. He couldn't tell if it was a beg for mercy or if she was being serious. He sighed and looked back at Vallerie. She stood watching them with a look. If she could go with Jack, the plan would work. She could take out Jack and bring down Tsuki as well.
"No."
"Jack!"
Jack moved around Tooth and flew out the window. The other Guardians stood with intensity. Tooth moved over to Vallerie and glared down at her with clenched fists.
"If you hurt him, I'll hurt you myself."
Vallerie smiled slyly.
"Anything you say, Tooth Fairy."
Vallerie moved around Tooth and sprinted after Jack. Tooth crossed her arms and for the first time, had one of the worst, meanest look that North, Sandy, and Bunnymund had ever seen.
"Jack, wait up!"
"Stop following me!"
Jack zipped around through the clouds and fog. Vallerie was close at hand.
"I don't need you!"
"But you do, Jack. Come on, just let me help!"
"No!"
Jack dove into a thick fog. Vallerie followed. It was so thick, Vallerie could barely see her hands in front of her.
"Jack!"
No response.
"Jack!"
Vallerie slowly moved around in the heavy fog. Jack was above her. He looked careful and saw a flash here and there. He nodded with satisfaction and headed to the place he first found Pitch's lair.
Jack stood at the entrance. He was here before and it was the worst mistake he had ever made. But then, maybe it was a smart choice.
He jumped down into the hole and felt the darkness move around him. He landed in an open area. It was dark and musty.
"Tsuki..." He breathed.
Nobody answered. He moved around with sly movements.
"Tsuki..." He whispered again.
A scream responded. Jack looked around. The scream had echoed through the cave. Another one and he would know where it came from, hopefully.
"Shh, don't worry he's coming."
Pitch brushed a cold, grey hand against Tsuki's cheek. Her face was pointed downwards and her body was going numb from pain. There were slashes everywhere and blood trickling from them. Her clothes were now tattered and torn and hung loosely on her body. Her hair was a mess and had been cut from Pitch's whip and knives.
"Just one more scream; for me darling."
Pitch stepped away and snapped his hand to form a long dark whip. A grin split his face as he whipped it at Tsuki. She gritted her teeth together. She couldn't give in again. She had given in too many times before. She had to be tougher.
"Come on, don't act tough." Pitch snarled as he whipped her again.
Tsuki bit her lip. One more and she was a goner... Pitch pulled the whip back and it turned into a knife. He aimed it carefully and threw it. Tsuki let out a scream as it pierced her thigh. Pitch laughed.
"The fear and screams of children are music to my ears!" He sauntered over to Tsuki. "Now, are you going to let the fear take control?"
Pitch put a finger under Tsuki's chin and made her look at him. Her eyes were growing dark blue as her pupils swarmed with excited fear.
"That's more like it..."
"Pitch!"
A blast of ice shot between them as Jack hopped down and moved closer to them.
"Let her go!"
"Jack, it's nice to see you." Pitch looked over at him with a snarling look.
"Move away from her, Pitch."
Jack crept slowly towards them, his staff pointing at the Nightmare King. The grey man slowly backed away from Tsuki. She didn't move. The nightmares and fear were surging through her body. She felt this before, when they had the battle so many years ago and now, the feeling was stronger, scarier.
"My, my Jack, you came just in time to see the new Tsuki."
"What?"
Jack turned to look at Tsuki. A dark, ominous feeling came from her.
"Tsuki?"
He turned his body fully and wrapped his arms around her.
"Tsuki, listen, you can fight it. The darkness. Everyone will help you, I promise, I promise."
Tsuki wasn't with Jack anymore, she was in her own dark pit of loneliness. She only saw him through a disfigured glass. Jack pulled away and looked into her eyes. They were one color, dark blue and held emptiness. He growled and whipped around, shooting ice at Pitch.
Pitch backed into the shadows, Jack in tow.
"Pitch! You bastard! What did you do to her?"
Laughter echoed through the cavern.
"I did nothing, my dear boy. She came willingly and accepting."
Jack turned around just to see Pitch bring down his scythe. He quickly brought up his staff and countered it.
"You stole her!"
"I did no such thing."
Pitch sank quickly into the shadows, only to be replaced with a quick flash of red. Jack flew backwards and hit the wall, hard. His numb body fell to the floor. Jack moved his head back and forth to shake the dizziness away. As it started to fade, there was a high-heeled boot that pressed against his chest. It was buckled to the top and was a bright red. His blue eyes went up the boot and up the rest of the body to meet a glimmering red sneer.
"Welcome, Jack."
She kicked him in the face and he fell over, unconscious.
Vallerie turned around and looked at Pitch whom was presently unhooking Tsuki.
Tsuki looked up at Pitch, eyes still waking up from the darkness. Pitch smiled at her. She turned her head and looked at Vallerie. She raised a hand to her. Vallerie kept the sneer until a dark, shadowy ball flew past her and hit the wall. Pieces of the wall sprinkled Jack lightly.
Pitch laughed. "I hope the Guardians are ready!"
