This might be the last explain thing. Daniel Moon in the FoF universe is the Grim Reaper, so in this universes context, Jackie would have helped him rather than Mortimer. I realise that the two stories don't really line up, as in FoF Pitch is surprised to see Death exists while in DFtR he actively looked for him, but hey, I can't make everything fit perfectly!

We compared where our groups of Descendants were stationed and got in contact with them, telling them to meet the nearest other group. Thankfully there was a lull in activity, but we couldn't tell how long it would last.

We'd barely had anything in the 16 hours that the other Descendant leaders had joined us. There had been word from Tracey, explaining her lack of contact. Nightmares had been attacking them, and it was all they could do to keep ahead of them.

I'd fallen asleep in my seat, having been awake for who knew how long organising everything. I was woken up by a familiar voice crying out in panic.

"Too many Descendants! We need back up!" Rachel cried into the communication device.

My head shot up and looked at the display, there were too many enemies to count in the background.

My eyes widened and I sprung into action, identifying the closest group of HOG and HNH. However the closest was in Scotland, anything closer had already been taken out or scattered.

"Nottingham, I'll try and get the Aberdeen Branch to help. Hold on!"

I added the Aberdeen Branch to the call and waited for them to pick up.

"Come on come on." I was aware of the sounds around me, everyone had a burst of activity trying to strategise with the groups they were in charge of.

Aberdeen weren't picking up.

"No, please!" I tried again, but the call didn't even connect.

Next on the list Cork, but there was no telling how long it would take for them to get there.

A piercing scream shot through the communication device, causing eleven heads to turn towards it.

"Nottingham Branch?" I asked cautiously. Rachel was no longer in the hologram.

"Nottingham Branch respond. Nottingham!"

I was trying to keep calm, but the Descendants of Jack Frost in that Branch kept on going through my mind. Alice and Rachel Harper, two people I was very close to. I'd known them for eighteen years.

"...Rachel? Alice? Respond damn it!"

"I'll check the Globe."

Taboo disappeared to the Records Room, which had had the lockdown lifted. There were a few tense minutes as I didn't get response from either the communication device or Taboo.

"The light's out. I'm sorry." Said Taboo as she came back in.

I felt my throat close up and my head bent. There were only two reasons why a light would go out on our Globe. If a Branch disbanded, or if they were all dead. Given the circumstances, it wouldn't be the former, would it?

"Jackie?" asked Alexander, concerned.

"Nottingham's down." Despite myself my voice was cracking.

Harry, astute for once, said. "Go take a quick break, we'll call you if anything happens." That certainly sounded familiar.

I nodded without looking up and left the table. My bad leg almost crumpled beneath from sitting down for so long, but I managed to catch myself on the table. Taboo growling concern and came towards me, but I waved my hand to say I was okay.

In truth, I wanted to be alone, without even Taboo.

I formed an ice cane and hobbled out of the room until the cramp had eased up.

I went where I normally went when I needed to think; the Cavern of the Dead. Except this time I didn't go to Penelope's statue. I went to Alfred's.

He was sculpted as we had known him. A man no longer in his prime, but not ill either. Alfred had been a better Head than me, he had had a certain wisdom to him. Wisdom that I felt I lacked.

"Why?" I asked the statue, as if the man himself could hear me. "Why did you think I could do this old man?"

I looked down at my feet, but continued talking. "I told you then, I'm not a Head, but you insisted. You went as far as nominating me, why? I've just been fumbling through the last eight years, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing."

The sudden loss of Alice and Rachel hit right then. The fact I'd never run a workshop with them, or that I'd never experience Alice's randomness ever again. They were never just people I led, they were my friends, I'd done so much with them. My throat burned, my eyes pricked and my heart ached.

"I'm supposed to lead the other Descendants, but how can I do that if I can't get them help in time?" My voice was cracking.

My head shot up and I stared at Alfred's stone face, tears having frozen to my face.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? PICKING ME!"

I looked back down at my feet, my shoulders shaking. Why did people have to die!?

"He thought you could do it."

I spun to face Marty, who'd just appeared in the entrance.

"Did no one tell you not to sneak up on people?" I asked, trying to sound annoyed to mask the fact I was crying.

"I've heard it."

There was a ghost of a smile of Marty's face. Mine frowned when I realised what he said.

"How would you know what Alfred thought?"

"Descendants of Daniel Moon are, interesting." He said, looking straight at Alfred's statue. "We have power over the dead, mild necromancy if you will, but we can also hear them."

Marty's gaze shifted to me. "Alfred still believes you can do it. You've just lost someone who looked to you as a leader and friend, and that's hard, but you need to keep going."

"That sounds like something he'd say."

"Well, he did say it just now."

Marty cocked his head to the side, as if listening hard. "And... Alice and Rachel say to keep going, and that it wasn't your fault."

Marty's face suddenly twisted in annoyance. "Fine, Alice is telling you to stop being an idiot and snap out of it."

A chuckle rumbled in my throat, making me sound like Taboo for a second. "Sounds like her."

I picked a frozen tear from my face and flicked it away before gazing at Marty curiously.

"So, do you do that for anyone?"

"No, not anyone, but you needed comforting and to get your head together. Other people need you."

I took a deep breath and nodded, picking off the other frozen tears. "Right, mourning later. Now's the time to get to work."

...And you expected me make sure everyone lived? If you've gotten to this point, then you know I have a sadistic streak towards my main characters.