Hey guys, thanks for all your reviews. I love reading them. Oh, since I love giving you guys challenges here is the next one. If by…Friday night I get 300 reviews I will go ahead and begin my Pitch and Patrick story a week before I intended ;) (Goodluck) Enjoy
(At Gaal's Castle)
"Jack! Jack answer me!" the fairy desperately tried to get a response from the frozen spirit.
Gaal just stared, "What did he do? We were gone for a few seconds!"
Tooth shook her head, tears in her eyes, "I don't know what happened."
The scientist walked over to the winter spirit, he stared at the boy's pure white eyes, "He seems to be in a trance of some sort…"
Tooth gasped, "That's it Gaal! Darkness's memories must have pulled Jack into them."
"My dear that is imposs…"
"No it isn't." Tooth's feathers fluffed in indignation, "Pitch's memories do the same thing. And since Death obviously did the same thing to Pitch that she did to Darkness then it only makes sense that his memories would act the same way."
Gaal frowned, "But why Jack?"
"Not sure…perhaps Darkness trusts Jack because he also knows what it is like to have no memory."
The scientist stared at the two spirits, "You think that the boy can help Darkness find his way out?"
Tooth sighed, "I hope so."
Of course Jack was unaware of his friend's concern, his mind still entrapped within the rapids that were Darkness's memories.
(Flashback POV)
"Don't stop!" Donovan grimaced as he pulled the little boy to his feet, his face twisting as his burnt hand made contact.
The winter spirit cringed at the pain he knew Darkness was feeling as he followed the three as they ran through the thick forest.
"But I tired…" Ryu whimpered as they continued through the dense forest
"I know, but we can't let them catch us." silver eyes glanced back the way they had came.
Jack also glanced behind them, so far the two men had yet to catch up to them, but he knew it was only a matter of time. They had been running nonstop since Darkness had used the fire to burn through his bonds; only taking short breaks when they became too exhausted to take another step.
"Come on Ryu," Melantha encouraged her brother as they ran
Jack gasped as Ryu suddenly lost his balance as his foot caught a tree root that was concealed in the snow.
Donovan cried out when the little boy grabbed his hand as he fell, agonizing pain shooting through him.
"I sorry!" Ryu began to cry as Donovan's hand began to bleed
Blue eyes stared at the ripped skin on the burnt hand
"It's alright Ryu, I'm fine." Donovan smiled as he cradled the hand against his chest
Jack cringed at the pain he knew must be felt from the contact of the shirt against the burned flesh.
"Look Donvin!" Melantha pointed as they emerged from the forest, a small cabin and barn stood in the clearing.
Silver eyes widened as they caught sight of light pouring from the cabin
"We can hide there." Ryu and Melantha rushed ahead before Donovan could stop them
"Wait you two!" Donovan rushed after them
"And you are?"
Donovan paused as a man and boy walked out of the small barn, both of them staring at him.
Jack stood still watching the scene before him; there was something familiar about those two…
Donovan swallowed involuntarily; every instinct in his body told him to run but he couldn't leave the children. "Ummm, we're just traveling through and got a bit lost."
"Christopher, Samuel, it seems we have guests." A woman spoke as she emerged from the cabin. Her hazel hair flowing around her in the breeze, sapphire eyes glanced at the young man standing in front of her husband, "But it seems you already know that."
"Wait…I know that voice." Jack stared at the woman; he glanced at Darkness who was panicking at sight of Ryu and Melantha each holding the hand of the woman as she walked up.
"Come on you two, we have to go." Donovan's voice echoed with urgency
Jack watched as the boy jumped when the collar that was still around his neck moved, the winter spirit could see Darkness's face fall when he turned and saw the chain in Christopher's hand.
"Interesting accessory." golden eyes bore into silver ones, "Now, would you like to explain this?"
Donovan shuddered, "Please sir, they're coming for us."
"Who?"
"That would be us."
Jack watched as Ryu and Melantha ran to Donovan, burying their faces into his legs as Valdus and Aeron emerged from the tree line.
Valdus glanced at the man holding Donovan's chain, "I believe that those three belong to us. So if you don't mind I'll be taking them back with me, sorry if they caused you any trouble." He sneered as he walked forward, "When we get back to the camp I'm going to…" he stopped abruptly when a sword suddenly appeared at his throat.
"What the hell?" Aeron glared at the man who held his sword to his brother's neck
"I thought I knew them," Jack was astonished as he saw the sword, "That's dad and mom!" he glanced at the short young boy with sandy blonde hair that was glaring at the two men, "And that's Sandman as a human." he smirked
"You're trespassing on my property. I would like it if you would remove yourself." golden eyes flashed with anger as he held the sword inches from the man's throat
Jack glanced at Donovan who was staring in disbelief at this stranger that was defending him from the men who had tormented him all his life.
Valdus glared as he motioned for Aeron, "I hate to tell you, but there are two of us and only one of you." he grinned, "I like those odds, old man."
Christopher ran his hand through his white hair, golden eyes danced with amusement, "Sir, even if there were fifty of you." He smirked, "I would still have the odds in my favor."
Jack chuckled, "So that's where Pitch gets it from…"
Valdus glared, "Cocky are we?"
"Rachel take these three into the house, they look like they could us some food."
"Come along dears," the woman called softly to the children she frowned as the three stayed where they were.
Christopher shook his head, "Here," he motioned to her, he handed her the chain, "Now get them inside, this is about to get ugly."
Jack watched as Donovan followed mechanically as the woman gently pulled on the chain; he was surprised when Darkness's voice filled his mind.
"I just traded masters, but maybe these people will be kinder than the last."
The winter spirit's heart fell at the sheer hopelessness in his voice. He followed behind them.
Donovan glanced down at the two children that were clinging to him as they walked toward the cabin, "Everything will be fine."
Rachel smiled at them as they entered the small cabin, "Of course it will dears."
Donovan was surprised when she dropped the chain and walked into the kitchen. He was equally surprised when she remerged with three small bowls of food.
Sapphire eyes softened as the boy's expression, "Have a seat."
Jack shook his head in sympathy as Darkness did so as if it were a command.
"Here." she handed a bowl to Ryu and Melantha who had also sat on the floor beside him
Donovan stared at her as she offered him a bowl, he reached for it awkwardly
Rachel gasped as she caught sight of his burned hands, "Oh my word!" she immediately set the bowl on the floor as she knelt beside him, "Let me see."
Donovan flinched as he held his hands for her to look at them
"How did this happen?" her voice was a mixture of anger and sympathy
"I…we had to escape!" the boy broke down, "Please don't send us back with them!" He startled when he was pulled into her embrace
"Shhh, child." Rachel spoke soothingly as the youth buried his head into her shoulder, "We will not let them take you, you're safe now."
Jack could tell from the expression on Darkness's face that 'Safe' was a word he wasn't used too.
"You promise?"
The winter spirit could hear the desperation in those words
Sapphire eyes stared into silver ones; "I promise child." she smiled as she got to her feet and walked out of the room. Minutes later she returned, "Now this will hurt but I promise it will help."
Jack grimaced as she began to doctor Darkness's hands, "I know exactly how bad that hurts…" he thought as the boy's face filled with pain though he made not one sound.
(End of Flashback)
Gaal watched as Darkness's face twisted in pain, "I can't tell what is causing his pain..."
Tooth glanced away from Jack, "It's not really anything that you can help with Gaal, Darkness is reliving the pain of whatever memory he is experiencing."
"How is the boy?" Gaal asked as he replaced the rag on his friend's forehead once again, trying to keep his temperature under control
"Jack is fine, though he's still trapped within Darkness's memories." The fairy sighed as she stared at the winter spirit who stood as a statue, his eyes still solid white.
"Why don't you try to wake him?" Gaal asked as he replaced an empty iv bag
Tooth shook her head as she sank into a chair beside Jack, "I don't know what that would do to Darkness. Now that he has joined his psyche with Jack's I could very well damage it beyond repair if I were to pull Jack's conscious from it since Darkness's mind is already so broken."
Gaal checked the heart monitor, and then he too sat in a chair, "Well hopefully he can help Darkness to wake up."
The spirit in question of course remained still, as he remained tied the swirling memories rapidly flowing within the shattered mind of Darkness.
(Flash Back POV)
"May I have some more?"
Jack had to grin at the little boy who had just downed his third bowl of soup.
Rachel smiled at Ryu as she helped Donovan eat his own fourth bowl, "Of course little one." She motioned to Samuel, "Dear, please go grab another bowl."
Jack watched as his eldest brother gave a thumbs up and walk into the kitchen
"This is good." Melantha smiled as she shoved another spoonful of food into her mouth
"It is," Donovan smiled at the little girl, silver eyes then glanced at his bandaged hands, "I wonder if they'll keep me since I can't work…"
Jack shook his head at Darkness's comment
Donovan startled when the door to cabin opened and the woman's husband came in
Jack's eyes widened as he caught sight of the blood on his father's sword.
"So have you found out anything about our guests?" Christopher spoke as he wiped his blade clean; he then laid it next to the door.
"Not much dear," Rachel frowned as Samuel came back into the room and handed the bowl to Ryu, "But enough to know that those two need to be buried deep within the earth's core."
Golden eyes gleamed as he caught sight of the bandages on Donovan's hands, "Damn, I didn't see that before." he glanced out the window; "If I had I wouldn't have let them off with just a few scars." he looked at Samuel, "Samuel, go see if you can find those two. I believe I'm not finished 'talking' to them yet."
Jack watched as Samuel nodded and walked out the door "Those guys better hope Sandman never finds them." the winter spirit shuddered at the anger he heard in his father's voice
"By the way they were running I doubt he'll find them…" Christopher chuckled
The little boy's eyes widened, "You chased them away?"
Christopher smiled down at Ryu, "That I did, those two will not be bothering you again." he then glanced at Donovan, "Let's get that from around your neck."
Donovan stiffened as the man knelt beside him; he shuddered as Christopher pulled on the collar
"Stupid bastards… should have cut their damn heads off…" golden eyes gleamed as he caught sight of the raw skin under the metal.
"Christopher, there are children present." Rachel scolded her husband as she took the children's empty bowls. She smiled at them, "Come my dears let's get you two to bed."
Ryu laughed as he and his sister were picked up and carried down the hall
"What about Donvin?" Melantha asked as she glanced back
"He'll be along shortly." Rachel smiled as she took them into a room
Donovan panicked when they left his sight; he started to get up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at the man beside him.
"Calm down son, it will be ok." Christopher spoke softly, "I need to get this off," he frowned as he pulled on the collar, "Seems like this thing hasn't been removed for months."
"That's not far off…"
"Really should have just taken off their heads…" Golden eyes narrowed as he took hold of the metal band with both hands
Jack watched as his father's muscles bulged as he simply pulled the collar apart.
Donovan startled when the collar snapped off.
"There," Christopher tossed the collar and chain across the floor in anger, "Name's Christopher by the way."
Donovan watched as the man got to his feet, "Donovan, sir."
Christopher smiled at him, "Well Donovan, we'll talk in the morning. Right now I want you to get some rest."
"Can I please go check on Ryu and Melantha?" the boy spoke cautiously, "Usually masters don't want slaves kept together but I can at least make sure they're ok."
The winter spirit sighed at Darkness's last thought, "Poor Darkness, he doesn't realize he's free…"
"Of course." Christopher helped him to his feet, "Your siblings are just down the hallway."
"They're not…" he paused, perhaps the man would be more likely to keep them together if he thought they were related "Thank you sir." he started toward the room he had seen the woman take them
"…and then Donvin busted open the cage."
Jack had to laugh at the excitement in Ryu's voice; he also had been impressed by the young man who had literally torn open the wooden cage with bleeding burnt hands. Jack smiled as he followed behind Darkness and caught sight of the two children huddled together on the mound of soft blankets that had been placed on the floor
"That sounds like quite a story." the woman laughed as she handed them another blanket
"And then when the big guy woke up and ran at him, Donvin hit him with one of the bars. It made him fall to the ground." Melantha smiled as she grabbed the blanket
Jack watched Donovan glance at the floor, clearly embarrassed at the admiration in the little girl's voice
"Well, he is certainly brave." Rachel smiled at Donovan as she caught sight of him in the doorway, "Are you hurting?"
Donovan shook his head, "I just wanted to check on the kids."
Sapphire eyes filled with sympathy, "Come on, I made you a pallet to sleep."
"I can stay with them?"
Rachel smiled at the relief in his voice, "Of course."
Donovan walked in the room and sat on the mound of blankets that had been set up next to the wall. He watched as Rachel walked out the door, he startled when Ryu and Melantha came over and laid their heads in his lap. He smiled down at them as the two children began falling asleep.
Jack watched as Darkness laid his head against the wall, exhaustion taking hold and within minutes he was out. Blue eyes glanced around as the entire room began to shift, "Guess it's on to another…"
The scene changed as the memory swirled past, this time they were outside the cabin.
Jack watched as his father handed a small bag of coins to Darkness
"Here, this should be enough to get you guys started."
"I can't thank you enough sir." Donovan spoke softly as he accepted the gift
"Now, you and your siblings are welcome to stay." Christopher smiled as Ryu chased Melantha across the yard
"I know sir, but I want to give my family a new start." he smirked, "And you're about to have a new addition to yours."
Jack laughed as his father turned red, he glanced as his mother came from the cabin her stomach much rounder.
Rachel laughed, "That is no reason for you guys to leave."
"We have been here for almost a year now," he smiled, "Spring is the best time to begin a new life."
Jack smiled as his mother hugged Darkness
"I wish you the best." she smiled as she stepped back
Donovan was surprised when Samuel walked up to him, "You have something for me?" the young man smiled as Samuel made signs with his hands.
Blonde hair bobbed as he held out his hand, he placed a small white stone attached to a gold chain into Darkness's palm.
"That is a Cherika Stone; it will illuminate even the darkest of night." Christopher spoke as Donovan placed the necklace around his neck
Jack watched as silver eyes filled with gratitude
"Thank you Samuel," Donovan shook the boy's hand, "I will treasure it always."
The winter spirit watched as the three said their goodbyes then they headed into the forest, ready to begin anew. He then noticed that the background began to shift, as if on forward fast. Blue eyes widened as memories began rushing by him so fast that he was sure he was going to be sick. "Dear Moon, is this what Darkness has been going through for two weeks?" Jack watched as memory after memory played as the flow continued out of control, "I have to find a way to slow down this down…I wonder…" he held his hand palm up, he yelped as a bolt of ice shot into the air. "Well that did it…" Jack was stunned as the memory flow seemed to freeze. He scanned the memory strand, "This looks like a good place to go…"
Once again the scene changed as the winter spirit was engulfed within a memory.
Please review and let me know what you thought, I rewrote this one a couple of times. The first few didn't flow well…anyway good luck with the challenge. ;) Till Next Time.