Sorry for not updating for a long time, I have been quite busy these days even during the holidays. I still have to go back to school for extra lessons, how great is that? I also want to thank the reviewers for commenting on my story.
Chapter 8: In which Jack isn't so lucky
Jack couldn't believe it, he was going to escape with his mother, added by the help of the moon. The very thought of seeing the guardians again made him want to bounce on the balls of his feet in excitement. The thoughts of the conflicts that might happen when his mother and the guardians meet were banished from his mind in an instant.
Trying his best not to make too much sound, he crept towards the bars. Everything seemed to be in his luck this time, he wasn't chained up like the first time and the guard that was standing by his prison had fallen asleep. Perfect. Maybe the leprechaun's behind this. Jack thought and focused on the moonlight that shone on the pouch that slung across the guard's shoulders. He slowly and soundlessly reached his hand over to pull open the flap and reached inside, feeling the cold metal and pulled it out. Just as he expected, a key.
No doubt, this was the key that was going to free him from this prison.
After unlocking the cell door and wincing at the loud groans made by the door, he walked a few steps down the corridor, stopped by the sleeping guard and took the entire ring of keys that was held in his limp hand. For the sake of self-protection, Jack also pried the dagger from his hands.
Everything was going on fine and he turned and saw the trail of moonlight. Without hesitation, Jack walked down the seemingly endless corridor. It was unnaturally silent, no cries for help or whimpers, in fact the prisons were mostly empty. Those with prisoners were slumped to the floor and Jack deducted that they were sleeping, he thought that the moon probably placed them into deep slumber to make his escape easier.
Then finally at the very end of the corridor, he noticed a prison that was different from the others. It had five locks with no bars at all, just a thick slab of ice that blocked everything inside the cell. There were more than a dozen guards that were sleeping over each other too and Jack suddenly had a fleeting thought of them pouncing on him when he got near. Creepy, but not enough.
Jack pushed away all the fearful thoughts and walked up to the door, the moonlight shone right on it. He knew this was it.
It was strange, that his mother was seperated by him just by this thick layer of ice. A mother that he had never known until less than an hour. Jack pressed his forehead against the cool surface and looked at the frost that burst froth across the ice and gazed at the first lock.
All five needed a key, different keys.
Jack hoped the ring of keys he had contained the five.
"What the-" he cursed as one of the keys slipped from his hands and they clattered noisily to the floor and he looked at the sleeping guards. One flinched. But there were no other obvious actions.
The moonlight was getting fainter, he realized and immediately went back to check on the keys that clinked loudly whenever he moved.
"Let's try this..." he muttered and shoved one among the dozens of keys into the first lock.
He had expected it, it didn't work.
Jack would swear to never bother the leprechaun with blizzards if the first key had worked.
And if he managed to escape and survive.
Then Jack had a better idea which he thought it would work. Calling for his winter powers he placed his hand over the hole in the lock and tried to imagine the ice filling every corner of the hole, smiling, he pulled the key he had made out from the key hole. It molded into the shape of the key hole and he compared to the array of keys he had. Grinning, he pulled out one identical key from the iced one he made.
Click.
One was unlocked. There were four more.
He then proceeded to unlock the other locks but by the time he reached the third lock the frost spirit was already exhausted from making ice keys. Staying in the dark cell had drained some of his powers from him. Groaning, he tried reaching for the fourth lock, it was slightly out of reach and he had no choice but to place a foot on the first lock to hoist himself up to a greater height. During he process he knew that he made a lot of noise and occasionally a groan or shifting of body would inform him that the guards were not sleeping as soundly anymore. Even the moonbeams seemed to be urging him to move faster.
Finally as the final lock was unlocked, the door clicked open until it was ajar. Jack just stood there, unable to muster energy to open the door. It was only when the guard behind him grumbled in his sleep when he jolted back to reality and slipped into the cell.
The minute Jack stepped inside, he immediately thought that it was really really dark. It was so dark that he couldn't see his hands, Jack looked around and yelped when he heard a rustle of fabric behind him and spun to face a woman that sat on a rock. Her eyes that bored into him were full of emotions that told him that she was exhausted, but there was a spark of happiness, recognition and worry that etched on her face.
"What are doing here?" she asked hoarsely.
Jack realized that she looked older than in the memories, her hair was astray and there was a slight crease at the side of her eyes, he knew that she was derived of energy and it was causing her to age.
"To-to get you out of here." Jack replied, suddenly having no idea on what to do, it would be really awkward if he just hugged her and say, "I really miss you mom.", a scene of watching a really boring movie with Jamie popped up in his head and he pushed it away immediately, so that was where the stupid I-miss-you-mom speech came from.
She didn't look convinced.
"It's not safe here, get yourself away from here first, I'll be fine. Jack."
"Man in Moon led me to your cell, I have to get you out of here." His voice was more steady and affirmative now. But he couldn't stop his body form shaking however, she had just called him Jack, his name.
She frowned, as though calculating and suddenly stood up to walk towards the door that was ajar and turned to him, stretching out a hand. It was obvious, he was supposed to reach for it.
Jack took her hand and ran with her through the corridor, it happened so fast. The minute the queen was sauntering so slowly in exhaustion, then he found himself flying so fast that everything was a blur. He doubt that he was flying, it was more like teleporting from one place to another.
They suddenly stopped and Jack once again found himself still within the boundaries of the palace. Except that the main gate was about a few feet away from him. The gate that that would lead him back to freedom. Away from this place.
The albino looked at Cylinus that was panting slightly, the teleportation must have worn her down and he immediately went up to support her, afraid that she would collapse suddenly.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked, looking at her and tried not to break eye contact as she turned to meet his gaze, smiling, she squeezed his hand lightly. The younger spirit didn't know whether it was for his reassurance or for her comfort, but still, he could see that there was a bigger problem approaching like storm clouds, ready to shower fear and panic. The spirits within the confines of the palace had awoken, and they were aware of their escape.
Minutes later door that led to the queen's chamber slammed open and a swarm of soldiers spilled out, holding weapons and Jack had to duck when a few arrows whizzed straight at him. Most of time he was saved from the help of the once powerful woman that pushed him out of harms way.
"Quick!" Jack yelled as he dragged her towards the large inviting gates. It was open. And Jack could see the moon beyond the column of the gate, ready to embrace them when they escape. But to his horror, the gate doors creaked and groaned as it was pulled by a few spirits, closing the open exit that was their only escape route at this moment.
Cylinus knew better than to fight two against millions that were heavily armed with weapons, she followed the boy's pull towards the light. Her freedom. Their freedom.
All hopes were lost when she caught sight of a net sailing through the air, heading towards her. It whizzed in the air, spinning and Cylinus couldn't dodge it, she was drained with power. The target was her. And it was her fate.
Darkness seems to be most reassuring at this moment. So she shut her eyes.
The cold hand that embraced hers tugged at her, as though urging her to move faster, then suddenly jolted out of her grip. Cylinus felt empty, the hands which belonged to her son had left her, there was no more solace she could receive from the child that helped her escape. He was gone.
At least that was what she thought.
However, within a split second, she had expected the gritty net to embrace her into it's trap but there was a weight that pushed her away forcefully, causing her to hit the floor. Hard. Her cheeks now hurt, they burned and she could taste saltiness in her mouth. The curiosity was too empowering, she opened her eyes.
And wished she hadn't.
No. Her hands instantly fumbled at the net that now entangled around the figure that pushed her out of the net's range. Jack. He was struggling with it now, but the net constricted, restricting him to any forms of movement and she watched helplessly as the net pressed into the pale flesh painfully. The boy couldn't move, but he kept his gaze on her, telling her everything.
"Go! Go to the North Pole! Find the guardians! Go!" He screamed desperately.
No. She couldn't move. What kind of mother was she? A mother that got her child to be in serious danger instead of her, it was as though she pushed the pain to her own child. Jack, why was he so foolish? He could've run.
"Please."
The single word left a big impact on her immediately, as though someone had attempted to shoot at her head that was protected by a helmet, though with the protective layer, the dent would still leave tremors in her mind like a radar. Shaking, she stretched out a hand and brushed away the fringe that covered the boy's hopeful and pleading eyes, took a second to remember his features-
and allowed herself to be taken away by the wind.
Jack smiled, Cylienne had disappeared, from the figure that towered over him to a small silhouette in contrast to the moon's rays. Then nothing. At the exact moment where she had disappeared, the gates shut with a bone shaking bang!
Screams, filled with anger and hatred, traveled to his ears and he flinched when the nets were thrown off from him roughly.
But Jack made no attempt to escape or run.
"Throwing another tantrum? Majesty?" Jack taunted as he faced her livid face.
As long there were the guardians, his mother and him, they would be a threat to her. It was Jack's only comforting thought, he held no hope that there would be help.
After all, hope was a cruel thing.
It only prolongs his pain and anguish.
So... how was it? Please review!
*Dies on the spot at the sight of a towering pile of homework on my desk waiting for me*
