Sixteenth chapter

God! I fucking hope you guys enjoy this! TT^TT My throat hurts, and i'm just about to cry!

Enjoy! TT^TT

I left with Rose to go and get Tempe back. Rose is extremely worried, so I calm her down. I decide to take her home before I go to find Tempe.

"But why?" she whines, and I can hear she's worried about me as much as she is Tempe. I explain it's so she won't get hurt, in case something goes wrong or Pitch decides to show up. She looks at me, and then looks like she accepts my decision. We arrive at her house. She walks in herself, I hear no one starting to yell where she's been. I wait a bit, just until I see the light flicker on in her room. Then I take off.

I fly slowly, trying to scout where she is. As I look around the town, I remember stuff we did together. I stop up on a roof top and sigh. I remember once, we had been flying around town. Then Tempe got the brilliant idea to prank several of the citizens, just for fun. I, of course, was not one to say no. she explained what we had to do, and it was simple enough. She sought out a few rooftops, ones without ice taps on, so we wouldn't hurt anyone. Then the prank began. A random guy walked under the rooftop, and all the snow slid down the roof and landed on him, plus a couple of bystanders. I remember Tempe not being able to contain her laughter, having to hold her stomach. It makes me smile, even now.

I shake my head. If only that was the Tempe that was still there. But then again, if it was that Tempe, then none of this would be necessary. I wouldn't have to fight her. I wouldn't have to make sure she couldn't escape. I only had to fly around, and get a good laugh. I look around again. A cold wind passed me, and I took it for being her. But I can't see anything. I sigh. I have this horrible feeling. Night and Day didn't tell me everything, I'm sure of it. It couldn't be this easy, no way it could.

I close my eyes, remembering the scene I'd seen in the mirror. I remember how she'd laughed, I loved her laughter. My chest feels warm whenever I think about it. I give a small smile again. The feeling in my chest quickly disappears, and it feels like it's colder than before. I feel trapped somehow, even though I'm outside. I look up into the sky; it's the beginning of dawn. The sun is kissing the sky a bit. I give a frown, since when was I so poetic? I shake my head again. My head is way too filled up with thoughts. I have to focus on Tempe. I feel a cold breeze again and this time, I see her. She looks petrified, and in deep thought. I follow her with my eyes, she lands in the forest. I hesitate; something definitely feels wrong about this whole thing. I fly after her. She lands not far away from her tombstone. I sand a ways away from her, and I see Pitch approach her. My anger rises and I'm close to just charge. But I don't. He needs to be out of the way before I go in. she needs to be away from him, from his poisonous words. I hear what he says, he talks about the teeth. I look, and he disappears into the shadows. I look at Tempe, she's clearly in pain. She looks confused, in despair. I walk away from my spot behind the trees. I try to talk to her, my voice low. She doesn't hear anything, and shadows envelop her. They're thick this time. She holds her head and moans out in pain. She growls a bit, mumbles. I step closer, raising my voice. It looks like she hears me this time. She looks at me, then her eyes turns angry.

"Tempe, please" I say in the most pleading voice I ever made, more pleading than I even thought one could sound. The shadows thins out a bit around her. I have a feeling they block out the sound "this isn't you" I say. She looks confused again, I step closer. It looks like she takes I decision, she charges. My ice powers against her. I hold back, scared to hurt her. I know I have more experience than her with my ice powers, but I also know she knows how to use hers good enough. I send out an attack, she avoids it and charges right at me. The look in her eyes scares me. Then I see something in her eyes, and she hesitates for a second, I use that one second to avoid her. She turns around, about to attack me again. But I surprise her and hug her from behind, holding her securely in my grasp. She struggles, but I ignore it, starting to tell the story of what I saw in the mirror.

"Two friends, very close ones, are playing around in the forest. Their game soon ends, and they lie on the ground together, both very happy. It's a boy and a girl. The boy's little sister comes, interrupting their peace. The girl excuses herself quickly, walking home, embarrassed" I whisper in her ear. She stops struggling, and her breathing becomes normal.

"She turns around, hearing the little girl scream" my voice is wavering. Not just because of the story, but because I know it'll bring her back "she runs back, throws rocks at the bear. The boy screams at her, asking what she's doing" I smile a bit "she tells him she's saving him, even calls him idiot" I give a small chuckle "the bear looks at her. She starts to run, the bear follows. She runs, trying to get away from it. The boy stands still for a bit, before going after her" I tighten my grasp a bit, she doesn't notice "he tells his sister to stay, making sure she won't get hurt" I can feel her muscles tightening, then she gives a small gasp "he sees the bear standing over her. They exchange a look, she calls out his name. It's the last thing she ever says, before the bear swings its claws at her, severing her throat" my voice starts shaking, and I have to take a deep breath before I can continue. Her muscles tightens again, and I know she's doubting me. Then a tear trails down my cheek, I can't hold it back, I close my eyes. She stiffens up. I take one last deep breath, and then I continue "He goes over to her, she's not even dead yet. She looks at him, tries to talk. She has trouble with talking. He can't believe his own eyes. She's dying right in front of him, trying to tell how she feels for him. She gets to say it, then she dies" I feel her heart stopping for a moment. Then I hear her breathing. She has trouble breathing. I get confused, she turns her head and looks at me, and I can see she doesn't understand anything either.

"Tempe?" I say, my voice high pitched and filled with tears. I let go of her. She walks away from me, and falls to the ground, supporting herself on her hands. They're shaking. Then I see the shadows surrounding her. It looks like they're trying to gut her open. Her arms give in, and I hear a voice I hate with all my being.

"Looks like my prediction came true after all" the low voice said. My anger rises and I turn my head. Pitch is standing a little away, looking smug. I look at him and he smiles.

"The shadows are eating her Jack" I widen my eyes in horror "soon, she'll be Nothing. Everything you did to save her, only worsened her situation" Pitch continued and gave an evil laugh. I get it together and glare at him again.

"What do you mean?" I say, a low growl in my voice.

"the shadows feed on doubt Jack" he says and looks at Tempe "and she was so pretty" I point my staff at him.

"take them back" my voice is low and threatening.

"I can't, they've been living in her for a long time. You see, Jack… I planned revenge on the guardians for a long time. I had no idea what to do, then I saw the dear Tempora. She was so confused, doubtful. After just being turned into a spirit, and then her very biggest love couldn't even see her. Oh how she was crushed! Not to mention, her sacrifice was in vain! Her love died mere months after her, and she didn't have enough experience with her powers to save him!" he gives another laugh. I look at Tempe, and she's reaching out for me. Then I notice something stirring in the trees next to Tempe. She turns her head the best she can. I can hear her whisper something, and Rose looks at her in fear.

"Tempe!" she yells. Pitch laughs again. I turn my attention back to him.

"I see, this is Rose. Well isn't precious" Rose turns to look at Pitch, but quickly turns her attention back at Tempe. Pitch starts talking again "well, where was i? Ah yes! I remember. She had just seen the love of her life crush through the ice, and that's when I take my change" I feel anger rise in my chest "I send shadows after her. And little by little, they replaced her memories with fakes, and made small changes in her attitude that would be activated when I wanted to. I had no idea it would take 300 years before I would need it though. That's why she changed so drastically. I mean, getting small messages and personality changes through 300 years can do some pretty big damage to you" I look back at Tempe, she's studying her arm. The shadows are getting thicker. I see Rose trying to talk to her. My anger takes over; I begin a battle with Pitch. He laughs all the while, and I can't land a single hit. Rose screams, I look in her direction. Pitch takes the chance and lands a heavy hit on me. Then he looks at me, I growl at him.

"looks like my revenge is complete" he says, then disappears into the shadow. I looks at where he was just a second ago. Then I hear Rose crying. I turn around, my heart stops and my world crumbles. Rose is the only one there. There's no trace of Tempe, not even a hair strand. I walk over to Rose slowly. My legs give in. I fall to my knees. I couldn't save her. I feel the tears welling up, but I hold them back. Rose cries. I take a deep breath and take a hold around her.

"let's get you home" I say with great sadness in my voice. She protests loudly, but I insist. I take out a little pouch, I got it from Sandy when we returned to Seraphina's mountain, in case I would need to make Tempe fall asleep. I sprinkle some of the dream sand on Rose, she falls asleep. I fly her home, her window's open. I put her to bed, making sure it looks like she never left. Then I fly back to the forest. I land by Tempe's tombstone, and my legs give in again. I let the tears flow. I scream, loudly. I bet if Jamie or any of his friends were near the lake, or just the forest, they'd hear. I scream and yell. I swear at her, curse Pitch. But it doesn't help, it doesn't bring her back. It doesn't even ease my pain. I hit the ground. Somehow, that doesn't help either. I stay like that, yelling and punching, for maybe half an hour. Then I feel the sun. I look up, it's morning. I take a deep shaky breath. I have to go back and Seraphina. I have to tell all of them. I stand up, my legs are still shaking. I look at her grave. Her laughter fills my head again. But the pleasant warm felling that usually follows doesn't come. Instead, my chest gets heavy. It starts to hurt. I think my heart's broken. I can't feel anything besides the feeling in my chest.

Pain… loneliness… nothing else.

End... of... Chapter...

God! So many fucking feels!

And i'm sorry... but this chapter is the last one...

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I hope this thing gets... well, let's see what happens :D

I just hope i reach a certain number :*