Jack shook Toothiana frantically.

"Tooth? Tooth, wake up!"

Toothiana remained still. Her skin felt like ice against his flesh. This feeling was far too familiar to Jack. This horrible sensation caused flashbacks of Olivia's lifeless body to attack his mind without mercy. Jack gripped down on Tooth's arms as he shook her a bit more roughly. She didn't seem to respond at all. He placed her down gently and leaned into her chest. His eyes dilated from the lack of breathing, and dim heart beat she possessed.

"No Tooth…no please, please. I promised you'd be okay!"

Jack grabbed his own hair and nearly pulled it out. His mind raced as he began to recall his sister. He could see that night unfolding deep within his subconscious. He couldn't sit back and do nothing. Not again. Not ever. And so, Jack moved to Toothiana's side.

Place the heel of your hand on the center of her chest.

Place the heel of your other hand on top of your first hand.

Lace fingers together.

Keep arms straight and your shoulders directly over your hands.

Push hard and fast, compressing chest at least 2 inches.

Let chest rise completely before pushing down again.

Compress at least 100 times per minute.

Jack continued this ritual over and over again until…

Toothiana gasped for air, this caused Jack to immediately pull away. Her eyes opened up weakly. She could barely remember anything. The disoriented girl sat up ever so slowly. Jack reached for her and helped her sit up. Her eyes shot to him the moment he touched her. She flinched, but once she saw him, the blankness inside her irises retreated. Her brightness soon returned. She started to remember everything out of order. Jack wrapped his arms around her, but was careful when he squeezed down.

"Tooth…you're…you're alright."

Tatiana crawled backwards and away from Pitch. He seemed entertained by her actions and only smiled. He walked around in a circle like a predator, as if teasing her. When her back hit the wall he looked back her way. She looked around the basement, until she saw the steps. Pitch walked into her line of sight and smirked. His smirked evolved into that of a rather toothy grin.

"Leaving so soon? But you just got here."

"Don't…don't come any closer!"

Pitch's minions started to laugh as Pitch, himself, raised an eyebrow.

"And so she does speak," he bent down to her, "what a sweet little voice you have."

Tatiana flinched as Pitch went to touch her hair.

"Blonde? We'll have to dye that."

Tatiana's eyes widened, "Dye? Wait w-what? What do you mean?"

"I can't leave any witnesses behind. But I can't just kill you either now can I?"

Tatiana stared at the man. She watched his expression. And, though it was difficult to read, she was slowly starting to piece together what he was saying.

"There's…NO WAY I'm going anywhere with YOU."

Pitch laughed, "My dear girl," and grabbed her by her hair, "you have no choice in the matter. You'll learn to be a good girl. Hear me?"

Tatiana cried out, but was unable to paw at his grip. Her hands were still bound. She tried moving away with her upper body, but Pitch just yanked her head in response. The more she struggled, the more violent he became. Tears formed from the corners of her eyes and fell as she was jerked about.

There was a buzz on Pitch's belt. Once heard, the demented man released Tatiana from his hold. She dropped from the sheer force of his toss. Without her hands free, Tatiana hit the floor with her face. A sharp cry stumbled out of her. She cried weakly against the cold basement floor. Pitch chuckled under his breath upon hearing her. She couldn't comprehend such evil. The man was a walking time bomb. Acting so docile one minute, then erupting with violence the next. She was sure he was suffering from some kind of mental illness. Memories of Toothiana rambling about psychology came to mind.

"What is it?" Pitch asked nonchalantly.

"Buzzz…SIR!...buzz…there's a-he…we can't…buzz…OH GOD-!"

Aster kicked the last man through the basement door and down the steps. Tatiana turned her head away and closed her eyes on reflex. Pitch only looked over and at his unconscious minion. His eyes slowly moved away from the body on the ground, and up to Aster. Aster panted hard. His body was covered in the residue of all his battles. He had a few wounds himself, but nothing too serious. The tape around his fists were no longer white and soaked in red. His eyes sharpened on Pitch's figure before shooting to Tatiana cowering in the corner.

"Tatiana!"

Tatiana's eyes shot open. Her head turned so quickly it threatened to snap off. She stared at him. Slowly, her brain registered that he was indeed standing there; that he came to rescue him and that her sisters were alright. Her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to run to him, but her knees shook. Her legs quivered in fear of Pitch. She was frozen in place.

"So…that is her name. Lovely."

Aster grit his teeth at the sight of Tatiana's poor state

"Ain't no way you're getting outta here in once piece, mate."

Slowly, Pitch raised his arm up. Aster jumped off the top of the staircase and landed at the bottom. As soon as he rushed Pitch, the man snapped his fingers. The sound of his action bounced all around the basement's walls. And like hounds, his men lunged over from every direction. Aster barely brushed Pitch with his fist. He felt a fist at his side and, before any more could rain down on him, he ducked. A few men fell for his trap quite literally. The one's smart enough to stay standing, punched and kicked at him. Aster blocked a few punches, and then grabbed a man's leg just as he kicked. He spun said man around; knocking a few others back, before tossing the scum towards a recovering nightmare.

Aster wasted no time, and darted back towards Pitch.

Pitch pulled out his dagger.

Tatiana's eyes widened.

"ASTER!"

Toothiana breathed softly as Jack surrounded her with dirty clothes. After he finished he bent down to her, and placed his hand on her neck. He frowned at how cold she still felt. Tooth watched him and his face closely. She had him far too worried about her. She wanted to reassure him, but she wasn't sure herself. The least she could do was try. Once she opened her mouth, however, she started coughing.

Jack rubbed Toothiana's back, "You don't have to speak, Tooth. Just rest, okay?"

It was hard to keep her hand up. It shook nervously and dropped, but Jack moved his hand to her elbow. He then lifted it up, and helped her keep her hand against her mouth. Toothiana glanced his way, but her eyes shut with each cough. Her eyebrows revealed her worry as they furrowed. She tried to show him her appreciation through her eyes, but they just kept closing.

"Don't worry…I'll take care of you."

His words were more than her, already weak, body could handle. Like a bird with a broken wing, she felt completely helpless. But as she looked up, and stared into the eyes of her first love, Toothiana felt content. She was content with being helpless so long as he was there. It pained her to worry him so much, but a part of her yearned for his caring nature.

Showing his concern for her caused something within her to ignite.

Toothiana lifted herself up, only to have Jack try to move her back down. The moment he was close enough she reached up with her face and kissed him. Her action threw him off for a moment, if only for a moment. Jack was quick to return her kiss, but to also move her back down. Tooth let out a kind of squeak when he placed his hand on her chest to pull away.

"Stay here."

Jack walked over to the opening at the front of the elevator. Staring into the abyss, he contemplated what to do next. Tooth needed medical attention. If he left her, he could find her the help she needed. However, he also feared she could go into cardiac arrest in his absence. Without immediate attention from such an attack, Toothiana could very well die.

"J-jack…?"

Jack clenched his fists.

He wasn't sure what to do.

Tatiana watched the two men fight in breathless horror. Aster was able to dodge most of Pitch's stabs, but he was constantly grazed. Pitch was toying with him and he knew it. Nothing infuriated the Australian fighter more, than someone not taking him seriously. His anger, however, would only disorientate him. He tried using Tatiana's state as a form of drive. He pushed himself to do better; to be able to help her. He was the only person here now.

She needed him.

Pitch noticed his glance, "Are you here for the girl?"

Aster only growled. He kicked up and at Pitch's side with great force. Pitch was surprised to be caught off guard. As he fell, he slashed at Aster, but missed miserably. The smirk that appeared on the courageous Aussie was enough to make Pitch's blood boil. Aster kept his smug expression, even after Pitch's men recovered and moved toward him. Pitch moved back up, smirking himself. He then turned to Tatiana, who flinched. This was more than enough to change Aster's facial expression.

"Bloody bludger!"

Though his eyes were on Pitch, his body reacted to the first minion that attacked him. Aster dodged by turning sharply. Then, he decked the very same man across the face. Bringing up his other arm, he punched a second time before kicking the man back and away. A few of his comrades fell back with him. But, the rest of them only circled around Aster's mess and rushed the blue haired devil. Aster wasted no time to jump up and kick the closest nightmare to him. He felt someone hit him from behind, but he ignored it, and continued to punch at anyone in his line of vision. Pitch took this time to grab Tatiana and pull her to her feet. The teenage girl cried out from his rough handle of her. Aster's head shot to them, only to have Pitch's men tackle him down. The older boy grunted as he was restrained to the ground. Pitch laughed as one of his men grabbed Aster by his hair, and forced him to look up and at his master.

"What was that you said before? About me not leaving here in one piece?"

Tatiana struggled from his grasp, "Stop! Leave him alone!"

Pitch rested his dagger against Tatiana's neck, "He will obey. Better him than you, right my dear?"

Aster squirmed. The world around him began to move in slow motion. All he could see was Tatiana's face. Pitch shaped into a dark blur. The men around him lost all form. All his anger, and all his rage, engulfed him. His body loosened from under the nightmares. They noticed his struggle cease. The man holding onto Aster's hair pulled at it some more; as if to get a reaction from him. Aster's eyes shut as he sucked on his teeth. The man laughed as the other men around him chuckled.

"You see? He's given up already. What a good little boy you are."

"Aster, no!"

Tatiana cried out as Pitch tossed her back to the ground. He made his way over to Aster with his blade in hand. Tatiana shook her head and forced herself back to her feet. She yelled out and rushed over to Pitch. Aster's eyes shot open, just as Pitch stopped short and turned to her. Tatiana rammed her head into his stomach; so hard it knocked the wind out of him. Pitch dropped his dagger.

Aster used the moment to his advantage. While the men were distracted, he pulled his arms free. He then slammed them on the ground and pushed himself up. The man holding onto Aster's hair pulled up hard, but Aster elbowed backwards; bashing the man in his nose. The sound of the minion's nose breaking was so harsh, it was audible. Aster pulled his bloody elbow away and twisted himself onto his back. He pushed himself off the ground and double kicked. When he landed, his feet were planted on top of two chests. Aster spun around and kicked the remaining member away and towards Pitch.

Tatiana stumbled back. Pitch was thrown to the ground by his own minion. It was difficult to keep her balance, and with her hands tied she was unable to catch herself from falling. She felt her body drop. She cried out, only to have her breath cut off and get caught in her throat. Her eyes opened to find Aster standing by her, with his arm around her waist. He was beaten and bloody. But for the first time since she's known him, Tatiana saw him in a different light. He was practically glowing.

He was her savior.

"You alright there, Sheila?"

Tatiana nodded weakly, unable to keep her eyes off of him. Aster cracked a smile and placed her back to her feet. His eyes shot to Pitch, just as the man was reaching for his dagger. She had never seen an expression change as quickly as it did for Aster; caring one moment, deadly the next. Aster stormed over to the fallen man and kicked him back down, and away from his blade. Pitch grunted, but Aster kicked him again and again. Even when he curled up and into a ball, Aster continued to kick him.

Tatiana's eyes glazed over. She knew that she should stop him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. And instead, she fell into a sadistic daze. Aster grabbed Pitch by his shirt and punched him with his free hand. He punched him over and over again. Each time he was punched, Pitch just laughed. The more he laughed, the angrier Aster grew.

It was then that Tatiana remembered who he once was.

She saw him giving B.T a piggyback ride.

"Aster…"

He didn't hear her.

She could see him painting Easter eggs.

"This isn't you."

Pitch's blood stung his, already wounded, fists.

She recalled when they all went trick or treating.

"You're better than this…you're better than him!"

Aster cocked his fist back.

Pitch spit blood out to the side while laughing.

Her eyes shut, and she pictured his smile.

"Please…"

Aster's eyelids lowered with his fist.