(Jack's POV)
Nothing is worse than the feeling you get when you know something is your fault, and yet the people around you, won't let you take the blame that is rightfully yours.
Nothing is worse than knowing that if you had done one thing different, you could have protected something that is the reason you're there.
As a guardian, it is our job to protect the children around the world from harm, and after a few days of talking to one girl, I have failed in this job entirely.
Nothing anyone can say can make me think differently, unless, maybe Cyndra forgives me. Which is something no one should do.
Cyndra's sleeping form slowly stirs as she finally wakes up. It's been three days of worry and watching over her. You can tell that even when she was asleep, she had no getting away from the pain. All of her dreams were nightmares, and Sandy couldn't change them. Well, they were nightmares unless I touched her. If I placed a single finger on her, she would immediately relax and begin to sleep peacefully, returning to nightmares if I removed the finger.
A soft groan escapes Cyndra's lips as she opens her eyes. You can tell that she is in pain by the way she didn't move, the burns on her causing her to wince as she fully wakes up.
"At least you're alright." It was a soft voice that escaped from my mouth, steadily reaching Cyndra's ears.
She looks up at me and upon finally seeing me, the pain in her eyes becomes guarded and she tries to straighten up.
"No. No, don't do that. You need to rest, not try to hide the fact that you are hurt." A warm smile creeps onto her face as I say those words.
She opens her mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. She tries again, this time saying one thing. "Jack."
"Don't speak, your apparent screaming caused your throat to become raw."
"But, Jack... I want you... to know that... it isn't your fault." Her voice wasn't solid yet, but I knew what it would sound like. Concerned for everyone but herself. Trying to comfort me, when I should be comforting her.
"Cyndra, I know. I know that now."
"Don't lie to me... Jack. I know you still... accuse yourself. It's in your eyes."
The same concern as earlier, only more apparent.
"Jack, don't argue with me. If I hadn't have followed the stupid shapeshifting witch, I'd have been at home, on my porch, waiting for you. I shouldn't have followed her, but she lured me in." Her voice falters, and she can't say anymore, although that was the strongest her voice was, yet.
"Shapeshifting Witch?"
Her head nods slightly, causing her to wince as she realizes that through the pain, she had no way to communicate.
Her eyes, her beautiful brown eyes, were coated in fear, pain, and worry.
"I won't leave your side, for anything. Not now. I promise." Her body relaxes as she understands that I mean it.
I will never leave her side, for anything.
She smiles slightly, trying not to wince as she does so. Still trying to hide her pain.
I wonder if she knows about the others. North, Tooth, Bunny, Sandy. I should get them in here, but I won't leave her. I'll just have to call out to them.
But, before I do, maybe I should do something. Cyndra watches me closely, never looking at the door, just me. I am at her center of attention.
Leaning in, I kiss her on her bandaged forehead. Making sure not to disturb the bandaging, so that it doesn't cause her pain.
Moving away, I look directly into Cyndra's eyes, which are filled with shock, and... embarrassment? Hmmmmm. Maybe, just maybe...
But my thoughts are interrupted, by North rushing into the room, followed by a large group of yetis.
"Jack, these yetis are here to protect you and Cyndra. They will be staying in the room with both of you. Ah, Cyndra, you are awake. Tell me, how do you feel?"
"North, she can't talk right now, but from the looks of it, she is in a lot of pain. Also, after three days, do you think she might want to eat or drink something?" A little bit of sarcasm dripped into my voice, at the end, but I really do think she should eat and drink something, she was already two days short on food, before she was unconscious for three days.
North leaves the room, getting Cyndra something for breakfast, while the yetis watch over us.
"Cyndra," I place a cold hand on her forehead. "you're gonna have to sit up now. You have to eat." I was coaxing her, while at the same time, helping her sit up. As I reach down under her, her eyes flicker fear, but return to normal. Sitting her up, I place a cold hand on one of hers while I wait for North.
As North comes in with breakfast, he hands it to Cyndra, grabbing me by a wrist and dragging me into the hall.
"North, I promised I wouldn't leave her, please don't make me leave her alone in that room."
"Jack, she will be alright. Yetis are guarding her. Nothing will happen."
"I promised."
"Not time Jack, there is something important in the way she was hurt, and by who. She must tell us, no matter how hard it is. We cannot help her if we don't know what's wrong, what happened , and who is responsible for it."
"North, she can't even talk, her voice was so gone. Three days and she hasn't changed. Three days and her condition is still the same! I'm worried about her, she is only a mortal, and she's hurt, and, and-"
North cuts me off with a hug, followed by a harsh glare. "She will tell us, if I have to make you leave so that she can."
"Fine, North. I can tell you something, though. When she woke up, the first thing she said to me, was that it wasn't my fault, and that she shouldn't have followed 'the shape shifting witch'"
"Shape shifting witch?"
"That's what I thought, but after that, she couldn't speak anymore, she used what was left in her feeble voice to be concerned for me. It's almost as if she cares more what happens to us, than her."
"I think she cares more what happens to You, than her. She has strong heart, and cares for those around her. She's never been on naughty list, and tooth's memory box for her is still filled with sad memories, except for winter nights. Those were her favorite, especially when it snowed. She is girl with good heart, who has been treated with little care. The first true friend she had, is you. You should know that."
That is the one thing he could have said to me that can make tears trail down my face. She loved winter, but that was the only happiness she sought. At school, she had no friends, and she was shy and they didn't care. Her mother was barely ever home. She was always alone. Until she met me. Now here she is. Worse than ever, but at least she has a friend.
Slowly I turn away from North and walk back over to Cyndra, who is struggling to eat her food. I smile a little bit, at least she listens.
She looks up at me and tries even harder to eat the food. She must want to impress us, to not show weakness. So this is her mind. She won't be normal, not for a while, but at least she is still the same Cyndra. Even when she falls, she tries to get up on her own, rarely accepting help, like she did from me. I know that she will be alright though. She just has to watch herself, too. Not just the people around her.
"Cyndra, you don't have to play games. Just make sure you eat. And drink. But don't force it." She pulls the spoonful of soup away from her mouth.
"Jack. Stop worrying, I will be fine." She again lifts the spoon to her mouth wincing as the soup comes in contact with her throat.
"Alright, alright. Whatever you say. At least your voice is back." I smile. Her soft smile in return, reassuring her earlier statement. She will recover, she will be fine.
I sit back down in the chair I was in earlier, watching Cyndra eat. Being content in the fact that she really will be alright.
(Cyndra's POV)
The soup slowly vanishes from my bowl, as bit by bit, I eat it. Having food back in my system, certainly makes a difference as to how well I feel. Having a full stomach, and having Jack right here next to me, makes it seem as if I have never had that experience.
I lay back down, on my own, and begin to just be content. Jack will be alright. I will be alright. Nothing could ever go wrong again, could it?
But again, as perfect as everything may seem, it never is. I am burned and scratched, by a shape shifter witch.
Wait, how did I even get back from the pond, anyway? Did Jack find me? Oh please tell me he didn't find me, that would be horrific. He would have felt it certainly was his fault then. What if that's why he accuses himself? What if that's why he's so worried.
I look over at Jack, who seems to be constantly watching me, constantly trying to keep me safe.
"Jack, how exactly, did I get to the North Pole from the pond? And why the North Pole?"
He glances down. Great so I guess he did find me and he's blaming himself.
"Well, I was coming back from the North Pole to your house. You weren't home so I followed your footsteps in the snow. I found you on the lake, burned and bleeding. I didn't know what happened. I didn't even know how to get you home, until I accidentally coated you in snow, giving me the idea to wrap you in ice, and carry you here. And the North Pole, because if I took you anywhere else, you would be wrapped in ice and floating to a hospital, where I couldn't be seen."
His voice was worried, like he was hoping that he hadn't done the wrong thing. It sounded like he was still blaming himself for my getting hurt.
"Jack, would you like to hear the whole story of what happened when you left? What about North?"
I am worried. What if they don't forgive me for listening to the girl. I thought she was Jack when I followed her, and then she threatened me and attacked. What if they get mad at me for it? What if Jack gets mad?
"We do. I'll see if one of the yetis will get North back in here, so he can hear your story."
"Thanks." I lay down in the bed, hoping, and thinking I am safe.
You are never Safe. Not even in your own mind. I see what you mean to Jack and he to you. Watch what happens the next time you see me, it may be your last. Evil laughter rang through my head after that awful voice spoke.
"No. NO!" I yell, forgetting Jack was right next to me.
"Hey, hey. Everything's alright. Everything's alright." Immediately Jack had wrapped his arms around me and started to comfort me.
"No it won't. You didn't hear her voice. She spoke to me. She's after me. She's after you!"
My crying started. I knew that I was only in the illusion of safety, now. I know that nothing will stop her from getting to me. But, why?
The door of the room creaks open, North slipping into the room, followed by Sandy, Tooth, and Bunny. Yes I know their names, Jack told me about them on Thursday. I knew who they were and what they looked like.
North speaks up first. "Cyndra, I hear you are ready to tell us what happened after Jack left to come to us. Are you sure?"
"Yes." My voice was solid, and almost cold. It didn't have the same feeling to it as when I was just talking to Jack. I barely knew these people, but I know Jack.
"Well, then, little Sheila, what exactly, did happen?" Bunny spoke this time, his voice soft and filled with delicate care.
"I went outside, to wait for Jack to come back, when I thought I saw him flying around in the woods close to my house. It looked a lot like Jack, so I followed it. I could only see flashes of it because it was quick, but it led me to the lake. As I reached the lake's edge the figure morphed into an innocent looking girl, with long wavy black hair and a purple trench coat. Her skin was ash grey and her eyes were black with red pupils. She looked so innocent, and then she spoke to me. A flowing voice, almost mesmerizing.
'Well, hello, dear, dear, Cyndra. Nice of you to accompany me to this here lake. I was wondering if you would like to come with me.' She says to me. At that point I was questioning if she knew I was following her, and then I knew she knew. Somehow she knew who I was, but wouldn't tell me why or how. I don't even know who she is. 'I'm no one, just an old friend of someone you may, or may not, know. And it looks like you have fallen prey to my very well set trap. You will regret following me Miss. Wolf. I promise you that.' She replies to my questions. At this time I realize that her voice rasps at me, causing me to tremble with fear. What have I gotten myself into? What does she plan on doing?"
"'Well, Miss. Wolf, since you were wondering, I think you ought to know that you will be lucky if I let you die, when I finish with you, and you will have no utter clue why. I'll make sure not to tell you." She laughs. It wasn't pleasant, it was evil. Worse than any sound you can possibly imagine. Taking scraping your nails on a chalkboard and multiplying it by infinity will not even compare to the horrible sound coming out of her mouth."
"At this point I was absolutely terrified. In my daze of horror, I didn't notice the words that the girl spoke to me. They were mumbled and in a different language anyway. Then I feel like I am burning, like I am on fire, with no way to put it out. There are no flames on me, just the sickening feeling of being burned, with my skin turning red and becoming black where it is burnt. I let out a sickening, blood curdling scream, that I realize no one but the girl can hear. It was as if we were surrounded by completely soundproof barriers. My screaming grows in volume until I can longer even mumble, my voice is so gone. My skin burned, but the feeling of being on fire was gone. I watched as the girl walked towards me, with a smile on her face, not even attempting to help me. It was as if... No, no, no, no, no! She did this to me! Suddenly I watch as her form shifts into that of a gigantic wolf, bigger even than a large bear. Magic, shape-shifting, what else can she do? What is gonna happen to me. The giant Wolf-girl rushes straight towards me, raking her claws down the length of my body, leaving bleeding wounds in their place. Taking another turn towards me, she rakes her claws across my face, leaving a bloody mess"
"Changing back into her true form, the girl walks over to me, kicking me in the head. Seeing stars from the kick, and seeing black from the loss of blood, I fade into unconsciousness with the sound of her evil laughter following me into my dreams, turning them all to nightmares. And that's what happened. I was so scared. I still am, but you guys are here to protect me, so what do I have to worry about?"
I tried to sound brave, but the truth was, I am utterly terrified of this girl, this... this witch. That Shapeshifting Witch.
I watched as each of their faces turned into those of horror. I wish they wouldn't do that. I just want to go back to sleep, to not have to deal with too many people at once, to not have to feel pain for a few.
Jack's face was the worst, though. I could feel the hatred rippling off of him in waves, from over here. He knew that whoever this was, had attacked me, an innocent girl, who's done absolutely nothing in the field of provocation.
Still laying down on the bed, I drift off to sleep as I hear angry whispers and angry plans from the hallway.