Reviews have definitely dropped D: I feel like I've lost a few people. It's not a nice feeling.

Also, it was my 21st birthday, hence the late update, still recovering.

Seabiscuit: I defo want man in moon cheese. He is evil. Though I am more evil as this chapter will explain.

Panda-Chan8: Always be worried. That way you're not surprised. I try to update often. Sorry about the lateness of this one. RL got in the way.

Dex Zabeth: I am evil -evil face here- I like you too. I hope this is good.

Cheshire cat: Sorry about that :3 But Man in the moon is a bastard. Also I'm glad that the recording went down well!

Soaring phoenix86: I'm glad that you thought that last chapter was okay. This one is really going to test your reviewing skills. Good luck! Me? Awesome? I think you need your mind checked XD

Tanairy Cornelio: Poor Zoe indeed. A break cannot be caught!

Sorry people! I apologise in advance for the flipping back and forth from everyone's POV.

Chapter 6 – Shadow.

Bunny was hurt, but he was going to be fine. That's what North said anyway. Tooth flew back to his workshop and opened a portal from the other side, allowing a couple of Yetis through to carry him back. Sandy sat next to me. I had watched from an outcrop, I would just get in the way. I looked at him, he gave me a reassuring look which I struggled to return. I'm worried about her, I sent that message about an hour ago. I tap my staff idly against my shoulder, I still can't follow her. Her power is still in affect, I'm really annoyed about that actually. She knows that I would have stayed, she just had to say. She didn't need to go all Reaper on me. There's something that she's not telling me, I know it. I've just got to stay calm and not try to force it out of her, she has a habit of clamping up if you try to press something that she doesn't want to talk about. I sigh and rub my eyes, Sandy pats me on the knee before floating off to the open portal. I don't really want to be surrounded by people, I pull up my hood. I can't follow her yet but I can at least fly to North's. That would take a few hours, her command is weakening, it wouldn't be long till I can try to at least find her. I know I asked her to come home, but I just meant to me. Come back to me. I shake my head at North who caught my eye, he nodded and walked through closing the portal behind him. I breathe out heavily and look at sky, 'Angel,' I murmur. Angel, come back to me.

…

She walks. She doesn't fly. She feels as if she has boundless restless energy. Which is the complete opposite to the truth. Her body was tired and it wanted nothing more than to just curl into a ball and stay there. The last thing Zoe wanted was to go back and face everyone. Especially Jack. She was being a coward and she couldn't bear the thought of seeing them all. The problem was; Jack would find her. He always did. She still hadn't taken the power of sight from him and their bond had grown deeper. He discovered that he could use this to locate her after a while. She still carried the scythe, a part of her didn't want to let it go. If she let it go, she would forget the weight that it now carried. She avoided looking at the moon, but she could feel him watch her. She would keep her promise. If she had to choose between saving or loosing Jack, she would make sure that the man in the moon, regretted his decision. This was his responsibility. Not hers. She stopped and looked at her feet. Where should she go now?

Her choice was made for her. She felt the familiar summoning, her eyes flickered silver for a moment while she registered the duty. But something was different, she didn't feel the need to do it. There was always that deep feeling inside that became almost painful if she ignored it. But this time, it wasn't coupled with that. She could ignore it, if she wanted. She was half tempted to. But then the thought popped into her mind, what if it was another Ella, or a soul that needed her help. It wouldn't be fair on them. Her life might not be going the way she wanted but she couldn't take it out on others. Her eyes dimmed, for the first time since the beach, Zoe looked at the moon. She frowned before turning her back on him, opening her wings stiffly. The man in the moon took their essence so that during her ''choices'' she would be alone. Just her. She shook the thoughts from her mind, they were safe. She would get them back. She leapt into the air, she hated standing starts but there wasn't any room to run in the trees. Quickly she reached open sky where she focused on her internal compass and adjusted her flight path, by the feel of it, she had a few hours flying. She wasn't concerned, she always arrived on time.

...

Jack felt the last of her command dwindle when he was about halfway to Norths. He thought quickly. He would try to find her, he could sense her somewhere to the west. The closer he got the more defined the area would become. He banked to the left and summoned a breeze to carry him to the direction her felt. She still hadn't replied to his message, he checked his phone every ten minutes or so. Something wasn't right. It didn't take her this long to reply, ever. Not even when she was doing her duty. He urged a little more speed into his flight. He needed to find her. It wasn't just a want any more. His phone rang and he almost dropped it trying to answer the thing in haste. He didn't even look at the name he just pressed the button.

'Angel?!' He said hoping.

'Friend, is she still gone?' It was North. 'I am guessing she was one you were hoping to talk to no?'

'Oh, North, sorry. But yeah, she's still not got back to me. I'm getting a little worried, what with all that's happened. I'm looking for her now.' He replied turning his back to the wind direction to get less background noise. He heard Tooth shouting at Bunny in the background. Clearly the rabbit didn't want to be in bed. Despite his injuries. Jack wore a small smile, the fight in his friends was a force not to be reckoned with.

'I do not want to worry you friend, but the globe... flickered,' North said quietly. Jack frowned.

'Flickered?' He repeated.

'All lights dimmed for moment, before lighting up again,' the Russian explained.

'Why?' Jack asked. The pause on the other end confirmed his thoughts.

'I do not know, Jack, it is worrying. I keep you updated. Find Zoe. Make sure she is safe,' he said kindly. Jack thanked him before hanging up. He sighed and bit his lip. That was a concern. The last time the globe did anything was the uprising from Pitch. He really needed to find her and just talk. There was something deeper happening here.

...

It became abundantly clear that this time, the duty was going to be a great burden. Zoe was flying over a town she recognised. For all the wrong reasons. He scythe felt heavier and heavier the closer she got to her destination. She could sense three other spirits near by. She spotted Cupid outside the town's cinema, but she didn't get close enough to find out who the other two were before she passed. She landed on a roof and looked to where her internal compass was pointing. The bile in her throat rose, she retched a little, having to clamp down on her stomach. Karma, Karma had some serious problems. She looked across her internal clock beginning to tick louder at her. She needed to move. She breathed in deeply and took a step forward. Her foot reached the edge of the roof and she felt her body teeter. She closed her eyes and fell.

…

Jack smiled to himself. He had caught sight of her dropping the edge of a building. He was close, he wouldn't interfere in her duty. She didn't need the distraction, he would just wait. But his eyes caught the sight of the house she was heading to. His pulse rose. Then again, some things had to be seen. She would never tell him otherwise. He jumped into the air and let the breeze carry him to the house. It was more decrepit and worn than the last time he saw it. His head began to pound painfully, the feeling in his stomach becoming more and more nauseous. Bitter memories flooded his mind. He circled the walls until he reached a window. He saw Zoe move inside. The smell emanating from the brickwork was enough to make Jack pale. He had to get inside but Zoe wasn't here to let him walk through walls, he would have to break in. He resorted to flying around the building, it was no good, he'd have to break a window or something. In desperation he tried the back door. It swung open easily. He raised a brow but stepped in gingerly. The floor was caked in filth. Needles and bottles were crushed under his trainers. His lips curled at the thought of what had been happening here in the last ten years. He heard a dingy beat of bass and a singer screaming down a mike, he quite liked the more metal side of music but this sounded like the guy had just had his vocal chords torn out. He grimaced and followed the noise upstairs. He hadn't run into Zoe yet so he had to hope that everything was fine.

…

I almost gag at the sight that I walk into. There's a young woman, emaciated, naked from the waist down. Her long greasy hair was piled into a rough pile at the top of her head, track marks covered her body. She must have been about nineteen. She's lying on a worn mattress, half covered in stains, a rough sheet pulled over her legs and covering her a little. Her breathing is shallow and weak. I know then, that I'm here for her. Fuck! Just when I think this job couldn't get any shittier. I sigh and rub my eyes, the scythe is a deep weight in my other hand. She coughs harshly rolling onto her side. I wince at the sores around her nose and her cracked lips. The light bulb is flickering and failing at my emotional outbursts. Great, now I'm affecting the fucking electronics. My mind is screaming something at me but I hear a toilet flush and the far door open. More light streams into this sickening room. A man's silhouette darkens the young woman.

'Lights goin' 'gain,' she said, her voice broken and a lot deeper then it should have been at her age. I only catch half the man's face before I know who he is. The beast. The same man that raped and murdered Alison. I feel my own breath catch in my throat. The long buried anger resurfaces. Only this time I don't clamp down on it. I let it stew and come to the boil.

'Get out the way,' he demands shoving her to one side and grabbing a brown paper bag. She frowns but makes no comment. I have to steady my breathing, I can feel my hands beginning to sweat.

'Oh Ethan, baby, you said that I could get a hit,' she whimpers as he prepares a dose. She pulls at her hair but he grunts and pushes her aside roughly. She scratches at her skin and bites her hand as she watches him tying a piece of cloth around his arm. I almost snarl as he shoots up, his face visibly relaxing. She snatches the needle from his limp hand and inspects what's left. There's a few millimetres inside, her breath quickens as she leans over and finds a vein in her foot desperate for the hit. I feel my anger turn to pity. This poor, poor girl. In the hands of this monster. I twirl my scythe, my mind is still screaming at me, there's something I can't place my finger on. In the dim light I can see a circular ragged scar on his throat. It looks like it healed badly, was sewn up a few times. Her body goes a little limp and the needle rolls onto the floor. I can feel the timer winding down, it's almost time. The beast, I refuse to call this bastard by his name; he drags a hand over her thigh. She moans in disgust and bats his fingers away. He grabs her more forcefully and she complains. He ignores her and flips her onto her back, tearing the ragged sheet from her grasp. I can feel the pressure of my duty bearing down on me, but this time, it's not a ''you must comply'' force. I feel like I could walk away at any moment. I've never felt this before. He pulls down his filthy boxers and enters her roughly. She grunts and tries to push him away. He holds down her arms and thrusts harder and harder. She tries digging her heels into his stomach trying to get him off. Her voice becomes more and more upset, she's crying but he doesn't care. Just presses his weight onto her as he violates her body. I feel my being shaking in rage, hearing her pathetic whines and attempts to remove him.

'Payment,' he grunts. She loses the will to fight him back and simply turns her head while he forces himself back and forth. I bite my lip angrily. I'll give him payment. The light flickers again and becomes so bright the bulb explodes. She squeals and he sighs, in the darkness shadows cast up the walls. He shoves her to the side getting up, his erection still half formed. I almost hurl in disgust but swallow it down.

'I-I don' like this Ethan,' she whimpers. 'I-I thin' I should go home,' she mumbles. He scoffs.

'Payment first,' he snarls.

The young woman gets up pulling the sheet around her. 'N-No Ethan, I wanna go home,' she replies. He frowns and garbs her by the throat pinning her against the wall. She yelps as her frail form is pushed against the hard brick. His face is a deep red, it looks like he's having a bad trip. She scrabbles at his hands. She claws at his eyes trying to get him to let her go. He moved his face closer to hers. The sheet falling from her waist. He pressed himself inside her.

'Payment first!' He snaps jerking his hips. I can hear my own growl deep in my throat. She screams a strangled cry but he ignores her. He dips his head nearer to hers pressing his forehead to her collar bone the closer he came to release. I urge the girl to fight back. Do something! I screamed mentally. Please, for yourself, just do something! It's almost as she heard my thoughts as she opens her mouth and bites down hard on his scar. She bites so hard that she splits his skin. He cries out in animal rage, my mind flashed back to the moment that Alison did the same thing. 'Bitch!' He roars. He drops her and automatically lashes out with his fist clipping her in the jaw. She sinks to the floor, blood dripping from her mouth. He bends down to pick her up but she has a moment of strength and flicks her leg upwards hitting him square between the legs. He howls and doubles up. She scrabbles into the far corner grabbing what looks like a skirt and a purse. He recovers and tries to follow her. But that's when I feel it. The moment.

I can choose.

I step in front, blocking her from sight. I can feel my power flow down my scythe, the look in his eyes means that he can indeed see me. I was here for her, but now? Now, I'm here for him. I feel the balance shift, in a moment I see his whole life and the future without him in it. I smile, the light reflecting from my blade.

…

Jack stood in the far doorway, staring in horror. The young woman runs past him, tears dripping down her cheeks. He was thankful that she was now on her way home but something was wrong. Zoe had stood there and watching the scene like she normally does, but this time she had her scythe with her. Something told him that she was there for the young woman. His own senses that she gave him made that clear. Yet, she interfered.

She interfered.

She never interferes. That's the point. She hadn't even noticed that he was there as well. That was just as surprising. He watches at Ethan takes a step back. He can see her, she's snapped open her wings and she's wielding her scythe menacingly. In the weak light, her feathers don't look white, more of a dark bloody red as the light reflects from the dark walls. She twirls her scythe, her face was pulled into an expression that he didn't recognise. The beast of a man scrambled back from her, his face almost purple, his breath coming heavy and fast.

'Y-You,' he stuttered. Zoe didn't say anything. He fell backwards tripping over a discarded bottle, he hit the ground with a sickening thud as he tries to brace himself; but ends up snapping his wrist as his weight crushes the fragile bone. He cried out clutching his arm as he tries to move away from this fearful apparition.

'You are a beast,' Zoe snarled advancing on him. 'How many girls have you destroyed for your own pleasure?!' She spat pointing her blade at him. He whimpered, his eyes pulled back to the whites in his fear. Zoe's own eyes began to glimmer, the silver light flickering.

'You d-d-on't know nuffin!' He screamed back at her.

Zoe almost laughed. 'So the creature has a tongue.' She stamped her scythe on the ground. 'I know everything,' she said in a low tone of voice. 'Remember Alison? The young red headed girl that gave you that very scar? I watched as you violated her young body, beat her. Heard her cries and her bones crumble and snap under your brutish actions.'

'She deserved it! They all did!' He cried at her, his eyes never removing from the blade that she carried. Zoe shook her head. She could feel the timer ticking down, any moment now. She opened her wings a little more, she felt the fear stir in his heart.

'You deserve a fate worse than death,' she promised. He grabbed his chest. The smell of urine and faeces spread to her nose. She wrinkled her lip. He had released his bowels in fear. She leant down and grabbed the beast by the throat lifting him up and pinning him against the wall. Her hands slipped in his blood, but she simply tightened her grip. Jack stood unable to comprehend what was happening. She was like a demon enraged. He was scared for her, this wasn't normal. Zoe scowled at the man as she felt his heart stop. His features screwed up in pain as it took affect. She dropped his dead weight and with a flick of her wrist his soul was torn from his body. Even his soul looked terrified of her. She grabbed his lifeline. 'You shall not pass over. You shall not rest eternal, this I promise you.' He gabbed and gibbered trying to get away from her but she held onto his lifeline, trapping him. Her eyes were a bright silver, she raised the hilt of her scythe and from the stone that lay set in the handle, ribbons burst forth and poured into the beast's soul. Who screamed and writhed in pain. Zoe's face took the expression of satisfaction. 'You feel that? The pain? The fear? That is all the terror and pain you've inflicted on all those girls over the years.' The ribbons began to harden and form chains around him. 'You will feel their suffering for the rest of your eternal life,' she said while the soul bucked and tried to get away. Jack felt the bile in his throat rise. He didn't need to see any more. There was something wrong going on here. He would have to talk to her. Silently he stepped back down the stairs and soon he was in the garden, gulping in deep breaths of fresh air. He looked up to the window where he could still hear the cries of agony from the man. Silver light poured from the glass, whatever she was doing it was coming to an end. There was a brighter flash and the silver light stopped, but still the man screamed. Jack watched as the wall rippled and Zoe left the building, her head bowed, her scythe hung limply from her hands and it looked like she was breathing in heavily. Still the cries and whimpers didn't stop.

'A-Angel?' Jack said. Her head snapped up and her eyes met with his. Numerous expressions crossed her face before settling into cold indifference. She landed on the ground and walked over to him. Jack noticed that her blade had becoming tinted. No longer gleaming metal, it was almost like it had an oily sheen.

'What are you doing here?' She asked. Jack gaped.

'I-I was looking for you!' He replied, it was the most obvious thing in the world.

'I told you not to follow,' she stated opening her wings. She knew that she was being cold but it was easier this way. 'I lost her over the ocean,' she added in case he asked.

'Angel, what's going on? What was that?' He asked taking her arm gently. Her skin felt different. Hard, he frowned. Something was seriously wrong.

'Duty,' she mumbled. 'That's all.'

'D-Duty?!' He repeated. 'I thought you weren't supposed to interfere! That's what you always told me-'

'Yet you didn't listen did you!' She replied turning to him. 'I always told you not to interfere but you never listened. Now I have to find Jamie's soul and tell him that he's going to be wandering the earth for near sixty years. I have Sophie's pain in my head. My mind!' She screamed at him. 'I had to interfere! That beast of a man is now shackled to this earth with no pause in the pain that's caused. It's the ending he deserved.' She breathed in heavily. Then she realised what she said. Jack's face had paled. She had blurted out the thing about Jamie without even thinking. 'J-Jack,' she said calmer reaching out to him. He dropped her arm and backed away clutching his hoodie.

'Angel,' he said looking at her, 'what, what are you doing?' He asked, the fear evident in his voice. She halted in her movements. He doesn't understand. A voice cried out in the back of her mind; That's because you won't tell him. How can he understand if he doesn't know what's going on. She silenced the voice and looked back at him. She wished she could tell him everything. But she couldn't.

'I'm sorry,' she said bowing her head. Jack closed the distance between them and tried to pull the scythe from her hand. She held on tightly. She couldn't let it go. She might not be able to pick it up again.

'Angel drop the scythe,' he said calmly. She shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. 'Angel, please,' Jack asked. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip even more. Jack stopped trying to pull it from her. He dropped his staff and pressed his forehead against hers, his hands cupping her cheeks. 'Where are you Zoe? What's going on?' He whispered looking into her eyes.

'I'm sorry Jack,' she whispered looking at him. He felt a draining sensation course through his body. She was taking the power that she had given him all those years ago. He sagged, feeling a chill ripple over his skin. He looked at her with hurt in his eyes. She turned her head breaking the spell and removing herself from his grasp. She didn't look back at him, as she opened her wings and took off. He was left standing in the garden, the beasts screams still echoing in his ears. He clutched at his chest, feeling a deep pain in his heart.

Please review people. Also what did you think of Jack's POV at the beginning there? Little different huh. XD Okay people you know the drill. 500 words added to the next chapter per review. So go, go, go, go!