Okay! Have a 4000+ word chapter. *Flops* I got a review asking me about whether I had anything against dark-skinned people (Jess). The answer is no. In the first chapter Chris is expressing her personal opinion about fake tan since she herself doesn't really wear any form of beauty products. I'm sorry if anyone got that idea. As a result, I ended up delving into Jess' character a bit so some of this chapter is about her. Oh, and there is also some swearing in this chapter. Just thought I'd give you guys a head up. Enjoy!~
"Have a good lunch everyone."
I barely registered the sound of my teachers' voice, or even the commotion as twenty five other teenagers clambered to exit the room. Folding my arms, I adjusted myself so I could lay on them comfortably. Unfortunately, it didn't last long as a familiar presence over-shadowed my desk.
"You look like you're not going."
I glanced at Danny through a lock of hair, taking in his dishevelled appearance. He had been acting strangely lately, unnoticeable to a person that barely knew him but for me it was obvious. For starters, he had been smiling non-stop, even at that point in class when you were seriously considering whether it would be worth it to jump out the window. Danny was forgetting small things like his tie, and that he hadn't dried his hair before leaving the house this morning. It was a sight to see when I arrived to pick him up and Julie chased him out with a hand-held hairdryer.
"I'm not. Sorry, but I'm really tired today."
He raised an eyebrow."Okaaaay. You have to tell me though if something's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong. Just go before the good food is gone!" I snapped.
Danny backed off. "Alright, alright. Seya later."
Now stuck in the empty classroom with nothing but the hum of people outside I left my seat, needing to take a walk around school.
I was barely one lap around when I heard the faintest of sniffles from the girl's bathroom. Why I investigated I'm not sure, all I know is that hearing people cry isn't' for me. What I expected to see was some small young girl crying over a friendship that had broken. I certainly didn't expect to see the tear-stained face of Jess as she scraped her face with a wet-wipe, disposing of any makeup there at all.
She turned, hints of shock and anger crossing her features. Mostly though, well it looked like she had lost hope.
"What are you doing here?"
"Heard someone crying, came to investigate." I was being straight to the point I guess.
"Please leave; I came here so I could be alone."
"I can't just turn around; I'm implicated in this situation so therefore it is my responsibility to help you out somehow." Manners are a bitch sometimes.
"How can you help me?"
"I can help," I sat on the counter next to where she stood. "by having you tell me what's wrong."
She stared at me, probably wondering if I would go spread this. Never was one for spreading rumours though, to bothersome.
Her gaze finally softened. "Mum lost it last night. Told me I couldn't dress like this anymore because I was disgracing the family. She doesn't even understand why." She sniffed and wiped a stray tear away.
"And, if you don't mind me asking. Why do you dress like that?" I wasn't implying anything; in fairness I had been pretty mean to her in the past even if it was in my head. She took Danny from me for a while and didn't like it.
Jess's lip quivered, her hands balling into fists. "Can I trust you?"
"I'm hardly someone who's going to scream secrets to the high heavens."
That gained a laugh, surprising really.
"A few years ago when I was walking home…some guy grabbed me, I managed to get away from him before he could do anything serious but it was still pretty terrifying." She inhaled deeply, exhaling thorough gritted teeth. "When I spoke about it to my mum and dad they told me men would go after a girl like me because I looked weak."
I was speechless, unable to comprehend what was being said. "Do you have a picture of what you used to look like?"
Her face fell and she silently pulled out her phone, scrolling through what I assumed was her photo album. To say I wasn't surprised would be a downright lie.
Smiling brightly was a fair skinned girl with beautiful wavy brown hair ending a few inches past her shoulders. She wore no obvious makeup, her cheeks naturally rosy, a cute dimple making her shy smile all that more adorable. The girl wore a green cardigan with a small pleated skirt underneath. Happiness was what I could see, pure joy to which I could no longer recognise on the Jess now.
"I figured why be like that if men still think you're a toy? Might as well just dress and act how they want and then I can say I had it coming."
"Don't be an idiot!" I retorted, stabbing my finger at her.
Jess recoiled at the touch and I seized the opportunity.
"Saying that is like admitting defeat. You're smarter than that. The artificial you is nothing more than an echo of the Jess I just saw now. No one deserves to be treated like a toy, and they shouldn't think of themselves like one. You are so much more than that, so start acting like you are because I can't help you unless you agree to help yourself. "
"But I can't go back; everyone will think I'm crazy."
"I won't. And I know others won't either. Because it doesn't matter who you are, as long as that person is the real you then people have no right to judge."
Tears pricked at her eyes and I saw that smile on the photo, one of pure happiness. It was then I knew that I was completely wrong about her, and I felt ashamed of myself for ever thinking that way.
"….Fine. Okay, I'll go back to the real me. To be honest it took up a lot of time to dress like this anyway." She laughed.
I chuckled, running a hand through my own untamed mop. When class began a short while after Jess received a few strange glances from other classmates, each time she caught one staring she would turn to me in a panic as if checking I was still there. I would wave and set her at ease.
I really shouldn't judge people as much, everyone has secrets.
That little though stayed in my mind until I caught sight of the black cloth visible in Danny's bag, a familiar cloth at that. Myra's jacket was easily recognisable because along with Emma we had made it for her as children, a present given to her long ago.
So why did Danny have it?
. .
.
February 25th
A stream of sand whirled above Sandy's head, forming the number sixteen along with a question mark.
"Yeah, a week ago to be exact." I confirmed. "Not a grown up yet but getting close to it. It was nice being able to spend my birthday with my family."
North had brought us all together today, worrying me a lot since he had obviously been informed by Bunny of the incident which had happened a week prior. Luckily for me, Sandy was oblivious for the time being and chose to partake in a small, albeit difficult, conversation with me.
He smiled, the next image being of a present, taking me a second to click on.
"Oh, no I don't want anything from you. Besides," I pulled the small capsule of dreamsand out of my shirt. "this was more than enough, but thank you."
Sandy was puzzled by this, and I wondered if I may have offended him by telling him that.
Good.
I silenced the voice and grinned at him. "But if you insist then maybe you could surprise me?"
Beaming from ear to ear he opened his small arms and hugged me the best he could. I giggled, returning the kind gesture, adjusting the red scarf around my neck so he couldn't see the grey skin that had recently began to slither its way there. I was just thankful it hadn't spread to my legs yet simply because I was already looking suspicious enough without having to keep my legs covered too.
"Chris?"
I faced Jack, his expression sending chills through me. He looked guilty; his eyes scrunched shut as he struggled with his next words.
"I'm sorry."
"Eh? Ah!"
My hands were forced behind me, knocking me off of the table where I sat. When I turned to see who it was (being unable to feel through the gloves I wore) I lost my breath, Danny's gaze downcast as he held me long enough for Sandy to tie the dreamsand around my wrists.
"What's going on? Let me go!" I struggled on the floor but Danny had applied most of his weight onto me, preventing me from getting up.
"I had to tell them Chris. Did you honestly think you could get through it on your own? What if you ended up hurting someone?" He reasoned.
I knew immediately what he meant and rage surged through me, my powers awakening after a month of not using them.
"You traitor! I thought I could trust you! Let me go!" I spat, glaring at him as the intent to kill rose within me, the fear also re-awakening.
North's voice boomed. "Little Chris, we only want to help. You must trust us. We can fix you."
"Well you've made a fantastic start!" I snorted sarcastically.
Jack knelt down in front of me, and a bit my lip. I tensed as he slowly unravelled the scarf from my neck, allowing everyone to see the patchy skin underneath. I couldn't even look at him, choosing to turn my head away.
Bunny gently pulled at one of my gloves, and I sensed his discomfort rise once my hand was in full view.
"How long has this gone on for, kid?" I heard him ask Danny.
"A little over a month. She didn't tell me how it happened, just that she needed help."
Jack gritted his teeth. "Danny, let her up. It's not likes she's going to hurt us."
"But-"
"Let her up Danny." That was Tooth's voice. Even I could detect the hint of worry in her voice.
The weight lessened significantly and I shoved him away from me, pushing myself up. Jack mimicked me, and I tried my best to stare at him in defiance.
"I don't need your help." I hissed.
He opened his mouth, snapping it shut as if losing his words. With his free hand he placed his fingers under my fringe, moving the strands out of the way. Jack was…..scared, and so did the others as they circled around to look at me too.
"What?"
Jack swallowed, taking an uneasy breath. "Chris…..your eye is…it's black."
A faint chuckle echoed inside my mind as I tensed, clenching my fists together. Paint hit my eye as though a sharp needle had struck it, forcing me to shut it and whimper.
"We can help you mate. Just let us."
"Shut up! You're too late to help me anyway."
Tooth flew forward; her arm lifted in what I assumed was a comforting gesture. My hair floated around my face, small flames flittering from parts of my head and body. I'd never felt so pissed off before, the anger swelling and seeping through my pours.
I could feel it, the old me slipping away into the shadows, allowing itself to be consumed.
North was the one to speak now. "But there's still time little Chris."
I laughed, that laughter soon forming into complete hysterics which has me doubling over. "Still time?! Really?! What a ridiculous statement. You know what, might as well say it now we're all here!"
That's it child, let go. Let me speak the words you've wanted to say for so long.
Lifting my head so they could see my pleasured smirk, I lost hold of whatever control I had left.
"I wasted fifteen fucking years waiting for you shits and yet you still couldn't find time in you schedule to help me or my sister."
Jack couldn't believe what he was seeing; the dreamsand around Chris' wrist was dissolving into black smoke, allowing her freedom. She stood straight, wisps of hair lifting to reveal her black eye, her flames dimming to a dark blue, the rest of her skin now a light grey.
Her words hit home with everyone, and she smirked as if enjoying that knowledge.
Danny stood frozen, his mouth closed in a thin line.
"Oh wow, you guys look shit scared. Worry not; she isn't dead, just taking a nice long snooze."
Chris sat on the table behind her, pulling her leg up so she could rest her chin on it.
North raised his sword at her, but Jack knew he only meant it as intimidation, though he doubted it would work. Out of everyone he seemed the most struck by her words, his sword quaking in the air.
"If you leave the child now we will not hurt you."
She grinned at that, lolling her head back to look at the ceiling. "Hurt me how exactly? Because I've been with Chris from the day her crazy pops decided to redecorate the house the 'extreme' way and I can tell you that nothing will hurt me more than how she felt when knew no one was going to save her."
Bunny was speechless but gathered himself enough to grab a boomerang and stand aside North.
Jack couldn't bear to raise his staff against her, instead asking. "So you possessed her during that time?"
Chris looked at him lazily, pulling up her hood. "Yep." She popped the 'p', looking to see if that got any more of a reaction out of them, frowning when it didn't.
"God you guys are pathetic, I hope the shadows that possessed you weren't as goddamn bored. I know, maybe if I hurt one of you then you'll fight me and I can have some fun?" Her sinister smile then returned to the same lazy one, and she sighed. "But that would require effort, and I'd much rather watch you suffer by telling you all the ways you screwed up this girls life without even lifting a finger."
Bunny refused to hear anymore and leapt forward to grab Chris. She only sighed and spun around, slamming her foot straight into his stomach and sending him flying back. He took the blow hard, curling up on the floor as the rest of the Guardians surrounded him. Jack wanted to help Bunny but also couldn't find it in him to turn away from Chris.
"It's rude to interrupt someone who's talking, idiot." She drawled.
Jack lifted his staff, pointing it at her, though he wished desperately he didn't have to. "Chris we can figure this out, now stop messing around."
"Oh my, snowflake's grown a pair. Listen boy-scout, maybe you think the world can be cured by fun but in reality I don't think you realise just how many kids die for no good reason. I was with the little bitch for a long time. Saw every bruise her dad left, every broken promise her mum made and every little bit of hope that left her eyes."
Danny rushed forward, hugging the girl before anyone could stop him. "Chris, stop it. You're being stupid. This isn't some game."
"Eugh, you." She pushed Danny away, sitting crossed legged on the table. "Listen, she's grateful for you and everything but come on, do you actually realise how annoying you are?"
Jumping off of the table she mocked him in a bad imitation of his voice. "Maybe if you left the hospital Chris you'd see that life out there isn't bad as it seems."
"I wasn't lying when I said tha-AH!"
She ground her foot into his face, kicking him onto the floor. "Be quiet, you're not doing yourself any favours."
Danny sat up, holding his bleeding nose, both parties not breaking eye-contact.
Her eyes widened as she quickly dodged a ball of dreamsand. "I'm impressed, you almost got me. Unfortunately shadows don't sleep so that's a wasted effort. I guess the only option is for Jackie-boy to use her weakness against her."
Jack's mind whirled. "What are you even talking about?"
She floated towards him, grasping his staff so he had no choice but to remain where he was. Chris was only inches from him, and he couldn't look at her.
"You know she doesn't like the cold. Unlucky for you. Maybe if you freeze me then you'll kill the Chris inside and free me from her body.
He turned to her at that, glaring at her. The smugness was evident on her face as she draped her arms over his shoulders, hovering at his eye level. Jack could see Tooth hovering close by, and he twitched his hand from side to side, hoping she would take it as a hint to not come closer.
"I'd like some privacy, y'know?"
Jack felt his stomach churn as he dropped into the floor, landing in the snow but a second later. His staff was torn from his hand and he sat up in alarm, focusing on the Chris that was stood before him.
"Give me it back."
"How about no?"
He rose to his feet. "Why wouldn't Chris tell me about this?"
The shadow Chris let her head drop, her shoulders hunching over, she looked like the old Chris with the same tendency to curl in on herself when pained. He dared a step forward, shocked when a familiar voice left the shadows mouth.
"I was scared Jack, of being rejected. It's bad enough I mean, who could love a defect like me? I've changed so much, and I'm terrified."
Unsure of who he was really talking to he needed to choose his words carefully.
"Chris? Is that really you?...You're not a defect. I'd never want you to feel that way."
He moved carefully, hugging her small frame as she shivered into his touch, eyes widening when her demeanour changed again. He gasped the shadow weaved her arms around his neck to crash her lips onto his. With both hands he tried to push her away, letting out a muffled cry when she bit down hard on his lower lip, allowing her to force her tongue into his mouth. Blood mixed in with her taste, and he blushed heavily at the foreign feeling.
He shivered at the feeling, noticing how she was smiling into the kiss. Chris's arms slowly fell lax and Jack took this moment to pull away, gasping for air as he placed a hand over his mouth. Though she had let him breath, she still held him in her grasp.
"Revenge for last time." She smirked. "Now, how about I show you a little something, then maybe I'll hand this little walking stick back over, sound good?"
"And what could you poss-?"
"Has she ever told you of her time in the hospital?"
Jack blinked, shifting through his memories and evidently coming up blank. "It's her business. She would tell me if she wanted me to know."
"That's a 'no' then."
Her grasp on his neck tightened again and she pulled him to her neck, blocking his sight. When she allowed him to stand upright again a faint beeping caught his attention. His heart felt like it had stopped when he took in the young form that had been tied to the bed with what looked like belts.
The room was so white it was almost blinding, with the only colour being the small bundle of flowers in a vase next to the bed.
"What is this?" Jack hated everything about the place. The smell, the noise, and the apparent realisation that there was no one sat beside Chris as she lay there with who knows how many needles sticking out of her arms. Her thin frame frighteningly was thin and fragile under the never ending wrappings covering her injured body.
He felt sick.
"You learn to do a lot with ones memories when you've been in their head for this long. I've projected us inside her memory. She won't see or feel you, guess you'll just have to watch."
It was true, when he tried to place his hand on hers, it phased through. Jack's eyes trailed over the frail little girl, his chest tightening as she winced and cracked open the eye that wasn't covered with a thick, white patch. It was as if there was no hope at all there, and he could see a reflection of himself.
During the earlier years of his life, he had given up hope on anyone ever being able to see him. After so many failed attempts he just allowed himself to wander aimlessly from place to place, never giving anything much thought.
"Y'know, she tried so hard to save her sister from that big old house. Before her, I had possessed her father; she actually thought it was because of me he was an abusive bastard. But that wasn't the case, he loved his daughters, but he loved that disgusting liquid even more. I imagine she would've been so much happier if he had just tried."
Jack licked the blood from his lip, struggling to tear himself away from the young Chris as she inched herself into a seated position. He assumed the shadow would just keep talking anyway if he told her to shut up. His cold hands hovered over the restraints, wanting to tear them off and give her room to move.
"She got those through attacking one of the doctors. After all, she never took too kindly to being touched as you know. Although, this is two years earlier."
A faint click caused them to look as the door was eased open, revealing a rather timid looking nurse, a larger man standing just outside the doorway.
Jack waited for an explanation as to why there was what looked like a guard there but he received none.
"Just watch." Was all she said.
"Good morning, Christopher." The nurse chimed, holding her arms behind her.
Chris snapped her head towards the female, looking warily suspicious. Her crystal blue eyes followed the nurses' exact movements, and Jack noticed her muscles straining under the straps.
"Now, please, I-I need to change the drip in your arm. It'll only take a second; I don't mean you any harm."
"No."
"Christopher."
"I SAID NO!"
Jack jumped at her sudden raise in tone, her voice cracking as if she hadn't spoken for a while. The nurse sighed, nodding towards the man outside. He frowned, and without a word walked inside, pushing Chris down onto the bed.
"NO! LET ME GO! STOP IT!"
She thrashed around in his arms, throwing her leg up to kick him in the stomach. The guy coughed, apparently winded from the blow and turned to the door.
"We need help to hold her down!"
Jack was visibly shaken, fear filling him as another two doctors arrived to force Chris to lie down. The restraints were digging into her wrists through the force she was putting on them. She must have been in terrible pain and yet she continued to fight against them, screaming and biting anyone who dare get closer.
"Stop it! Can't you see she's scared?! You're making it worse!"
He watched as one of the doctors pulled a syringe from his pocket and jammed it into her back. She managed to head-butt the guy before falling forward, unconscious. They laid her back down, quickly changing the I.V and muttering amongst themselves about different courses of counselling to recommend her for.
Jack fell to his knees with a though, horrified at what he'd just witnessed. His vision clouded over and he used his sleeve to wipe away the tears that slid down his cheek. A smaller hand rubbed at his face and he was almost embarrassed to see the shadow Chris kneeling next him with a sorrowful look.
"Did you show me that because you wanted me to understand what it was like for her, or just because you enjoyed seeing me like this?"
She let a small laugh. "Jack Frost, if there's anything I know about humans after being with them for so long it's that no matter how many times you tell someone a story they will never quite believe it until you give evidence."
Chris placed the staff back into his hand, frowning at the girl now soundly asleep once more in the bed.
"Despite how she is, that girl is a very lonely person."
It couldn't have felt any worse for him right now as she grabbed his shoulder, he took once last glance at the younger Chris while she slept, everything then turning black.
They landed in the workshop again and she was immediately apprehended by North and Bunny.
"Where are you taking her?"
"A room that I have prepared, it does not allow magic to be performed inside. Although, that also s Chris cannot be changed back unless the shadow lets go."
Jack sent her a pleading glance. "And will you?"
She grinned. "Trust me Jack Frost. My reasons for being here are not just for my own selfish desires. You'll do well to explain to these asshats that I'm not as bad as I seem."
And with that she was led away.
Danny jogged towards him, sighing deeply. "What happened, you were gone for a while."
"She showed me just how fragile people are."
Well I hope you enjoyed it. I'm off to start the next one. Bye!~
I own nothing except my OC's
Myra belongs to my waifu