Sorry it's been so long guys. I've been super busy and I've been having major writers block. Thank you for everyone who reviewed! You guys make me so happy and are the reason I finally got this out. Thank you so much! Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 7

I couldn't feel anything. My legs felt like they were made of jelly, it's a miracle that they are actually supporting my body. But they had to. I was running through a dense forest with so much fear eating at me, I thought I was going to explode from it.

I don't remember how it started, I just remember running. Running as fast as I could through a beautiful forest. At first for fun, for the feeling of freedom. Then the trees began to grow dark and the branches began to shrivel and the sky became black. Pitch black. After that I couldn't stop running for fear of what was chasing me. I would periodically look over my shoulders to see the Nightmares that had begun to chase me. They seemed to get closer and closer.

I felt tears stream down my face as I could hear their hooves thudding against the hard ground. I was so terrified. Suddenly the wooded area became a field full of tall, yellowing grass. I was to short to see over top of the long blades, and I eventually heard the beats of the hooves growing silent. It was at that moment I finally stopped running.

I put my hands on my knees and gasped for breath. But I didn't feel safe, so I began running again. Nightmares were the least of my worries. Why I was powerless and didn't have my staff was beyond me. If I was smart I'd stop and take a moment to think. Look through my options and try to find something on the ground I could use as a weapon. But why would I do that?

So I kept running pushing through the grass not being able to see where my legs were leading me. Until I pushed some grass away only to physically run into the nightmare king himself. Pitch Black. I fell down in front of him after I collided with him, but he didn't even flinch from my momentum hitting him. Instead he smiled, he smiled that sickening smile with his yellow eyes shining. I quickly began to crawl backwards, to increase the distance between us. Then I was grabbed from behind and picked up like I was weightless.

"Sara." I froze when I heard his voice. I struggled hard against him and screamed as loud as I could until he dropped me to the ground with a sigh. "There's no need to be like that." I landed on the ground with a thud and quickly turned my body to look up at him. Death just smiled like we were playing a game. A game of cat and mouse apparently.

I quickly stood and tried to steady my breathing. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how scared I was. I heard Pitch behind me chuckle as he walked closer from behind. Death and I were about two feet apart. I wanted to back away, to keep running and not look back, but I couldn't. I needed to be strong, or atleast look like I was.

I turned my head to see Pitch only inches away from me. He was standing behind me as if waiting for a command to break my neck. But that command didn't come. Instead Death walked closer, his red eyes looking me over. I'm sure I looked like a mess, which in a way pleased me. He didn't get to look at me when I was my halfway decent self. He didn't deserve that.

Once he was only a good foot away, he looked me in the eyes. His sudden act startled me and I couldn't help but look away from his gaze. I heard him chuckle and I saw him move his hands slightly out of the corner of my eye. I looked back towards his waist where he seemed to be making something out of his shadows. I couldn't quite tell what.

Could I run? No, Pitch was still behind me. Could I attack with my fists? Try to startle them? No they're way stronger than I am. I gazed around slightly looking at the tall grass around me, trying to find a means of escaping. Pitch then began to snake his cold hands around my arms. I turned my head around and tried to pull loose, but he just smiled at me and chuckled. My eyes widened as I continued to try to struggle against his vice grip.

"Ready?" I glanced up at Death when I heard him speak. I avoided looking at his red eyes and instead focused on what he created in his hands. He held up rope. Rope he made out of his shadows was curled in his hands while he continued to grin. He then closed the distance between us.

My struggling became for frantic against Pitch as he and Death continued to laugh. Tears streamed down my face and I kicked at them with all my might. Death just caught my legs and began to tie the rope around them. He seemed to be enjoying my struggling, seeing the fear I couldn't hide anymore.

"Sara?"

Death suddenly stopped. I recognize that voice from somewhere...

"Sara!"

My eyes widened as Death but his face against mine. He then turned his head and whispered in my ear, "Don't worry. We'll pick this up later. I know where you are." He then wiped my tears away with his thumbs and vanished.

"SARA!"

I quickly sat up in bed with a scream. I felt sweat on my face and my clothes drenched in it. My breathing was heavy as I tried to calm down.

"Sara!" I turned my head to see the worried face of Jack. He was looking at me concerned with one arm on my back. He must have come up in the bed trying to wake me since he was now on his knees on the soft sheets while the chair next to him was it empy. "Are you okay?"

What could I say? I watched his piercing blue eyes look at me, and my heart broke to see that he seemed genuinely concerned. I wiped the sweat of my brow as he rubbed my back in a comforting way. "Sorry I woke you up." I said as I looked down at his sheets.

My eyes widened as his other hand cupped the right side of my face. His skin was cool, and it felt good on my hot skin. He then turned my head towards him and looked me in the eyes. "Are you okay?" His silver hair was messy and his pale skin seemed even more pale then usual, but he still looked undeniably handsome. My stomach suddenly fluttered, as I answered.

"Yeah. I think I'm okay." He kept his hand on my cheek and rubbed my back lightly for another minute. He didn't seemed satisfied with my answer, for his facial expression didn't change. My stomach continued to flutter and I was annoyed. What the heck is wrong with me? What am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way?

"If you need anything," He said as he began to stand up, "Just let me know okay?" He looked at me until I nodded my head yes. He then smiled and leaned down and picked up his staff which was lying near the wooden chair beside the bed. "Well how did you sleep?" He asked in a giddy manner.

"Did you sleep there all night? Did you sleep okay there?" I asked gesturing toward the chair. He looked at it then back at me.

"You answer my question first." He said as he leaned against the wall twirling his staff. Usually I would get annoyed over his flippant demeanor, but I instead caught myself gazing at his lightly muscular arms under his hoodie. I quickly turned away with flushed cheeks...what was wrong with me?!

"I slept good."

"Well." This time I did glare at him as he corrected me. I sighed and said it again.

"I slept well." I made sure to emphasize the word 'well' with a sneer. I expected a dramatic gasp or a joke but he instead stood up straight and looked at me for a second. I watched his expression change from happy to...sincere?

"Then I also slept well." I watched him gently smile then walk into his bathroom. I watched as he closed the door behind him and then I removed the sheets from on top of me.

I got up out of bed and tried to steady my heart. Was I sick? I picked up my staff that Jack must have put down next to the bed. As soon I stood up with my staff in hand Jack came out of the bathroom.

"Do you need anything before we go talk to them?"

"Who?" He laughed at me before responding.

"The Guardians? Remember?" Oh right, yeah I had forgotten. I didn't want to screw this up. I looked down at myself, my hoodie was still damp from sweat.

"Do you have an extra hoodie I could borrow? Please?" I asked slightly blushing.

"Yeah!" He said as he turned on his heels and reached into his wardrobe. He pulled out a hoodie identical to his and extended his arm out to me. As I grabbed it our hands lightly touched which sent another flutter in my stomach to start. I quickly walked into his bathroom and closed the door behind me.

I leaned my staff against the wall and changed hoodies. His was way to big on me, almost reaching down past my knees, but it was comfy. It smelled lightly of cinnamom and fresh batches of snow. I looked at my reflection in the mirror over the sink and was happy to see my hair wasn't that bad. I tamed as much of it as I could with my fingers, then looked at my barefeet.

His bathroom was basically white tile with a walk in shower and sink with a mirror. My tan feet stuck out against the cool square shaped tile. The flutter in my chest was beggining to die down and I suddenly felt nervous about walking out of the bathroom. Did I really look okay? I never cared what I looked like, I don't know why I was starting now. I shook my head and walked out of the bathroom, grabbing my staff along the way.

"Ready?" Jack asked the moment I stepped out.

"Yeah." I said after a deep breath. No reason to be nervous. Just get it over with.

I followed Jack out the door and shut it behind me. I held my head up as he lead me down the winding steps. I was ready to meet the Guardians.