"JACK! WERE COMING FOR YA MATE!" The intense cries of agony pierced his long fluffy ears as he sprinted on all fours through the long corridor made in the cave. He could sense Tooth just behind him, but he was barely paying attention to anything else. The cold rounded walls of the cave were getting smaller and Bunny lay as flat as he could as he felt a small tear in his fur at the jagged edges. He heard tooth gasp behind him and realised the same thing must have happened to her.

He squint in the distance as the echoes of Jack's torture grew louder and louder, but all he could see was darkness ahead.

Suddenly he and tooth felt the ground open before them and they both yelled in shock as they dropped into the unknown, the black sand glittering menacingly as it swallowed them whole.

"That ought to do it." Pitch said as power flowed through him, feeding of off Jack's fear. He watched in pleasure as Jack shook on the ground still gasping for breath and groaning in pain. He tried to pull himself up by the chains that had reopened his scabs and were now caked heavily in blood from where he had pulled against his restraints, but only gasped loudly and lay back down in his uncomfortable position.

His whole body trembled and he could distantly hear Pitch's voice in the background. His vision was invaded by black dots, flitting in and out of his sight and he tried to blink them away but it only intensified. The loud ringing ear in his voice was only growing louder and despite how sick he felt he wanted to succumb to the unconsciousness. As he stopped fighting it and relief started to ebb away his fear a foot slammed into his side.

He cried out again and as he saw Pitch's blurry vision bend down and he tried to sink into the walls. Pitch grabbed hold of his jumper and lifted him slightly off the ground bringing his face to his as an angry snarl crossed his lips.

"Gerroff." Jack groaned wincing as his body was forced to move again.

Jack closed his eyes again but was shook hard by Pitch who was keeping him awake.

"Come on Jack, we can't be rude to our guests can we? They've gone through all this effort to see you, the least you could do is stay awake."

Jack stared past him as Tooth and Bunny were dragged into the room by two fearlings whose outline grew stronger by the minute. The fierce horses threw down their prey to give their master and faded away, the door vanishing with them as they left.

All of Jacks dizziness was washed away as he stared horror struck at his two friends who were looking at him in the same way, both of them practically screaming through the gags furiously.

"Leave them alone!" Jack screamed angrily and despite his injuries he pulled against the binds, his eyes never leaving his friends faces.

"I haven't touched them Jack." Pitch whispered through his cold smile, "Yet."

Jack shot his eyes up to the monster before him, Pitch feeling the power trembling inside of him at the look in his eye.

Then Jack's face turned into anger and he gave an almighty kick, causing Pitch to collapse as his leg gave way.

Pitch gave no hesitation and struck him again, putting all of the hate he felt towards him in it. He felt no pity as he watched Jack screaming in agony, his whole body jerking and begging for release. Bunny and Tooth were both struggling madly against their own restraints as they watched the youngest guardian cry out. They had never felt so hopeless before. A child was being tortured before their very eyes; and there was nothing they could do about it.

Pitch released the bolts of electricity from Jack and turned away from him as he gasped for breath, coughing violently through his sore torn throat. He groaned in frustration as he felt old wounds open, beads of blood tracing over his bruises.

Pitch clicked his fingers and the black sand vanished from Tooth and Bunny's mouths.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Bunny yelled angrily still struggling madly against his bonds.

Tooth couldn't speak; her purple eyes still glued onto Jack who she could see was struggling to remain conscious for them. Tears traced her face and her mouth was agape as her heart shattered before her. She could barely breathe through this pain.

"Of course you are." Pitch only laughed in response as he turned around to look at Jack at the far end of the cell. "I'll make a deal with you jack,-"

"I'm not doing anything you want." He spat immediately cutting through Pitch who angrily walked up to him and kicked him hard in the face where he winced and grit his teeth together already tasting more blood in his mouth.

"As I was saying," Pitch continued as though there had been no interruption, "you tell me one thing, and I'll let them go."

"What is it?" Jack asked impatiently, determined to answer whatever he wanted in order to free his friends.

"No mate! Don't do what he wants!" Bunny shouted angrily glaring at Pitch who stood before him.

"Jack, please…" Tooth whispered softly through her tears.

He looked at her sympathetically which only hurt her more. He should be the one in tears, and here she was crying and losing control completely. But despite her hurt Jack knew he had to do the right thing. The children needed them the most.

"How did you fix your staff?" Pitch asked him as he brought his eyes back to him.

Jack looked up at him his eyebrow raised, "Umm, is that it?" He asked almost disbelievingly.

Pitch gave a chuckle at his expression, "Simple question. One answer and I'll let them go."

Jack would have laughed in relief if his situation wasn't so serious, but as he opened his mouth he found he couldn't answer.

"I Dunnoe." He said terror in his eyes as he blinked down at the ground.

Pitch sighed almost sympathetically, "Well I guess they'll have to stick around for a bit…" He said turning his back on the teen as though to leave them all.

"No, no! Wait!" Bunny and Tooth winced at his croaky voice, none of its joy and tease residing there.

Pitch smiled to himself at his desperation before turning back to look at him. His smile widened nastily as he watched Jack panicking to answer.

"I... I Dunnoe exactly how, it just sort of…" He yelled in frustration. "I held it together and I could feel my magic… it was fixing it."

Pitch didn't want to show his surprise at how strong Jack's power must be and so he stepped slowly forwards giving him a look that clearly told him to elaborate.

"I guess my magic wasn't from the staff, it's just in me." As he said it the realisation hit him. Maybe he could to something now, to free him and the others.

Pitch could already see the plans building up inside him and turned around towards the other two guardians who looked defeated and lost. He clicked his fingers and two of his fearlings appeared in mid-air tossing their heads and pawing the ground.

"No Jack! We can't leave you!" Tooth sobbed.

"Let him go Pitch, NOW!" Bunny shouted still struggling madly trying to kick out at the fearling that tried to drag him away by his binds.

Pitch clicked his fingers again and another of his beasts materialised and helped to drag out Bunnymund, his angry curses and threats never ceasing. Tooth sobbed once more as she was dragged from the room, her eyes never leaving Jack's until the door closed behind them and vanished. She and Bunny were thrown to the floor and just as more screaming from the room emitted they fell once more into a black hole, moments later landing with a thud in the middle of North's palace, Jack's pain still echoing in their ears.

A/N

Cause I got 4 reviews in one chapter I thought I'd get my butt into gear;) thanks so much, you guys are all great!