"What could you possibly need to talk to me about?" I questioned, my voice quick and shaky. Playing the part of the fearless girl was no longer an option. The look in his eyes made me want to run but I knew it would be useless. So I stayed. He slowly moved towards my desk and sat down in my old office chair. Then he turned back towards me.
"You have a gift. A gift I need desperately."
"For what?" Gift? I wasn't sure what to think. An all powerful being was calling ME gifted.
"To remove a few thorns in my side that have been tormenting me for thousands of years…" Did he just say thousands? Knowing Pitch had been around so long made me wonder… Has Jack been alive that long too? Longer?...
"Tormenting the Boogieman? Sorry, but you probably deserve it…"
"And here I thought you would understand…" After that, his serious tone turned to depression. The hurt look in his eyes was almost enough to make me feel sorry for him. Almost.
"Understand? What is there to understand?!" he was starting to make me mad. After everything, he expected me to feel sorry for him.
"Do you know what it's like to be tormented for being who you are… for being different? Or to be cast away like you're nothing…" I knew exactly how that felt.
"I do understand. What exactly do you plan to do about it?"
"I told you. I shall… remove the problem." I cringed as soon as he finished. I knew what he meant. He was planning something horrible. Something that involved people getting hurt. Those people including Jack and he wanted ME to not only feel sorry for him but he wanted my help.
"You want to… kill… them?" I nearly choked out. Standing in a room with Pitch and talking about a horrible plan to end lives… it made me want to run and hide… but I stayed as strong as I could.
"It's the only way for me to be free.." he said sounding upset but deep down, I could see what he was hiding… pleasure. He loved the idea. It had nothing to do with being free.
"No! It's not the only way!" I shouted with a little more courage than I thought I could muster up.
"I thought you would under-" I cut him off.
'I don't! I don't understand! How could you plan something so horrible without so much as a second thought?! And how dare you ask me for help! I will NEVER help you! Now get out!" After that, he looked angry again. He then got out of the chair and walked towards me.
"I've tried to be nice but clearly, it is not working. I guess there's only one other way…" He said just before grabbing my arm so tight I could feel the blood flow stopping.
"What are you do-" he cut me off by putting his free hand over my mouth.
"Not like I much care for your opinion anyway. And the fact that you think you have a choice in the matter is rather adorable, really." I tried to fight, to push him off and run, but he was too strong. And it wasn't just his hands restraining me… there were also chains. Chains that seemed to be made of some sort of black sand. I could also feel my eyelids fluttering closed, as if some force was putting me to sleep. "Are you scared now?" He whispered just before I slipped into darkness.
Jack's POV:
I was flying to the Pole as fast as I could. I needed to tell North what happened. The way there, I couldn't keep my head clear. I kept thinking about Pitch and what he was doing. It didn't make any sense. After what had happened the first time we met, I thought he would want revenge. But all he wanted was… Emily. The very thought made me furious. He talked to her! He just walked right up and TALKED to her! Him knowing what she meant to me and still having the balls to get anywhere near her not only made me angry… it made me wonder… After how badly he was defeated by me, what could possibly be worth such a risk? What was he planning? And what did it have to do with Emily? All those questions could only be answered by Pitch. And I had every intention of getting those answers from him.
"I love you, okay?" Emilys words were enough to shake my anger away. After all those years looking at the world. At the people who had found love and wishing I could find it too... I never thought it was possible. Then there was Emily. The rest of the trip was spent thinking about her. But those happy thoughts were pushed aside when I reached North's workshop. I burst through the door and was prepared to run up the stairs but as soon as I turned the corner, I found North staring at the globe.
"It's him! He's back and he's after Emily! I don't know why but he is!... What do we do?" I spoke so fast, I could barely understand myself, leaving me to think North couldn't understand me either.
"I know…" He said, his voice soft yet still loud and intimidating.
"You… what?" I didn't understand. How could he already have known?
"During their search in Burgess, Tooth and Bunny encountered a small group of Nightmares."
"Are they alright?" I was almost positive that the answer to that question would be yes. Bunny may be a fluffy but he's tough. And Tooth may look dainty, but she packs quite a punch.
"Of course but that is not what troubles me…" He said just before gesturing towards the globe. It's massive size made it hard to pinpoint what he was gesturing to.
"What happened?"
"You might want to look towards the town of everyones current attention." He said meaning my town. I Jumped up, so as to get a closer look and what I found was… disturbing. All of the lights that should be as bright as can be were… gone. Well, all except two.
"Jamie!" I said, cheer obviously present in my voice. After all that time, he still believed.
"Yes yes… but who is that?" He said looking at me and pointing at the second light.
"It's gotta be Emily" I said, my smile growing wider. The look in Norths eyes changing as well.
"You really care for this girl, don't you?" I was about to answer when my attention was brought back to the globe… back to the light that represented Emily. It changed. it didn't go out but it was… flickering. Something was wrong.
"What's happening?" I nearly shouted as I looked back to North.
"It must be Pitch. Go!" He shouted. I didn't hear him very well though. Just as he finished, I was already headed towards the door. I then burst outside and lept into the air. You really should learn from your mistakes, Pitch…
Emily's POV:
I woke up in what seemed like a… cage. A cage made of that black sand. Upon further inspection, I saw that I was also in some sort of cave. I quickly jumped up and pulled at the bars, hoping they would break though deep inside, I knew they wouldn't. And I was right. Within seconds my head started pounding. Whatever Pitch did to me gave a horrible headache… I then sat down, pulling my legs to my chest. I was terrified. I couldn't get out and Jack had no idea where I was or that I was even missing. Then it hit me. Where's Pitch?... My question was answered when a spine chilling laugh echoed throughout the cave. Soon after, I saw pitch coming around a dark corner and walking towards me. I quickly moved to the back of the cage. After what he did, I didn't want to be anywhere near him. This show of fear made him laugh even more.
"Hello, deary. Sleep well?" He laughed, sending more chills through my body.
"Why am I here? What do you want from me?" After everything that happened, everything he said, I was still confused.
"You're going to help me. You see, inside you is a power I have been waiting for for years. A power that will bloom next month, finally making it useful for my plan. Next month? I wasn't so sure what was so special about that month until I remembered something important…
"My birthday?..." His look of entertainment changed to annoyance. He walked into the cage, his body simply passing through the very bars that kept me captive. He then knelt down and grabbed my face with one hand, slowly squeezing tighter and tighter until it started to hurt.
"Yes, pet. On your sixteenth year, there is going to be an eclipse. Then your powers will be at their peak." Eclipse? Powers? I had no idea what he was talking about.
"I don't have powers, I'm just an ordinary girl!" I yelled as I tried to push him off. When my hands made contact, he vanished. He then appeared on the other side of the bars. His look of amusement returned
"You are much more, however, you are incredibly dull… Good thing I have something to do. I can't stand being around you anymore" He snickered as he started to walk away.
"Not like I asked to be here…" I muttered just as he left the cave. As soon as he was gone, I jumped up and pulled on the bars again. Come on, Em, you can do better than that...
Jack's POV:
I flew faster than I ever had before to Burgess. That light had to be Emily and the flickering meant something was wrong. I just didn't know what. That girl really had a knack for getting into trouble. I guess that meant I had a knack for saving her life… and I was fine with that. Please be okay… I said the entire way there. Soon enough, I was in her backyard. I then wasted no time jumping up to her window only to find that it was still open. Makes things easier I joked, hoping to lighten my mood. When I climbed through the window, I paused. It was quiet and Emily was no where to be seen. Other than that, everything seemed normal. I was about to search the rest of the house when I saw something on her bed. I had a sneaking suspicion as to what it was… and I was right. I reached down to touch it and it was exactly what I thought it was… black sand. Upon further inspection, I discovered more on the floor. It didn't take long for my anger to return. I then lost control… Frost quickly began to spread all across the room, covering everything from the bed to the door. Get a grip, Jack… I told myself, obviously to no avail. I then made my way to the window and jumped out. I had no idea what Pitch wanted. I had no idea where Emily was… whether she was okay or if she was hurt… And I had no idea where to start looking. All i knew was that I was going to find them… and there would be Hell to pay.
Author's Note:
I am so so so SOOOO sorry I haven't updated. Last week was spring break and I am gonna be honest… I got SUPER lazy. But I am back in action! Yay! This chapter is NOT what I had in mind at. all. But again, that just keeps things interesting. I did not intend for the POV to keep changing but in the end, it worked better for the chapter. At least that's what I think. Please let me know what YOU think with a review. I love hearing your opinions and maybe even suggestions. Last, don't forget to follow and favorite this story and I SHOULD see you next week. Hope you enjoy the story. BYYYYEEEE! :D
