Hello! So I actually got around to writing something (shocker I know). Hope you guys enjoy! And Jackrabbit fans, beware! This chapter has feels. (Please don't hate me ^_^)

Chapter 9

Jack awoke outside on a stretcher, a breather over his mouth. He lifted his head slightly, pain coursing through his body, vision foggy. He could hear his loud breathing and the muffled chatter of the surrounding people. As his vision and hearing cleared a bit, he saw that the people were firefighters, nurses, and policemen, who appeared to be either questioning or assisting more people with singed and burnt clothes, some with bad wounds and burns. There were others on stretchers, some being wheeled into ambulances. They were all gathered outside a large, orange-looking building, which, as his vision finally straightened out, Jack realized, was actually on—

No, no no no no. His memories came flooding back in, sheer horror settling over him. The fire, the game.

Pippa.

Terrifying thoughts and questions took over him. Jack was filled with confusion, horror, sadness, and anger as he attempted to get up. Some of the medical personnel noticed and rushed over to keep him down.

"Sit down son, your not well enough to get up."

"W-Where i-is sh-he? W-Where's my s-sister? W-Where's Pippa?" He coughed violently in between words, everything aching as the nurses held him.

"Take it easy dear, your gonna be ok." A lady told him.

"W-Where is she?" He asked louder, panic seeping into his voice rapidly. He tried to get up again, only to be pushed back down. Panicking, Jack started struggling, repeatedly asking about his sister.

"Where is she?! Where is she?! Please just tell me! Please!" He screamed, angry, worried tears streaming down his face. A police officer noticed the commotion and walked over.

"Excuse me kid, what is your name?"

He asked nicely.

"J-Jackson Ov-verland-d, s-sir." Jack sniffled. The officer's face suddenly fell. This did not go unnoticed by Jack.

"H-Have you s-seen my sis-ster? P-Pippa O-Overland?S-She was in t-there, I b-blacked out b-before seeing i-if she g-got out-t." The officer continued to look solemn.

"I'm sorry Jack. Your sister... didn't make it out." The officer lowered his head, looking very upset by his words. The words, however, hit Jack like a ton of bricks. He sat there, limbs suddenly too limp to struggle further, mouth agape.

"N-No, that's n-not p-possible, how?!" Jack muttered, trying desperately to believe it wasn't true.

"We found her body just now, I'm so sorry." The police officer kept his head low, his tone sad, and walked away slowly.

Jack sat there, too shocked to do anything.

Pippa? Dead?!

Then, Jack did something he hadn't really done for a while, he had been too busy being the adult, so that Pippa didn't have to be.

He pulled his knees to his chest, wrapped his arms around his legs in a tuck position, set his head down on his knees, and cried. The tears did not stop flowing until hours later.

Jack awoke in the alley he had found Pitch's lair in. Although the shadow of a large building made the whole alley dark, he could tell it was obviously daytime. Standing up, he rubbed his eyes, wondering why he was there.

Suddenly, he remembered. Taking Sophie home, finding the alley, Pitch's lair—

Holy shit.

Jack checked his watch in a heartbeat. His eyes widened.

Twelve thirty?! TWELVE THIRTY?! I'm going to be soo late!

Jack jumped up and sprinted to the car. He hopped in and drove full-speed to where the charity concert was being held.

Upon arriving, he ran in. What he saw didn't look good.

There were the Guardians, sitting in and empty room, looking very disappointed.

Oh no.

"Guys?" He asked nervously. Their head shot up, their expressions shocked, except for Aster's, which was raging mad.

"Jack!" Tooth started, but was cut off by Aster.

"Where the bloody hell were ya? You were supposed to sigh autographs, all the kids were looking forward to seeing ya! Now not only is our reputation worse, but were unreliable to keep commitments! Now no venues will book us! Were ruined! What the hell were ya thinkin?!" He raged, nonstop, getting all his anger out. Jack lowered his head in embarrassment. He felt like a child being scolded.

They were right, I said I would come back, and I just ran off chasing a shadow.

Just as he was about to apologize, Tooth noticed one of the note slightly sticking out of his pocket. She reached out and pointed at it.

"Jack, what is that?" She spoke quietly, her face heavy with confusion. Jack was confused at first, but while taking out the note, he suddenly remembered. His face fell.

Tooth grabbed the note, reading it over, her facial expression confused. It took her a bit, but when she realized, her face became shocked, sad.

"J-Jack, where did you get this?" Her voice was soft, with hints of confusion, sadness, and shock.

Jack didn't know how to answer.

"Well I was with Pitch—" he was promptly cut off by Aster.

"You were with PITCH?! You double crosser." Aster glared angrily at him, everyone else's faces shocked, eyes wide, mouths open, lined with sadness and betrayal.

"J-Jack how could you?" Tooth asked, her face pained.

"No! It's not what you think—"

"It's EXACTLY what we think Jack! You were just using us! I knew he was bad news, we should've never let him join the band, all he's done is mess things up since he got here!" Cried Aster in rage. Everyone was shocked by what Aster just said, especially aster. His eyes went wide, bringing his hands to cover his mouth almost immediately.

Hearing those words caused Jack's world to come crashing down on him. He felt his heart ache, tears brimming in his eyes.

He's right, i just mess up everything I do.

Jack was speechless, he felt powerless. So he did the only thing he could do in this situation.

He ran.