I thrashed around violently in a panic, feeling for anything around me to grab onto and gather my bearings. I forced open my eyes despite the sensation of being under water, before being surprised that my vision was clear. All around me was blackness, but I could see my body clearly, as though I weren't submerged in any liquid at all. I still held my breath, as it still felt like I was inside the liquidity pool. I looked around frantically, searching for Jamie, before I could see the surface of the pool way above me; just the faintest glimmer of light letting me know it was there. I resisted the urge to swim up to it, instead searching back around for Jamie.

'Jack~' I heard that voice as though it were close to me, yet distorted slightly as though in a dream. I whipped my head around and scanned the darkness, finding nothing.

'Oh how foolish you are.' Pitch's voice echoed. 'You may be a new fancy guardian, but you certainly aren't the guardian of wisdom. You fell into my trap a little too easily~' He said, sounding both cruel and pleased. I opened my mouth to shout back, but I could feel breath escape my lips and bubbles race out up to the surface.

I still had a bit of breath left, so I didn't let myself panic just yet. I had to find Jamie. I search for another second, before I feel bubbles tickle my feet. The sensation made me jump, and I looked down to see where they came from.

Jamie. He was below me, far below me, floating seemingly unconscious. Without hesitation I pushed myself down and swam towards him, but it was hard making progress, he seemed to still be so far away. Swimming was never my strong suit.

I could feel my breath running out, and the pang of panic alerted me I needed to get out of the water quickly, but I couldn't turn back. I had to reach Jamie. I forced myself further and further down, until Jamie was almost in my reach.

'It's a shame you had to involve him in this, drowning is a painful way to go, as you know.' I ignored him the best I can and finally grasped Jamie, pulling him up towards me. Though we were submerged, I could see him clearly; he was unconscious, floating motionlessly in my arms. I turned back up to the surface.

It's too far. Much too far. My lungs were about to give out. I didn't even think I could drown anymore, being that I was immortal or whatever, but apparently so. I paused, letting the dread sink in. What do I do….

'You should have just let him forget you' Pitch's voice echoed loudly, reverberating my head.

I didn't know what to do. Jamie can't drown. Not like this, not because of me. The one person who finally believed in me, and I killed them. Truly I must be an evil spirit like Pitch to always cause such tragedy in my wake. This can't be it… what do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do..?!

Just before I feel my breath slip away from me, I spot something floating near us; my… my staff! Without pausing even for a second, I reached for it. Just as my fingers touch the wood, my lungs spasmed and all at once a burst of air in the form of bubbles violently escaped my mouth, and a painful gush of liquid replaces it. It hurt a lot, and for the briefest moment I felt a similar sensation to the one I had a long, long time ago. Pitch is right, I do know this feeling. I had forgotten.

Jamie would not end this way. I refused. I forced myself with every last bit of energy I had to push Jamie up above me, and in one swoop I point my staff at him, and sent a powerful blast of ice at him.

Through my increasingly blurry vision I watched as he was thrust upward, all the way to the surface. I couldn't see well enough to tell if he broke the surface, but I could only hope.

The staff slipped out of my fingers, as a numb sensation filled my body, and blackness filled my vision. I could no longer move, I could no longer feel. I could only drift slowly into darkness, and watch as the light of the surface gets further away.

The last thing I experienced was Pitch's echoing laughter before that too disappeared.

Sorry this chapter is so short, I'll post the next chapter at the same time as this one to make up for it, the next one is pretty short too