Sandy

I lurched forward, reaching out for Aila as her terrified green eyes disappeared into the vortex. Her fingers just barely scraped my hand, and then she was dragged underneath. Before the portal could close, I dove in. The world spun for a moment, and somewhere new began to come into focus.

I staggered into a face full of snow. The darkness of the tunnel disappeared, leaving me squinting through the glaring sun as I wiped the snow off my face.

I was in the middle of a pine forest streaked orange and pink by the sunset. In the distance, I heard the whistle of the train.

I pulled myself to my feet and noticed footprints and huge craters in the snow, obvious signs of a struggle.

"Stop moving!" a familiar voice demanded, followed by muffled grunting.

I bounded after the sound. I weaved around the underbrush, following the trail of distrubed snow, and broke through the treeline. From there, the hill sloped sharply downward, leading to a small train station where a steam engine was stopped.

And there was Pitch, hauling Aila towards the tracks. The sunlight glimpsed off another portal globe in his hand as he shook it.

I sprang forward.

Another whistle rattled the silent air, this time so close it was deafening. The train began to chug forward.

Pitch sent a glance over his shoulder. His eyes flicked from mine, to the train, and back. A grin peeled across his face.

To my horror, he wrapped an arm around Aila's waste and lifted her off the ground. He just managed to leap onto the stairs before the train began to pick up speed.

I skidded to a halt as they disappeared inside a cart. The end of the train whipped past me with a gust of wind that slammed me like a wall and nearly sent me sprawling through the air.

I grit my teeth. Thinking fast, I waved my hands. My dreamsand began to form around me, taking the shape of a slingshot just my size. I nestled into position, slipped some dreamsand goggles over my eyes, and pulled back. I held out my thumb to aim. When the bands were taut, I released.

I soared into the air, wind whipping by. Unfortunately, I didn't consider how difficult it would be to stick the landing at this speed.

I landed feet first on the last train car, then slipped on the snow. I skidded, and then the solid roof disappeared. I launched right off the edge. Just before I was swept under the raging wheels, I managed to snatch a hold of one of the safety handles. I found myself dangling over the tracks, watching the rails fly past at a dizzying speed.

I hauled myself back up, then scooted backwards so I could climb the ladder down to the balcony on the end of the caboose. I threw open the door and stumbled inside.

The click clacking of the train became muffled, and I shuddered as the brutal wind disappeared. The caboose was surprisingly empty, with classy, carved wooden walls and windows with a view of snow whirling past. But there was no sign of Pitch or Aila.

I marched on.

Through the hall and in the next car, I found oblivious people staring straight through me, chatting to each other and sipping tea peacefully as classical music played from the speakers. No one even glanced in my direction.

I passed onto the next car. Still no sign of them. My heart began to beat faster.

Then, I paused, hand on the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a hunched, cloaked figure in the shadows. I narrowed my eyes. Heat built up in my hands.

I whirled around, but Pitch was already on his feet. He threw open a window and stepped on a table, to which the passengers shouted in surprise. By the time I made it to the other side of the car, Pitch scooped Aila into his arms. He clambered out the window.

Aila wailed. She reached out for me. My hand just barely brushed against hers before Pitch hauled her into the bitter cold wind.

I poked my head out after them to see Aila's red hair disappear over the roof. Her screams of outrage and terror echoed in the night air.

I crawled out the window and heaved myself up onto the roof just in time to see Pitch create a nightmare sand gag for Aila. She writhed wildly, but I could see she was beginning to tire. She staggered to her knees.

"Stop it!" the Nightmare King snarled. "Or we'll both fall off!"

I stomped hard on the roof. Pitch sent a glance over his shoulder and grunted in frustration.

Finally, he gave up trying to run away and faced me. He forced Aila's arms behind her back with one hand, and, with the other, created a scythe of black sand.

"Don't come any closer," he hissed.

Something appeared behind him. A shadow loomed over, barely visible through the snowy veil. I squinted.

And suddenly, a huge tunnel was over us.

Pitch had just enough time to cast a stunned glance over his shoulder. He melted into the shadows to avoid being smashed.

Aila spiraled away, right off the edge of the train.

I cast a dreamsand life preserver that lassoed around her seconds before she slammed into the wall of the tunnel, and I heaved. The force of the pull sent me reeling onto my back, and she landed next to me with a thud.

The ceiling sloped up, and Pitch's body took form again. I scrambled to my feet. I stepped protectively in front of Aila with my arms spread wide.

Pitch chuckled, and his scythe formed in his hands.

He hurled the giant blade. I leaped over it, and my whips sprung from my palms. With a snap, they wrapped up Pitch's arm. He had just enough time to gasp before I tugged him to his stomach.

I readied my other whip, but another low section of the roof appeared. The three of us dove downward. I slipped on the icy roof and skidded, nearly falling right off the side of the train.

As I clung desperately, I could see the silhouette of Pitch against the fluctuating orange lights of the tunnel. He leaped to his feet and reached for Aila.

She squirmed in his grip until he encased her in bonds of black nightmare sand. She toppled over.

We burst out of the tunnel and back into the howling wind.

I yanked myself onto the roof just as Pitch pulled out his portal globe.

Just before he could shake it, I caught his wrist with my whip and yanked. He staggered, dropping the globe into the snow, but that left bound up Aila to careen uncontrollably for the edge yet again

Forgetting Pitch, I scrambled after her. I just managed to catch her in a pillow of dreamsand that slowly lowered her down to my face. She reared back in defense, but I reached out to touch her nightmare sand bonds. Slowly, the black grains turned gold and fell loose.

She stared for a moment, shocked. I gave her a grin.

A black rope furled around her waist and hauled her away. She flailed to Pitch's side. "Mind if I steal one of your tricks?" the Nightmare King snickered. He cracked his whip dangerously close to Aila's face.

I gripped my whips, already winding up. Before I could strike, Pitch created a knife in his other hand. He pressed it to Aila's throat. She gasped, and the heat in my hands disappeared. My entire body turned cold.

Pitch snapped his whip against my shoulder. I stumbled, clenching my teeth. He whipped again. White, hot pain ripped through the side of my face. I fell to one knee. From this angle, my eye caught the portal just a few feet away.

This time, when Pitch snapped his whip, I rolled sideways and scooped the portal up out of the snow. I shook it, pressed it to my forehead as I pictured my castle, and chucked it. It burst. I could just catch a glimpse of sea and golden sand on the other side.

Pitch yelped, and all of a sudden, he keeled over.

I lifted my head to see Aila had somehow bent his arm and knocked his knife away from her throat. I staggered towards them.

Pitch ripped his arm away from Aila and raised his knife. "How dare you!" he growled as he seized her arms. She screamed.

I threw myself in between them and shoved Aila backwards. She fell right through the portal. Pitch's knife came down.

I sank to one knee, wheezing. Agony was suddenly coursing through my side like lightning. I looked down to see a gash across my shoulder and chest

My entire body grew rigid. Memories came flooding back, and my heart thumped until I thought it would burst. All feeling in my limbs disappeared.

I tilted backwards, right through the portal seconds before it closed.

The last thing I saw was the blurry shape of Pitch's rage-filled face as he cried out. Then, the portal shut.


. . .

Jack landed lightly on the roof of one of the taller buildings in Burgess. He clenched his staff, leaning over the edge as he surveyed the quiet town.

Everything was still except for the light snow drifting lazily from the clouds… it seemed nobody was awake tonight. And there was no sign of Sandy or Aila.

With a grunt, Jack began to pace.

He and the other Guardians had been searching for hours, but Sandy and Aila seemed to have simply disappeared.

There was a rustle in the alley below. Jack just managed to catch a glimpse of a dark shape racing past.

With his staff raised, he leaped down into the alley. An eerie stillness filled the air.

"Who's there?" he called.

There was no answer. The silence stretched on until Jack wondered if he'd only been seeing things. Just as he opened his mouth to call out again, something leaped from around the bend.

Jack shot ice from his staff, but the shadow dodged. Suddenly, there was a sword aimed at his throat. Immediately, Jack recognized the navy army robes of the soldiers from the Isle of Stranded Souls.

Just before he could raise his staff again, a familiar voice called out, "Enough!"

Both Jack and the soldier turned towards the shadows. Queen Beckett marched into the light of the streetlamp. Her chin was raised, and she was dressed in the same white gown and glittering headdress. She folded her arms impatiently.

The soldier lowered his weapon and bowed respectfully.

Jack clenched his fists around his staff, but he lowered it to his side. "Hello, Miss…"

"Queen." she corrected curtly. "Queen Beckett."

"Ah—"

"Listen, Jack Frost. I know you and the Sandman have kidnaped Aila Galloway, and I must implore you to return her to me before I am forced to take drastic measures."

"Drastic measures?" Jack repeated suspiciously.

She narrowed her eyes. "I will not hesitate to report you to the Man in the Moon."

Jack's heart thumped. He glanced sideways at the moon currently covered by clouds, then sighed. "Listen, we are only trying to protect her."

"You're trying to protect her?" Queen Beckett scoffed. "You obviously don't know how to protect her."

Jack furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"Jack!"

Jack twirled around at the panicked sound of Tooth's voice. The fairy fluttered down into the alleyway and landed heavily next to him.

"What is it?" he asked. "Did you find Sandy and Aila?"

"Find them?!" Queen Beckett exclaimed. "You don't know where they are?!"

"No…" Tooth murmured. "But Sandy's memories… they're gone."

Jack hesitated, wondering for a moment if he heard her right. "His memories? Wha—"

"I searched the entire palace. They're just… they're gone."

"Just his?"

"Yes… everyone else's are right where they're supposed to be as far as I can tell..."

Queen Beckett suddenly burst into the conversation. "What is going on here? Listen to me, we need to get Miss Galloway back onto the Isle as soon as possible."

Jack ignored her and set a comforting hand on Tooth's shoulder. "Listen, we will find the memories. But first, we have to find Sandy and Aila."He pursed his lips and let out a breath. "Besides… I think we both already know who took Sandy's memories."