It physically hurt to write this chapter... *sobs in corner*
Chapter 21
Jack's POV
I snarled and paced around my room. Echo said she would be here by now! She sent Accalia, like, an hour ago with a message saying she would be here by breakfast time!
Just as I was about to go downstairs for the twentieth time that morning, I heard my door open.
"Hey Jack." Echo greeted me casually with a smile.
I froze, then turned sharply and stalked over. I smacked her against the wall, my hands on her shoulder. I was breathing heavily. " 'Hey Jack'?! Are you kidding me?! Do you know how long I've been waiting?!"
Echo looked at me, concern evident on her face. "Look, I just got caught up with Accalia and some water nymphs-"
"I was worried." The anger drained out of me and I pulled her into a hug. I leaned my head onto her shoulder and mumbled, "I was scared that you weren't coming back or the Pitch had kidnapped you or something like that."
Echo was shocked. "…What? Jack, why would I leave? Anyways, Pitch wouldn't kidnap me. I'd punch him in the face and never forgive him. Well, I mean he potentially could, because I told him about this one plant that acts like a sedate for me, but he wouldn't do that. Not unless-"
I pulled away from her and said bluntly, "Pitch is in love with you."
Echo's POV
I stared at him, jaw gone slack and eyes as huge as saucers. "What?!" I finally managed to spit out. "Pitch doesn't- he wouldn't- I'm not- he's not- we're friends-" I stumbled over my words awkwardly.
"Do you know what Tooth said the moment you left?" Jack demanded angrily, "She said, and I quote, 'He totally likes her'. and everyone agreed. Even Bunny." Jack looked seriously pissed.
"But- why would he like me…?" I was at a loss for words. The man I'd been friends with, the man who was like family to me for 300 years, has a crush on me?! … ….
Jack looked defeated. "I don't know! But he does! And it's obvious to everyone except you!"
I shook my head. "No way does Pitch like me. That just doesn't make sense! He's like family to me!"
"Well he obviously wants to be 'like family' in a different way!" Jack snapped.
I narrowed my eyes so he wouldn't see the cold terror. "Fine. I'll just go ask him." I said, my tone dead so it wouldn't betray the tremor.
"What?! No! You don't just go up to someone and say 'Hey, just curious, do you have a crush on me?' That's not- why- Are you actually going to say that?!"
"Well, what else would I say? I'm usually a pretty blunt person. I only sugarcoat for kids."
Jack sighed in exasperation. "Look, just forget it."
My mouth popped open. "FORGET about it?! Like hell! Being told your best friend digs you is NOT something you just forget about!"
Jack grabbed my hand and dragged me downstairs. He wouldn't respond to anything I had to say, so I just didn't say anything at all.
"Just… stay here, OK?" Jack looked at me worriedly as we walked into the Globe Room.
"Fine…"
I watched Jack walk out. I heard the faint voices of the Guardians arguing about something. So, after waiting a safe amount of time, I turned and inspected the globe. I knew just where to look to find out where he would most likely be. I spotted a small area in Maine, about an inch in size, which was completely devoid of lights. I smiled. To Boothbay Harbor!
Jack's POV
"OK Echo, the Guar-" I froze, rooted to the ground as I did a quick sweep over the empty room.
Where. Is. She.
I laughed nervously and said, "Come on Echo, knock it off. It's not funny." My tone was light, but… she didn't respond.
She left.
Or…
The room spun and I fell to the ground from the amount of fear and anger pumping into my veins. I faintly heard someone calling my name, but I was already dead to the world.
Echo's POV
"Oh, great." I mumbled to myself sarcastically and pulled my knee-length trench coat around me tighter. "The one day I need to look for someone, its super rainy and hard to see." Not that it would make it harder for me. It was just annoying.
I growled softly, my eyes simmering like the aurora, shifting colors with a steely grey as the 'background' in the iris. "PITCH!" I hollered piercingly.
My eyes swept around the area. I tugged on my collar irritably. I smirked as I spotted him hiding in the shadows. Accalia came out of nowhere and barked a warning, but I didn't exactly listen.
I stalked over to him and I grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the shadow before he could slither away. At least, I tried to pull him out, but he suddenly leered at me- no, at something above me- and jerked his arm backwards.
My iron grip on his arm proved flawless as I fell through the bottomless shadow with Pitch moments after the Guardians came into view.
"Echo!"
Sandy's POV
I tugged on Jack's sleeve and pointed out Echo. She was wearing knee-high black boots, a dark grey trench coat, and silver-grey leggings. Despite the fact that everything in the area was all blue, white and green, she blended in surprisingly well. In fact, my eyes were slipping off her.
She appeared to be looking for something, and occasionally created a few glowing silver fairies. She turned towards a rather dark shadow and smirked.
"Oh no…" Jack whispered softly, his eyes widening.
Accalia bounded out of the water (?) and barked something to Echo. She yipped and howled and bounded closer, but refused to get closer to Pitch, merely curling a lip at him. Echo obviously wasn't paying attention to Accalia.
Tooth screamed, "Echo!" as we could do nothing more the merely watch as Pitch sneered at Jack and heaved Echo into the shadows, where they disappeared.
Accalia tilted her head back howled mournfully to the sky.
I know. I'm an awful person. Suddenly the author's note makes sense, yes?
Well, i'll update relatively soon, but reviews for encouragement would make me move a hell of a lot faster, so... *hinthintnudgenudge*
Songbook12