A/N : I'm not good at updating regularly, I know. Sorryyyyyy! I had started this new story 2 months ago already but stopped because I got way too busy with work and con-preparations. It's not finished yet, but I didn't want to let you wait any longer. So you'll get 2-3 short chapters instead of one big one.
The small town of Burgess rested peacefully in the night's cold embrace. Jack had just left the Bennett's house after spending several hours watching funny videos and playing games together with Jamie on his new notebook. The two friends hadn't noticed how late it had gotten when Mrs. Bennett suddenly entered the room to remind her son that it was way past bedtime, even for a 12-year-old.
Not many lights where shining from the buildings below the winter spirit. Most people had gone to bed already, so even the streets were empty and deserted. Behind the woods a country road connected Burgess and the next bigger city. Among the darkness of the night Jack spotted a fastly approaching light in the distance. A single car's headlights shone brightly, piercing through the black of its surroundings. It was driving with full speed and zooming past the young guardian as he continued flying in the opposite direction.
Suddenly the screeching sound of tires on asphalt interrupted the silence. Jack instinctively turned around only to see the car crashing against a large oaktree on the roadside. Not wasting a second he dashed towards the completely wrecked car. Maybe he could still help the people inside it. When he landed on the ground and peeked into the window of the front seats a sickening feeling engulfed him. The faces of the middle-aged man behind the steering wheel as well as the woman sitting next to him were covered in blood, which was running down from severe head wounds. Their eyes were half-open, but they weren't breathing anymore. There was nothing he could do for them. Jack sighed and diverted his gaze from the horrible sight.
But then, from the corner of his eyes, he thought he had noticed something moving. This time he glanced through the window of the back seat. In the darkness a girl, around 6 or 7 years old, cowered against the door and seemed to drift in and out of unconsciousness. She wasn't bleeding but that didn't mean she wasn't injured. Jack dearly hoped the crash didn't cause any internal damages. He had to get her out of there. The doors of the car were too deformed to open, no matter how much force he used. So he froze the window on the far end of the car, smashed the glass with his staff, climbed in and carefully brought the little girl to safety. He carried her away from the car and lay her down on the soft grass of the meadow next to the street to examine her better. Now, as the moon was shining on them and Jack could see the child's face clearly, shivers ran over his spine and left him in shock, mouth agape and eyes wide. It was Kathy, one of Sophie's friends and one of his believers. That explained why he was able to touch her, he hadn't even thought about it till now. The brunette girl opened her eyes wearily. It took a moment until she recognized the Guardian of Fun.
"J-Jack?" she whispered with a hoarse voice.
"Hey, Kathy. It will be alright." the teen spoke softly.
"I-it hurts…" she sniffed and tears ran down her cheeks.
"Don't worry. I-I'll get you to a hospital."
"I-I'm s-scared." Kathy cried, her voice getting weaker and quieter with every word.
Jack had to use his entire self-control to not show how afraid he was himself. He had to be strong for her.
"Everything will be fine, I'm here."
A small hand reached for his. He held it and gave her a gentle squeeze. Even compared to his own, her skin felt cold. And then, with agonizing slowness, she closed her eyes and stopped breathing.
"No….no, no, no! Kathy, wake up!" the winter spirit shouted with rising panic and carefully shook her by the shoulders.
"Please don't do this! Please…"
Tears began to well up in his eyes so much that his vision turned blurry. With a desperate sob he let go of the lifeless body of the child and buried his face in his hands.
Unfortunately he didn't have much time to mourn when his senses alerted him of a presence. Quickly he whiped the tears off with the sleeve of his hoodie and noticed a strange dark fog approaching. It was both eerie and beautiful to watch as it moved elegantly through the brisk night air. The closer it got the more it took the shape of a human. Jack stood up and raised his staff at the intruder, ready to fight if he had to.
Across from him stood a woman who appeared to be 50-60 years old. Her face was worn by age, but she was still beautiful in some kind of way. Black eyeshadow, long lashes and dark red lips stood out from her pale skin. Except two bangs on the sides of her face, her pitch black hair was tied together in a bun. Her clothes and leather boots were entirely black as well. The dress looked Victorian, with a corset and a high collar that reached up to her neck and from which a thin cape hung down her back.
Jack didn't know why, but something told him that she was much older than her outfit revealed. He could neither decide if she was a threat or had good intentions. Her facial structure, namely the protruding cheekbones, sharp chin and nose and the thin eyebrows made her look strict and serious, someone you definitely didn't want to mess with. But there was warmth and kindness shining in her black eyes, which were a clear contradiction to her dark appearance.
Neveretheless the frost teen's defense mode was automatically activated when the mysterious woman stepped forward and knelt down next to the dead child on the grass.
"Hey, stay away from her!"
The dark-clothed figure glanced up at him, no sign of anger or annoyance. Instead she showed a kind of understanding and gentleness that made him calm down and feel at ease nearly right away. It was strange.
"Who are you?" Jack asked a lot less irritated than only seconds ago and lowered his staff.
The older woman diverted her gaze back to the lifeless girl and gently stroke her forehead. She bent down further until their foreheads were almost touching. While doing so dark fog appeared out of nowhere and slowly took the shape of two large feathery wings, which grew out of her back. Jack gasped and took a step back, not out of fear but to give her more space. Black wings embraced the small form of the child and a soft kiss was planted on her forehead. A golden light, so bright that it was almost white, left the girl's body. With a gentle gust of wind, which was caused by a graceful swing of the wings, the glowing orb was sent up high into the sky, where it gradually vanished in the distance.
Jack stood there with mouth agape and approached the dark lady once more.
"W-what did you just do?"
She stood up und walked towards him, giving him a confusing feeling of anxiety and comfort at the very same time. Her wings dissolved back into fog and dissappeared as mysteriously as they had appeared. Finally she spoke, her voice as warm as her eyes, with an accent that was impossible to determine.
"I helped her soul transcending to the afterlife."
Right then it dawned on the winter spirit who he was talking to. He gulped nervously and asked awkwardly.
"That means…you are…Death?"
The black-haired woman nodded smoothly and gave him a faint smile.
"It seems like you don't remember me, do you, Jack Frost?"
Discomfort teamed up with curiosity and intensified the youth's astonished expression.
"Have we met?" he asked in confusion.
Once again the lady nodded and gestured to the fields in front of them.
"Let us take a walk."
A/N : Have any of you watched "American Horror Story - Asylum"? I was highly inspired by the death-lady. Small role, big impact.
And don't worry, nothing bad is going to happen with Jack.
