A/N: Sorry that this chapter is a lot shorter than my usual chapter length. I've been really busy lately, what with graduation and everything that happened at the end of last month, so I was just ready to be done with this chapter. Remember: Reviews are love!

Chapter 10: Ticking Time Bomb

Melody was the last to arrive at the place where Jack had signaled, which was in the deepest part of the woods on the outskirts of Williamsburg. The Guardians were all gathered around a tunnel in the ground; the opening covered by a broken down, rotting bed. All of them looked like they might have been waiting for her for a while by now. "What gives, slowpoke?" North joked with her.

She rolled her eyes before grinning. "Annabelle and Carter, Laurel's foster siblings, found us. Three believers total now." Jack gave her an incredulous look; obviously he was a bit annoyed by the fact that she had been a spirit for about a week and already had believers while he had been alone for nearly three centuries. Tooth, who was hovering next to him, gave him a look that told him to keep quiet. Ignoring their silent conversation, Melody continued, "I was talking with them when I got your signal, Jack. I had to give them instructions for when they headed back. I don't want them to be caught by Pitch." She sighed, looking down into the tunnel, focusing in on the task at hand. "I take it that this is the entrance to Pitch's lair?"

"Yep." Bunny confirmed. "The frostbite 'ere says this is exactly what the entrance he ran into a few months ago looked like." He and all the other official Guardians except for Sandy and Melody looked sheepish; however, Jack began to look ashamed. "Anyway," Bunny continued after a moment's silence, "this is what we're looking for. Under a bed, how predictable. He says he's tired of hiding under beds, but the entrance says otherwise." This quip got a bit of a laugh from the others, but they were all nervous about the battle that awaited them, especially Melody and Jack, since they knew that Pitch most likely held an even more serious grudge against them.

Jack suddenly bent over, clutching his staff and gasping for air. Beads of sweat began to run down his face, multiplying every second.

"Jack!" Tooth exclaimed, bolting over and trying to support him. "What's wrong?"

"The warm air!" Jack panted. "I've used up too much of my winter energy. Since it's almost summer, that means I'm getting weaker."

"Great." Melody growled. "Practically one down and the battle hasn't even commenced yet."

"I can still fight!" Jack defended himself. "Since the air's slightly cooler at night during this time of year, I can draw energy from that. If it was any closer to summer, then I'd be in trouble, but since it's only early May, I can still use the remaining cold air to strengthen myself again. Besides, the air's probably cooler underground."

"Enough." North grumbled. "Is time to face Pitch; we must concentrate." He turned to the youngest spirit. "Melody, are you prepared for fight?"

Another grin spread across Melody's face, but this one was more threatening. She began strumming some soft, yet warning notes on her guitar. "Bring it on."

Pitch was clearly expecting them. "So," he said, clasping his long, bony hands in front of him and giving the group his signature dark smirk, "you have once again brought the music spirit to me. And I expect that you will once again fight for her like you have in previous times with my two agents. Honestly, I think that it really would be easier if you simply left now and allowed me to start training her in the ways of darkness and fear in peace."

"Fat chance of any of that happening," said music spirit declared ferociously. She drew back her sleeve and raised her arm, showing him that the bruises had faded. "You brought these back as a reminder of my trauma. Well, I'm moving on, since I'm believed in now, so you really don't scare me anymore. I'm not joining up with you anytime soon. And can you please stop calling me 'the music spirit'? Seriously, I have a name, and I don't think that Melody is all that hard of a name to remember."

If it was possible, Pitch's grin widened even further. "You think you won't join me?" he asked. "I think my evidence says differently."

The sounds of struggling were heard from the cave ceiling, and all five benevolent spirits glanced up. "Laurel!" Melody shrieked, horrified at the sight of her sister – and her friends – being drawn through the roof from above and held hostage as leverage. Melody faced Pitch once again, a snarl on her lips and murder in her eyes. "You've just made the biggest mistake of your immortal life!"

And she leaped forward in attack.

A/N: I think I've set a new record for how many cliffhangers I have in a single story.