Chapter 4
The Guardians came to an abrupt halt as Hallow held up a hand. He was now perched at the head of North's sleigh and was looking down at miles upon miles of forests. The Guardians waited for Hallow to signal an attack, but it never came.
"Hallow? Ist this the location of the gurl?"
Hallow glanced around at the forest, "I believe so, but her fear has ceased. Like droplets of water on a bomb fire, they have vanished. I cannot sense the lower levels of fear like worry and anxiety. So, she would need to be at the higher freight or panic for me to find her."
North shook his head sorrowfully, "Tis good that she isn't afraid but this puts us at a standstill."
Frost hopped into the air flying in front of the sleigh, "So? Pitch isn't tormenting her?"
"Or he's killed her," Bunny stated staring at the sleigh flooring.
"No." Hallow stated meeting Bunny's eyes, "He would not kill a believer. They are as precious to him as they are to us."
Tooth placed a hand on Bunny's shoulder, "I agree with Hallow. Pitch wouldn't kill her."
Sandy nodded in agreement.
Hallow turned his attention back to the forest. The wind blew around them pulling clouds from the northeast. The sky went darker with the threat of rain. Hallow breathed in the scent of the storm.
"So much trouble over one believer...at least we have time to form a better plan."
Bunny chuckled despite the depressing situation, "We have one Mate. Find Pitch, kick his arce, and rescue Scarlet."
This drew the Pumpkin King's attention. "Scarlet? So, that is the mortal's name. Shall I assume that she is special to you Easter spirit? Out of all the Guardians, you seem to be the most affected by this kidnapping."
Bunny shook his head meeting Hallow's eyes, "No mate. She's a kickboxer. One of my favorite pass times is watching her and the other Sheila's battle it out in the ring. It may seem silly but she's part of a feeling I do not wish to lose."
Hallow chuckled, "Never watched many human sports myself."
Tooth flitted about in the air with excitement, "She is very pretty too! Her teeth are white! If only she flawsed, then they would be perfect...and she should lay off the whitening strips they're bad for the enamel."
Sandy made a silhouette of a woman with her hip cocked.
"Sassy." Hallow deduced, "Can't wait to meet her but that brings back the following predicament. How will we save her if she can't even see you."
The Guardians looked to each other for the answer, but none had a clue.
"You said she can't see any of us. What about you?"
Hallow smirked at Frost's question, "I have ways of making her see me."
"How?" Tooth asked intrigued.
"Yea how are you going to make her believe in you?" Bunny added.
Everyone's interest had been perked. Hallow grinned as a light rain started to fall from the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
"When the girl alerts us to her location I will show you."
~Pitch's Lair
Scarlet lay on the bed thinking about Pitch, the shadows, and why there wasn't even a door to the room she presently occupied. "What if I have to use the bathroom?" She stated to no one in particular. A low wheezing caught her attention for a second, but Scarlet chose to ignore it. The wheezing started to become more persistent, but she just stared at the shadowed roofs picturing Pitch's golden eyes peering back at her.
"Creepy." She murmured.
A light nipping at her ankle finally forced her to look down at the nightmare currently rubbing its main against the fabric of her gown. It wheezed and snorted rolling around like a cat in a garden of catnip. Scarlet rolled her eyes throwing her legs over the side of the bed. The mare slinked into the shadows to reappear at her feet. Its head bobbing up and down and feet stomping in a fit.
"Shut it." Scarlet snorted back.
A pan of fruit at her feet explained why the mare was even there to begin with. Now the only question was why it was infatuated with her dress. Scarlet cried out as the nightmare decided to bite her ankle again.
"Ow! Sun of a-"
The mare took off towards a shadow in the wall with a very unhappy Scarlet following. As the nightmare disappeared Scarlet was left alone again with only her thoughts and a fear that seemed to be magnified by the shadows of the room. She would not doubt that the fear she felt growing in her chest was the Nightmare's doing. All of the inhabitants of this underground prison had the ability to provoke her. What annoyed Scarlet is that whatever magic was at work here managed to over shower all sense and reason. Now she knew why Tila had such a hard time on the roof. The crackling of the fire even managed to spook her. Its flames dancing to a silent orchestra Scarlet could not hear. The embers glowed like rubies at its base. Glowing brighter at times and the flames would gratefully dance on top of them. Scarlet felt the fear trying to smother her sense of calm while looking at the flames, but she ignored it. She needed to plan to escape this personal hell Pitch had created for her. All the shadows strategically laid to work on her nerves and lower her defenses.
"You really know how to treat a woman, Pitch."
Scarlet practically spat the words in her anger at the flames. She started to walk back towards the bed when the fire popping loudly caught her off guard. She spun back around with her heart hammering waiting to see the fire spreading. What she found was way worse.
The fire had grown to the size of a man. A figure of which flickered in the flame. Mostly just a silhouette but it was the eyes that captured her attention. A bright orange that peered out at her from the hearth. Scarlet looked at it calmly though her mind was screaming for her to leave.
"Who are you?" She asked in a voice brimming with fear.
The figure seemed to laugh though no sound came out of its fire-filled mouth. It held up the fire shaped version of a pumpkin with a crown on its top. The pumpkin smiled at Scarlet like a crude Jack-o-Lantern. The figure whose face was nearly lost to the flames looked to Scarlet expectantly.
"A Pumpkin...with a crown-"
Scarlet looked between the figure and the object in his hand. The gears were slow, but they were still moving.
"-Pumpkin king?"
The figure laughed silently again as the flames around him sparked and hissed.
"Is that your name? The Pumpkin king?"
The figure nodded. Scarlet felt a smile tug at her lips. The small game of charades bringing her a ray of happiness.
"Like Jack Skeleton? The king of Halloween."
The figure laughed again nodding at the woman. Scarlet took a hesitant step forward.
"If you're the Pumpkin King then why are you here? Shouldn't you be preparing for Halloween? It's in less than twenty days."
The figure smirked at the woman as its face grew sharper and more distinctive. Pale as the moon with eyes a brighter shade of orange. His clothing hissed as the flames died into wisps of swirling smoke on the burlap material.
Scarlet stepped back from the figure as the once brilliant flames died down to reveal a haunting man. With stitches next to his gray lips, dark circles encasing his eyes, and an outfit stitched together like a scarecrow. He smiled brightly at Scarlet, but Scarlet was unable to return the sentiment. She was petrified. The man seemed to realize this for the Jack-o-Lanterns hanging from his neck started to howl like a wolf. He stepped back from her holding up his hands in defeat.
"Do not be frightened, Scarlet. I am here to help you."
Scarlet choked on her words still not able to speak full sentences, "Y-you, the the."
The Pumpkin King chuckled, "You are a woman of few words but seriously you must calm yourself or Pitch will discover us. I'm surprised he left you alone, to begin with."
Scarlet took a deep breath trying to regain her senses.
"Pitch? You know him?"
The Pumpkin King walked about the room sneering at its dreary ensemble.
"Bastard works overtime at being a creepy jerk. I see he hasn't wasted time with you. That garment is a clear indication that he plans to keep you for some time."
Scarlet touched the soft fabric of her gown feeling dirty for even wearing it.
"He said he could locate me anywhere so long as I wear it. He can even-"
Scarlet trailed off becoming increasingly embarrassed at the situation. It was easier to swallow when she was on her own, but she would die if the situation were publicized.
"Those are shadows you wear. He can find you, touch you, and even use them to take your or anyone else life if need be. It's your personal prison. Doesn't matter if you are freed from this place or not. He has you no matter what."
Scarlet flushed red at this.
"H-He could kill me?" Her anger started to increase, "He put a death trap on me!"
The Pumpkin King stepped closer putting his hands out like he was gonna try and comfort her, "Calm yourself, Scarlet. Fear isn't the only emotion the Boogieman can sense. If you don't cool it then he will start to wonder, why your emotions are changing so rapidly. That garment is a direct link to him after all."
Scarlet felt angrier by the second, but the Pumpkin King was right. She had to calm down. Now that there was someone there to help her, she might be able to free herself from this place.
"Pumpkin King, can you free me from this place? Can you take me home?"
"My name is Hallow," The man stated finally putting his hands down, "and I want to help but this will take some time-"
"I don't have time!"
Scarlet flushed as she blurted this out. Taking a breath, she tried to calm down again.
"Pitch is wearing me down. He intends to make some lasting impression, so I'll never forget him. I am losing time."
Hallow considered this for a moment. He looked about the room first then he took a long look at Scarlet. Starting at her bare feet and trailing up her curves slowly. Scarlet felt like she was exposed to the stranger and promptly crossed both arms over her chest. Hallow cleared his throat as he averted his eyes from her heated gaze.
"I think I get the picture." Hallow coughed awkwardly mumbling to himself, "I don't blame the man. Hard not to think about it."
Scarlet tried to hear him but only caught a few jumbled words.
"What can you do to help me? Or would even want to for that matter?"
Hallow smirked taking the woman's hand in, she didn't flinch at the stranger's touch.
"I am here with some friends of your sister. A young girl named Tila."
Scarlet gasped, "Tila?"
Hallow nodded in confirmation, "Yes. They are the Guardians though you may know them better as the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, Santa Clause, Jack Frost, and your biggest fan the Easter Bunny. Big on women sports he is."
Scarlet laughed as tears started to form in her eyes, "They're real?"
Hallow smiled, "All of them. They are waiting just outside to rescue you, but we must form a better plan. We can't take you from this place without a full out war with Pitch Black."
Scarlet squeezed Hallows hand getting his attention. He was surprised to see the fire burning in her eyes. He had somehow ignited a spark that had almost been smothered by the darkness.
"I will get the Boogieman's attention on me. When the moment is right, I will signal you and y'all can attack him when he least expects it."
Hallow was shocked to hear this. "Oh? And how do you plan to keep all his attention on you when we attack?"
Scarlet smirked placing a hand on her cocked hip, "I'm a woman. I'll use my imagination."
Hallow gawked at her insinuation. Sandy's image of a sassy woman made of sand came back to mind. He laughed lightly stepping closer to the strong woman before him. He gently placed an object in her hand. The King of Al'Hallows was awfully close but still not enough to make her uncomfortable.
"Then use this to signal us. When the time is right just squeeze this pumpkin like a stress ball and we'll be knocking on Pitch Black's door in seconds."
With that Hallow walked back to the fire. The flames licking at his skin lovingly as he stepped inside. His clothes caught fire in an instant but did not burn.
"One more thing Scarlet."
The woman held the pumpkin like a precious jewel as she watched the flames consume the Pumpkin King, "Yes?"
"You can use that beautiful imagination to distract me anytime."
Scarlet couldn't help the smile that graced her face as Hallow disappeared laughing all the way.
"Idiot." She stated playfully even though he couldn't hear her. She sighed moving over to the bed.
I guess I'll give him a few moments to relay this to the others. Then I'll get to work on 'distracting' Pitch.
~Fin
