For the first couple minutes, I am unable to move; half from shock and half from grief. It doesn't add up, what does Pitch want our items for; to him they're just pieces of wood. Anyway, Jack and Lily are immortal; they can't die. My mind begins racing with questions. I feel a tiny hand on my shoulder making me snap out of my daze.
"My bow," I scramble for the right words "he wants my bow." I look down "I have to find August," I say in a low voice. Just before I'm about to jump out the window.
"Stop," I turn around to see everyone staring at me. "Autumn you can't go out there, if Pitch's after your bow then you aren't safe," Tooth pleads. I can feel my face get hot hoping no one notices.
"What do you care about my safety," I say glaring at them. "You never cared!" I say not being able to hide the hurt in my voice. "You're supposed to protect children!" I almost yell. "What about us?" I clench turning my knuckles white. "Jack is gone!" I can't hold it in anymore, I let the tears pour out. The guardians look shocked and guilty at my outburst but I continue. "I am not going to let my only other friend die, even if it kills me in the process," without another word I propel out the window. I wipe the tears from my eyes "wind?"
Yes?
"Locate August please," I say urgently, I need to get to him before Pitch does.
Currently he is in Death Valley, California. But I would not request going there, the temperatures are far too high for your survival.
"I don't care, take me there," I say with determination.
The wind begins to carry me off quickly to California. A bead of sweat rolls down my face as we get closer to California. Out of all places August could be, Death Valley is where he is? One of the hottest places on earth. Now I know why Jack never talks to him, that and they never really got along well. Jack and August fight every time they see each other, I guess it's because they're polar opposites.
August is the spirit of summer but not all nice. He is a hot head, sometimes ignorant and never does anything that he doesn't want to do. More sweat covers my face and my vision begins to swim with the heat. Buzzards circle over my head and above the blazing sun. A green sign rushes past me and I hope it says Death Valley, the heat makes it hard for me to see. The wind sets me down but my knees give out making me fall hard on the cracked ground.
"Go… get… August," I say weakly.
I am forced to rest my head on the dessert dirt before I pass out. I hope August comes quickly because I don't know how much longer I can stand this. After about ten minutes I see a water figure at the edge of the horizon. As it gets closer it starts to glitch. Before I know it, the figure is shaking my shoulders yelling something that sounds like mumbles to me.
"August," I say with slurred words. August picks me up and with the help of the wind brings me hopefully somewhere cooler. It seems like an eternity before we reach a cool forest. August sets me down resting my back on the trunk of a tree.
"Autumn what were you thinking, you could have died," He says with obvious worry.
"I need to warn you," I say in a hoarse voice.
"About what?" he says.
"Someone is after us, he already killed Jack and Lily," I say with sadness.
"Jack and Lily are dead?" August asks with shock. August stands up and rubs the back of his neck.
"August, we need to get out of here…" I say before I am interrupted.
"How did they die?" he says frustrated. August may be hard to read but it doesn't take a genius to know that he's upset.
"That would because of me," says a voice from in between the trees.
August turns around startled, grabbing his dagger from his back pocket and pointing it threatingly at Pitch. I scramble to get to my feet but I can't seem to find my balance. I fumble with my arrow as I try to attach it to my bow. I draw back the string but am having trouble focusing where Pitch is, my vision is too cloudy and blurry. Pitch laughs mockingly and raises his hand ready to strike me.
Faster than my brain can comprehend, August jumps in front of me blocking the blow. Ropes of black sand wrap around his body making him lift into the air. August dagger drops to the ground and for some reason I can't take my eyes off of it. I've never really gotten to see it up close. It has a handle much like a kitchen knife.
Beautiful designs are hand carved on the blade, he must have spent a long time doing them. At the edge of each end of the handle is a red gem, dazzling in the sunlight. I reach down and touch the cold metal. I lift it as a shadow sets over my hand. The dagger whips suddenly threw the air and lands in Pitch's embrace, August is nowhere to be seen. I mindlessly start calling his name, oblivious about what situation I am in. My fingers are black as if the shadow is still upon them but disappears faster than I can get a good look at it.
"What did you do to him," I stumble with my words.
"Why do you care, you were more interested in his dagger than August," Pitch says with an evil grin.
"I do care!" I yell in defense.
"Really?" he asks. "I'm bored, Onyx" he calls. Onyx appears in a puff of smoke as Pitch disappears. Onyx shoots three arrows at me, all of them miss. Apparently, Onyx is as disoriented as me.
"Hand over the bow!" she yells.
"Never!" I answer. I shoot arrow after arrow trying to hit my target but with no avail, Onyx isn't having much luck either. I hold my stance for a few seconds, watching as the world twist and turn. I release the arrow but before it makes contact with Onyx's shoulder she disappears. My sight goes dark and I rush to the ground, but never make impact.